Grateful for everyday "gifts"

So I came across this blog... a holy experience and I like an idea it has.

Religion is a tough topic with people. So here's where I stand.
I was taught that I did not need to go to church to pray. That a personal relationship with Jesus will make you a better person. And we are here to help people for him. I was taught that if I talk to Jesus, Thank God for all my blessings, and help people whenever I can... how I can... well that's what is asked of us. Now that was just kind of the way my brought us up. She taught us heaven was whatever I wanted it to be. Anything I dreamed of.... which usually was a world made of marshmallows, instead of traveling by car... you traveled via carousel.... and you could have as many lollipops as you wanted...

But anyways. My whole point is.... as an adult.... I still have those views. When my husband wanted to find a church to attend and to have our son baptized at. One of my rules were it had to do a lot of work int he community. And I love our church for that reason. They are constantly helping out the community. And that is very important to me.

Now I don't have a real opinion that one religion has it all figured out. I don't know what the right answer is. The church we attend feels right in my heart and that's what is important.

I don't believe in preaching to other people. In fact its really something I cant handle when people do. I think its important to find what makes us happy. I shared the link above... because of one reason.
I like the idea of counting out what we are thankful for. Taking time to stop and enjoy the small moments.
I have not read this book.... I haven't really read the blog other than the whole thought behind the 1000 gifts finding "gifts" in our everyday life.

Now I am going to start adding this to my blog... So in case you see me counting out a few things in the bottom. I just wanted to let anyone who is reading what I am doing. 
So theres my story. I love this idea because ... to me this is looking back at my day... good or bad and finding all the things that make me smile.

For me.... all of this is sort of my moral compass. taking the time at the end of the day... reflecting on my day... who I am. And really becoming the person I want to be. I don't worry so much about how others view me... but I do worry about how I see myself. And that is what I use my relationship with him for. Praying is kind of my self check... am I doing things that make myself proud, could I handle situations better, do I need to prioritize, am I rushing thru these days missing what is really important... etc.

I am breaking the rules.. I will not be linking up. But I have this thing... that I don't like to push beliefs.. and that would be cutting it too close for me.
I just wanted to let you know what my numbers are going to be for.
They wont be in depth meaningful things... I mean lets get real... if you know me... you know I thank McDonalds daily for their fountain soda. Mcdonalds coke and Starbucks coffee will be repeated... but they deserve it :)
Thanks for reading.

1. warm baked chocolate chip cookies

2. My husband getting home first and having dinner ready when I walk in the door

3. Big smiles from Maddux when I get home from work

4. Nala always being excited to see me.

5.Cherry Coke

6. Cuddling with Maddux on the couch before bedtime

7. Snowstorms

Embrace The Camera

Well I lost my camera battery charger. So after spending 2 weeks looking everywhere for it... I broke down and went to the camera store and bought a new one. So it has been 2 weeks with no photos. Unfortunately I havent had a chance to get a new one. The lil man has had an ear infection, has four teeth breaking thru, and has had a cold. So things around here this week... have not been picture friendly :(

This weekend though we are going to visit grandparents so I am sure I will get some good ones, since he should be feeling better!!! finally!!! ;)

SO this week I decided to grab an old photo that I absolutely adore.

This was taken last year for Easter... Maddux had just starting smiling... and just check out these two cheeseballs....

This picture just makes you want to smile right???

Or maybe just me?

Either way... these two guys are A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.

and completely own my heart.

I like to play Embrace The Camera with Emily... You can check her out here

The man I married....

The next few weeks for us are pretty busy.... Dad has surgery, Christmas celebration with the in-laws, volleyball tournaments, etc. So in the next few weeks we are celebrating our 3rd year anniversary and Valentines Day shortly after that. So I thought this weekend while I had a chance I would share a few words about my husband before life gets in the way... and our anniversary comes and goes.....  So here they are....


In the beginning … a simple look from him would make me lose all thought, would make butterflies go frantic in my stomach, I would forget to breathe, he would make my face explode with a smile. Just a look…. I fell head over heels in love… and fell quickly. Falling in love has got to be one of the best feelings in the world. You are excited, nervous, scared…. Happy. Insanely Happy. This face makes me insanely happy.

You always miss something once its gone….. and I miss those feelings. I really miss those feelings. I miss the Did he mean to touch my hand, the fireworks feeling from kissing, the dizzy headed giddy little girl he made me feel like.


Don’t get me wrong. I love our relationship now.

Now with a single look we know what the other is thinking. It’s like our own secret language. The saying goes… If you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything. And I can tell you in all honesty I believe my husband is the funniest guy on the planet. His impersonations, his sarcasm, his blonde moments…. He always makes me laugh. But he can’t make me do anything. I still hate the history Channel. Hate it. And he tries to make me like it. ;)

But anyways…. Our relationship has evolved into this partnership. This being able to communicate without talking…. Supportive, understanding, open partnership. He holds all of my secrets, all of my thoughts, all of my dreams… he is my support system. He is my best friend. My everything.

We face the challenge of raising this little person together. And so far it has been an incredible journey. I will tell you that it is not as hard as I thought it would be. Some days are harder than others, don’t get me wrong. But parenting has been a stage of “discovery” This past year we have discovered things about ourselves individually, as a couple, and an ummm honey….did you know babies did that?!!?!?!!  But I have never been the "OOHHH BABIES" girl. I never wanted to babysit as a teenagers and when I did.... most likely I hated it. Now I did think babies were cute... especially my nieces. But holidays... my nieces would exhaust me. I would come home exhausted. But at that time there were four of them. So in my head I was thinking that was parenting... four not one. So if you can follow where I am going with this. I pictured parenting to be hard because I was basing it off of the exhausting from four adorable very energized little gals. :)

Our lives are far from perfect…. sometimes we struggle… we fight, we get frustrated, we lose patience, we nag, we I throw two year old pout fits when things don’t go my way. If you don’t fight, I don’t believe you know the person you are married to…. Because well you simply can’t. 

And even though I can tell you I miss the jitter bug feelings of falling in love, I realize that this stage of our relationship is just as important and in 10-15 years I am going to look back and say… “I miss those days… I miss those feelings” I believe that in our early years we developed a foundation for our relationship. But right now, we are building the foundation for our family… which comes with all new ideas, discussions, learning how to listen more to each other… rearranging priorities…. Really just discovering who we are as adults (because I still don’t feel like one)

I am guilty of taking my husband for granted. And I am not afraid to say it. I take him for granted probably on a daily basis. Don’t get me wrong. I am grateful daily for him. But I don’t say it out-loud on a daily basis.

My husband inspires me to be a better wife, mother, friend, daughter, sister, aunt, grand-daughter, simply a better person. He makes me realize I sometimes take life too seriously, and to slow down. Take time to enjoy the little moments in life. To realize I cannot plan out every situation perfectly... and when things go not as planned...  to breathe (because I do forget)


Now the sound of feet running down the halls is our favorite sound in our house. Our late nights of eating popcorn in bed watching friends marathons has turned into... passing out in bed around 9pm with Maddux's dinner often embedded somewhere into my hair or pajamas. Our weekends of laying in bed til 10-11 am have turned into waking up at 7 am to an adorable voice calling out "mama", "Dada", "nala"
But I can tell you that I cant say I have ever been this happy. Sincerely happy. I have that feeling of... this is exactly where I am meant to be daily. And how does it get better than that?

I have a husband that changes all poopy diapers if he is home (because they are disgusting and make me gag). I have a husband who does housework on his days off. I have a husband who wants to go grocery shopping with me. I have a husband who makes dinner if he gets home first. I have a husband that still realizes its important to take me out on dates every once in a while. I have a husband that understand on a bad day stopping and picking me up a McDonald's coke will make everything a lil better.  I have a husband who every day makes our family his number one priority. I have a husband who tells me daily how much he loves me.  And I am thankful. More thankful than he will ever know. More thankful that I can ever express into words.


And a few of my favorite pictures of us engagement/wedding photos :)

Subway Art

I have been loving all the Subway Art being done by everyone.... I have been nervous to try it out myself. But I decided... eh what the heck.

So I had the hubs run to lowes have a board cut to the measurements I wanted for our wall... He brought it home... I spray painted the whole board black. Then cut out vinyl quotes I wanted for our family rules.

Placed them on the board. Spray painted a light blue a few coats.... then once dried I peeled off the vinyl. Now on some of these I had to do some touching up so if you see some weird looking letters well that was probably me trying to touch it up. To be honest  I am an impatient person and if you look closely that shows in this project.

I dont think its too bad for my first try at Subway Art :)

I am quite pleased with the way it turned out. Now I just need to get it hung up on the wall!!!!!!!

Here is what I came up with for our House Family Rules.

It reads as follows.

Dream BIg

Share

Try New Things

Pay With Kisses

Listen to your Parents

No Whining

Say I love You

Do Your Best

Forgive Others

Use Kind Words

Hug Often

Sing Silly, Dance Crazy, Snuggle Often

Say Please and Thank You

Keep Your Promises

Say Your Prayers

Always Tell the Truth

Be Grateful

Wish on Stars

Smile



Dear Maddux.....

*** people have summed up the years they have had.... and this was a pretty amazing year for us. I loved this idea so much I had to "borrow" it.  The one that inspired me to do so was LittleMissMomma. If you have not seen her blog please check her out. She is amazing.

Dear Maddux,

You are barely over a year now.... and it feels like just yesterday we were bringing you home. You have traded in your bear crawling for running down the halls yelling.. hands over your head with excitement. Walking is all you want to do now. You have discovered this new sense of freedom and take advantage of it at all times! You have a strong wonder for coffee cups, electric sockets, lamps, anything mom or dad are eating.


You never seem to run out of energy, which is oh so tiring at 7am on a Saturday but regardless you always make me laugh and I wouldn't want it any other way. You could laugh, play, yell, and run all day.   You show this new world no fear and look at everything as a new adventure. I hope you will always look at life with such optimism.

I have decided to take a moment and reflect on our past year. Since this year has flown by.... too fast.

I remember making your daddy run to the store not once... twice... but three times because I wanted to make sure that positive test was correct and not a fluke!

I remember being exhausted, tired, worn down from commuting to work everyday being 8 -9 months pregnant. And you would give me a little kick just to remind me what I was doing this for.

I remember the day you were born and I was overwhelmed with emotions. I can honestly say thanks to you that love at first sight does exist.

I remember how it broke my heart to leave the hospital without you. You had to stay an extra night.... I cried the whole way home.... and myself to sleep.

I remember my heart racing the next morning holding you in the hospital... hoping... praying... we can bring you home.

I remember finally being able to breathe again when they did allow us to take you home first thing that morning.

I remember your first doctors appointment when the nurse held you down to give you shots. And every part of me wanted to grab her and stick her with needles for hurting you.

I remember the countless nights I would lay there listening to you breathe. Staring at you with such awe and admiration... dreaming of all the things you may become...

I remember the first smile.... and I dont think you have stopped smiling since.

I remember your first experience with eating baby food... how excited you were with actual food that had a flavor!!! You havent stopped eating since... Im a lucky momma you are not a picky eater!


I remember the first time you looked up at me and gave me a huge cheesy smile... and you had two teeth!!!!! You never showed signs of any teething. I will never forget that adorable two toothed grin!

I remember the first time you giggled. I have never ever heard a more beautiful sound.

I remember how your first word was Nala. and that has remained your name for Dog. You are always so excited to see Nala. and Love to give her hugs.

I remember when you refused to crawl on your knees and instead crawled around our house using a bear crawl.... on your feet and hands... but straight up in the air.

I remember how much your curiousity grew the moment you learned to crawl. and from there it just has continued!

I remember the first time you reached for me and said Mama.

I remember the first time I said give me a kiss... mwah... and you leaned in open mouth slobbery and laid one on me. Best moment ever :)

I remember your first steps. And the look on your face once you realized what you just did!

I remember how you would smack your lips at me whenever you wanted a bite of something I am eating.

I remember how every morning you wake up with a smile so excited to see us. ( I am assuming this will change as a teenager )

I remember how excited you are to see your cousin Aurora who is just your size. You love to share everything with her. I have a feeling you two will be great friends.

I remember how excited you were to go down the slide at the toddler playground all by yourself. and how you clapped your hands when momma yelled Yay... you are SOOOO big!!

I remember how much you smile and laugh when we have our dance parties together while daddy is gone coaching volleyball.

I remember how I gave you a dinosaur flashlight in Target just to keep you happy... and trying to take it away when we got to the cash register. Where you threw a fit and held on to that toy with a death grip. So we bought Rex home with us.

I remember how much you love cuddling up on the couch with Momma and Dada to watch Toy Story. It still amazes me how that movie stops you in your tracks and all you want to do is cuddle and watch it.

I remember you sitting on Santa looking at him with such awe and amazement (Im sure it was just his beard you were amazed by).

And even as you become a big boy. I will always remember your adorable smile, your sparkling eyes, your incredible laugh, your big baby belly, your flinstone feet, your crazy morning hair, your chubby cheeks, your goofball personality. I will never forget our first year of firsts.... I will cherish all of these moments forever. I look forward to all the new things you will learn this coming year. You will always be my baby boy.

Now that the Holidays are over....

So this post is a little late... I planned on writing this a little sooner... but well, Work, Maddux,... Life just got in the way.

So a week or two ago... I was reading everyone's Christmas traditions they have. And was compiling a list that I would like to steal... or borrow :)

For us we spend Christmas Eve with my dads side of the family. Then Christmas evening at my moms. But the day of Christmas we have decided we would like to have a pretty quiet day just us. We want Maddux to have the chance to play with his toys and really just hang out as a family.
So this year we made breakfast, watched a Christmas move, played... took naps... then headed off to my moms. Which was great...:) but now that he will start getting bigger from here on out... and next year he probably wont be all that into Christmas... but next year I figure I really need to decide what we will be doing.

So here are a few ideas that I have on my list that I would like to do next year.

Advent Calendar - Love these. I am hoping to steal one of the thousand ideas I have seen out here. I have not at all decided which one yet though. There are too many good ones to choose from.

The elf - this one I first heard from an old friend Sarah... then researched it after she told me about it and fell in love. I bought a little elf and a snowman? (its packed and I cant remember if I went with the snowman or the reindeer) but anyways. I bought these two little stuffed animals. and they will be arriving next year the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Now they have letters you can print off from Santa to the child explaining that the Elf and friend are here to watch over them to make sure they are good for Santa. But Santa puts a note on there that elves really enjoy jokes so sometimes they get a little mischievous.  So my job will be to come up with what the elf is doing when Maddux is sleeping... is he playing a joke by creating his own wii character while Maddux is sleeping, or making snow angels on the back porch.... or is he being nice and showing up with a new Christmas book that he bought while Maddux was sleeping. The good thing is ... moms post all of their ideas out there... so most likely I can get by on their creativity if I am lacking :) Then Christmas Eve you put the elf out with the milk and cookies so Santa can take him home... :)

Another one I liked is opening Christmas Pjs and a Christmas book on Christmas eve... all of us snuggling up in our Pjs... drinking some hot cocoa... and reading a story.. and maybe a Christmas movie before going to bed.

Another mom buys a Christmas ornament for her kids every year and puts their names on it.... so that way when they get older they have their own starter set of ornaments...that idea sounded great :) I had no ornaments starting out!

and if we have more kids... I love the idea of not putting names on presents... some moms wrap all of each kids presents in the same paper... then at the bottom of their stocking they will find a sliver of wrapping paper so they know which gifts are theirs... how fun would that be trying to guess which ones are yours???


A few Christmas traditions we will do that I did as a kid....

Making sugar cookies (YUM)

My mom didnt put out any presents really until we were asleep Christmas Eve... so that way when we woke up the living room was overflowing with presents. It was so cool seeing all those gifts... Loved this :)
My mom also only gave us one present from Santa... which is something we will also do.
Santa will just bring one gift... she did this just as a rule of thumb because she never wanted us going to school and saying we got 4 from Santa and a kid being sad because they only got 1. So it did happen the other way around when a kid told me he got 8 from Santa... so I remember asking my mom about it. but She explained to me that his parents must not have told him that only one came from Santa... because Santas sleigh could only fit one present for every kid in the world. Made sense to me at the time :)
So just one present... and the stocking :)

Pancakes for Christmas breakfast will be a must :)


And now that Christmas is done... I have scored all kinds of great deals. New Icicle lights for the house at 2.00 a box, A Christmas Hippo for our yard... Yes a christmas Hippo. Its adorable I promise.
Some sidewalk lights for our house...

AND I got this guy for 13bucks.... How cute is he???

You have any good traditions I might want to steal???? Start talking!!! :)

Embrace The Camera

This week I decided to have my grandfather... Maddux's Great Grandpa Embrace the camera.

Here they are enjoying each others company on Christmas Eve.

Isnt this just adorable?!?!?!?!?

I love these two!!! :)

Embrace The Camera!!!!

Memory Game

So I have been in a scrapbook club for a few months now. I joined it because I thought it would make me work on scrapbooking my photos of Maddux. Well it hasnt. I wish it had... but t he pages I have made all sit empty. I will do it though... I swear :)
Meanwhile... the stamps I have bought have just been sitting on my desk... Well... I USED THEM.

Not for scrapbooking but hey I still used them!

I have seen this idea on etsy. People are selling these for like 10 bucks. And nothing against those who are selling them... but I figured... Pfft. I can make those. And so I did. I love the idea of keeping a game in your purse to keep your kid... or in my case... my nieces (because Maddux is still too little for this game) but I loved loved loved memory games as a kid. so i thought this would be a great game to have stashed away in case I needed to pull it out.. in restaurants... church.... the car... anywhere :)

Magnets

Everyone in Blogland has made these so I dont even know where I would credit my source.

These are so simple to make...

I think these would be really cute with black and white photos of kids... loved ones whoever. So i might try that sometime.

But the other night I was bored. Maddy was in bed. and well my husband was trying to beat Darth Vader on the Wii... sooo I decided I would give these a go :)

They turned out pretty cute! :)

Baby Photo Frame For Friends

Welcome Baby Lily :)
Recently one of my bestest friends in the whole world had a baby... a BEAUTIFUL girl Lily!

Their nursery they have created is ADORABLE. I am in love with it.... Its colorful, quirky, fun, I love it.

So I have posted pictures of the onesies I made up for them.... I am sending these out tomorrow. I meant to send them earlier but I lost the glass to this frame. no clue where it is i have been looking all weekend. so unfortunately. Steph or Nick if you are reading this. i am going to cut out a cardboard back fof this and hopeuflly it will work. Tonight I am going to check one more time to see if I have an empty frame I can take the glass out of. :)

Anyways. I love this frame. I hope they love it also.