Today I am Mommy

Please don't expect me to be a functioning member of society today. It's not going to happen. Please don't tell me I look tired. I AM tired. I'm aware I look tired and I don't need to be reminded. Sleep just doesn't grace me these days. It is 11:15am and I'm up for the day and this is the only five minutes I will have to myself until my husband gets home. I've been wearing the same pair of yoga pants for three days and it's even a wonder I'm wearing a bra (hey, does that mean it's going to be a good day?! I hope so!) I will constantly have someone clinging to me, feeding from me, needing me, yelling at me, crying for me...it's exhausting, but I chose this. Right now this is my life...my crazy, hot mess of a life. 

Even though I'm convinced Tucker hates me because he wants to eat every hour and a half, I love him with all of my heart. And when I think I have a moment's peace, Aiden swoops in with his grabbing of my hands and BOOM! I'm pulled from the couch (that oh-so-comfy spot on the couch) to wherever he thinks it is that I need to go. Because oh, by the way, he can't talk. So everything is either whining or babbling. And lately, talking to the walls is the way to go. I don't get enough adult conversation, and sometimes that's enough to make a girl go crazy. You should try it some time, or don't. No, you probably shouldn't. Unless hiding alone in your closet to eat a piece of peanut butter chocolate sounds appeasing. Because that's the only way you'll get it - since Aiden is allergic to peanut butter and will scream at the top of his lungs if you don't share. But he hears that tiny piece of paper crackle when you are sneakily trying to open it. He doesn't understand why he can't have it, for all he knows I'm just being an asshole and won't give a bite (or five.) 

I'm blessed with two healthy boys, a saint of a husband, and a nice home that [technically] belongs on a Febreeze commercial. But that's okay, my friends. There's a light at the end of the tunnel. One day my boys will be grown and won't need me. They will both sleep through the night and so will I and that means I won't look tired and you won't be tempted to tell me I look so. They will be able to function on their own and will probably tell me how much they hate me. It feels like that day will never get here, but when it does, I'm going to wish for these days back. I'm going to want them little again. So, in these sleepy moments that are spent with eyes barely open, I'll enjoy today. I'll make it special. I'll remember every single second. I'm doing just fine - I have to remind myself of this or else my husband will find me in a corner one day and won't even recognize me. Instead he will think some insane person from an institution somewhere escaped and chose a random corner at our house to mumble profanities. I also remind myself that God never gives us more than we can handle. I'm raising children and at the same time they are raising me. We're growing together and I can't forget that. I'm going to enjoy all the kisses Aiden is willing to give me (even the sloppy ones ten times in a row.) I'm going to soak up all the lazy cuddles with Tucker while we nurse and let the dishes pile up. Today I have not a care in the world. Today I am mommy.

I'm glad I didn't pour the milk in my cereal yet (I'll get to eat that someday, right?), because I have a tiny human crying for my boobs now and who knows how long that will take. Goodbye!

DIY Sugar Scrub

I don't know what it is about these pregnancy hormones, but they are totally drying my skin out! I mean, c'mon, what happened to that pregnancy glow I'm supposed to get and those long luscious locks? They are no where to be found.

Aiden went down for a nap and left me bored and alone, so I got in the mood to do a project! I dug out an old mason jar I had stored and grabbed the rest of the stuff I needed. I made this one up as I went, and I'll admit, I really love it!

You will need:

• 1 mason jar - I used a wider top jar
• 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp baby oil
• 1/4 cup Dawn dish soap with Olay Hand Renewal
• any kind of cute cupcake wrapper you have lying around

What to do:

1. Start by adding 3/4 cup of sugar to your mason jar.
2. Next, add the 2 tbsp of baby oil and give the mixture a good stir.
3. Now you are going to add about 1/4 cup of the dish soap.
4. Stir your scrub really, really well. Lift up the jar and look at the bottom to be sure you haven't left any white sugar at the bottom.
5. It might look a little thin, but I promise when you pour some into your palm and begin to scrub your hands, it will be a perfect consistency! 
6. Add your cupcake wrapper to the top of your mason jar (between the lid and rim.)

Voila! Be sure to follow up your scrubbing with your favorite lotion! Not only is this really easy to do, but it's so cheap and it smells so amazing! I hope you enjoyed this super simple tutorial! Let me know what you think!

Halfway Point!

Sunday marked a pretty huge point in my pregnancy! I turned 20 weeks this past Sunday, April 6th.

We've had a name picked out since I was about 6 weeks pregnant and the name came to me in a dream - Tucker. I told Adam about the dream and how we are apparently having a boy, because I picked a name in my dream! Adam told me that he wanted to use his middle name "Daniel" for Tucker and I agreed. I love that we didn't have to argue or anything! Fast forward 9 weeks and we found out for sure that we are in deed having another baby boy!

When I was pregnant with Aiden, the whole nine months was almost nothing but constant morning sickness even with the nausea medicine. I gained a lot of unnecessary weight and I am pretty sure I was pre-eclampsic and they never really caught it. The last couple of weeks before Aiden was born was awful and I just remember being so swollen. Looking back at pictures I can see it. I asked myself the entire time "How can women do this more than once? How do women have more than one kid?" I always got the same response "You will forget all of the bad stuff as soon as you lay your eyes on your baby and get to hold him for the very first time." Can I just say that truer words have never been spoken?!

I can remember being home with Aiden for those first few weeks and months and all I wanted was to be pregnant again. I could no longer keep him to myself. I could no longer keep him protected from this bright and scary world we live in. I could no longer feel each jab, stab, and kick. I missed it, like, REALLY missed it. I never in a million years thought that I would ever want to be pregnant again, but I did. In those tiny quiet moments when I nestled him in my arms and shushed him to sleep. In those tiny, quiet moments when he looked at with such awe and admiration. I knew I wanted to be pregnant again. I knew I NEEDED to be pregnant again. Pregnancy is a small sacrifice you make, giving your body to your baby, so that they can greet you and you can raise and mold them into the person they are meant to be. I'm so freakin' excited that the boys will be so close in age! We are going to have our hands full, but the memories we are going to have will be so worth it!

This pregnancy as a whole so far has been a lot easier, but still hard some days. Early on I didn't have any morning sickness. It finally decided to hit me and then I got a stomach virus or something and went to the hospital because I was severely dehydrated. I didn't eat much for a while after that for fear of seeing it again and I lost about 6 pounds. The nausea has gotten a lot better and I've been making better food choices. I'm also doing a lot better on the weight gain perspective as well. I do get headaches from time to time and the only thing you can do for that is just wait for them to go away. There are days where I don't do much around the house because chasing Aiden takes all of my extra energy away. My favorite part of being pregnant is the kicks you get to feel as reminders that they are still healthy and happy!

This time around we were I was really impatient on the waiting to find out the gender thing. I just had to know as soon as possible! I researched elective sonographers in my area and found a place that did it for a really great price! We took some of our family and got to find out at 16 weeks that we were having a boy! We purchased a package and go back around 28 weeks to get our last 3-D ultrasound of our little man.

We haven't done a single thing to get his room ready and it's killing me! We have a guest bed to move out, carpet to rip up, flooring to lay down, and a closet to clean out. By this time with Aiden, all of his furniture was moved in and I was just waiting on his bedding. I can't wait to get started and share pictures!

Overall, this pregnancy has been such a breeze and I'm loving it! Adam and I joke that since Aiden gave me such a tough time when I was pregnant, he was an angel when he was welcomed into the world. We are worried that since Tucker is an easier pregnancy, that he will be the devil made over when he gets here. I hope not! We'll see!

FREE Carseat Canopy!

I'm so excited to be getting things together for this new baby coming in August! Although, his room hasn't even been started yet. We have so much to do, a guest bed to move out, carpet to rip up, etc. I really need to get on top of that!

There's also things that I am re-using from Aiden, like his newborn carseat! It is in perfect condition, but I'm bored with the design. I think by putting a cover on it, the carseat will have a new look without having to purchase a completely brand new one! This is a great way to save money! I found a website that sells covers that are so adorable!

I'm sure you all have heard of Carseat Canopy! I found this website while browsing online for different options and I love what they offer. They have lots of choices for boys and girls and a few that could even be considered gender neutral!

Carseat Canopy offers two types of canopies. First, you can get just the canopy itself, or you can buy the "Whole Caboodle!" I am purchasing the caboodle for this baby boy and I'm so excited!

If you are a mom who is expecting her first baby, you might be wondering why you would need a canopy at all. You probably are asking if blankets can serve the purpose, but from my experience, I can't wait to get something that won't fall off! Most parents do throw a blanket over the carseat to block out the sun or keep nasty germs away from a newborn. Regular blankets will work, but they often fall when the baby kicks their feet and starts wiggling around. The canopy actually fastens on and will stay put!

I'm very excited to become an affiliate and share these awesome products with you! You can use my promo code 'HOTMESSMAMA14' at checkout to get a FREE Canopy or $50 off of the Whole Caboodle! Share this code with your mommy friends!

My Recipe Binder

Can I just start by saying that there are not enough hours in the day to get sh*t done. I mean, seriously? I think moms across the world should be allowed, I don't know, like, however many hours they please! We deserve it! But that's not the way the world works, sadly.

So, with all of these extra hours that I don't have, my organization and cleanliness has been slacking, for reals. I usually lay in bed at night browsing Pinterest until I completely pass out. They have so many recipes on there! I'm a sucker for a new recipe. Food is totally my love language. Cook me a good meal, and I'll be your best friend for-ev-er! No, really. That's kind of why I gained sixty pounds when I was pregnant with Aiden...that boy made me HUNGRY, but I do believe it was all out of love!

So, between my husband and I, we have accumulated a few cookbooks. We have all different kinds ranging from baking, to grilling, to the kind you get at Church. Adam is extremely picky; he's probably more picky than any four year old you'll ever meet. It's pretty ridiculous if you ask me (love you, honey!) So, with that, we only have a handful of things we eat often and that list gets put on repeat which gets old. I love trying new things, especially new foods - yum!

So, as we try new recipes, I usually scribble them down on scrap paper and keep them in a pile. This gets messy! I also hate that I have to scavenge all of my cookbooks to find that one specific recipe that I know I've cooked before, but can't remember where I found it!

So, I've decided to put together a recipe binder to keep all of the recipes organized and in one spot! I found an empty binder in my cabinet and printed off some free printables online! You can find some really adorable kits on Etsy, but I didn't want to pay for something I could find for free on the world wide web. I did a quick google search and found the cover sheet and spine label from Richly Blessed. I downloaded the category sheets from Happily Hope and used Microsoft Publisher to add my category titles. All I did was place the sheets in plastic protectors; it's super simple! I will probably get those sticky tab dividers and add them to the protectors so I can tell where each category is from the outside without flipping through the entire binder.

I think they turned out super cute! I'm really happy with them.

For now, I'm just adding all of my recipes to the binder "as is", but eventually I will type them all out on the computer so they are legible and more presentable! I can't wait to get this baby filled up! I'd love for this to get passed on to my kids one day!

We Made It!

So, my baby Aiden isn't much of a baby any more! He turned ONE earlier this month. Where has the time gone? I can still remember the car ride home from the hospital and the first night home with him in our house as a family. Now I know why everyone tells me to cherish these days - they go by so fast.

It's been long enough now that we have found things we love and things we hate. I thought I would put together a list of the things we definitely couldn't go without.

1. Fisher-Price Deluxe Monkey Bouncer

This was a gift from our baby shower. It has been quite a lifesaver. Any time I needed to get something done and needed to put him down, Aiden would go in this bouncer. It plays music and has a vibrating feature that you can turn on that helps calm your baby. If you are interested, you can find it at Sears.

2. Graco Pack 'n Play Playard - Barlow

This was also a gift from our baby shower. This is where Aiden slept when we brought him home from the hospital. In the beginning when he was a super newb, I would try to get him to nap in it at least once a day, but he slept with me at night. As Aiden got older, he started sleeping in his crib for naps and by the time he was eight months old, he was sleeping in his crib at night, too. I lowered the mat back down the very bottom and this was a great place for him to play so I could keep an eye on him while I did a quick load of laundry, made us something for lunch, or any of those other awesome mommy duties that needed to get done and I couldn't keep my eye on him 24/7.

I love this pack 'n play for multiple reasons. It has a bassinet feature - basically the bottom of the playard raises up so that you don't have to reach so far down. This is perfect for newborns! Those little poop machines are very immobile the first month or two and there's no chance of them rolling or climbing out, so why break your back reaching all the way down? This is the perfect solution! It comes with a mobile attachment that Aiden loves to look at and talk to. I think my most favorite part of this pack 'n play is the attachment at one end that I use to hold diapers, lotions, ointments, etc. I started using this instead of constantly going back and forth to his bedroom to use the changing table. It stays in our bedroom unless we go on a trip, then it comes with us. Here is the link for this one at Target.

3. Infantino Twist and Fold Gym with Tummy Time - Baby Animal

Again, another gift from our baby shower that I just completely love. I love that this mat folds up easily and we can take it anywhere we go. It comes with a tummy time pillow which has come in handy more than once. At first he had major trouble trying to lift his head, so the pillow gave him support while helping him at the same time. This particular activity mat doesn't play music, but it does have four toys that dangle down that they can play with. The first few times we put Aiden on the mat, he couldn't quite grasp the concept of reaching for the toys, but he did kick at them from time to time. It also has a mirror and he loved looking at himself! This one you can get at Target.

 

 4. Evenflo Exersaucer Jump and Learn Jumper - Jungle Quest

What is there not to love about this thing? I seriously have nothing bad to say about this! We bought this one from Amazon when they had it on sale, but it looks like it's still about the same price as we paid months ago. I'm a huge fan of the Evenflo brand. This jumper held up really well and it is super easy to clean! The seat cover comes off so that you can toss it in the wash when it gets yucky (and trust me it will!) The soft bounce base lets your baby jump and land on a soft surface. It has three different height levels that lets you adjust it as your baby grows. It has toys all around the jumper and some that even light up and make noises and Aiden loved that! The seat turns so that the baby can play from all angles and the toys are easily removable so that you can just pop them off and give them a quick scrub (trust me, do this often because the your little drool factory can produce some serious ick!) Aiden was in his jumper when he learned how to hold his head up well and I really believe that this helped his balance and coordination. This is definitely a great investment!

Aside from the ever-so-important burp rags, onesies, diaper bag, car seats, blankets, and lots of love, these four things helped get us through each day a little easier! I'd love to know where your first year must-haves were and why you loved them!

Facelift!

Long time, no posts! I can not believe what a slacker I have been these past few four months. Shame on me! I haven't updated Aiden's monthly posts since he was seven months old and then, at Christmas, we found out we are adding another kiddo to the mix! (holy crap!)

So, being pregnant AND having a one year old tear up your house, I was seriously lacking the motivation it took to blog. I also had such an ugly design/theme going on over here. I tried learning the things it took to design my own template, but that takes a lot of time, and time is very valuable over here y'all. I'm lucky to get to brush my teeth most days (just kidding, but ya know...)

That led me to start looking around on Etsy for a quick new do for my blog. There were lots of options and I loved that, because I'm sort of - no - REALLY picky. I stumbled upon this gold and mint theme and just fell completely in love. I knew immediately that I had to have it! I completed my purchase and Audrey messaged me back right away so she could begin working on it for me! Seriously, from what I can tell, she's so sweet! And fast, too! She also gives you the option to add-on a package so that she can handle all of the installation for you - yes please! I'm kind of a ditz in that department, so that was perfect! She is completely professional about everything and she was finished in just a couple of hours by the time I paid - although her Etsy shop does say it could take up to 24-48 hours after you pay. I'm very happy with my decision and so glad I chose her design!

So, what do you think? Don't you love it?! She has more to choose from and you can even get a customized design! Go visit her shop Miss Audrey Sue Designs! She is fabulous! And I do believe this will add on to the motivation to blog and capture more of the memories we are making!

Talk about the struggle...

When is the right appropriate time to hang up your Christmas lights? Halloween is over, November is here, and I'm already in the Christmas spirit. Usually, I break out all of my Christmas decorations on Black Friday. Except, this year, one month is NOT enough. Christmas is my all time, favorite holiday. Ever. 

via GreenJazzFace

I'm pretty sure that I'm going to put up my Christmas tree this weekend, too! It's happening, folks. I'm going to be one of THOSE people! I have a baby to celebrate with for the very first time and it's so exciting. What's better than family, food, and fun? Oh, and Jesus, too! He is the reason for the season, after all.

My husband told me that he is going to clean out our fireplace one day this weekend and that got me so happy for the upcoming cold weather season. Warm pajamas, fuzzy socks, hot chocolate, and cuddling next to a warm fire. I can't wait! My countdown has officially begun! 

Shadow Box for Baby

I've been wanting to put together a shadow box for Aiden ever since he was born. I knew it was something I wanted to do, but I had to wait until I found time to buy a box first. I kept putting this off and forgetting about it entirely. 

I mentioned to my mom recently that I needed to get it done and she brought a shadow box for me to use! I opened it up and was super stoked that it had magnets instead of pins! This way I could present all of the items without anything showing. I saved all of the items I wanted to add and quickly collected them. It took me all of about five minutes to set this shadow box up. 

I saved his newborn coming home outfit that included a matching onesie, hat, and gloves. I added the hat he wore immediately after birth, his hospital bracelet, and a newborn diaper. I wanted to remember (and never forget) how tiny my little guy was as a newbie. I never would have thought about saving his last newborn diaper though, thanks for the tip mom! I have the card that the nurses used in his bassinet in the nursery that I might go back and add later. I didn't think about it at the time!

I'm not sure where she got this specific shadow box, but wherever you are shopping, look for one that uses magnets. This helps keep your box clean looking. I also chose not to add any scrapbook paper to the background. I felt like the burlap fabric that it came with looked nice enough and that saved me time and money.

Did you put together a shadow box for your babe? What did you include in his/hers?

7 Months

Here I am again, posting another late monthly update of Aiden. Shame on me! I blame it on school. My time management and procrastination is getting better though. And, I really miss blogging. So, I'm coming back with a vengeance.

The main thing that has changed this month for Aiden is the fact that he learned how to pull up to stand and he can stay standing as long as he is holding on (for dear life.) He learned how to do this a few days before he turned 7 months old. Sometimes, if he sees something just out of his reach, he can walk and hold on to something to go get it! Holy crap! Also, he has officially mastered crawling! He is so fast, too! He steadily surprises me with all of the new things he is constantly learning! What will it be next? Standing on his own? Walking on his own?

Sleeping patterns: He is sleeping about 8-10 hours a night, which is fabulous, waking up anywhere between 8-9am for his first bottle of the day. It seems like he was sleeping a lot lately, and now I know why. He plays so hard and wears himself out! He's also been doing fairly well with his naps in his own crib. For the past few months, I've been making him take all of his daytime naps on his own. My hopes for this is that whenever I'm ready to kick him out transition him to his crib at night, he will be comfortable enough to do so. I'm crossing my fingers!

Eating habits: He is eating anywhere between 6-8 ounces 5-6 times a day. He gets an eight ounce bottle first thing in the morning. We fell of the solids bandwagon there for a few weeks, but we are back in the game! But, now when he gets solids, he will drink his normal 6 ounce bottle right after! We introduced Gerber 2nd foods like sweet potato and corn, chicken and vegetables, pear and pineapple, and apples and chicken. I'm pretty sure he likes apples and chicken the best! We also got different kinds of puffs that kind of look like the puffy Cheetos's. I'm not going to lie, they all taste pretty dang good!

Accomplishments: Aiden is an official "crawler!" And he can pull himself up and stand next to anything he can get a grip on!

Places I went:  He sits up in the buggy at the grocery store like a big boy! He has a convertible car seat, and he sits in a high chair at restaurants now!

Special memories: Seeing Aiden pull up to stand and even try to take a few steps. He also can find his pacifier in his sleep and put it back in his mouth, which I think is absolutely adorable. He is just growing up so fast!

Likes: Sitting and standing up, petting the puppies, "telling stories", cuddling, playing with his feet and sucking on his big toe. 

Dislikes: He hates anything that involves being alone and he can't sit still for anything. He is his father's child.

No wellness visit this month so these measurements are by me and I consider them good estimates. I can't wait until his 6 month visit to see how much he has truly grown!

>>>>> 7 Months <<<<<

10.01.13

Height - 29 inches long

Weight - 18lbs 8oz

6 Months

I am a month and a half late posting this update, but school started a few days after his 6 month check-up. I've been super busy and got completely wrapped up in school. It's been hard trying to balance time between taking care of my little bean and trying to study. The first month was hard, but I'm slowly figuring out what works and what certainly doesn't. 

This month was full of wonders. He started eating puffs and drinking apple juice from a sippy cup! And most exciting of all, he has taught himself how to sit all on his own! He looks like such a big boy now when he sits up to play with his toys. Not much progress has been made in the crawling department, though. He still tries his hardest, even though he just scoots from place to place. He usually scoots a few inches and falls on his belly and has to start all over again. The main thing he has to figure out is how to keep himself up while crawling, but I think that has a lot to do with having the upper body strength in his arms to be able to support his own body weight. He learns quickly though, so I'm looking forward to him learning this trick!

Sleeping patterns: He is still sleeping about 8-9 hours a night, which is fabulous, waking up around 7-8am for his first bottle of the day. I feel incredibly blessed that he sleeps through the night, but I kind of feel like I'm cheating because we "bed share." I kind of feel deep down that if he were to sleep in his own crib at night, he wouldn't sleep all the way through.

Eating habits: He is eating 6 ounces 6-7 times a day. He gets a 6 ounce bottle first thing in the morning. I try and give him solids twice a day - once at lunch and again for supper. Most of the time he only gets solids once a day though and sometimes not at all. Our pediatrician said that we could start Gerber Puffs around seven months, but I really felt like he was ready for them now, so he's been getting a snack with puffs and apple juice between naps. I also started him on a sippy cup! He's not so sure about it just yet, but he's trying.

Accomplishments: Aiden is still scooting as much as possible, but the new trick he has learned this month was sitting up all on his own a few days before he turned 6 months old! He can push himself up to sitting from the crawling position. He's turning into such a big boy. Make time stop please! He also said mama and dada!

Places I went:  Mainly just outings to the grocery store, running errands, and a few trips out to eat. Nothing too exciting here.

Special memories: Capturing a video of my boy sitting up for the very first time, without propping up with his hands! It made me such a proud mommy!

Likes: Eating puffs and apple juice, cuddles, babbling, chasing after the puppies, interacting with any and everyone, sitting up to play with his toys!

Dislikes: He hates it when you set him down somewhere and you walk away. He hates lying on his back and will roll over to his belly so he can sit up any chance he gets. 

The wellness visit this month went really well. I wasn't able to stay for his shots, but his daddy was there and he told me that Aiden only cried for a minute or two after his shots. He got four shots and an oral vaccine. The Tdap vaccine isn't available due to a shortage so, we have him the flu shot instead. The good news is that we don't have to go back until he is ready for his 9 month wellness visit! I think I am most excited for his to not have to get shots for 3 whole months! 

>>>>> 6 Months <<<<<

09.01.13

Height - 28 inches long

Weight - 16lbs 15oz

We almost forgot to take his 6 month picture this month, and it got late in the day. We had to make do with the ceiling fan light and trying our best to get him to smile. He looks like he is missing a foot and the glare on his sticker looks ridiculous, but he is smiling and that's all that matters to me! 

My Guilty Pleasure

When asked what is my guilty pleasure, I can almost answer that question immediately. The answer? My iPhone! I'm slightly embarrassed that I'm even sharing that, but it's true. 

I know so many older people that complain about too many of us "kids" rely on our cell phones these days. They complain that we don't know what face-to-face socializing really is. While my iPhone is with me 24/7, I love to text, keep up with friends and family on Facebook, and play the most addictive Candy Crush, I would not ever choose my phone over a face-to-face conversation any day. 

I live away from all of my friends and family so my iPhone keeps us all connected! FaceTime is probably the best invention ever! I love that our parents can see Aiden a lot more often even though we are miles apart.

I also take way too many pictures of Aiden. It's so much easier to take a picture with my phone than it is to see Aiden do something so cute and have to run and find my camera. I ALWAYS have my phone with me. Always. I use it a lot. And it dies a lot. But it is always with me.

What is your guilty pleasure? Share your link in the comments on Everyday Bay's blog post here.

My Story

I'm coming back from a long break from blogging to take part in a challenge by Jerika over at Everyday Bay. She has a post that explains the Blog Everyday in September Challenge that you can read here.

So, this is my story. It will most likely be long, and I will probably include way too many non-important details, but I like to ramble, so thanks in advance if you stick with me!

I was born in Lubbock, Texas due to my mom and dad being in the Air Force. We didn't stay there long and my parents got stationed in Guam, where my brother was born. We didn't stay there long either and we moved to Louisiana. We lived in a numerous amount of places until we moved to a small town that I call home. 

I went to a different school for Kindergarten, a different school for first grade, and then attended the same school from second grade all the way through graduation. I didn't have a lot of friends, but that wasn't for a lack of trying. I didn't ever really feel accepted. I wasn't hated by the "popular kids", but I wasn't bashed by them either. I kind of kept to myself and focused on my school work and I stayed this way until high school when I started opening up to people. I cheered in tenth grade and my senior year. And I was a member of several clubs during my entire high school career. 

I started dating my now husband when I was 16 and a sophomore in high school. I was head over heels in love and I still am to this very day. I'm working on our love story to share with you all because that is a whole other story all its own. We had a long distance relationship (I would see him on weekends) until the day I graduated, then I moved in with him that night. We spent the next year discovering each other and making memories and he proposed to me in the most beautiful and simple way. Ever since I was a little girl I had always imagined a huge frilly, fancy wedding with pink on everything. I knew as soon as I said yes, that I had to start planning, and I did. What started out as huge plans slowly changed to a smaller ceremony, yet gorgeous all it's own. Even though my husband would have been okay with just getting married at the courthouse, I knew that if I didn't get walked down the aisle by my daddy, that would be a decision that I would always regret. So, exactly a year to the day that we were engaged, we became husband and wife. 

 I always knew that I wanted to get married, and more importantly, have children. And the fact that my husband is seven years older than me kind of pushed the decision to have kids much faster than normally expected for newlyweds. We started trying right away and a month after our honeymoon, we found out we were pregnant! We were extremely excited that it happened so quickly, so we shared the news with our family and friends right away. After three at-home pregnancy tests to prove to myself that I was indeed pregnant, I called my doctor immediately! It was probably the longest weekend of my life waiting to see my doctor the next week, but probably the most tragic as well. The day after I found out we were expecting, I started cramping and spotting. I turned to the trusty Google and read that a lot of moms experience this in the beginning and it can be very normal. With every day that passed my pains got worse and the bleeding got heavier. Monday morning I made an attempt to go to work, but left soon after I got there and met my husband at the Emergency Room. I had an ultrasound done and they couldn't see anything - nothing at all. But they assured me that it just might be too early and that some women have their cycles through their whole pregnancy and I might be included in that group. I had my blood taken so they could read my HCG levels to see if they matched up with how far along I was. I met with the doctor and he went over every possible scenario and then he gave me orders to see my OB/GYN the following day so I could get my HCG levels checked again. I was told that if the numbers dropped, it was bad news. So, on the way home I prayed to God over and over again that my numbers doubled like they should. I didn't even make it half way home when I got the most devastating news ever - I was having a miscarriage. Yes, I was only 5 weeks at the most, but that was 5 weeks of LIFE inside of me that I cherished more than anything, LIFE that I loved, and now LIFE that I miss. 

A miscarriage is not something you can ever get over or even forget for that matter. So, we stopped trying for a few months and decided to stop "trying on purpose." We decided that whatever happens, happens. And in enters Aiden! Six months after losing something very special, I gained something amazing! I found out I was pregnant again and I didn't take a single second for granted! My pregnancy was not the easiest by any means, but it's true what they say about forgetting it all. It was all worth it that very second I got to hold my baby boy for the first time. I can't wait to give him some brothers or sisters! Children are a gift from God.

Speaking of brothers and sisters, I have one brother and two half-sisters. My mom and dad split when I was nine. My dad and I were not really close until about five or so years ago. My family means the world to me and I would do anything for them. I don't see them as much as I should, but it's really hard to see everyone as often as I'd like when I live a few hours away and I'm raising a family of my own. Being a grown up is tough!

I started college the fall after graduation and went in with the intention of being an elementary teacher focusing on mainly Kindergarten. You know I love kiddos! I got a job the next spring and after the third semester, we moved to Texas! Adam's company relocated him, working in a different division. I took a break from school and started last fall deciding it was smarter for me to go to nursing school. A lot of my family is in the medical field, so I'm not surprised that I am following along. I had to take a break this past spring because I was due to deliver Aiden in March. I didn't feel it was a smart idea to go to school and have a newborn. And hindsight, I am so glad I didn't! Who knew babies took so much work? But, I'm back at the school grind and I'm really hoping to start clinicals next fall!

Life from day to day doesn't change much. I stay at home taking care of Aiden and feel so completely blessed to have that opportunity. My story isn't the most exciting by any means, but it's mine. I've made so many memories in my short life and I can't wait for the ones to come. Share your story with us!

5 Months

I'm writing this update almost a month late, but better late than never, right? 

This month passed by the fastest to me and I'm not entirely sure why. I think it was the most enjoyable so far. There are so many things he has learned to do and it's like he turned into a completely different baby. It's almost as if he woke up one morning and all of a sudden he could do all of these new tricks. 

He finally figured out how to actually jump in his Exersaucer which is my favorite thing to watch him do. He gets so excited and loves all of the toys, lights and music.

Sleeping patterns: He is sleeping about 8-9 hours a night, which is fabulous, waking up around 7-8am for his first bottle of the day. 

Eating habits: He is eating anywhere between 4-6 ounces 6-8 times a day. He gets a 6 ounce bottle first thing in the morning. I try and give him solids twice a day - once at lunch and again for supper. When he gets solids he only drinks about 3-4 ounces of formula and then he wants another 4 ounces about an hour later, Mr. Piggy. So far, I think his favorite puree is carrots!

Accomplishments: He is reaching for any and everything in sight and as soon as he gets a grip on it, it is going straight into his mouth. He has figured out the dogs and absolutely loves petting them! And his new trick this month is sitting up in the bed with us. He's not perfected it just yet, he's still wobbly, but he is getting so much better at it!

Places I went:  We were more of homebodies this month than anything. We did go to Red Lobster when our friends came to visit. And, of course, Aiden was an angel!

Special memories: Seeing Aiden sit up for the first time, even if it was with his hands propping him up. It was definitely a proud mommy moment!

Likes: Sitting and standing up in your lap, petting the puppies, talking to his daddy, cuddling, playing with his feet, tummy time - all the time.

Dislikes: He hates anything that involves being alone!

No wellness visit this month so these measurements are by me and I consider them good estimates. I can't wait until his 6 month visit to see how much he has truly grown!

>>>>> 5 Months <<<<<

08.01.13

Height - 27 inches long

Weight - 15lbs 10oz

T-minus 22 Days!

Twenty-two days until my first day back to school. I'm super stoked about this!

The decision to go back happened rather randomly. I was sitting on the couch watching TV one day last week and I got the urge to look and see what classes I had left for my teaching degree and nursing degree. (I was originally an education major until last fall.) I only need 4 classes to finish my pre-requisites for my nursing degree and then I can apply for clinicals! 

I casually mentioned it to my husband later that evening and he told me to look and see if they offer the classes I need at night. And whaddaya know? They did! This is going to work out perfectly because Adam can watch Aiden on the nights I have class and this saves us from having to put Aiden in day care! So I signed up for 2/4 of the classes I need. I'll take the other two classes next spring and then I can apply for clinicals in May!

There's so much to do before I can apply, and the program is really competitive. I'm such a nervous wreck and I'm completely terrified I won't get accepted. ugh! I will be taking Anatomy & Physiology II and Life Span this Fall 2013 Semester and I will take Microbiology and Dosage Calculations in the Spring 2014 Semester. I have to pass the Dosage Cal exam with a 90% or better, I have to make sure my immunizations are up to date, I have to get a TB test, get CPR certified, and so much more. My mind is going to explode just thinking about it. Nursing school + an infant = one crazy mama! This should be interesting. I'm so thankful I have a loving, supportive husband to stand my side through all of this!

Taking this past spring off from school to have a baby gave me a good break. Sometimes, so much of school wears me down and I start to fall in this rut of carelessness. But I'm so looking forward to going back and getting this all behind me so I can get a job. I love being a stay at home mom to Aiden, but I hate watching Adam carry the burden of being the sole provider. My heart yearns to help him. And the quality of life we both so desire we can not make happen with a one income family. 

Cheers to getting my life together!

4 Months

Aiden has made a significant leap in his development this month! Our giggly little boy can roll, stand assisted, sit assisted and sometimes sit unassisted for a few seconds, and reach. He surprises me each and every day with the new things he has learned and wants to show off. I don't remember if I wrote this in his three month post, but he is constantly chewing and sucking on his toes. Any and everything goes into his mouth! It's so dang precious! It just amazes me at how fast their little brains are learning new things. One day he can't do something and the next day he can. How crazy?

He's eating solids now and that's just another thing we are crossing off the list of big boy to-do's. So far, he has had peas, green beans, oatmeal cereal, sweet potatoes, bananas, and he is absolutely NOT a fan of apples. I'm trying not to think about the day he starts crawling, or walking, or even talking! I love watching him grow but oh how I want my baby to stay..well, a baby!

Sleeping patterns: He sleeps on average 6-8 hours a night. We've been hit plagued with the "four month wakefulness" and I'll do a post on that soon all it's own. The routine we had has pretty much bit the dust. 

Eating habits: 6 ounces at a time about 7 times a day! We also started oatmeal and stage one veggies! His first vegetable was peas. He wasn't sure about it at first, but it grew on him the more he ate it.

My accomplishments: He can officially roll from tummy to back AND back to tummy! Tummy time is absolute perfection now! And he absolutely loves standing up in your lap. He thinks he's a big boy now! And he laughs at just about everything! He's so darn cute. He reaches for anything you are holding in your hand!

Places I went: We don't go many places, but he's an absolute doll when we go out to eat!

Special memories: We bought Aiden an Exersaucer! He is really loving it and so am I! It keeps him entertained and is helping him learn his balance. 

Likes: Sitting and standing up in your lap, he likes to be able to look around at everything!, petting the puppies, talking to his daddy, and of course cuddling.

Dislikes: Taking naps on his own - I can't believe I've already spoiled the poor boy.

Aiden got the same shots as he did at his two month well baby visit (and yes, it still broke my heart.)

>>>>> 4 Months <<<<<

07.01.13

Height - 26.5 inches long

Weight - 14.7 pounds

Inspire Me Favorites

I cannot believe it's already the middle of July, where has the month gone?!

Last week's inspiration board link-up was based on the prompt "take me away." We had a really tough time picking a favorite board to feature this week they were all really amazing and made us wish we were lying on a tropical beach somewhere. 

If I had to pick a destination, I would personally choose Hawaii. It's definitely
 on my bucket list to visit one day!

Okay, now as promised, our favorite inspiration boards from last week:

Created by Stephany from Lemonade Mouth.

Created by Sabra from College. Crazy. Life.

Created by Tessa from Many Precious Moments.

Normally we would announce the prompt for next week's link-up, but we have decided to take a mini summer break. During this time, we want to hear what inspiration board prompts you would love us to feature! Simply leave a comment or email Chelsea or myself! There are so many possibilities, and we would really love to involve all of you in this link-up ... so be creative, and don't be shy! We will announce our next prompt and give a special shout-out to the lovely lady who picked it on July 30th!

P.S. I had a serious case of mommy brain! Please accept my most sincere apology! I have no idea but I thought it was Tuesday for some strange reason! I hope you all can forgive me! I think my pounding migraine could have had something to do with it though!

xoxo my loves,

Deanne

Inspire Me: Take Me Away

The prompt for this week's inspiration board link-up is:

"Take Me Away"

I went on a cruise for my honeymoon and I've been dying to go on one again, but I'd also really love to go to Hawaii! I've never been and the pictures always make it look absolutely stunning! Maybe after I'm done having kids I can convince my husband to take me away to this beautiful place! (p.s. I have no idea why my hula girls picture turned out fuzzy, but I'm rolling with it!)

Photo Credits (clockwise):

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

Now It’s Your Turn! 

 1. Create your own inspiration-board based on our pre-determined prompt.

2.Grab the html code below & add our button to your blog post. 

3. Link up your blog post, be social, make new friends and get inspired! 

We will feature our favorite inspiration board on the off-week and announce the prompt for the following week.

<center> <a href="http://www.lifeunpublished.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MiSSn-WDvx8/Ubfgb0VikRI/AAAAAAAAFTQ/wj6vDuz1M3w/s300/inspire%2520me%2520300x300%2520v2.png"/></a></center>

Inspire Me Favorite(s): Stephany & Sarah

First of all, thank you to everyone who linked up with Chelsea and I last week! 

We are quite inspired by all of the inspiration boards that were created, and cannot wait to showcase our favorite two! Yep, instead of picking just one favorite, we thought it would be fun to break the rules and feature two of our favorite inspiration boards that you lovely ladies created.

The first inspiration board that we absolutely loved was created by Stephany from Lemonade Mouth.

via

Last, but not least, the second inspiration board that we loved was created by Sarah from Random Thoughts & Feelings. 

The prompt "summer love" was also chosen by Sarah!!!

via

To keep with our summer theme, the prompt for next week's Link-Up is: "Take Me Away!"

If you have a particular prompt that you would like us to use for our next link-up, please email Chelsea at chelsea@lifeunpublished.com. Look forward to hearing your ideas and can't wait to see everyone's boards next week.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Blog Button Battle

Thanks to BreAnna at Peacoats and Plaid for hosting the blog button battle! 

Please vote for me! You can only vote once so make it count! I"m all the way at the bottom! I have a new button that matches my new design that I will upload after this battle is over. But for now, please vote for my older button! Thank you so much!

Welcome to Round 3 of the Blog Button Design Battle: Season 2 with Peacoats & Plaid. Want to know who won Round 2? Drum roll please...

Congrats to Bethany from The Sepia Puppy! Bethany's winning button design:

The runnner-up spot goes to Hannah from Joyful Life. Hannah's design:

This week's participants include:

Diane from Vintage Zest

Krys from Sunshine & Rain

Jacquelyn from justjacq

Robyn from Sea Rewynd Make

Alyssa from Impractical Composition

Lanaya from Raising Reagan

Eva from Snappee Turtle

Lena from Root & Blossom

J Lenni Dorner from Blog of Author J Lenni Dorner

Deanne from Hot Mess Mama

Vote for your favorite and most eye-catching button by clicking on the thumbnail below. Make sure you're voting solely on eye appeal. You can only vote once, so make it count.

An InLinkz Link-up

Check back next week for Round 3, subscribe to Peacoats & Plaid for updates.