2008 in Review

My friend Jennifer over at her blog posted a year in Review for 2008, and I thought it was fitting for me to do the same!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

I had a baby =)

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No, I really didn't have any, but the goals that I did have, I didn't quite accomplish all of them.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, my dear friends Alicia, Abby, and Carla

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes, my best friends mom

5. What countries did you visit?

Mexico

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

More organization and money!

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

February 25th - the day I found out I was pregnant
June 5th - when we first saw the bean
July 11th - my lil brother's wedding
November 1st - my due date come and gone!
November 8th - the day my life changed forever, I gave birth to my first baby - Macy Grace

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Becoming a mommy

9. What was your biggest failure?

last year's new year's resolutions!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I was hospitalized once for dehydration while pregnant around 10 weeks, no major illness or injury, I'm proud to announce!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Either my camera - a canon 40d digital slr - or the investment property we got for steal

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Ok, weird question - but I'm going with mine, I was pregnant for 9 months and didn't hardly complain (and I have a blog to prove it!) or my dog Jake's he's been wonderful with Macy Grace, or my husband who has loved me and helped way beyond the call of duty. We've all been good =)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I truly can't think of any ONE thing...

14. Where did most of your money go?

Bills I suppose - good question!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Macy Grace and our fabulous vacation

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

Probably "My daughter's eyes" by Martina McBride or "Safe and Sound" by Matthew West

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier
b) thinner or fatter? slightly fatter - I just had a baby
c) richer or poorer? poorer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

loved more

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

being neglectful towards my personal life and husband, not appreciating everything that have

20. How did you spend Christmas?

With my family at my dad's and we watched Marley and Me

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?

Yes, Saturday, November 8th

22. What was your favorite TV program?

I really don't watch much tv

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I don't have time to hate people

24. What was the best book you read?

A series by Beverly Lewis called Abrahm's Daughters - all of them, I loved it

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I didn't.

26. What did you want and get?

My camera, and a healthy pregnancy

27. What did you want and not get?

I didn't get my house completely finished

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Ugh, it doesn't seem like I really had time for movies, I loved Marley and Me

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I worked, we went out to dinner though and I turned 24

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Striking it big somehow

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Maternity - ugh

32. What kept you sane?

Chocolate =) and snowcones! In reality, my husband

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

None

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

the election

35. Who did you miss?

Old friends and family members I've not seen in a long time

36. Who was the best new person you met?

New person...besides Macy Grace =) I feel like I just formed better relationships with the people I already know, I did get to train my new assistant Kim and she's fabulous

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

All things work to for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose, it's for my good and His glory. It's not about me, it's about others.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

God's been good
In my life
I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams
When I go to sleep each night
And though I've had my share of hard times
I wouldn't change them if I could
Cause through it all
God's been good

Pictures

Here is lil love holding her bottle for the first time - **sniff, tear**



Look it shows her muffin top!









And her Christmas pictures:





I hate it when she cries, but it sure is cute!



My fav sad face!

Ah, christmas....

is over!!!! It was a good holiday and Macy Grace's very first christmas ever, it was fun. Christmas Eve we had a nice little evening with just us and I loved it. I had a simple dinner and we opened presents. Jeremy and I have this thing where I NEVER know what my gifts are going to be. I'm not even a good guesser at it! But he knows all of his gifts, which is disappointing for me, so I try to trick him and it usually works! We each bought something for Macy Grace and then one thing together. I bought her a set of Dr. Suess books, Jeremy bought her a piggy bank and together we bought her a musical seahorse, it's precious. Jeremy bought me some slippers and my gift from Macy Grace was some Shamwow towels, hehehe, what can I say?!? And Santa brought me a Wii, Wii Fit, and Mario Kart, I scored! However, Jeremy's had more fun and use out of the system then me, crazy how that works!?! I just don't have time...
I bought Jeremy a laptop bag and Macy Grace bought him monopoly. He also got a gift card to Home Depot and Elliots. We also both received random things like socks, underwear (it's a tradition ;) and candy.
Funny thing happened this year, we both bought each other the same thing - Deal or No Deal electronic game! Great minds think alike...
Christmas day was spent with my family and it went good. I also got to see the movie I've been waiting my whole life for (well, almost) Marley and Me! It was a good movie, I cried of course, I knew I would, I bawled reading the book!
Over all, it was a good holiday, but I'm glad it's over.

I just realized I never posted of her last appt, here it is.
On November 25th, she had a routine appt and she weighed 8 lbs 11 ounces and they didn't measure her length. The dr was very pleased with her weight especially considering she is a breastfed baby. Everything looked great and they want her back for her 2 month appt and they will begin vaccinations at that time, and I think I might cry when she gets a shot =(

We've got a case of the sickies...

Macy Grace is not feeling well, and it just breakes my heart. Last night she was so fussy and cranky, nothing would hardly console her. I went to start her bath water and laid her in Jeremy's arms and in the process she feel fast asleep and I didn't bother with the bath. I held her and she slept until I went to bed at 11 and fed her then again at 4. She is doing really well on her feeding and waking up times, I'm pleased. We went to the dr this morning and she is on an antibiotic and nebulizer for breathing treatments. I'm just happy we can take care of this before it forms an infection. And as a sidenote, she's not liking the nasal aspirator, at all. But what can I say, I wouldn't either!
Oh and at her appt, she weighed 11 lbs 4 oz and is 21 1/4 inches!!! She is becoming quite a chunk!

10 on Tuesday

It makes me sad that I haven't posted in the past week, but for a 10 on Tuesday, I'll explain!

1. I haven't had an internet connection in a while. My internet went down and I almost died, almost. Fortunately, we still have internet at our vacant house along with my desktop that we haven't moved over, so while I would dash over there to keep up on mandatory things, it was too chilly to spend much time at all, including time to blog.
2. Jeremy's humbug, but that's okay, he admits it, he's over the holiday nonsense.
3. And the truth is, I am too, I was never into it this year. I'm really ready for new year's though. Something about a fun party with my friends just sounds fabulous.
4. Macy Grace is sick, and I'm so sad for her. It just pains me. She has an appointment tomorrow with the dr first thing in the morning.
5. We had family christmas with my dad's side on Monday night, which basically includes just my uncle and his wife and their children and spouses. Sad but true. However, we are a tight family on that side so it's always fun anyway and we had a great time. But no pics, because I just didn't feel like taking any.
6. Macy Grace held her own bottle Monday night, it was sad, she's too big for that! I'll post a pic later of it, it's not off my camera yet.
7. I'm tired of everytime people see me take a picture of Macy Grace, they must inform me that it is mandatory that I take as many pictures of my future children as I do of her or it won't be fair and they will be upset. I think they are just sad they don't have many pictures of their children. Now, I don't print all of them, mercy, I would have never ending albums, but I do take alot of pictures and back them up on a separate hard drive. But it is my goal to become a professional photographer and to do that I need practice and when I become a professional, I'll really enjoy taking pictures and will be better at it. And hopefully with each child I have, my pictures will be better and better and I'll take more and more, that's my goal.
8. I FINALLY have 2 presents under the tree, that makes me get more excited about opening them!
9. Friday was my sister Lindsey's birthday and I took her shopping for new clothes and bought her her christmas present, she is getting so grownup. She is now 17!!!
10. I mailed out my Christmas cards, they will be late, but they will be received nonetheless.

I suppose I'll close with that, and because I just can't post without a picture, here's one:

And here's real life

10 on Tuesday

1. I should make this quick, I need to give Macy Grace a bath!
2. I hurt. My teeth hurts. My mouth hurts. Why? Because I had 3 cavities filled today and along with that 3 shots to numb my mouth. And 5 extra strength tylenols later, all I can say is yowzers.
3. I'm fighting the winter junk, Jeremy's fighting the winter junk and precious lil love is fighting the winter junk (I think!).
4. She slept ALOT the past few days and she is getting SO big!
5. I still have basically not bought any christmas presents, bad bad girl!
6. I still haven't even made out my christmas list yet!
7. Tomorrow starts one of my favorite days of the year - our local christian radio station will start playing exclusively christmas music!!!!
8. I have officially quit my job, and am now a stay at home mom and wife, and couldn't be happier.
9. I did buy Macy Grace two new books today - How the Grinch stole Christmas and Merry Christmas Curious George.
10. Please pray for me, I wish I could share what is on my heart, but I just can't, so please please pray for me and God will now exactly what situation is on my heart and mind at this time. Thanks! xoxoxo

Just because...

lady in black =)

What I need to do is post one of us together, but in the mean time - isn't this cuuuuute!?!

best friends - from a mom

This post has been processing mentally inside of me for several days, maybe even weeks. I have been a parenting critic for several years. I would say ever since my teen years when I watched friends stray from the Lord and the guidance of their parents. I never understood it. We were raised the same way, under the same principles and morals. And yet so many went astray from God and His ways. And through some observation it dawned on me - parenting. It stems from good parenting and bad parenting. As I was pregnant, I prayed for wisdom on how to raise my children. I needed it. I want to allow God to use me to produce individuals with fire and excitement to follow Him. And I have viewed christian parents allow their children to do the most unchristian things and allow them to participate in activities christians should have no part in. And I've never understood it. Why? Why, do they allow this? And I decided that I would pray to the good Lord and beg Him not to allow me to loose my perspective.

Then at 3am after I feed Macy Grace and sat there in the darkness dimly lit by a lamp and I stared down at her precious features just sleeping, I started thinking. I want the best for her. I love her. I love her more then words can describe. She is my pride and joy. I want her to experience life and love life and enjoy life. And before I knew it, with tears in my eyes, I was uttering, I want to be your best friend. I'll always be here for you Macy Grace and I love you and I kissed her. Then I had to stop and pray. I was reminded of my promise to the Lord. I'm her parent. I'm not here to be her best friend, I'm here to parent her. And if in the process of parenting, God allows us to form a friendship and we can be best friends, then that's the icing on the cake, but not the cake. That might sound harsh, but it's not harsh at all. I want to be her best friend but not the risk of losing my daughter to achieve that friendship.
What do I mean? I will not always make her happy, that's not my purpose. She will not always like me. And I need to be okay with that. There will be times that I will fight against her, and in doing so, I'm actually fighting for her. I will do my dead level best to keep her from the evil snares of the devil and that might mean breaking her heart a time or two to teach her a lesson. But if I don't, she'll break mine.
I pray that Lord will keep these thoughts in front of me and I can be a good parent. But not just a good parent, but a godly parent, because I don't want just a good Macy Grace, but a godly Macy Grace. This is my purpose. In the end, if we can still be best friends, then I acknowledge that is only because of God's goodness to us.

I have totally been trying to post lately and have had trouble with my internet, hopefully it'll work tho. So, it's Tuesday, you know what that means!

10 on Tuesday (and boy do I have a lot!)

1. Macy Grace saw her first snow flake today =) It snowed it's first snow of the winter and it was pretty. We only accumulated about an inch and a half or so.

2. I have my tree up, I think it's pretty, here's a pic:


3. Jake just ate my muffin! Gr...I was just biting into my blueberry muffin and my phone rang, I got up to answer it and heard Jake licking his chops, looked over and my muffin was gone - paper liner and all, gone, vanished into the stomach of Jake!

4. So, Jeremy basically knows what all his chirstmas presents are this year. And that makes me sad. He has stumbled across nearly everyone of them. First, I left one on the front seat of my car and he looked in, okay, so that one was my fault. Second, I had one in the diaper bag as I bought it and stuffed it real quick and in his crazy look for my car keys went digging through the bag and bam! came across yet another gift. Then, I was at Walmart in the checkout lane and here comes Jeremy strolling up to say hi and see what I was buying and yes, he saw another gift. Humph.

5. I still haven't made out my wishlist this year, must do it soon!

6. I can't decide if I want to host a christmas party here at the casa for our friends. Out of the prospective guest list, one couple definitely can't make it and another most likely won't be able to and those are the two I would have really wanted here. So, I'm still toying with the idea.

7. Jeremy's office party is Saturday night along with our Sunday School class party, we will be double dipping on parties that evening.

8. I'm not sure that I mentioned that we tried for a set of family pictures last week, it equaled into a total disaster and I learned the lesson once again to just do things myself. They are so terrible I will not post them.

9. I got a new car. Well, kinda. New to me. It's a 2003 Kia Spectra. It's simple without many, I mean, any, toots and whistles, but it gets Macy Grace and I around and it's great on fuel!

10. Macy Grace had her first bottle last night, she did wonderful with it. Although I'm not who gave it to her (and I will try not to be giving her bottle myself), when I came into the room and picked her up after it, she was giving me a mean eye...yikes!

and one more because it's my blog and I want to...

11. She had her first real bath Monday night and this is how she looked at me basically the whole time:



It's better than her crying, but I'm anxious for her to actually start enjoying them =)

I'm in a funk...

Sorry to all my wonderful readers that I've been so boring, but I'm in a funk...so in lieu of words, here are a few pictures!

Oh, and I'm pleased to announce that 2 of my IRL friends are now blogging, yeah, spread the blog love =) And Miranda, how come we can't leave comments on yours?

Without further ado...






This picture is not right for all the wrong reasons, but nonetheless a picture of best friends...

confession

Yesterday I came to grip with reality and admitted the one thing I didn't want to admit. In all actuality and I confessed the one thing I never thought I would ever confess. And that is that I'm not excited about Christmas. At all. I'm not the grinch, but maybe a lil humbug. And I don't know why. I have my christmas tree up and a couple snowmen and I just want to tell Jeremy to take the rest of the boxes and get them out of my house, I have no desire to finish decorating. And I know that isn't what Christmas is about, but decorating normally shows my excitment and it's zilcho. Bummer.

just a few pictures

10 on Tuesday, er, um, Wednesday...

So, yesterday I failed to report my blog....gosh, I didn't provide an update for a whole week, what is wrong with me?!?

Gosh...here goes...
okay, it's Friday, I started this post and didn't finish, so, needless to say, there is alot, I'll try to...

1. Thanksgiving was wonderful. It was so good to eat a delicious turkey dinner and reflect on the blessings in my life.
2. Blessings. I have so many, but one on the top of my list is life in general and my family. My dear husband and wonderful daughter are my joy.
3. Christmas, it's getting closer =) Jeremy is off right now picking up my christmas decorations so I can put up my tree today =)
4. Black Friday today was absolutely ridiculous and I choose to not do that again by myself for a very long time!
5. Macy Grace had a dr's appt this week, she has gained a pound, my itty bitty is growing =)
6. I bought Macy Grace 2 new outfits today, I love being a mom! And I have officially started my christmas shopping, my parents and Jeremy's parents - counted for!
7. I took some pictures this last week of Macy Grace and I'll try to get them up and posted.
8. I took Macy Grace to school for show-and-tell in my class this last Monday. It was so neat to see my students again and talk to them about Macy Grace and make crafts together, then we ate turkey dinner.
9. We actually had 3 turkey dinners this year, and each of them were equally delicious. I don't tire of turkey dinner, I could seriously chow down on another one right now =)
10. I've lost all but 6lbs to get down to my pre-pregnancy weight which I know will be the hardest to loose because it's the fat part of pregnancy. But I'm only 3 weeks out, I'm waiting until the new year to really focus on it. However, it would be very nice to have more than 1 pair of non-maternity jeans to wear...I'm pretty sure Maurices is calling my name ;)

So there ya have it, I have much much more to update on though. My next post will include pictures, yeah!

10 on Tuesday =)

A blog I follow religiously has a 10 on Tuesday and I would like to follow that same trend. Hopefully, it will help to keep up with my blogging habits and I can continue to provide fun details on my life and the love the Macy Grace.
So, for my first 10 on Tuesday...

1. I enjoy blogging. I wish more of my friends would keep blogs, I think it's an awesome way to keep up with each other's lives and have something to look back on, like a journal. I've only been blogging since this year, but I'm already addicted and I love it.

2. Jeremy and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary and I failed to blog it. Ugh. So, in honor, it was Wednesday, November 12th, and we stayed home and snuggled with our precious bundle of love. We did not exchange cards or gifts, we just reminded each other that day of the significance. Actually, we bought a new entertainment console the week before and just said it was our anniversary present to each other. It's hard to imagine that 3 years have gone by that Jeremy and I said "I do" and enjoyed that luxurious honeymoon. It's had its ups and its downs, but it has definitely been worth it, here's a pic of that day:



3. I love our new home. I have yet to take pictures simply because it hasn't been picture savvy, but they are soon to come.

4. I am very very proud of our furbaby Jake. He was somewhat jealous at first of Macy Grace but has certainly come around and is even somewhat protective of her. I'm sure it annoys people when they stop by and he's on edge, but they are holding his little baby sister and soon-to-be best friend. And I want him that way.

5. I'm itching to start decorating for Christmas, I can't wait. And I realized why the bug is hitting me so hard right now - Thanksgiving is a week later this year then usual, so normally, I would have already had my decor out and ready to be put up this week. But it will wait until next Friday....eee, how fun =)

6. Speaking of Thanksgiving, I'm looking forward to the meal. I love Thanksgiving. Ah, turkey, mashed tators, pie, dinner rolls, corn, pie, noodles, deviled eggs, pie, ham, green bean cassarole, pie....and the Macy's Day Parade, I'll be sure to have Macy Grace up on her boppy so she see can the tv ;) And black Friday shopping for Christmas gifts, I've still yet to make a stradegy for hitting the sales with a newborn.

7. Which reminds me, I am very behind on christmas lists and shopping and cards this year. Very behind. But that's fine, I have a baby.

8. Another reason I'm ubber excited about Christmas? Every year, Jeremy and I go see a movie and this one is released on Christmas day, perfect. Two years ago, Jeremy bought me this book out of pure fun because of the yellow lab on the front, needless to say, I read it very quickly and immediately fell in love. The good news, they have made a movie and it's called Marley and Me!

9. I'm going to try to take Macy Grace's newborn pictures tomorrow and get our birth announcements made. I've been tracing the internet for ideas and have a few, hopefully she'll cooperate. She knows her mommy is an aspiring photographer and she needs to be photogenic. She is my one stationary subject that can't tell me that's enough, because even when she cries it's cute so I take a pic ;)

10. I took a nap today. Why is that worth blogging? Because I'm not usually a nap taker and I look around my house and see the mess that has accumulated since Saturday with the shower and I'm reminded of everything I need to do. Then I remembered, I have a baby, she's a week old, it's okay for the house to be a mess. At least until tonight when Jeremy can help me clean.

I suppose I finished the task, take the challenge, I would love to keep up with your 10 on Tuesdays!

playing catch up...aka, a very long post!

It has been a few days since I've made an entry....I can't figure out why, hm. I've been crazy busy and it is difficult to post with one hand while the other is busy holding the most precious lil bundle of joy ever. Normally, I like to have 2 hands for that, she is cuddly. But I wanted to provide a little catch up over the past few days.

Macy Grace is doing fabulous at sleeping and eating. I'm not up every 2 hours with her, she normally eats about every 3-4 hours. Which is great. Sometimes during the day she will get hungry around 2-3 hours, but mostly it's at least 3 even 4 hours apart.

She has grown so much and changed. Every time someone sees her they comment that she has changed, and I know she will continue to do so for quite some time now. She still has her patch of red between her eyes, I suppose it will fade through time. We'll ask the dr next week for her first pediatric visit.

Today at a mere 9 days old, we crossed to milestones. She took the pacifier for the first time (and it was SO cute!) and we decided it was time for size 1 diapers - no more newborns. After 2 blowouts in a row, we needed to make the switch. My itty bitty is no longer in newborn diapers, that's sad. We should be in size one for a little while though.

This weekend held a few fun things though. She had her baby shower on Saturday and went to church for the first time yesterday. And she looked mightly adorable in her outfits. (I'll post pics at the end of the post of everything.) Her shower was a great success. I have a lot of thank you notes to fill out and send, but I'll manage. We were so blessed we wonderful gifts. I can't think of anything that Macy Grace needs that she didn't receive. I'm just so thankful. The outfit that she wore was a gift for her Auntie Tif and we love it - she just looks so stylish in it for a week old baby =) At her shower, the guests were asked to write down pieces of advice for me as a mother and the cards were given to me, it was very special. I received some great tips. But mostly everyone said to just enjoy the time, because they grow up so fast, that made me cry. I love sitting and hugging on my baby, I don't want to grow up and change, I love her cuddly little body that just lets me hold her and she doesn't try to slip away. It's moments like that I just want time to stand still for a while.

I'm going to make another post about some of the neat items she received and I'll provide a review on them for future reference.

I am trying to take a picture every Saturday (since that is the day she was born) for a whole year, that is my goal. It will be interesting to see how much she changes.

I'm providing pictures then I'm going to work on this ever growing mass around me of baby things and get it all organized, oh, baskets are calling my name =)

Never mind me, but I like this one of Macy Grace




Ready for the party!





At the shower



The presents unwrapped and in our living room

One week old!

Macy Grace's first Sunday dress

I just can't help myself....

Isn't she just so adorable?

Macy Grace

I promised pictures and here are a few...

postpartum

I have a few thoughts that have been generating inside of my head that I would like to share. I don't know how much you'll enjoy reading these, but they are mainly for me I suppose.

I loved being pregnant. I really did. I wasn't sick hardly at all, I was able to continue about my daily activities, I gained some weight (28 lbs to be exact)and at times felt huge, but overall felt great. I had a wonderful pregnancy.
I'm sad my first time to be pregnant is over. That was my last first time mom thing.
And I'm excited about being pregnant again!
I even enjoyed labor and delivery. Looking back that hour between 3:45 and 4:45 was rough, but how on earth can I complain, 1 hour of hard labor....that's nothing.
I love Macy Grace so much. I feel sad that she is no longer inside of me and I have to share her with the world but at the same time, I'm going to love introducing her to everyone.
I wanted my 'old body' back but hated losing that I shared it with someone so special.
Jeremy named Macy Grace. We had 3 names we both loved and I didn't love one of them more than the other so I left that to him. When she was born he instantly said, Macy Grace. And it is so perfect for her.
Jeremy was incredible during my entire pregnancy, labor, and delivery. He was absolutely amazed at the process of delivery and so supportive and encouraging through out it as well.
I stare at Macy Grace and share things with her about how much I love her, how special she is, and how I will do absolutely anything in the world for her. She is my baby girl.
After Macy Grace was born, and it was just the 3 of us in our room, Jeremy was holding her and I'll never forget looking over in the recliner and seeing him cry. He isn't a crier but I asked if he was okay and he just shook his head and said, She's my baby. I'll never, ever forget that.

I've been tagged

I just realized mommymoreno tagged me, I'm to list 7 random facts about myself....hmph.
I'll try, here goes...
1. I think cookies are my favorite dessert, I love them, and it doesn't matter the flavor, they are all delicious.
2. I'm addicted to handbags.
3. I'm a container junkie, anything that makes anything look organized, I want it.
4. I have OCD on the most ridiculous things, for example, the toliet paper roll, MUST be over, not under.
5. I don't like going to the dentist, but need to because I have a cavity right now and I've put it off my entire pregnancy.
6. I'm letting Jake (my furbaby) lick my spoon - don't worry, I'm finished with it =)
7. I love fun looking socks. I never wear shoes that show my socks but I like fun socks to wear around the house, i.e., snowmen, pumpkins, etc.

Now I tag, Kari and Mandy. And anyone else following along, if you do it, post a comment and I'll go check 'em out!