Gratitude...

I'm sure yall have heard me say this before but one of my favorite blogs is Ali Edwards. I love reading her quotes on the side too and today I read this and I just thought it was such a great quote that I wanted to share it here. :)

Melodie Beattie : Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.

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And as for my daily photos, I think I'll just take a blog "break" on that and start again on Monday or so. :)

28 on the 28th!

Today is JM's golden birthday!!! Happy Birthday John Michael!!! Here's to many, many, more birthdays celebrated together! I love you. :)

Thankful....

I bought this at a thrift store today. It's a gund lovey blanket type thing and my intention was to sell it, because I'm pretty sure it would do really well on ebay. But I think it's Jenna's new BFF now. She has been hugging it and loving it and petting it every since I put it in the cart. So I guess it's our for a while until she gets bored with it anyway! Oh and you can't tell but it's a really cute rabbit.

And this picture was taken last year on Thanksgiving. Jenna was exactly one week old then. It's one of my all time favorite pictures of her.

And with Thanksgiving around the corner, I have a lot to be thankful for. But I was thinking of what I'm probably the most thankful for and not only is it my beautiful, healthy, baby girl, but it's getting to be a stay at home mom. I don't have anything at all against working moms, but I've dreamed of being a stay at home mom for as long as I can really remember. I'm so thankful that I'm able to do this and JM is supportive of this decision as well. I wouldn't trade my days with Jenna and watching her play and be silly for anything in the world.

We are off to AR tomorrow so I hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving!

Meal ideas?

I think Jenna is finally past the baby puree foods. We've started doing a lot of the gerber graduates. I think I'll finish up the rest of the baby food in the cabinets and then we're done with those. She still really eats just about anything put in front of her and of course, she'll still try and eat paper if you aren't watching her. (Seriously, this kid is something!) So, I need some meal ideas. I think I have enough snack ideas (she loves these gerber puffs that are in the picture.) But for dinner lately, she has been getting lots of different types of pasta lately. If we also eat carrots or green beans, then I'll give her some of those too. And I can't forget the bread. So what else I can give her? She has 8 teeth (in case anyone asks.) I would love any ideas!

It's a reacurring theme around here....

Being busy, that is. Today Jenna and I were out all afternoon. It's ok though - she really did great and I'm not as exhausted as I thought I would be.

Anyway, here she is looking at the Highlights magazine while we were waiting to get our oil changed. I loved those Highlights books when I was little, so I just had to get a picture. (And yes, in case you hadn't noticed, I am completely over my fear of taking pictures in public!)


And at one point, we had to go all the way to a different area of town, so she had to take her afternoon nap in the car. (She got at least 30 minutes, so I didn't feel too bad.) I think she may have just woken up as I took this one. And yes, we are in the Britax! It is a great seat!

Tomorrow we will go back to our normal routine hopefully!

Never enough weekend time....

JM and I were talking today about how we just never have enough weekend time together to get everything done that we would like to do. And today was no exception - it was another busy day around here, we were so busy that Jenna didn't even get in bed til after 9!

JM has been begging to put the Christmas tree up and get the holiday stuff out. So we started on it - we have the lights on it, but then it was time for Jenna to take a nap and for us to do other things so we still haven't finished it. But I'll post pictures of our little tree and decor later! One of Jenna's favorite things in our box o' holiday goodies was this snowman pillow. She went crazy over it.

And because everyone also needs a baby in the lights picture. Ok, so were trying to do this fast and it's not like an actual "baby in the Christmas lights" pic, but you get the idea. :) And yes, again she must be thinking, "What the heck are these people doing to me?"

After her morning nap, we ventured out today to get our Christmas shopping done. I think we have everyone covered now except for Jenna. Anyway, JM, of course, has to go check out the Apple store, so Jenna and I found some entertainment and he was so proud that we were playing on the mac he took a picture in the store!

And this is a diaper cake I made for one of our friends who just had a baby boy. Now, I know it's not perfect, but I will say that I think this is a crummy picture of it - the blanket on top is messed up and so are some of the crinkly paper needs to be fixed - but I actually made something. That hasn't probably happen since before Jenna!

Hope yall had a great weekend!

A Super Busy Saturday!

We had a super busy day today, hence all the photos! First we started off by meeting our gymboree friends, Whitney and Adelan for lunch and then we went over to our local children's museum. (And yes, JM has asked me if I'm just trying to replace my original Cindy and Whitney....haha!)
At the children's museum in the grocery store room. Adelan trying to help Jenna get the hat off!

Jenna had a blast pushing this little cart all over the room. It was seriously so cute! I even took a small video of it.

After the children's museum, Jenna came home and took almost a 3 hour nap! I had to wake her up at 6 so we could go eat! We went out to our favorite shopping area because they were having their tree lighting ceremony. Last year the tree lighting ceremony was Jenna's first real outing!

Baby, it's cold outside!

The tree - there were soooooooooooo many people there, it was crazy!

And a stop there can't be complete without me going into Carter's and the Gap outlet. Jenna was starting to get fussy because it was so late so JM pulled out his magic parenting trick - Baby Einstein on the iphone. And Jenna was back to her comatose baby einstein watching self.

And this is for Melissa! I saw this as we were leaving - it's in a jewelry store, but Melissa painted this for Jenna's room and I still absolutely love it! (I think the backgrounds are a bit different, but overall it's the same - Actually, I think Melissa's version is a lot cuter anyway!)

OH! I almost forgot to mention that Jenna sat on Santa's lap tonight for the first time! As soon as my hands left her, she started screaming. This was a take your own photo kind of deal, so JM got a couple of shots, that I'll have to blog later. I actually thought it was kind of funny, because everyone needs a screaming Santa photo - it's just one of those classic things.

Friday grocery shopping!

For the past 4 Fridays, this has become my grocery shopping day. I've started the grocery game (www.thegrocerygame.com) so my store lists come out on Thursdays and then I gather my coupons and make out a list of what I'll get at the store. I use to always HATE grocery shopping, but now that I have a list and I know exactly what to get and we get in and get out, it's not so bad.

Since starting this, I've saved a total of $74. Now, I know that's not as great as some of you coupon pro's out there....(**cough**Sarah**cough) But, I think it's really good for me for so far. I haven't bought anything that I normally wouldn't use just because it's on sale or I have a coupon for it. So everything I buy is stuff I will use for that week or later on. I've learned that saving the most is definitely doable when combining store sales and coupons together. And actually, about 90% of items today were either on sale or I had a coupon for or both! I really want to keep this up!

And just because she was looking so cute. This is the outfit Shannon gave her for her birthday. For the most part, she's a good little shopper. She usually likes to play with something in the seat (notice the frozen bag next to her.) And lately, she loves looking at all the holiday decorations in the store.

Thursday playgroup!

This is our main living room which really has turned into Jenna's playroom. There is really nothing much in there except her toys, so there isn't too much trouble she can get into in here. I've also figured out that I'm able to do other things at the dining room table while I just let her play away! And I love that we have the small tv above the fireplace - another great thing she can't get into! (our big screen is in the basement and that's usually where JM and I hang out at night.) Anyway, it's not the exact space I dreamed it would be when we moved in, but really it's great room for her and I love it. So we hosted a playgroup here today!

See what I mean about it just being a great space? Our playgroup having fun!

And I don't know how well you can see it, but Jenna is eyeing Madeline looking at her cow. She got this cow for her birthday from JM's sister and she loves it!

And out of all my pics, this was just the cutest one I had! This is Madeline and I think she and Jenna are going to be good friends!

one more thing off my to-do list!

I finally got my driver's license today! And even though I had to get my birth certificate, marriage license, proof of residency.... they were so much easier and so much more organized than Texas! I was in and out in less than 10 minutes probably! They had little stations for each individual thing you had to do and in TX I remember waiting in line forever and being 9 mos pregnant and hot and standing at the same counter doing everything in the same place. So, now all I have to do is get my car inspected so I can get my license plates!

(and yes, this is the paper temporary license.)

Jenna & her ball popper

I finally got the batteries today so we could try out the ball popper that I just knew she'd love. (yeah, right...) She kept a weird look on her face the whole time I was trying to take a picture. And then after I put the camera down and held her in my lap next to it, she kept turning towards me and burying her face in my shoulder and keeping it there until the music/sound went off and it stopped. It was actually kind of sweet and funny in a weird sort of way. I wish we could have got it on video! I have no idea why she did not take to it like I thought she would! We'll give it time!



So right afterwards, she went and had more fun playing with the CVS sack. (By the way, CVS has a deal on batteries this week - buy $20 worth, get $15 back - that's a great deal, if you live by a CVS - just thought I'd throw that in there!)




And then a little bit later, she had more fun getting all of the ziploc baggies out of the drawer. This is one of the few drawers we don't have a lock on, but it's not one she gets in all the time either. And this actually kept her occupied for about 10-15 minutes, so I really am not complaining. :)

So, I wonder why we even bother with all the fancy toys. Jenna would have been just as happy with plastic products. :)

Snowflakes...

Sorry for the crappy pic...

Anyway, I was at Hallmark yesterday and I found this ornament that I had to have. It says, "Snowflakes are angel kisses from heaven."

I forgot to mention how we had snow flurries here on Jenna's birthday before we left town. I've been saying for quite some time now about how I am glad we didn't live in Corpus Christi forever because I would be sad if Jenna never got to see the snow. So, it snowed on her birthday. And, I'm choosing to believe that was Nanny's birthday gift to Jenna. :)

Jenna's 1st Birthday!!!

Ok, there are a ton of pics. But how could I not show you them all??? And JM took his camera and has some really cute ones, but I, of course, am ready to blog mine (from my camera) and maybe he'll blog some of his fancy ones later. :)

We went to Fayetteville for Jenna's first birthday and ate at the Olive Garden. We really had fun and we hope everyone else did too! It was so nice to be able to spend time with everyone and like always the weekend just went by way too fast.

Anyway, I think this is the only group shot we got of the 3 of us. Jenna and her Nana.

Isn't her first birthday outfit just as cute as can be too? It is also reversible and the other side has her initials on it, so she can wear it again!

I love her cake!

Jenna's smash cake

At first, she just stuck one little finger in (like she kind of does with everything) but after a few taste tests, she decided just to go for it all. It was so cute to watch!



And some of the petit fours - these were delicious!

This is a goofy pic, but it's the best one I got. I'm so glad that Shannon and Melissa came! Shannon got Jenna an adorable outfit and Melissa painted a really neat frame and wastebasket!

And my mom got Jenna this banner from Bibs & Cribs. It is so cute and I can't wait to put it up every year!

Jenna with all of her stash except for Melissa, Shannon and Brian's gift. She got some really fun toys and I can't wait for her to play with them. I think I might be a bit more excited about the new toys than she is!

And JM's sister got him a birthday cake since his birthday is over Thanksgiving and we won't be seeing them. Another yummy Rick's cake over the weekend!

We really had a great time and we have tons and tons of pics to prove it!