Life.

It seems he is growing up too quick some days.

 

He now tells me that a bunny makes the sound, “Hop. Hop. Hop.” and proceeds to jump up and down.

He is becoming a bit of a picky eater. If he doesn’t like it, Chomper is sure to get it. Chomper and he are becoming fast buddies boding through table scraps.

 

I am constantly amazed at my son and the blessing that he is to Matt and I. He loves his daddy. The other night I had tears in my eyes watching the two of them sitting in the recliner sharing a bowl of dry cereal. So sweet. Matt calls him his co-pilot. Too sweet.

 

In other news, I am doing a couch to 5K program now that I have found out in running shoes, I was wearing a size half too small. Good gracious.

I hope to be able to do the Jogging for Janice in April. Then maybe do some during the fall season as well. That is a good thing about Birmingham, there is a large group of runners.

 

 

 

Show Us Your Life Beauty Tips

So- I am by no means up to date on my make-up or hair. It is sad really, I rarely wear make-up during the week b/c I wake up too late to put it on and get E dressed and out the door. Sad, I know.

However, I absolutely love Bare Minerals. Heather turned me on to this and I LOVE IT! I don't care for their eye shadow because I don't like it is loose. For eye shadow, I am still a MAC fan. It stays on all day and it is wonderful!!! Edit: VERY IMPORTANT TO WASH YOUR BRUSHES! I use baby shampoo and it works wonderfully.


Every morning I get out of the shower, I put on moisturizer. I use Clean and Clear oil control. I LOVE IT and it works wonderfully.


My hair is another story. You can see my hair in my picture at the top of my blog. I am also including one from the morning of our wedding when getting my make-up done. My hair is this long today. I have no shape to it and it just lays there. I am contemplating going sometime soon to cut some of it off and layer it.

If I don't blow dry it, it is this kind of wavy but not curly mess. Ha.







Sorry- I don't have that many beauty tips. I wish I had a few more but growing up with 3 brothers, I was never too girly girl.

2004

Twists and turns through the halls. Laughs heard. Kisses remembered.
Pasts that haunt.
Through shards of broken vanity mirrors I see the former me.

Lost. Confused. Stranded. Not sure where to go.
I begin to trot, slowly gaining speed and momentum.
Running.
I don't want myself. No. No. No. Get away. Get out.

One more drink. One more puff. One more line dance.
It will get me through just fine.
In the arms of the one I want to remember for that moment. In that minute- he is all I need.

I awake with a pit in my stomach. Too ashamed to look in the mirror. Give up hope.
Give. Up.


This was me. This was me less than 6 years ago. It seemed my world was a living hell for the most part and it was.
The best part though- I did not see it at the time but He was there with me. He being Jesus Christ, God, our Lord redeemer. He was always by my side. In my darkest of darks. He was there.
In the bathroom at Gators, on the dance floor at Woodmere. He was there with me the whole time.
No matter how many Wicca books I read because I wanted him to come back from LA to be with me, He was still there. No matter how many times I told momma I was NOT going to church, He was disappointed but his back was never turned. He loved me despite all of this. He loves me despite all of this still. He loves me despite my knack for pissing my husband off until no end. He loves me despite the things I talk about or who I talk about.

He gave me my son. He gave me the chance to be a mother when so many can't. He gave me the opportunity to show His love to my son. I never fathomed His love for me until I held my sweet son in my arms. In the NICU hooked to a PICC line and laying there, smiling. Connected to machines and beeps every few seconds, my son was smiling. My heart melted and my heart smiled bigger than it ever has before.
It was only fair I turned my life back over to Him. It was time I realized the silliness was over. My childish games were put behind me and my love for Him renewed. I love to eat His words each night. I love to write in my journal letters each night to God, thanking him for various things. Praying for various things. Asking forgiveness for EVERYTHING!

Life... sometimes it just happens

 

So- my dad is getting married. For the 4^th time. I will let that sink in. Is it in yet? What about now?

It took me close to 6 months for me to not be upset any longer. I had to realize his life is NOT my life to lead. If his new wife is what will make him happy- more power to them.

Who am I to say no?

 

I will honor my father by being there, at the church, to show my support for him and his new wife.

 

I only hope the crew from Redneck Wedding isn’t there. If I see Tom Arnold I am leaving.

 

 

Show Us Your Life- FASHION TIPS

So, Kelly over at Kelly's Korner does Show Us Your Life on Fridays. This Friday happens to be fashion tips.

Here are mine.

1. Classic is always in style. You don't have to go out of your way to get the latest in fashion. An item or two at the most is sufficient enough. You can never go wrong with a simple black dress. Khaki trousers- different from khaki pants or a simple black cardigan top. Also, a good pair of jeans. I love trouser jeans. They can dress up or down.

2. You are not one size. In one line of clothes, I am a size or two SMALLER than I am in a completely different line. You have to try on your clothes and see which size works best for you. An XL will fit a lot different than a 1X. It also makes a huge difference in how YOU look in it.
If you have had a child and are not a tooth pick anymore, try clothes in the women's section a 16W does not mean wide but women. It will make a huge difference too.

3. Stick with colors that compliment your coloring. I love the color pink but there is a reason you never see me in it. Pink on redheads does not look good. AT. ALL. Don't wear outlandish colors if you are not able to.

4. Dress your age. If you are 30- there is no reason your jeans should be low rise. If I can see your ass crack- you don't need to wear it.

5. Don't look like a clown when you walk out the door with make-up. Seriously. The less is more is true in make-up. No one I know that reads this blog is 21 anymore. There fore, our make-up should not reflect it. Unless we are in NYC or Miami out for the night. :) Then it's glitz and glam MAC style.

6. Shoes- they need to be kept simple. Stay away from the stupid outlandish styles. There are some out there right now that I question daily.

So... here is what I was thinking...

I have been praying whether or not Matt and I should have another child. (Sidenote: I almost typed Matt or I should have another child. That would be a completely different blog post! Ha.)

I began thinking about everything and this is what I came up with.

Matt's car will be paid off in 2012.
Ethan will be 4 at this time and starting pre-K
We will not have daycare, granting Matt stays on the schedule he is on now.
This will save us over $1100/mo- which could in turn be put towards a house for us in the Hoover area. In turn meaning, Ethan will continue to be in a great school location and part of the city.

I know my reason for wanting another child is selfish. I want a little girl. This doesn't mean if I were to have another little boy, I would not love him just as much because I would. However, I long to have the moments I had with my mom with a daughter of my own.
I know I can still be just as close with Ethan- even now we are- he just won't wear pink tights. Ha.

I wish I could say I am okay with it. I'm not completely and totally but I know that I will be one day.

ATL!!

Saturday morning we hit the road for my 30th birthday out of town get away. Matt bought me tickets to see Annie. He was not going to tell me. However, I am a great detective and figured it out by going to ticketmaster.com

After dropping Ethan off at Nana's; we hit the interstate. After driving what felt like forever. We arrived here. The Georgian Terrace. It was built in 1911. It is where Margaret Mitchell turned in the manuscript for Gone With the Wind(side note: One of my all time fave movies).

It is rich in history.
This place is absolutely wonderful. I will stay no where else but here anytime we are in town. The door greeter was the best part of the experience. He greeted everyone with Ma'm, Sir and for the little ones, princess and big guy. He told us upon arrival, "If you think for one minute we are here to spoil you, you are absolutely correct!" We checked in without any incidents and went to the room.

Our room looked exactly like this. We had a great window view of downtown Atlanta with the sky line and everything. It was a rainy day so we could see the skyscrapers hanging in the clouds and fog. The bed was soft and wonderful, at first. Not so much that night when we were attempting to go to sleep. The hotel went under reinovation not too long ago so everything is fairly new and oh so nice. Flat screen tv's. We almost missed out on chicken and waffles, more on that below, because we were caught up in a movie.
Before the show- we decided to get some dinner. I had seen this on the Travel channel on Man vs. Food ( one of our favorite shows to watch). It is called Gladys Knight (and the Pips) and Ron Winans Chicken and Waffles. Yes, you read correct. Chicken AND Waffles. OMGITWASTHEBESTTHINGIPUTINMYMOUTHEVER! All I can say about this is that Matt and I woke up Sunday still thinking about it. The wait was long but worth it. 4 huge jumbo chicken wings with a waffle. Pour syrup over both and it was like floating in heaven. Their menu was a tough one to decide from. Seriously- it took me awhile.

Even better than the dinner was being able to spend time with Heather, my gaytard, and her Matt (who I have grown up with since we were about 10-12 yrs old). Neither one of us knew we were going to be in ATL the same time until way after plans were booked.

I think this was completely a God thing. He knew that I needed time away with my husband and I also needed some time with friends who I love more than anything. That is exactly what I got. I am also jealous of the electric blue boy shorts Heather bought. After dinner, we had about 30 minutes to book it back and get dressed for the show....

Once we were dressed and all gussied up- we headed over to the Fox Theatre. I fell in love with this theatre. It is beautiful and from the 1920's. We found our seats and I started getting really excited- like a little girl. Matt said he knew I was enjoying the show because A. I was clapping before it even started. B. I was singing along to the songs OUT LOUD! Ha. I did not think I was singing out loud. Oh well. The play is not like the movie, Pune Jab (sp) was not in it. However, it was wonderful. It made me miss the theatre and being involved in it and supporting the arts.

I worked for a few years at the ASF (Alabama Shakespeare Festival)- I love the theatre.

After the show we were so tired and worn out that we just went to the room and watched movies.

Sunday we came on back to being mama and dada. I missed my pumpkin more than life itself but I had a wonderful time reconnecting with my husband. We plan on doing more trips like this- even if for a short weekend trip.

What was the best part of Sunday? Never ending pancakes at IHOP of course!!!!

(Yes- I am back on Weight Watchers this morning!!!!!)