Bueller? Bueller?

I'm still here.  I don't know if you knew this already, but the holidays are a really busy time of year.  I have been babysitting, cleaning, shopping, crafting, traveling....probably like you have.  I have pictures that I want to post of my fall mantel that I feel silly posting now.  I want to show my Christmas mantel too, and a bunch of crafts that I have done lately.  And a Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Brody's 15-16 month update.  Phew....

But for right now, since it's almost 2013, I thought I'd share some resolutions.

2013 New Year's Resolutions

1.  Lose that weight.  Seriously.  My husband is in on it with me.  I am going to walk/run/do something active for at least 30 minutes 3 days a week, gradually lengthening my time and changing things up.  I am also going to do 100 sit ups.  Every. Day.

2.  Budget our money better.  Actually sit down with Brian and tell our money where to go.  We have been to lots of Joe Sangl presentations (similar to Dave Ramsey), so we know what to do we just need to implement it. 

3.  I also want to budget so that we can start to set aside money every month to adopt a child.  It is something I believe I am called to do, so I want to start now so that when the time is right several years from now, we'll be ready.  

So that's it.  Simple.  Manageable.  Completely doable.  Here we go!

To Sum Up the Past Year...

 I have to admit...when I saw Becky post about this link up, the first thing that went through my mind was, "What if I do this and nobody likes me?"  And then I remembered I wasn't in high school anymore.  I have been majorly slacking over here...sorry.  I have been babysitting everyday and then traveling to PA for Thanksgiving, so all I have been doing is catching up on everyone else's blogs instead of paying attention to mine.  Such is life...

So, what to talk about...

I originally started this blog to document my new life as a mother.  I talked about my birth story and how it went completely different than what I had planned.  I wrote about the hardships of adjusting, even giving new moms some advice.  Last year at this time, I was just returning back to work and having an incredibly difficult time doing so.  Time went on and I posted all about the new milestones my son reached and even a couple funny posts thrown in there too.  He recently turned one year old and we celebrated surfer style.  I am not working full time now (praise the Lord), but I am babysitting my niece and nephew an awful lot and probably will continue to do so for a while.

I have also posted about (unsuccessful) weight loss and a few DIY projects, but really the heart of this blog is to share my love of living.  Finding joy in each day.  Loving my husband, my son, my family, and every person on this earth that God created.  It just comes easily to me.  I hope that reading this blog leaves you with a smile.  Because smiling is fun.  And contagious.

XOXO, Jessica

Sorry I've Been MIA...I was in jail...

JUST KIDDING! :)  But that does remind me of a story...

Once upon a time, when Brian and I were fresh off the market, we visited his bro and sis in law up in the mountains.  The boys were spending the day snowboarding, while the girls stayed behind to eat and watch TV tend to the chores. It was a nice relaxing day, and we were expecting our snow bunnies slope studs to get home around 8 with a hot dinner waiting for them.  Well, 8:30 rolled around and I had been trying to call Brian to see where they were, but never got an answer.  Finally, around 9, his brother called me.  That's weird. 

Hey Jess.

Hey.  What's up?  Where are you guys?

Well...something happened.

What do you mean?  Is everything okay?

It's Brian...

<insert heart pounding>Okay, tell me!

We're waiting for the cops to arrive.

WHAT!!??  How?  Why?  What did he do?

Well, it's stupid, really.  We stopped at a gas station to grab some snacks and hot chocolate for the drive.  Brian grabbed a Snickers bar, some chips, beef jerky.  Then, he went to get his hot chocolate.  He couldn't carry it all, so he stuck the Snickers bar in his back pocket.  He carried everything up to the cash register, paid for it, and as we were walking out the door, the crazy old man yelled, "Stop!  Did you plan on paying for that or were you just going to steal it?"  Brian said that it was a mistake, but the stupid old man said he was calling the cops to clear things up.  We might have to stay here tonight.

<tears in my eyes>What!  Oh my gosh!  This can't be happening!  That's so dumb!  He was going to pay for it, right?  <images of our life together halted.  Am I going to have to do conjugal visits for the next 8-10 years?  We just got married!>

........In walks Brian and his brother, grinning from ear to ear...... 'GOT YA!'

YOU JERKS!  I ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK!  <walk up to Brian>  *SMACK!*  RIGHT ON THE FACE!  How could you do this to me?!

Then, I ran into the bathroom and cried.  Out of relief, anger, and embarrassment.  For smacking the crap out of my new husband in front of his brother and wife.



And that was the highlight of winter 2006.

Let's Be Honest...

I was wondering what to write today, and then I remembered that I haven't done one of these in a little while.

So, let's be honest...

I spent waaay too long reading the comments from this post yesterday.  Hilarious.  Sad.  Cruel. Weird.

Heck, I spend waaaay too long reading blogs period.

I have subjected my husband to so much ANTM, Project Runway, and Giuliana and Bill that he has threatened ending his life if he had to watch any more of it.  Sorry hubs.

When taking Brody for a stroll around the neighborhood, I felt my belly jiggling with every step I took. Is it bad to start a diet right before the holiday season?  Yeah, you're right.  Screw it!

I haven't had my hair cut in over a year.  My split ends are horrendous!  That'd going on my 2013 Bucket List.  Isn't that sad?

I am kind of ashamed to have people over to our house.  I never feel like it's clean enough, organized enough, or classy enough.  Our walls are different colors, we don't have fancy furniture, and my husband's idea of decorating is surfboards and a humungous picture of us with a dolphin from our honeymoon above the sofa.  We're working on it though.



Check back tomorrow for a couple of amazing and awful things that have happened with Brody lately.

Later Homies,

Jessica

Brody's First Birthday Bash

I feel absolutely horrible that it has taken me almost 3 months to post this, and I still feel like it's lacking with pictures.  I felt that I really needed to put this up though because it was such a huge milestone for my little guy.  I am hoping to upload more pictures from family members later....

It's been a long time coming.  The birthday party that I had planned for months.  The party that started out as one color scheme and then switching to something else the last month.  I looked all over Pinterest and the Internet, spent hours looking up ideas, hours thinking and sketching out stuff, making clothes and hats and decorations.  Phew!  Am I glad it's over!  The sad thing was, Bo Bo was not feeling good the couple days preceding the party and was only about halfway back to being his normal crazy self that Sunday.  He decided to have a nap right in the middle of his party, but we were having too much fun swimming in the lake to care.  We had a great time and had so much fun seeing everyone.  Our friends and family were so generous with gifts and Brody has enjoyed all his new toys.   Now, on to the pictures..... (I didn't get as many pics as I'd like because my camera died, so I did the best I could! :)  )

Table decor.  Each one had pictures of Brody in frames that I spray painted in coordinating colors.

Bro's high chair.  Made the streamers, bib and hat.

Gift table.  More pictures and Birthday cards on ribbon.

Brody's monthly pictures.

More tables

Other end

The set up--with snacks.  

View of the lake

Mom holding Brody in the shirt I made him

snacks

friends

family

friends and family

family

my peeps

snacks on the dock--goldfish, M&M shots, jell-o with (Swedish) fish swimming in them

Cupcakes I made with shark fin and surfboard toppers

close up

The setup at dinner time--my mom made that awesome shark with fruit

Back up to see the lanterns

The sharrrrrk!  Cool, huh?  And yes, my mom cut a leg out of paper and put it by the mouth!

And this is where my camera died....no pics of him eating his cake...which he was crying almost the whole way through.  He started to freak out when everyone sang the Happy Birthday song.  He didn't calm down until I took his birthday hat off, took him out of high chair and held him for a few minutes.  Then, I had to feed him a couple bites of icing before he realized that it was the best thing he ever tasted!

Happy First Birthday Brody Lee!  We love you!

The Next 4 Years

Something happened tonight.  I had the privilege of putting my son to bed.  Usually Brian has this job which he joyfully accepts.  One on one time with his buddy.  But tonight, Brian wanted to watch the election news.  So, I wrapped Brody up in my arms and gave him his bottle.  Most nights, little dude will drink for a couple minutes, get squirmy, and he's ready to be put in the bed.

But tonight...

I watched his eyes blink a little more slowly.  His grip loosen on his bottle.  His little legs start to twitch.  His chest rise and fall in rhythm with mine.  He fell asleep safe in his mama's arms.  I sat there taking him all in, cherishing this rare time with my busy (almost) 15 month old.  His golden brown hair.  His long, dark lashes.  The sweet rocket ship pajamas that he will soon grow out of.  His wonky, crooked toe nails.

And I thanked God for giving me this moment.  Reminding me that while who the President is very important, this....this gift is more important.  What goes on in these four walls is what is going to impact his life the most these next 4 years.

The next 4 years, he will learn --- his ABCs and 123s.  how to use the potty by himself.  how to write his name.  the difference between right and wrong.  how to be independent as he walks through the doors of his kindergarten classroom.  the importance of kindness, compassion and gratitude.  that Jesus loves him and hopefully the feeling will be mutual.  that mommy and daddy will always be there no matter what.

And this is up to me. And Brian.
not the President, whomever that may be.

Brody's 13 and 14 month update

I have had this post written for a while, but have held off posting due to gathering pictures.  Brody will turn 15 months, so I thought I'd better post this before it's too late!  This past month and next month will be in a December post.  Also, I may only do updates every couple months now.  Not that his milestones are any less significant, but I'm getting busier and busier!

My dear baby boy,

It seems since you've turned one, the weeks have flown by.  It has been an adjustment since the beginning, but I feel like we know each other pretty well now.  Yet, you constantly surprise me with how much you have learned!  You are just about to leave the baby stage and become mommy's toddler.  You aren't walking yet, but I definitely see it in your near future.  You love for us to hold your hands and walk you all around the house.  You laugh so hard and stomp your feet up and down, trying to get your balance just right.  You have started to try and stand on your own by releasing your grip on the couch or my pant leg.  It doesn't last long and you plop on the ground (gracefully), but you're getting close!  I have a feeling that you are going to be one that will climb out of your crib the second you're big enough to do so.  Because you are brave.  And it scares me to death!  You climb on everything!!!!!  You can't walk, yet I will watch you climb onto a skateboard up to your little rocking chair, stand up, then squat back down, turn around, climb back down on the skateboard and crawl away.  Really, baby?  REALLY?!  You have started to climb on and off the couch all on your own, so I have to be extra careful if I leave the room for a minute.  Oh!  And you climb out of the bath tub too.  Your dad watched you do it and then out you came, crawling around the living room soaking wet and butt naked! "I"M FREEEE!!"  What a little ham you are!

Remember how you only had one itty bitty tooth popping through by your first birthday?  Well, now you have a grand total of FIVE teeth!  And it never seemed to bother you!  Hallelujah!  With those chompers, you have been eating lots and lots of food!  There isn't a food that you have tried that you don't like.  Lemons, cucumbers with vinegar, pinto beans, cheese puffs, potato soup, peas, tilapia, spaghetti...You love everything.  And since your first birthday, you have had your fair share of PB&J's.  And we can't forget bananas.  You have a love affair with those!  I break off a piece, hand it to you, and you just laugh and say, 'nana.'  Sweet thing.  We have started to give you baby spoons and forks to use and you love it!  You make a huge mess, but you're learning.

Just like you eat us out of house and home like a teenager, you sleep like one too.  I have been blessed with such a great sleeper!  You sleep at least 12 hours at night, most times more.  And you usually have a good 2-3 hour nap during the day.  Sometimes an extra 1 hour nap later in the day, if you feel like it.  You never fuss at nap time.  Even if you don't sleep, you'll be content to just rest and talk to your pacifier for a good 45 minutes while I get stuff done around the house.  The only thing is, you hardly sleep in the car anymore.  You have to be extremely tired and cry for a good 5 minutes before you pass out.  I guess you know your crib is your comfy night night place and you don't like change.

You are a boy after my own heart because you love to dance.  And rock out to music.  Not kidding--anytime we enter a store and there's music playing, you automatically starting nodding your head and pumping your fists in the air, and jerking that shoulder up and down.  Even when you wake up in the morning, I pick you up and you point to the radio and do this funny questioning noise, 'huh?' and I turn on the alternative station and we rock out.  You even crawl up to the CD player in the living room and know which button to push to make your favorite Dirty Heads CD play.

Right now, you are totally, totally, totally in love with buttons and wheels.  Buttons on the remote, on the house phone, on your books and toys, buttons on shirts, buttons on the fan, buttons on the ATM machines at the store.  Wheels on the car, wheels on your stroller, wheels on your toys, steering wheels.  You will turn your push toys over and just spin the wheels.  I could set you in my lap in the driver's seat of the car and you would play with the steering wheel, jerking it back and forth, for 30 minutes with a big ol smile on your face.  And then scream bloody murder if I tried to pull you away.  You are serious about your wheels.

While you still love to be held, you are definitely Mr. Independent.  You know what you want and you always want it RIGHT NOW.  You point and cry if it's out of your reach until mama gets it for you.  You are recognizing environmental print, so you know what the graham cracker box and cheese puff bag looks like and you will be Mr. Meltdown if you don't get it.  Even if you just had lunch!  And I can tell the difference between your, 'Mommy help me, I'm hurt!' and 'Gimme that NOOOOOW!' cries.

You babble and talk to yourself all the time.  You say mama, dada, nana (for banana), uh oh, nose, our (flower), out, and your try real hard to say diaper.  You stare at my mouth when I try to teach you new words and you usually respond with random sounds, but the correct syllables.  You are just so darn cute and you probably say bababa 100 times a day.

I also need to mention that you no longer breastfeed.  The last day you nursed was actually your 1st birthday, August 10th.  That was the day I got extremely sick and had strep throat.  We were only down to nursing once first thing in the morning and even that was only lasting for about 10 minutes.  I loved that time though.  I would bring you in the bed with me and it seemed to be the only time of day where you would still snuggle with me.  After getting sick, I took a few days off and when I tried to nurse again, you were not interested at all.  You even bit me!  I knew right then and there that our time together was over.  I still miss it so much.  But you chose for it to end, and I'm following your lead!

Now for the pictures.  I stopped taking pictures of him in the chair....

You can see his teeth coming in!

Looks like his 18 month PJs are still too big...

Did this all by himself...stuck in his drum

Climbing 

Pushed the turtle over and tried to climb up the cabinets

And you try to climb in the bath tub yourself...

And out of it...

You do NOT like the swings anymore

But you are still a very happy guy :)

Lowe's trips are fun

And you love Hap's cheeseburgers

Trips to IKEA make you just as giddy as mommy

You had so much fun at Tiger World

and the pumpkin patch.

We have had so much fun and we are so excited to see how much cooler you get!  Love you baby boy!

 <3, Mommy