AWWWW

New Year

This time last year I had just finished getting a 3D ultrasound of Miss Libby. I remember the owner of Lexington Fetal Photography commenting on how pretty her lips were and how active she was. We went to dinner that night with Jackson and Stacy and then came home where I fell asleep on the couch with company over. (pathetic I know).

Well not much has changed for this year. We are currently waiting for Libby to wake up from her nap to go to Nana's to watch the game (which it's looking like we will definitely miss some of it), then out to dinner with Jackson and Stacy. They will probably come by where I will probably fall asleep on the couch again. haha. It's funny when you get older and have a family the last thing you worry about is what you are going to wear on New Year's, getting a spray tan, or what party you are attending. I am so glad that my life has changed where those things don't matter to me anymore. Spending time with Libby and my hubby sounds like the best plan there is!

I am loving this 56 degree weather today! What a great way to bring in the new year. I have been so blessed in 2010 and I cannot wait to see what 2011 has to bring!

Christmas is over : (

I cannot believe that Christmas is already come and gone. It seems just like yesterday it was Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful Christmas and were really blessed. We received a Canon Rebel camera with an extra lens for it as well. I can't wait to read up on it and figure it all out. Santa was good to Libby as well. She was very sick Christmas day so she didnt notice anything she received. We called the dr. and he told us not to go to the E.R. and that he would meet us. He met us at his office at 8:00 at night. He is a wonderful peditrician. Libby ended up having a double ear infection and a virus. She got to discover her toys this morning.

Brandon and I were really blessed this year. Brandon received an unexpected bonus. We are praying about donating some money to a cause or charity with some of the money he received. I have learned this past year that my plan doesn't really matter. Everything is according to His plan. I have to remind myself there is always a reason for the way things end up working out. I am looking forward to what 2011 will bring. I am sure we will be surprised!

Lots going on

I was so excited for this week because Brandon took off and I was thrilled to spend time with him and my baby Pig. Time has flown by. So much has gone on. On a positive note, I won 1/2 half a photog session with the wonderful Amanda Mitchell Photography. Pig has not been sleeping well this week. I have been exhausted. She cries out in her sleep. I think she is having teething pain..no signs of any teeth yet though. We got word that Brandon's gma was not doing well at all. She had taken a turn for the worse. We went to visit her thinking we would be lucky to even see her the next day. We went to visit her today and she is doing some better. The doctors are talking a little more positive about her situation and I am so glad. It's gives us some hope cause yesterday there wasn't much. I was proud of myself for saying Merry Christmas to a mother and daughter on the elevator before I got off. Sometimes speaking to someone can make their day. It felt good.
Santa Claus came to visit Camdyn and Libby at Gigi's house. Libby cried, which was odd because she cheesed it up when she saw him at Lexington Green. Tonight we are cleaning mom's and then we are unsure of what tomorrow brings, then on Friday begins our Christmas celebrations. And before we know it...Christmas will be over : ( I am so sad that it goes so fast. The next couple weeks I am going to blog about my new obsession...budgeting and being fru-gal. It is actually a thrill when you save money or get a good deal. I might start a series or something or maybe give a budgeting/money saving tip a week. Who knows. I have to ponder it. Well I am going to get off her and relax and enjoy my time with my hubby before the Pig wakes up! Merry Christmas everyone!!

The Nativity Story

I highly recommend you watch the youtube video below. My dad shared it with me and I give it a thumbs up. It's a cute way to show that even though technology has changed, the story remains the same and to remember the true meaning of Christmas..which is to celebrate Jesus' birth. I have to give a shout out to Youtube. I absolutely love it. I use it on my phone to play music videos (mostly Christian ones when I sing and rock Li Ro to sleep). I use it from my phone for Addyson to watch videos. I also absolutely love how easy they make it to upload videos to this blog or facebook. Love Love Love Youtube!!

I must share something that I am not fond of. I love to check out moneysavingmom.com and myfrugaladventure.com on a daily basis. I found a wonderful deal on a photo gift idea from SeeHere.com. I had never heard of SeeHere.com until I saw the deal advertised on one of my frugal websites. SeeHere from what I gather is a cheap snapfish or shutterfly type of deal. I purchased 6 photo gifts for an awesome price plus got free overnight shipping. One of the photo gifts arrived broken into several pieces. I wrote SeeHere an email, I called on several occassions and left a message. I have NOT heard at all from SeeHere.com. I guess I am going to have to consider it a loss. I will not be using SeeHere.com again. It's back to whatever works out to be the cheapest from shutterfly or snapfish from here on out!

THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

I love this time of year! Christmas is..hold on let me check my iphone ap...9 days, 13 hours, 55 minutes and 35 seconds away! Woohoo! I love spending time with family, eating good food, and opening presents of course! However..the flip side is it is such a stressful time. Brandon is stressed to the max wrapping up end of year stuff at work, I am worrying about what few gifts I still need to purchase and which ones still need to be wrapped. Or the gift that came broken and no one will answer the phone to help me correct the problem...sigh. The weather is nice to look at but annoying to get out in but in the end it is all worth it. I am so blessed that I have a healthy baby girl, that Brandon is amazing and he has a great job, and we have money to buy gifts. I think we get wrapped (I feel like I saying this word a lot..sorry) up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays that we forget what it is all about. It's about celebrating the birth of our loving and forgiving God, about being with friends and family. I ask God to help me remember what it is all about and help me to stay focused on what is important and to concentrate on my blessings and not the little annoyances. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Embarrassing Moments

Sorry I haven't posted in a while...I just haven't had anything exciting going on to report. I have had a few embarrassing moments that I thought I would share..just for fun.

As many of you know, I should have been born a blonde. I do ridiculously dumb things but I am glad that I laugh at myself after. My friend Megan and I could entertain people for hours with our embarrassing stories. In fact everytime one of us does something embarrassing we call each other and try to top each other's embarrassing moments. A couple months ago I couldn't get into my car. I couldnt figure out why the key wouldn't work only to discover it wasn't my car that I was trying to get in and saw that I had an audience of people in the parking lot watching me. Couldn't blame that on pregnancy brain..pig was at least 4 months then. haha.

Last Sunday Brandon and I had a random craving for McDonald's after church. We were so hyped and in such a good mood, laughing and talking about how we couldn't wait for lunch. We get to the window only to discover that neither one of us had our wallets...Brandon says a quick "no thank you" and rolls up the window and speeds off. haha. I am cracking up all over again thinking about it. Then we get home and instead of unlocking the car door to get Pig out he pops the trunk open. I burst into tears laughing so hard. I thought I was going to pee on myself. (oh just an fyi..Brandon asked me a couple of weeks ago to lock his car doors before we went to bed...when we got up the next morning his trunk was open..I had popped the trunk instead of locking the doors..lmbo!). A couple days later we had Bible study. (you know the one I was looking forward to...). We pulled up to the house and Brandon thought it was the house next door. There were no cars there and I knew which house it was but I let Brandon's doubt get the best of me. We saw them look out the window but then we got nervous that it was canelled and we didnt get the memo. In a panic we jumped in the car and drove off. We contemplated turning around and going back but we were too embarrassed. haha.

Let's hope I don't have any horribly ridiculous moments like that this week. It's all in good fun though. I love to laugh, especially at myself.

Pig is asleep...might as well Blog...

Well since I have nothing else to do (totally kidding) thought I would share what all has been going on lately since my last post was just some pics of Libby and Santa Claus. I have to share a wonderful accomplishment today...I typed up almost 100 addresses in a template for my Christmas photo cards. That took almost Libby's whole morning nap to do it. I am so glad it's done. I should get the photo-cards in the mail tomorrow, then I will slap the address on and send it out. Can't wait! I used Libby's Santa Claus picture for the photo-card. It ended up being too good not to use.
Got some potentially bad news from a friend today. I am hoping and will be praying for her that everything works out according to HIS plan. I am wishing her the best.
Brandon and I are going to Bible Study tonight and I am looking forward to it! It was cancelled for various reasons for a few weeks and then we couldn't go last week because Brandon had to work late.
Looking forward to the upcoming things: a potential spring break vacay, Christmas (enough said!!), Brandon's work Christmas party (because Josh Carriell is bringing choc. cake), and Brandon getting time off during the holidays.
I guess that's all I got for today..gotta wake the pig up to eat before going to Bible Study : )

Santa Baby

We had a great relaxing weekend. The snow was beautiful. I think these pics say it best. She did so good with Santa! We are proud of our Pig!

Tv and Bon-Bons

I have been bothered by the impression I get from people's response when I tell them I stay at home with Libby. One mother of four (which bothered me the most) asked what I do all day as if she is a "real" mother because she stays home with four and I only stay home with one. I guess people think all I do all day is sit around and watch tv and eat bon-bons. So I decided to give an example of a couple of my typical days. For those that don't know; I go pick up a three year old from mom's day out and watch her for 3 hours two days a week and pick up a girl from high school and take her to diving practice three days a week. I also clean my parent's house once every two weeks.
Tuesday- I got up and fed Libby a bottle. I vacuummed as she played, washed bottles, put a load of Brandon's dress shirts in, changed a poop diaper, played with Libby while watching some of my dvrs ( I have to be attentive to her every second now...she is pulling up and falls quite often). I got her back down for a nap, took a bath, got dressed, cleaned out my underwear and sock drawer, hung Brandon's shirts up to dry, prepared her cereal and waited for Brandon to come home for lunch. Brandon came home so I left to pick up the diving bag for the high schooler, picked up Addyson's car seat from her mom's work (all in the rain p.s.), picked up Addyson (as she walked slowly with her umbrella up while I had on just my sweatshirt hood), got her home, fixed her lunch while I ate, watched the girls play, bribed Addyson to poop on the potty while I fed Libby a bottle in the bathroom floor, wiped Addyson's butt, got Addyson out the door with her Nana only to bundle Libby up and put her in the car to go get the high schooler, dropped her off to practice, put Libby down for a nap, took a 30 minute nap myself, steamed 7 of Brandon's shirts, woke Libby up to feed her, ate dinner, hung out with Brandon and Libby to watch UK play then took a shower and off to bed.
Wednesday- woke up with Libby at 7:15, gave her a bottle, changed a poop diaper, played with her, put her down for a morning nap, got dressed, cleaned our bathroom in our bedroom, vaccummed our bedroom, sucked up Brandon's underwear (had a minute of panic), in frustration threw all his clothes on the bed, sent him a not so nice text about it, swept the living room and kitchen, rinsed bottles, fed Libby her cereal, got her dressed, cleaned the downstairs bathroom, hung up some of her clothes, took the recycle stuff out, got her dressed, picked up the diving bag, picked up Addyson, played with them, put Libby in the car to get the high schooler, dropped her off, and that brings me to now.....
Okay is that sufficient enough for all of you who think I just watch tv and eat bon-bons? Do I watch tv..yes...do i take a 30 minute nap occassionally..yes...but I dont just sit around all day and do nothing? NO! When you come to my house it is always clean, errands are done, laundry is done, things are taken care of. I feel as though some people judge me and think its crazy I stay home for just one child. I consider myself a pretty open-minded person and pretty understanding and flexible. I would never consider myself conservative or traditional...in fact far from it. However when it comes to raising my child I am traditional in the sense that I will do what it takes to be the one to raise her and take care of her. I think staying home with her is the best thing that I could do for her and I am willing to make sacrifices and do what it takes to do that. I have put Brandon and I on a strict budget and we have been so blessed. We are better off financially now then we were when I was working. I have pretty much all our bills paid up until February with money in savings, and money in Libby's savings. We buy generic, don't eat out, use coupons, and get by with the bare necessities and I would not change a thing. I am so blessed and I thank God everyday for our good health, that I can stay home with Libby, that we have food to eat, wonderful family and friends, etc. I may not be clocking in and out everyday but I sure do work 18 hour days and I am loving every minute of it!

Thanksgiving pics

Well I must admit. I did not take a single picture of Libby on her first Thanksgiving nor did I bring along her "Baby's First Thanksgiving" bib. It was a little chaotic getting out the door that day. I find it strange that you can start your day at 6 am and still struggle to get out the door by 12 pm. Anyway...I am super glad that Tonya came through and took some pics so I stole these off Facebook. I am super excited that Libby took her first picture with her cousin Presley! The other pics are of Libby with her Papaw Peanut and the other is with her cousin Kayla.

Food, Fam, & Fun

I love Thanksgiving! It is a great time with family, food, fun! We had a wonderful time! We went to my mom's and her sister ending up coming in to Lexington this year to make it extra special. Libby sat at the table in her high chair like a big girl and ate her puffs while we all ate. We visited for a bit and then headed off to his parents housw. HIs house is always fun even though we don't eat because of all the chaos. I love it! He has a huge family. Everyone is running around crazy, talking, laughing, wrestling around. The kids were running around screaming....I loved it! We had to leave after about an hour and a half to get the pig down for a nap. My mom, dad, and aunt came over that night and brought the leftovers and we had thanksgiving number 3! My aunt and mom stayed the night downstairs with pig because Brandon and I did the unthinkable.......we went BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING!!!! We slept from 9:30 pm until 11:45 pm and headed out by 12:00 am. We were at Old Navy for 2.5 hours!!! Then headed off to the crazy Target in hopes for a big ticket item. We didnt get it of course because when we passed by at 12 there were people already in line and we didn't get there until 3:00. We got a decent spot in line but I guess not good enough. We got a lot of things on our list, saved a bunch of money, and it was a great time for Brandon and I to spend together. It was like a date. haha. We had a good time. Would I do it again tomorrow??? No way...Would I again next year?? ABSOLUTELY!! I slept three hours when I got home and then Brandon made homemade waffles. I went back out with my aunt Lee Anne for a few hours and got more shopping done! We topped the day off at Hacienda. Thanksgiving 2010 just doesn't get any better than that!!!

Turkey Week!!

I am super excited about Thanksgiving this week! I <3 Thanksgiving food!! Yummo!!! However I am mainly excited because Libby is here and it is her first holiday season. It seems like yesterday it was last year's Thanksgiving and she was in my belly. We had just found out she was a girl! Our plans are to get up and do the black Friday thing and put the Christmas tree up! Can't wait!

We had a pretty uneventful weekend but we got a lot accomplished. We got a Kohls and Buy Buy Baby trip in, cleaned up around the house, did some household things, hung pictures, visited with Aunt Lee Anne, and a bday dinner for Stacy with friends. I love restful/productive weekends!

Looking forward to the week...I will post some Turkey Day pics!!

OH PRAISE THE ONE WHO PAID MY DEBT.......

Okay I know this is a first...blogging three days in a row? Wow! Last night's post didn't come out as I wanted it to but Libby was being fussy and Brandon gets a little stressed when that happens so Mama had to stop and help.

Well I feel somewhat successful in my goal with this new "lack of sleep style" with Miss Li Ro. I think she is about to cut a tooth although I have said that since she was 3 months and here we are 4 months still without a tooth. I also think that a full diaper could also be a big part of the problem. My new plan is to get up with her if she wakes up crying, change the diaper, rock her for a max of 20 minutes then put her back to bed. Well she woke up at 11 and cried on and off until 12. I refused to get up because hello her diaper can't be that saturated yet considering she has only been down for a couple hours. Brandon and I both let her cry it out. I looked on the monitor and she was laying on top of her blanket instead of under it. She must have really thrown down! I heard her again at 3:15 am. So I got up and had Brandon come with me to give her tylenol. The poor pitiful thing had her paci in her mouth pulling the bumper pad down so she could look through the slats of the bed. awww. It melted my heart. Sure enough she had a 10 pound (exaggerated a little) diaper. I changed her, Muffin gave her tylenol, rocked her for 20 minutes and back down she went. She fussed at 4 something and Brandon got up to give her a paci and she quieted down and slept until 7ish. Whew. I am hoping this is just a phase cause I don't think I can go without my beauty sleep much longer.

It never fails, everyday around 2 hours after her waking she goes back down for a morning nap. I take her to her room rock her, sing to her, and play youtube music videos to her. It's our daily routine. I ususally sing along with a Chris Tomlin video but today I pulled up "Jesus Paid It All" contemporary version by Kristian Stanfill. As I played it Li Ro passed out of course and my eyes filled with tears and they streamed down my face. I was just so happy, felt so blessed, God loves me so much he sent his son to die for my sins. He loves me even though I make mistakes, say hurtful things, think bad thoughts. He STILL loves me. If you havent heard the song I highly encourage you to listen to it. It moves me everytime. I couldnt help but look around the room while holding this precious (non-sleeping) baby that is so healthy and beautiful, I am just in awe of this blessing. Brandon and I have a wonderful house, he has a wonderful job, Libby has a beautiful room and I am so thankful and blessed. I don't deserve any of it but he has provided for me and I don't ever take it for granted. Mom and dad recently went to Gatlinburg and they mentioned they saw a couple special needs children, one being a baby with Down's. I just stop and thank God for my healthy baby that I love so much and I just pray that I never disappoint or fail her. God is so good!

Mistakes

Before I get to my point about "mistakes" I have to share how clever Muffin is. Libby has not slept through the night the past two weeks. This morning I was up with Libby from 3:15-4:30 am. When I got back in the bed I informed Muffin that I was exhausted and if he started snoring that he would need to go to the couch. He sat up and said "no YOU were snoring!" Obviously I denied it and asked him what the heck he was talking about. He proceeded to grab his phone and play a recording of me snoring! Seriously? He told me I kept him up 2 hours because of my snoring. So guess who went to the couch when muffin started snoring...yep me!

Any hoot I was just thinking about how many mistakes I make but how mistakes are awesome because you learn from them. For example, I know someone who has tried everything to get pregnant and is unable to. I have learned from her not to harrass and question people about having kids because I have learned there may be a reason behind them not having kids. I have learned who you can tell things to and who you can't. I have learned when to keep my mouth shut with some people cause I know it's just not worth it. Just some food for thought...

Monday Monday Monday

This weekend was pretty uneventful. I did enjoy going to the UK game Friday night with Meg. It was good to see her. I don't get to see her too often. I am not as into UK basketball this year as last. You know you aren't going to be that good when one of your worst players last year starts this year. I hope as the season goes on I will get more into it. Saturday we watched the game and had Steve over. We got Libby a space saver high chair and checked out Buy Buy Baby. I totally loved it! I am a fan! It beats Babies R Us. They have better selection and the store set up is a lot nicer. The picture of Pig and I is after we got home from shopping. She was trying on her new hat and holding her new patten leather shoes. On Sunday we went to Bran's parents house to enjoy a birthday celebration for his sister Katie. She turned 21. Brandon has an extra large family and it is so fun getting together with everyone and catching up with everybody. The biggest bonus is everyone wants to hold your baby so you don't have to watch her. haha. I loved it! Libby got to meet her cousin Presley who was born 5 months after her. They will be so close and I can't wait to watch them grow up together. I got some good info that I will share later on...until then you will just have to wait... : )

Laundry Thursday

Well it's Thursday which means it's laundry day. Woohoo! Can't wait! Doing laundry and a trip to the grocery store are the highlights of my day today. I need to go pick up some prints at Walgreens as well. I am looking forward to running errands with Brandon this weekend and doing some Christmas shopping! We are gonna take Pig to Buy Buy Baby and see what that store is all about. We need to purchase a high-chair. The last couple of days she has been getting up on her knees. Not completely crawling yet but she is getting closer. She is sleeping well through the night in her bed. I am glad she is enjoying her bed but I miss her being in our room : ( Well that is about as exciting as my life is for today..........

Monday Monday Monday!

Yeah! It's Monday again! Start to a new week. I am so thankful I wake up on Monday mornings to be so blessed to have the opportunity to start a new week with a healthy family. I had a great weekend celebrating my 10 year reunion. Everyone pretty much looks the same and a lot hasnt changed with some people. Several girls like myself just recently had babes. We had a great time.

Well it finally happened. Libby slept in her own bed last night while we slept upstairs in our bed and she did great! She slept from 9 am until 6:15 am. I had to go down at 4 and roll her on her belly but she was asleep the whole time. I am so proud of her. Pig is 29 weeks this week (I think...) and she will be 7 months on the 13th. She is getting to be a big girl! She is started to get up on her knees when she scoots so she might start doing a real crawl soon.

I am looking forward to see what this week will bring...and I am counting down for Thanksgiving! Yay! Can't wait!!

I need sleep....

Well its only 8:33 am and I have been up since 4:17 am. I did go back to sleep for an hour and dreamed crazy weird dreams and woke up in a startle so I'm not going to count that. Why does this kid not like sleep? I cannot believe I created a kid that does not like sleep as much as I do. Oh well...tis life I guess. Brandon was sweet and got back up with her at 7:00 and let me sleep until 7:30. He is so sweet. After I got up I asked him to take a bath and he agreed with no hesitation even if it did make him late for work. He is great!

Libby had a great first Halloween. I was super inspired to make a costume now of something creative. Two sisters came to my parent's door, one was a sun and the other was a cloud. It was precious. I have a year to come up with something...it's got to be good! Libby is shaking her head no now. It's hilarious. She uses it appropriately too.

Well this has got to be cut short...pig is crying and she pooped. Gotta go!

This Weekend

That about sums up this weekend! Took a nap during the yucky UK game and Libby loved her Halloween goodies from her Nana!!

Halloween is coming!!!

I cannot believe it is Thursday already! I am super stoked about dressing up and going to a Halloween party tomorrow night! I can't wait! Piglet is staying at my house with Nana. They are going to have a slumber party! Libby is finally sitting up. I thought there was something wrong with her. She isn't great at it but she is just learning. I am looking forward to spending some time with my hubby this weekend. I am so blessed to have him...I know I say that all the time but I really am! That's about all I have for today. I will post of pic of Libby on halloween! yay!

weekend update

I cannot believe it is already Tuesday! We had a great weekend! Mom and dad brought chicken over for dinner which I had been craving for forever. Nothing like some good ole KFC! On Saturday Brandon got a haircut and we went to Boyd's Orchard with friends and it was so fun! I can't wait until next year when Libby is walking and playing. She will love it. She got to sit on a hay bale and pull a goat's ear. That was about all she could do this year. On Sunday we did our makeup fall frenzy pics with Libby's halloween costume and then had family pics with my cousins with Papaw's truck. That is going to be my present to Mamaw this year for Christmas. Libby was in the pics too. She was about 2 and a half months away from being born when he died. He was looking forward to her coming.

This week has started out way better than last. Libby went through a 4-5 day phase of waking up in the night, going back down then getting back up early. It was rough! I think it was harder than when she was a newborn because at least then you go to bed knowing you are going to get up at some point but this time it was just completely random. We had gotten out of the habit and it sucked! The lack of sleep made me a big grouch last week. Libby's first word is probably going to be a cuss word now because of hearing me gripe at 2 in the morning. haha. I posted not too long ago on facebook that I wondered what it was like to sleep past 6:45 am. Well I know now...she has slept the past two nights to 7:00 am. Hey its 15 minutes but I will take it!

My attitude on things are starting to change. I feel like people will have to suffer natural consequences for their actions and have no one to blame but themselves for choices they have made. It may be later down the road but it will happen. I feel that is better than going to that person and making a big stink and then nothing changes. Ultimately people make time for what they want to make time for and make their own priorities. It is unfortunate that Libby is not in their list of priorities and that hurts me as her mother but I cant make someone want to take interest in her. I just continue to pray that I don't let my anger and disappointment consume me. I hope I can just put it off to the side in my mind and one day it will come up and I will be able to voice my hurt over it. I just have to remember that in the end they will have to answer for their decisions.

New Normal

I got my hair cut and hilighted the other night. I got a lot cut off because I was trying to cut out layers and grow out bangs. I had to go ahead and do it because my grey hairs are everywhere, my hair was frizzy on the ends and I have pictures on Sunday. My cousins and I are doing surprise pics for my grandma for Christmas. We will be in Papaw's old truck. It will be such a great tribute to him. Any poop I can't be in pics with my hair looking like that.

I had a great convo with my hairstylist. It's funny how stuff I talk to her about stuff I wouldn't tell close friends or family. Maybe it's because she knows me but not enough to judge or something...whatever it is it is an interesting relationship. I think she is a really great person and she has been going through some tough times the past year. She was telling me how she had to move out of her nice house and into an apartment after having been married 25 years. She was talking about how her apartment is nice but she is having a hard time getting use to "her new normal". When she said that I reflected back on some times that I had to get use to my "new normal". The new normal of not being pregnant anymore, the new normal of having a baby to take care, the new normal of being a stay at home mom. I hadnt really thought of it before but that is what is so hard about life's transitions. You get use to a way of life and when something changes it's not necessarily bad but it just takes some getting use to. I was pregnant for 9 months and I had gotten use to that and had identified myself as a pregnant woman. Then when I wasn't pregnant anymore, it was good, but I had to readjust so it caused some temporary saddness and confusion. Does that make since? Probably here in a couple months I will go see my hairstylist and she won't think anything different of living in her apartment because it is her new normal. Hmmm interesting...just hadn't really thought about it.

Woohoo for internet!!

I wanted to blog this morning while Libby was napping but my cat ate through the internet cord again! This is the 2nd internet cable that he has eaten in 2 months! He has been peeing outside the box and chewing on everything! I am a little over it! It is so nice to have the internet back! I didn't realize how much I enjoy it until it is gone.

Brandon and I had a good weekend. We went to the UK game and enjoyed watching the CATS pull off an amazing win over South Carolina. One of the best games that I have ever been to! When we got home we discovered a croupy baby. We were up and down all night Saturday night and did not get much sleep. On Sunday Libby felt better to an extent but refused to nap. Mom came over and helped out. She is awesome! I don't know what I would do without her. I am so blessed to have a great mom. She didnt think twice about coming and helping out while some others never even called to check on her. Oh well, I will shut up before I go on a tirade about that.....it's starting to get harder and harder to hold my tongue these days..I have been praying for strength.

Libby has felt a ton better today. She is still raspy and you can tell it hurts her throat to sneeze but other than that she is doing well. She has napped really well today and allowed me to go back to bed this morning. She had her 6 month well baby check up today. She is 14 pounds, 9 ounces, 25.8 inches long and doing well. I guess the shots weren't too traumatizing because she is jumping away in her Jenny Jump Up. She is a hoot. I need to make Brandon upload a video of her on facebook. She looks super funny right now because she doesnt have pants on. So picture chunky white legs hanging out of the jump up with her Tazmanian Devil band-aid on her leg. haha It's a hoot!

I am looking forward to the rest of the week and what it has to bring. Tomorrow and Wednesday are my long days so once those are over it is smooth sailing the rest of the week.

6 months

Wow! Yesterday was Libby's official 6 months. I cannot believe it! What I do with my time before she was born? I guess a lot of tv watching. She is amazing! She babbles "dada" (of course she would do that before mama), she rolls over, she scoots around, she eats baby food, she poops, she laughs, she crys, and that about sums it up! haha. I am enjoying every moment and trying to take it all in and embrace it. Before I know it she will be a teenager! AHHH

All According to His Plan

I am a firm believer that everything that happens in life is all according to God's plan for me. I don't believe things just happen or are by chance. I have been so blessed and things that have happened in my life have brought me to where I am today whether at the time I looked at it as a struggle or something wonderful. It all happened for a reason. I have to remind myself from time to time that God is in control and if I am at a "low"..there is always a reason or a purpose and to continue to trust in Him.

I totally know that meeting Brandon was a "God" thing. Prior to Brandon I struggled in an on and off again relationship for six years. I always knew in the back of my mind the relationship wouldn't work out but at the time I was looking at it with "rose colored glasses". My thought process was by golly I have toughed this out for six years...this guy is gonna marry me if I have to drag him down the aisle. (I think I just gagged a little bit..haha)! Even though I knew it wasn't right I couldn't comprehend. I would ask if it wasn't meant to be then why would we still be together for this long....so it had to be "meant to be"..right? WRONG! During the six years there were 3 break ups total. The first two devastated me. I couldnt eat or sleep. I lost 10 pounds in one week (making me like 90 pounds at that point). When the third and final break up happened I did not shed a tear. I had a peace and calmness that even shocked my mom. She anticipated me snapping at any second because I was living it up for the first time in a long time! (6 years to be exact). After that relationship ended, I met Brandon officially two months later. (We knew of each other...had not been formally introduced at that point).We started dating about a month later, were engaged after 6 months, and married a year later. I don't look back and look at the previous six years as a waste of time, but as a path that led me to Brandon. I am able to appreciate the way Brandon treats me and loves me. The previous relationship prepared me for the love and relationship I have with Brandon. I can look back and see now that it was all in God's plan. God was preparing me to meet my husband. Brandon and I had said we both wanted to try to have a babe pretty early because we aren't getting any younger. We didn't ever dream it would happen 3 weeks into our marriage but again it was all in his plan. Now we have a healthy, beautiful baby girl that I cannot imagine my life without.

Around the end of my pregnancy I felt God calling me to leave my job and the church that I was raised in. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I feel like some people don't understand my decision or judge me for my decision but I can't worry about that. I was fighting it up until the end. I knew what I was suppose to do, God was telling me but I wasn't listening. I thought you have got to be crazy if you think I am going to stay at home all day everyday...being a stay at home mom is not for me. And money? What about our finances? To take away a whole salary and add the expense of a child? You have got to be crazy. Well I was obedient and did what I was told to do and now I am started to get involved with an awesome church, I absoultely love being a stay at home mommy, and our finances are just as well or even better off then before. It was all according to his plan! We have to be obedient and trust and follow him and he will provide. I am so humbled by what all God has done for me. I think about how blessed I am and I thank God for all he has done for me and my family. Next time you are going through a "low" trust in God cause it is all according to his plan. There may be something better in the future and you may be surprised! I know i have been! : )

I want Christmas Now!!

Well I am suppose to have Piglet and myself ready to go out to SEBC to help with the payroll taxes (probably for the last time for a while) in an an hour and a half which includes feeding her cereal and I am blogging about how I want Christmas now..really? haha. I am craving Christmas so bad! I want to put lights on the house, go Christmas shopping, wrap presents....so crazy! I didn't start craving Christmas until the other day when I bought these delicious smelling air wick refills ...warm harvest is the smell but it just reminds me of Christmas. Its funny how smells and songs can remind us of certain things. The smell of my car actually makes me gag because we bought my car when I was only a few months pregnant in the sick phase. The smell of my car takes me back to that time and makes me want to barf everytime I get in...wierd huh? Its so funny how the mind works. I guess I better get my butt in gear..I'm starting to smell an unpleasant aroma....hmmm....

It's Tuesday..Yay!

Today is Tuesday and it is my long day but I am super excited because I basically don't have any responsibilities the rest of the week because it is fall break! The house was cleaned yesterday and I have Addyson and Rebecca today and that is it! Tonight Brandon and I are going to go to a Bible Study at a younger couple's home. We are excited about going. Brandon and I had another restful weekend and my grandma got to see Libby again on Sunday. I am so glad she is getting to enjoy her. I just wish that my Papaw and other Mamaw could have met her. Libby is 25 weeks today! Wow!! Is that possible? She is amazing and I am loving every minute of being at home with her! We are cutting back and making sacrifices but it is all worth it!

Sigh

All I want to do is sigh. I feel really good about things that I have been stressed over. Our finances are looking good, I'm loving spending everyday with the Piglet, and the weather is amazing! I am surrounded with wonderful friends and family. I am loving fall! The leaves are so pretty! I want to pick out a pumpkin, go to an orchard, dress up for halloween...cant wait! I am looking forward to going to a cookout tonight and introduce Miss Libby to some other babies. She hasnt really been around other babies so I am anxious to see what she does. I am taking her to meet her cousin Presley in Cincinnati next Sunday. The girls are 5 months apart and I cant wait to watch them grow up together. I have a small family and I love that Brandon has a large family. There will always be someone to play with at family gatherings, weddings, etc. My next big task over the next few weeks is to prepare to move Libby to her room. I dread it because I love knowing that she is at the end of my bed but it is also very convenient. Her room is in the back of the house so if I do have to get up with her I will have to get up and walk all the way to the back of the house. In a few weeks she will be 6 months old (is that really possible?) and its about time to start operation cry it out. I dread it! Wish me luck!

Yeah for Fall!!

Today is a cool, rainy, dreary day and it is wonderful! I love it!! I love the cool temps. Its a nice break from the heat that we have been having since oh...MARCH!! I am looking forward to our family pictures coming up, a Halloween party...it's so fun!! I had a wonderful weekend and it was so wonderful because we stayed in! Brandon cleaned out the garage, just another thing off our checklist of things to do! Brandon enjoyed football games yesterday while Pig and I napped. Crawling=awesome naps! We went to visit Brandon's parents for his mom's bday. We got her a photo album of some pics of Libby since her birth. Actually before birth cause I included some ultrasound pics too. I am looking forward to entertaining tomorrow night for a 31 gift party. I am really loving staying at home with Libby. I actually enjoy cleaning the house. (Weird I know!) I am hoping our financial situation will allow this for a while. It's amazing money you can save doing the little things. Here are a few of my money saving strategies:
1) Cancel any magazine subscriptions and read online. No people is not as fun to read online but you get the same stories at no cost.
2) coupon clip- Sunday paper and great coupons online too!
3) buy off brand items. It is super amazing how much money you save buying generic!
4) call and complain about your insight bill going up! Call and complain and they lower it!
5) Target brand formula- saves us $10 a can!
6) Don't eat out- We were out to eat obsessed. Now we barely miss it!
7) Ask for help- This is the hardest one! But when you have a babe everyone wants to get something for her, so I ask for stuff that is actually needed instead of wanted!
Well that's all I have for now someone is not happy!! Gotta go!!

Thursday

This week last the rest has gone by super fast. I cannot believe that tomorrow is Friday! I get excited for Friday because it is one day closer to the weekend. Yes, I do have a four day weekend every weekend which I am thankful for (my babysitting, chauffering is Tuesday-Thursday). However, I love the weekend because I get to spend it with Brandon. I love him so much! I wake up so mornings and wonder how I got so lucky...I can't believe this is my life! I am so blessed I just smile thinking about it. I hear about all the tragedy and hurt going on in other people's lives and I just realize that I have been blessed beyond measure. I thank God everyday for what he has given me. I sat on the bed the other night and laughed for 20 minutes at Libby watching Brandon play a game on the iphone. (See above). She is my love!

On another note...I have an example in my life of someone who doesnt understand some decisions and choices I am making. It reminds me to be careful to judge others. You really cant comprehend someone's situation until you have been in there shoes. I dont like that this person doesnt like how I am handling this situation so it reminds me to be careful to judge others. I need to try to be more empathetic and remember that I may not know the whole story. Well I hope that stops and make you think like it has me!

Early Monday..

Well it's 7:30 am...been up since 5:30...sheesh. What a yucky way to start a Monday. I have some stuff to get done today, gotta go pick up the dry cleaning I was suppose to pick up last Monday (opps), get my check, and get my grandma a photo album for her birthday. My cheap but clever gift idea is I uploaded some pics of Lib since her birth (30 for $3 sale at Walgreens..yay), and then buy a photo album. I will continue to give her pics to fill her album. I had a fantastic weekend. The hubby and I hung out on Friday night, made a trip to Target, etc. We tailgated for a bit on Saturday and then had a restful Sunday. I am looking forward to the week to come! Lib will be 23 weeks tomorrow..sheesh...why can't things slow down! Love her!

Forgiveness...it's hard!!

This has been so busy and its only Wednesday! Any hoot....I have been and am struggling with forgiveness. Does anyone else have that problem or am I the only one? A situation occurred over a year ago and I am still struggling to let go. It consumes me and I hate it! I want to and pray to forgive but its like I can't let it go. Of course I am respectful and nice but in the back of my mind no matter what this person does, I wont let them redeem themselves. I am a loving, caring, and Christian person but this is something that has really tested me. How to do I get over it? How do I look at this person and not think about what they did? Maybe I am preventing myself from forgiving. Maybe I truly dont want to forgive them and that is what sucks cause how do I make myself want to? I say I do but do I really? In the meantime I am going to continue to pray and ask God to help me. I want to forgive like God forgives me! I have been thinking about and praying for a lot of people this week. Brooke had and lost her baby boy. So sad. I cant imagine what that would be like. I have been praying for them. It makes me feel so lucky to have a healthy baby and I dont take her for granted. Another girl I went to high school with found out devastating news that her little girl may never be able to walk again. Situations like these make me realize how blessed I am and make me feel even more guilty for not being able to forgive. I have been thinking about my brother a lot lately too and have been praying for him as well. I am also so burdened that I cant welcome him in my life right now but I still love him and pray for him everyday. I wish the best for him. I hope that God shows me how to forgive that person and finally just let go. Please pray for Brooke and her family, and Lena and her little girl.

Oh Monday.....

Wow I cannot believe it is already Monday again! Crazy! Libby is officially 5 months today! Time has flown bye. Over the weekend she has started doing a scoot/crawl. She gets wherever she wants to go doing this little scoot crawl. Wont be long till she is going fast and I will be even more busy than I already am. Right now I am watching her go after Jeter who is trying to get away from her. haha. I love it! I wish I had the video camera. He is scared of her. The weekend was fun. We got errands run on Saturday and went to some friends house to watch part of the game. We went to church and then out to dinner with the p's and grandma on Sunday evening. I am always glad for her to see Libby, although Libby slept the whole dinner. haha. I am starting to love staying home! It's so funny cause I feel busier at home then at work, especially on the days I have Addyson. I am hoping the days start to slow down a bit. It's all going too fast!

Uneventful Thursday

There is not a thing going on today. But I love it! The only time I am leaving the house today is to go get Rebecca and take her to diving. I am really enjoying staying home with Libby. I could not even imagine sending her to a sitter or daycare now! I have officially haulted the job search. Brandon and I have decided that we are going to do our best to make it on his income and my side jobs. So far so good. It's amazing the things you can do to cut back. We only allow 1 out to eat a week, cut coupons, and dont spend any on extras! Apparently we were basically just blowing my salary. By the time I would have paid for daycare I would have been bringing in a week what I do now with my side jobs....and I dont have to leave Libby somewhere else. It's a no brainer. I feel so good about the decision we have made. I felt like that was what God was telling me to do. I trusted him and he opened doors for me. I didnt understand at first why I didnt get a full time position I applied and interviewed for and now I do. The way things have worked out has been all according to his plan. I am so blessed and so lucky. Sometimes I anticipate something bad happening because I have been so blessed which is silly but I cant help it. I thank God for my blessings everyday!

Fantastic Labor Day Weekend!

I had a great 4 day weekend with Brandon this past weekend. I cant believe it is already Tuesday. It's back to the grind. On Friday we got new tires for my car and went to The Cellar with friends and had a great time. My aunt Jacki came in for the weekend and stayed the night at my house with my mom to watch Libby. I woke up in a panic only to find Libby still asleep. Saturday we had a great time at a cookout to watch the UK game. On Sunday we went to church and listened to an awesome message. I am so blessed to have found such a great church. We then had lunch with the fam. That evening my grandma came to visit Miss Libby. I am so glad Libby brings her such joy. Monday we did absolutely nothing and it was wonderful! It's so nice to have days where you don't do anything. The highlight of my day was napping with the princess. I love that little booger so much! I am currently hanging out with Miss Addyson while Libby sleeps. Addyson is so smart and she doesnt realize it but I am learning more from her than she is me. She is preparing me for toddler-hood. haha. Well just wanted to brag about my fabulous weekend...I hope this weekend is just as fun!

Inspirational Wednesday

I never thought I would be so inspired on a random Wednesday morning but I am. I guess when the babe is napping you have a lot of time to think. I thought about one of my big flaws that I need to really pray about and work on. I am annoyed when people wanna praise God and talk about how good he is when something happens but never praise him otherwise. I read on a comment online about how something went well for someone so "God is good!". Dear friend, that is not just a saying. That's something you really mean when you say it. I guess I have been thinking a lot about this subject since the sermon series at church is on the Atheist Christian. An Atheist Christian is someone who is a believer but is not a follower. My fault is my first initial reaction when I read it. I snickered out loud. That was wrong. What my initial reaction should have been was to stop and pray for that person. I am really trying to work on my initial thoughts and reactions and judging others. Brandon always says to me, "Be the bigger person Joni!"....I respond in a whiny voice, "But I'm tired of being the bigger person"! haha. I'm mostly kidding when I say that but he is absolutely right. I wish I could be more forgiving and less bothered by petty stuff like him. He doesn't sweat the small stuff which I think is very Christian and I want to be more like him in that way. I guess it has made me stop and look at myself and my actions and think...do I represent Christ to other people the way I should? The answer is no, probably not, so I need to pray about that and ask God to help me. I am also not very patient. I pray for something or someone and expect to see results immediately which is not the case. It's not about my time, it's on God's time. Please Lord lift this burdens that I have been carrying and help me to be more like you. I love the person my husband is and I am so lucky to have him. He is such an inspiration to me in his actions and his words.

On another note, a friend of mine found a girl from high school's blog. She is around 7 months pregnant with a baby that basically does not have a brain. He will most likely die during labor and delivery and if he survives that he will die shortly after. She has known almost her entire pregnancy of the situation. She is such an amazing person. She is looking at the situation as it is all in God's plan. When I am down or complain about life I think about all those who have it so much worse and are praising God every step of the way. I am praying for you and your family Brooke. You are such an amazing person. God bless!

Its Monday...sigh....

Do you ever wish there was a pause or slow motion button on life? I sure do! The weeks go by faster and faster. Libby will be 20 weeks tomorrow! ARe u kidding me? That is nuts! The weekend went by so fast as always. It was productive! I got cpr certified, returned a belt I had been needing to return for like 4 weeks, tanned (first time in 2 weeks), we made a trip to Lowes, and Target to get some formula (which went on sale the next day : (....). I also went with mom and dad Saturday night to get Libby her fall and winter clothes. On Sunday we went to church and had friends over for dinner and had a great time and now it is Monday again. Well I am super excited about this coming weekend because Brandon is taking Friday off and we will have a four day weekend together! Cant wait!!!

Count Your Blessings...Name them one by one......

Gotta love that old hymn. Glad to say I go to a church now where hymns arent all we sing. Don't get me wrong I like hymns but not singing them all the time. That hymn has an awesome message! Well although this has been a rough month I have so much to be thankful for. I am truly blessed. Sometimes I get to the point I almost feel guilty for being so blessed. I know I shouldnt but I do. The main thing is that I am very thankful for what I have and I thank God for my blessings everyday. Here are a few of my many blessings:
1) Brandon- A husband that is very loving and caring and so hardworking. He comes home tired and still jumps right in and helps around the house and with Libby. I am so lucky to have him. He is awesome! I love him!!
2) This poop diaper that I am getting a wiff of right now- Yes, I am very blessed and thankful that I have a healthy baby girl that I can change her poo diapers.
3) Great parents- I have awesome christian parents that are very loving and supportive. Don't know what I would do with out them!
4) Chocolate milk- Chocolate milk is like my coffee. I have to have it every morning to function and I am very blessed to have my chocolate milk in my pantry every day.
5) House- Brandon and I have a beautiful house that is very special because it is his grandparents old house. We have a warm bed to sleep in, a roof over our head, and we love it!
Well I could go on and on about counting my blessings but the smell is starting to get to me....I suggest you stop and count your blessing on this beautiful Friday!! Have a good weekend!!

Week 2

Today begins week 2 of being a stay at home mom. Gosh this was always my dream job so why is it that I am not as happy as I thought? It is taking some getting use to for sure! I am starting to feel better about it. Last week I felt like a huge unemployed bum but now I am feeling pretty good. I worry about money but I am hoping it will work itself out. I am excited about being with Libby! She makes me so happy! I am just praying that when the time is right an opportunity will arise. In the meantime I am enjoying taking care of the household duties and taking care of Libby : )

Bored

This stay at home mommy thing has barely survived week one. I keep busy cleaning the house, laundry, etc but man...it's still boring. I dont think I am the "stay at home type". This is what happened to poor Libby during a dull moment....

4 month check up

Libby had her four month check up yesterday! Dr. said she is "socially advanced". Well duh..look who her mom is. haha. Uh oh that could be a bad thing as she gets older! He also said she has the "cutest smile he has seen in a year". Well duh. Look at her mom's smile. haha. Anyway, she is 12 pounds 14 ounces, 24.3 inches long, and her head is 16 inches in circumference. She is healthy as a horse! She can eat cereal now! yay!! Looking forward to the months to come!

Poopie Week

So last week was one of the worst weeks ever! I didnt get a job I interviewed for, my work computer crashed my last week of work causing all sorts of drama, and anything that could go wrong did. Lets not forget the big AT&T outage! That was nuts! I thought my life was busy before having Libby but I really had no idea! I feel like some days I don't even get the chance to just sit down, my dvrs are piling up, the bathrooms need to be cleaned, the house needs to be cleaned, I need to pay the bills, the babe needs to be taken care of, the laundry needs to be done, I need to go out to church to cut the checks, i need to find time to search for jobs, I have a belt I need to return, I am going to start babysitting tomorrow, Libby's 4 month check up tomorrow, I need to squeeze in treadmill time, not to mention I need to take a shower!! Ahhh! It's never ending. Being a mom is by far is the hardest job I have ever had. I have a new respect for stay at home mom's. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining by any means. I love my life and I wouldn't change anything about it. I am just saying it is definitely not easy!

OMG

OMG totally forgot to blog. lol. It has been crazy busy the past few days. I had a job interview to prepare for so that is what I did most of the weekend. I also enjoyed another Harman wedding...congrats Kelly & Rod! Can't wait for you to make Libby a cousin to play with! The interview was on Monday. I think I did well, but I dont think I will get the job. They liked my administrative experience however I think they are wanting someone with my experience in a medical setting. Medical office settings tend to be super busy and they want someone that has experience in a busy setting. If I dont get the job then it was meant to be. I just don't have a good feeling about it. Anywho, I am exploring my other options. My last day at SEBC is on Friday. Its bittersweet. I have enjoyed my time here but I feel like my time has come to an end. I am closing chapters in some areas of my life and looking forward to starting new ones. I can't complain. I have been so blessed! I have a wonderful husband in family, a relationship with Jesus Christ, a fantastic husband, and a healthy beautiful baby girl that I love to pieces. Looking forward to what life will bring. God has a plan for me and I have to be patient and see what he has in store!

My Love!

This is her Demarcus Cousins impression. Haha love it!

Blah Monday!

Yesterday really stunk up the place! I had a fussy clingy baby, had to go to the dr. for a not fun reason and got violated, every car I was behind was going 20 under the speed limit, and Muffin didnt come home until 8:00 pm due to a golf scramble, got a cd of pics that didnt work, got a bill in the mail that I thought I was going to have to pay which luckily ended up being a mistake, and the dr. scale said I was 123 pounds. Booo...And then I realized even though I thought I was having a horrible day, I really wasnt. A lot of people have it way harder than I do and they would have been glad to take my day yesterday. I asked God for forgiveness for being a whiney turd. So come on Tuesday...bring it on!!

AHHH

I think I had an encounter with the devil today at Kroger. I went in Kroger (which I cant stand because I hate the grocery in general), and I walked straight to the baby aisle for formula. On my way past an aisle I noticed ice cream on sale for $2.99. Wow that is a good deal! I had to tell myself that I didnt need the ice cream. I got the formula and somehow ended up in the bakery. I found some chocolate brownies covered with chocolate icing and sprinkles. They were also $2.99. I had them in my hand and then I realized the devil was trying to trick me. haha. I put the brownies down and paid for the formula and left the store. I won!! I beat the urge to buy something bad! I have been doing so well at eating good and getting on the treadmill everyday. I am currently 122 pounds and I am hoping to continue to lose. I would be completely satisfied with 118 or below. I am not too far away! I think I can...I think I can!!!

The best sound in the world.....

is hearing my baby laugh! I love it! She grows more and more everyday! Here is a pic of her holding her head up like a big girlie!!

Monday already?? Really?

Wow, I think the weekends go by faster and faster! I am amazed! I had a great weekend!! Brandon and I took Libby to Russell Springs Kentucky to visit another great great aunt. Aunt Rhodena is my grandma Rosie's sister. She was so happy to see Libby that she cried when she first saw her. It was so sweet! We had an amazing visit, ate a bunch of food, and had a good time. Yesterday I worked all day on a cover letter and application for a job. I hope it works out. I am not terrribly excited about having to work full time and give Lib a sitter but you gotta do what you gotta do. I have really enjoyed my time with her. If the job works out it does and if it doesnt I won't be too upset. I love spending time with my Lib. I love her so much! On a sad note I got word that a friend of a friend's husband passed away in an accident. He was only 28 I believe, no older I know. He was such a sweet guy. I cannot imagine what she is going through and she could use all the prayers in the world. She is from Germany so she has no family here. I got sick to my stomach when I heard the news. I am still in such shock. Well I am looking forward to seeing what this week will bring...cant wait!

Shew...this Momma is tired!!

Okay so I have the upmost respect for a housewife. I have been worn out the past few days! Taking care of a teething baby while taking care of household duties is a lot to manage. During her naps I find myself running around the house like crazy while trying to squeeze in a few days worth of work in 2 hours. I have been working on a resume, cover letter, and application, putting away Libby's newborn clothes while transitioning in her 3 month clothes, doing laundry, cleaning the bathrooms, making grocery lists, going to the grocery, paying bills, and squeezing in time to fit in a walk or treadmill time....only to stay up with the babe until 11:00 pm to get back up at 6:00 am. (and of course I hear her scurry in the night and listen to Brandon get up with her at 5:00). Oh and dont forget that she is going through a mommy's girl phase where only I can comfort her. My word. And p.s. I should feel lucky...my husband doesnt make me cook! I couldnt imagine having dinner on the table when he got home. How do people do it? I like to think of myself as a strong person that can handle a lot but goodness I am not wonder woman!

Its Official!!

Wow, I was looking back at the past 10 days and so much has happened! I backed my car into someone (so Libby had her first wreck), we got a new 2010 camry and sold Brandon's truck, Libby got her first tooth, she learned to take her passy out and put it back in her mouth, and......I quit my job! Ahhh!! That was the big decision that I have been praying about forever! I loved my job and I didn't want to resign however it was necessary to leave the church and that is what Brandon and I had decided was best for our family. It is bittersweet. I am sad to leave but looking forward to a new place of worship! I can't wait!

I had an amazing weekend! We hung out at home on Friday night and went to a wedding Saturday afternoon. We went to the lake Saturday evening and stayed the night, then got on the boat on Sunday with friends. We had an amazing time! My last day at my job is August 13 so I will continue to work Tuesday, Thursdays, and Fridays until then. So today I get to spend some time with my teething little love and the day couldnt be more perfect!

Oh Wednesday..Please Be Better Than Tuesday!!

Yesterday was one of those days that was for the birds! It rained all day and was yucky out! I had to work so I had to take Libby out in the rain which is no fun. To top it off I backed into a parked car in the parking lot. Ugh! It was raining, Libby was crying, and I was in a hurry to get home. Usually there is no one in the church parking lot and def. no one parked behind me but to my surprise yesterday there was. The girl that I hit works our Mom's Day Out program and she is very sweet and understanding. Thank goodness because if someone would have yelled at me I would have broken down. So..I guess it could have been much worse. Libby screamed out when we hit the car. It scared me to death. Poor thing, I scared her : ( (and myself).

I am at home with Libby today, thank goodness cause I really don't have the desire to drive today. Libby's great grandma Margaret is coming with my aunt to visit. I am keeping it low key today. Clean up around the house, sorting through things, maybe a walk tonight..that's about as exciting as it is going to get.

On another note, I have come to peace with the decisions that I have been praying about. I feel at ease and feel that they are good decisions. I will be making them official the next week so I can actually talk about it which will be nice. Its hard to hold stuff in that burdens you. In fact, that is what I was thinking about when I backed into the car. I don't want to carry the stress anymore.

Okay...off to go check on my sleeping babe then back to picking up before visitor time!!

Oh Monday...

Wow...seriously..it's Monday again? Why do the weekends fly by so fast? Although it went fast it was a productive weekend! We got a new 2010 Camry..yay! I love it! We are selling Brandon's truck to his dad and purchasing a Camry in it's place. I will miss Timmy the Ford F150 but a Camry is more practical for our needs. I am looking forward to this coming weekend as well. We are going to go to the lake and take some friends with us. Should be a lot of fun! I cannot believe how fast the summer has gone...it will soon be August! Ahhh!!! I can't believe it! I am looking forward to fall and the UK football season, however, I dont want to rush the days away. Libby is already three months and I cant believe how fast it has gone and how much she has grown! I am continuing to pray for our family over the next few months as things will be changing and hoping that God opens doors for us. I can't wait to see what God has in store for our family!

Boo for this long day....and boo for selfishness!!

So I officially started my day at 3:45 am even though I was awake way earlier. Miss Libby kept making noises in her sleep and had to be flipped from side to side and woke up to be fed at 3:00 am. I took my parents to the airport this morning for them to go on a 10 day trip to New York and cruise to the Carribbean. I had a lot to do at work in preparation for a meeting this evening so I went ahead and came into work. I arrived at 5:11 am. My goal is to get done here around 9:00 am so I can go home and nap while I have a sitter. Then an old friend is stopping by to bring me a growth chart I had her make for Libby. Another friend wants to stop by to meet Libby and then i have to be back at work at 6:30 pm for a meeting. Not to mention that I need to arrange to get Brandon a key to my p's house so that he can go feed their cats before coming home so I can go to my meeting. Yucky poo day!!

I am looking forward to the weekend though. Brandon's cousin is having a bridal shower on Sunday so my hot plans are purchasing her a gift, taking my wedding ring to the mall to be cleaned and inspected, laundry, and squeezing in a few naps! Cant wait!!

On a random note, I was just thinking about how blessed I am to have such good friends and family. My friend Amanda stopped by to see Libby and Miss Libby could have two guests today. Its neat how even though she is 3 months old, its like she is still brand new where everyone wants to come see her. On another note it saddens me when people I feel like should want to come see her and spend time with her don't. It makes me sad and has been wearing on me for a while now. Some people I feel like are too wrapped up in their own lives and don't make time to spend time with her. I am a firm believer of you make time for what you WANT to make time for....and that is what hurts me the most..that there are people that I feel should want to make it a priority to be actively involved in her life and they are making themselves unavailable by busying up their lives doing other things. Although people, including myself, are busy, I still make some time for the things that I want to do or go do or see people that are important to me. It kind of makes me feel like Libby isn't as important as she should be to some people. I cant worry about it or let myself get upset because ultimately the burden should fall on those people. The time they are missing with her they will not be able to get back and that is no one's fault but their own and they will have to deal with that in time. I think sometimes in life we lose sight of what is important and are so self absorbed that we aren't even aware of what we should be focusing on. I also think then when people lose sight and focus on God then it is really easy to get caught up in worldly things that we think will make us happy but really don't. I think we can find true happiness and fullfillment in life through God, family, and friends, not stuff or things. Off that soapbox...lets get this day over with!! : )

Yay! The 4th of July weekend was great!

So I had a great 4th weekend! Brandon, the Lib and I went to the lake Friday evening and came back late that night. We enjoyed spending time with Brandon's family. The lake must have worn Libby out because she slept until 7 am on Saturday! Woohoo for 7 straight hours of sleep! We went to a very pretty wedding on Saturday and then enjoyed a cookout and fireworks on Sunday. Now its back to the grind of the week woohoo!

I need some prayers please. Brandon and I are having to make some difficult decisions coming up and I am hoping things fall into place. I want what is best for us and our family and I just pray that the decisions we are about to make are the right ones.

I will post a pic of Miss Lib and her 4th outfit as soon as I upload them!

Dear Body, Im Not Pregnant Anymore...Just So You Know...

Okay it has been 11 and a half weeks since I delivered Queen Libby into the world...so why does my body still think Im pregnant..geezzz. I am still leaking colostrum and no matter what I do it wont go away. I am suppose to stay bandaged and stay away from stimulation including water hitting my breasts in the shower, clothes rubbing up against them, etc. (according to my dr.) Okay so in summer time when I go swim or whatever how the heck am i suppose to avoid stimulation? Am I suppose to not go to the pool and walk around with no shirt on and just an ace bandage wrapped around my chest? Seriously? And what about the dark line that runs down my belly? How long does that last? And what about the stretched out uterus...when does that shrink back down? Well i hope soon...I kind of would like my body back for just a little while before I have another (not that it would be anytime in the near future...let me make that perfectly clear). So anywho can someone please inform my body that I am no longer with child..k thanks!

On a different subject....took the Lib to the dr. She has been coughing and runny nose and gunky eyes the past week and a half. Found out its something with a long name that I cant remember but basically her tear duct is not functioning properly. Normally it clears itself up by 6 months but if it doesnt then she will have to have a minor procedure to correct it. Sure hope it takes care of itself! She is 11 pounds and 2 ounces now. I thought she was big until i read on fb that a baby that was born 2 weeks after her weighs 12 pounds 8 ounces...wow!! My babe is little. She is almost the size of her big brother Jeter!

Elderly Love

I enjoyed a nice visit with my great aunt Mary today. She was my Papaw Bill's sister. She is probably one of the sweetest and funniest elderly ladies I know. I took Miss Libby to meet her great-great aunt for the first time. Aunt Mary really enjoyed Libby. Seeing how happy she was that we were there made me realize how important it is to keep a good relationship with your elderly relatives. They are wise and have interesting stories to tell. It brings such joy to them to spend just a few hours with them. Its nice to know that your simple presence can make someone's day. Aunt Mary is someone who never misses a birthday or anniversary with a card. She is so sweet and thoughtful. We enjoyed the best homemade lemon pie as well! Keep in touch with your elderly family members and remain close to them so that you have no regrets. You can learn a lot from them while making them smile.

Back from Vacay!!

Well I am back from Vacation and it is back to reality until next year's vacation. Its funny how you wait all year long for vacation and it is the quickest week of the year. We had a great time and avoided the oil. The oil supposedly arrived where we were the day after we left. Libby did an extremely well in the car and slept so good while we were gone. She enjoyed the pool and the beach. She was a sweet girl! She has now gone to sleep a solid 6 hours at night before waking up which has also been very nice.

Today is Brandon and my one year anniversary. I cannot believe it has been one year! I love him more today then I did when I married him. So much has happened in our first year and we have been so blessed. Poor Brandon had to deal with a pregnant me for 9 of the 12 months of marriage and been a father for the other 3. It has been great though and we are so thankful. I cannot wait to see what the future holds as we raise Libby and watch her grow.

Thanks to mom, we had a date night last night for our anniversary. We enjoyed a nice dinner at Malones and went to see the movie "Grownups" which was super cute. We then made a quick trip to Target. It was nice to run in and get what we needed without having to drag along the babe. Mom got us a giftcard to PFChangs which was very sweet! Looks like we will have to take another date night.

I had a great day today but I also let go and let God day. There are some things that are going on in my life that I have been burdened by lately. During prayer at church today I began crying as I was praying for the things that have been troubling me and I couldnt stop until after we sang. It felt good to release my burdens and give them to God. I feel at peace. I still hurt for those situations and people in my life but I am at peace with these situations knowing God is all knowing and I am not. God is in control and I am not. I am so thankful to serve such a loving and forgiving God.

2 month check up

Libby had her two month check up yesterday. She was so sweet and did so good! She weighs 10lbs 5 ounces and is 22 inches long. Her head has grown from 13 inches to 15 inches! She is getting to be a smart girl! The dr. said she was the cutest patient he had seen all day! I am sure they all say that but it made me like him even more. She had to get three shots and she was so pitiful! She was in pain last night and it hurt my heart. I felt so bad for her. We are leaving for Florida in two days. As it gets closer I get more nervous about travelling with her. I hope she does well. I am keeping my fingers crossed! I have lots to do before the trip so I dont know if I will blog before I go. I will post some pics when I return!!

Poor Turtle!!

So I made a much needed trip to Target yesterday to get some necessary items for our vacation. I almost had everything I needed but there were a few more things I wanted to look at and Libby decided she didnt want to be there anymore and started crying. I rush to the check out to remove the screaming baby from their store and she falls asleep. Seriously? If I wasnt already in line with people behind me I would have shopped some more. Oh well I guess she kept me from spending some unnecessary money.

I pull into the driveway and begin carrying in the Lib and all the goodies that I had purchased and sat down on the couch, worn out from the trip. (simple shopping trips to Target are big exhausting ordeals with newborns). I then happen to look out on the driveway and there is something there. I put my shoes on to examine what it was. It was a squashed turtle with his guts hanging out...yuck!!! I had apparently run over the poor thing. I mean seriously..I have never in my life seen a turtle just randomly outside. I have seen turtles in Science class, the zoo, or people's pets but not out in the open like that. I am wondering if it was someone's pet? To top it off I asked my husband when he got home to scoop it up into a trash bag. He was not at all thrilled. When I offered to go do it because he didnt seem like he wanted to he enthusiasticly said "OKAY" (nodding his head). haha. So I had to shovel this turtle with his guts hanging out up into a black plastic trash bag and put it in the herbie curbie. Is that what you do with it? I mean heck I dont know..what is the appropriate way to dispose of a dead turtle? I have never done anything like that before. Brandon's vote was to leave it....um no..cant do that. haha. So the garbage men on Monday will have a nice smelly surprise.

This is Libby's poop face. Kinda cute if you ask me!

I need to Blog More often!!

Okay, so my new goal is to blog at least twice a week! I totally forget sometimes. Its not like I have a lot of free time on my hands these days! There is so much going on in my life and so much to look forward to right now!
First off, we are leaving for vacation to Destin, Florida in 8 days!! We are leaving next Thursday night to start our journey!! I am a bridesmaid in my friend Amanda's wedding and I cannot wait to be a part of her special day! I am so glad it worked out to where I could go and stand beside her as she marries her best friend! We are going along with our friends Stacy and Jackson and their daughter Addyon! I am so happy to do a couples trip with our girls!! Cant wait!! I think Libby's first vacation is going to turn out great..as long as the oil stays away!!
We are getting our first professional family photos done next week! Super excited for that as well! My goal is to do professional ones at least once a year! The downside is that she will be getting her first set of shots that day, I hope it doesnt make her grouchy.
My mom left for Europe yesterday. I hope she has a safe and fun trip. On a selfish note, I am sad she will be gone : ( I think I have the best mom in the world who happens to be the best Nana too. I hope Libby does not get too big before she gets back. I look at Libby and wonder who could not love and want to be around this baby? She is so stinkin cute and addicting!

I forgot to blog!!

So I havent blogged in a while because I have forgotten! Ugh! I swear after you have a kid you lose your mind! I could always remember everything and now I am so forgetful. Any poop, I went to the dr. today for my follow up appointment of my D&C. Everything looked good and apparently I have some stitches on my bottom that I was unaware...haha. He said, "so how are the stitches on your bottom?" "Why they are great..thanks for asking"...lol. I didnt say that but I was like what the heck? I had stitiches on my bottom? Hmm...no wonder it hurt! I got back on the pill. I havent been on the pill since last February. I hope it clears my skin up like it use to.

Okay to a random subject...apparently a passenger on carnival cruise line had a babe on board. Carnival's policy is that you can not cruise after 24 weeks and regardless of where u are in your pregnancy you have to have a dr's note saying you are fine to travel and that you are not considered high risk. So..how did this girl get by the rules? My conjecture is she wasnt showing much and she wanted a little fame or she didnt care about the risk. I mean seriously..how could you not know you are pregnant? I dont believe it. Having just recently been pregnant, I know first hand you know when you are pregnant. I knew the first week before my first missed period. One wiff of Brandon's socks while doing laundry had me gagging and I knew something was up! And when a baby kicks and moves inside you, it really feels like a human or an animal is in there moving around. Anyway...just wondering how she got on board that far along without any questions. Which reminds me...when I get preggo next time, I am taking a babymoon for sure!

By the way did I mention 16 days until Florida? Woohoooooo!!

Its been a while...

It has been a while since I have blogged and a lot has happened. Yesterday was Libby's six week bday! She is getting bigger everyday. She smiles, coos, and reaches for your face during playtime. She is so fun! She can also find and follow objects with her eyes. She is getting to be a big girlie!

I had a little scare this week. Thursday (tommorrow) was suppose to be my 6 week check up. I have been bleeding ever since Libby's birth and I called the dr. to see if I needed to reschedule my appointment. They seemed concerned that I was still bleeding and told me to come in right away for an ultrasound. I went in for the ultrasound and they found something in my uterus. I met with the dr. and he informed me that we needed to do a dnc right away. The next morning (Libby's 6 week bday) I had the procedure done. They believe it is left over placenta from the delivery but I will find out for sure next week at my follow up appointment. What a crazy week. I am so lucky to have a good husband and mom to step up and help out with Libby this ordeal. I am just glad it is over.

We will have to see what next week will bring.

Its the Little Things

I have had a fantastic week so far! Mom came over and stayed the night with Libby on Monday night. That was a huge help! It is always nice to get a full nights sleep every once in a while. I worked for a bit Tuesday and then we went shopping at Carter's for the Lib. We got her a ton of cute things for under $100. She will be ready for summer for sure! I cannot wait to take all her fun outfits to Florida when we go in a few weeks! I am hoping the oil spill wont put a damper on our trip. Today I took the Lib to go visit her daddy at work. Everyone loved her! The secretaries thought she was beautiful! Lib and I are going to go on a walk later with Tiffany and then daddy is coming home to make us some yummy chicken tacos! It is the little things in life that make me happy!!

First day back to church!!

It is my first day back to church since the Sunday (April 11) before the Tuesday I had the Lib. It feels weird to be at home on Sunday mornings and not at church. Libby is being dedicated this morning! Yay! I will have to post a pic later! I had a great weekend! I was able to take a nice walk at the arboretum (gotta get these pounds off!!), cleaned house, and then Brandon and I took Libby to Kohls! (I had to get some spanx to suck in my gut..haha!!) We met friends for dinner at OCharleys and were so lucky that Libby slept the whole time! Libby got a bath and then it was bedtime! she slept until 3:15 am!! Woohoo!!! Brandon and I both had a good night's rest!! Looking forward to the week and what the near future holds! I have been praying that God opens doors for me in the near future and shows me where I need to be and what I need to be doing! Cant wait to see what he has in store for me and our family!

One Month!!!

Libby is one month old today! Cannot believe it! The time has gone by so fast! She is going to TCHS today to go visit her Nana and GiGi! It should be interesting!! Motherhood is exhausting but rewarding! I love her so much! She was much easier to take care of when she was in my belly but I am glad she is here! I am looking forward to watching her grow. Sometimes when she is screaming and wont let me put her down all day and I get stressed, I stop for a second and thank God for all my blessings! I have a house, a car, a job, an amazing husband, cat, and family and now I have a healthy beautiful baby girl. I feel like the richest person in the world sometimes because I have been blessed with such a great life! I dont ever want to take for granted for what I have been given and so I count my blessings everyday!

My Little Sweetness!!

Just thought I would post a pic of my love <3

Yay!! I have actually been productive today!!

So I havent blogged in a while and there has definitely been a good reason for that!! Libby has been a clingy colicky baby! I could hold her and she would sleep, then the minute I would put her down she would scream bloody murder! It has been awful. I have had to hold her all day everyday and then feel the stress of knowing that I have a messy house and nothing has gotten accomplished! Well today that changed! I have learned what I call "Operation Tough Love". If Miss Libby is fed, clean diaper, clean clothes, and warm then cry your heart out sister cause momma has got work to do!! So far so good! She will cry and then 10 minutes later be out like a light! It has been fabulous! We purchased a fancy swing called the iglide so she gets that soothing rocking motion that she needs! I just feel better all around! I have been able to get stuff done and feel relieved about that! Its taken three weeks but Im starting to get the hang of this mom thing!

Where has the time gone?

On Tuesday it will have been three weeks since Libby was born. I cannot believe how fast it has gone! The days are the long but the weeks are short. A lot will be going on the next few months and I am looking forward to some changes. Most importantly I am looking forward to our vacation in June. We will be going to Destin, Florida (my first time ever) and taking Miss Libby with us to see Jonathan and Amanda tie the knot. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I fit in my bridesmaid dress! It is a rainy Sunday and I think I am going to spend the rest of the day resting and cuddling with my Libby Rose..can't wait!

Borrowing Wednesday...

I am amazed at how boring my days are that they go by so fast! Libby eat, sleeps, poop...and I wash bottles, clothes, eat (when I remember), work (from home of course), and try to nap, and okay maybe watch Dr. Phil daily too : ) I sometimes feel like I am in jail and out of touch with reality. When I get in the car and drive it feels like I am breaking out of jail and I am free!! I look forward to when Muffin comes home from work for lunch just so I can communicate with another adult and ask him what the weather feels like outside. However, I would not change my situation for the world. I am so blessed to have a happy, healthy baby! I thank God for her everyday! She means so much to me! Even though my new way of life is going to take some getting use to, I would not have it any other way!

Feeling Refreshed!

Its Monday morning and after a very long hard weekend I am ready to start my day and I am feeling refreshed! Libby had some major gas issues on Saturday night and so she did not sleep at all that night nor did she sleep all day yesterday. My mom came to the rescue and thanks to her Brandon and I slept well last night. She called the pediatrician and he told her to try the mylicon drops and apparently they worked wonders! Thank goodness!! The stress of constant visitors and people in and out of my house is still getting to me but at least I havent had any more break downs. I am looking forward to what the week will bring! I am about to head in to work for a bit then back home to hang out with Lib! Oh did I mention I have lost 30 pounds? So happy!!