It Cant get Any Better

I find myself thinking the above statement some days, while other days are pure chaos and I feel like I didn't do anything constructive.  Yesterday was a pretty great day and I wanted to document for those days when I feel crazy and overwhelmed or when my child seems less than perfect (which I'm sure will never happen.)

Yesterday, I woke up when I was supposed to and drank my coffee while I did my Quiet Time alone. No distractions. I got Adam up for work and then went to get my girl (7:30 am).  She's been quite the sleeper lately, but I try not to let her sleep past 7:30.  I fed C, then got ready for the day. We went outside to play with the dogs, then played in the floor in the living room while I ate breakfast and we waited on the sitter to get there. I left at 9 to head to the library my office with a downtown view.  I worked like mad until noon, when I went home for lunch for an hour.  Adam met me there and we talked and ate, then fed C. He left and I rocked C for a bit before putting her down for her nap.  I threw a load of clothes in the wash, then headed back to the library, where I sneak into the teen study lounge to work even though I am twenty something because I need a quiet place to make phone calls. the office. I worked hard until 4:30 then headed home.  My sweet angel was still sleeping, so I ate a snack, surfed the net for 15 mins, then woke her up.

(this was her face 5 seconds after she woke up from her nap.)

 I gave her her bottle outside in the sunshine, then we started on dinner.  C sat in the floor and played while we listened to music and I cooked.  Husband came home at 6 and we ate then all ran out for an errand.  We came home, gave C her last bottle and bath, read books, then put her to bed.  Husband went on a run while I forced myself voluntarily did my work out DVD in the living room. Last, A and I watched some Leno before falling asleep.

To anyone else reading- this would seem boring, uneventful, and downright awful.  But for me, it was the perfect day and how I will strive to have each weekday run.  I felt truly accomplished as a mom, wife, and employee, while also having some time for myself and most importantly spending time with Christ. 

I also want to remember these days with Caroline.  She is absolutely perfect.  She is happy, delightful, fun to be around, sweet, and cute.  She makes me SO happy.  It helps that she sleeps, eats, and is healthy.  I want to note all of these things so that on those days that she may be harder to love, I can know that it shall pass (God willing,) and that she really is my gift from God. 

I found myself thinking yesterday, that "It Can't get any better." I am mostly referring to the stage C is at right now, but also to where we are at this point in life...

Father's Day Gift Guide

  I really love cards. But, the cost of cards has gotten a little absurd.  Just yesterday I spent over $20 on 5 cards at Target. I was surprised to find that for less money, I could create custom cards faster at treat.com. I decided to get a jump start on this year's Father's Day cards and gifts and wanted to share what I came up with.

First, and most importantly... it's Caroline's dad's FIRST ever Daddy's Day.  I just love this CARD!

 

We also created a card for each of Caroline's grandfathers.  Aren't they SO cute?!

I also couldn't resist these adorable MUGS from their sister site Tinyprints.com.  All I did was upload a pic and type in the text.

I made 3 cards and 3 mugs in 25 minutes.  The hardest part was choosing which pictures of my sweet girl to use! I am already checking out invitation ideas for Caroline's first birthday HERE. I LOVE this site and found it extremely easy to use and navigate. I would much rather create a custom card for someone for less money and time spent at the store!  I can't wait to surprise the men in Caroline's life!

 

Seven Months

Sweet Caroline is SEVEN months old! I just keep thinking that every month, every milestone is the best and that she cant possibly get any more fun! She is the sweetest thing and it amazes me how I really do love her more every day.

 

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~ you are very happy. You still only get fussy when you are tired

~you eat 25 oz of formula a day and 2 sittings of baby food (usually breakfast and dinner with a snack at lunch)

~ you take 3 naps a day. 9 am (1 hour), 1:00 (3 hours) and 6 pm (30 mins)

~ mommy went on her first work trip last week.  I was away from you for 3 days/2 nights and I couldn't wait to get home to you! Luckily with my new job I've been able to be home with you every day

~ You have really started babbling and have said "mama" "dada" and "baba" a couple of times after we say it, but nothing on your own

~ you sit up really well and it wont be long before you are crawling (probably sooner if I wouldn't carry you around all the time.)

 

~ you love to blow raspberries

~ you are not afraid of people and will go to anyone

~ You started going to the nursery at 5 months, but went to your first FNO this past Friday night. You did fine until the last 30 minutes and then apparently you had a meltdown.

~You are wearing 6 month clothes and can still wear a few 0-3 dresses. Almost all of your shoes are newborn.

~ We're so thankful for you. You truly bring us so much JOY!

#lashleeyazzawedding

This past week we headed to Destin for my best friend's wedding.  My best friend also happens to be Adam's second cousin.  Adam's parents flew to Destin and took Caroline with them.  We left Tuesday morning and were able to drive with only one stop!  My in- laws said Caroline did great on her first plane ride!

 

I have 5 best friends from 6th grade.  We are all still friends and while we are scattered across 3 states, we still talk on a weekly basis.  It's not often that we get together in person, but when we do we have a GOOD time. These are the kinds of girls that I can pick up right where we left off, no matter how long its been since we were last together. Jessica's parents rented a huge house at the beach for the wedding party.  We had so much fun. It's been a while since I stayed up past midnight several nights in a row! I laugh SO hard when I'm with these girls! My parents and my in- laws both made the trip for the wedding and took turns keeping C so that we could hang out with our buddies at the "animal house" as my dad called it. :)



 

 

 

Caroline was in her first wedding as a "flower baby." She and the 2 other babies did great and were of course cute as could be!

A beach wedding meant C's first beach trip! The weather was pretty chilly all week so we barely made it to the beach. She was definitely a fan of the beach and the pool.

 

The beautiful bride and I. Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Yazza!

 

 

 

half

My baby is 1/2 year old.  I know I say it each month, but its hard to believe.  I'm amazed about how fast time is flying by, which is why I took two weeks off from work to soak her up! (More on that later.)  She's just went for her 6 month check up on Tuesday, but she will be seven months old next week!  The pictures are from her actual 6 month birthday, though. :)

What you have been up to...
~ you starting sitting up unassisted on your 6 month birthday. You think you are pretty big stuff now.
~ You have really started babbling and most recently laughing. It's my favorite sound in the world!
~ You reach for things... especially your bottle.
~ You LOVE to eat.  You eat five 6 oz bottles a day and have 1 serving of pureed baby food.  Your favorites are sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, and pears.  Avocado is the only thing you really dislike.  Mommy is making all of your food and having a really fun time with it.
~ You still spit up after almost every bottle.
~ You are SUCH a happy baby. You only get fussy when you are tired.
~ You love being outside and watching Baby Einstein.
~You don't really cuddle. At night time when you are sleepy you like to be laid in your crib to go to sleep. This is great, but sometimes I just want to rock you and you wont have it.
~ You weigh 14 lbs and 25 inches long.  You are 10% for weight and 20% for height
~ You have basically stopped rolling over. I guess you have moved on to bigger and better things!

Each milestone you hit, I think "I just want to freeze time because it can't possibly get any better"... but it does! I love you more each day and I will always remember these days we've had together just you and I. 

Easter 2013

Since Adam and I have been married (a whopping 4 years) we have celebrated Easter in Fayetteville at our church.  His parents joined us the last 2 years and we decided since we spent Christmas and Thanksgiving "at home" that they could join us here for Easter.  Since I hosted a shower for my bestie/Adam's cousin Jessica in Benton on Saturday night, we decided to go to Benton for Easter.

We took off Thursday and Friday and headed a little early so my parents could keep Caroline on Thursday night while we slept in at Adam's parents on Friday and had a "date day." We slept in, I got a facial, A a haircut, and we ate lunch, and shopped in Little Rock.  A ran her first fever ever and we headed back a little early since she wasn't feeling well. I think it may be due to her teething but she has yet to cut any teeth. She was very fussy the rest of the night.  It broke my heart to know she didn't feel well and there was nothing I could do!  Except for that, I had a fantastic day with Caroline's dad and we got some much needed alone time.

On Saturday, we spent most of the day getting ready for a couples shower that I hosted with my best friends from high school for Clark and Jessica.  More on that later.  We had the BEST time and I always laugh so hard when I am around them.  Caroline felt better on Saturday and enjoyed hanging out with Joodge and Baba who just returned from seeing Adam's sister and her family overseas.

Easter was cold and rainy... which is actually like most Easter Sunday's that I can remember! We didn't let that detour us from praising our Risen Lord and King! I cried on almost every song sang at church!  Church was so packed that we had to split up and Baba and I sat with C. We of course were late (surprise!) and got stuck in the middle of a crowded row.  C got restless as soon as her bottle was gone about 10 minutes into the service so I had no choice but to let her watch Little Einstein on my phone (sound was off.) MOM. OF. THE. YEAR.  I wanted to take her to the nursery but the grands wouldn't hear of it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had such a wonderful time with our friends and family this weekend and we are thankful for a Risen Savior!

5 Months

Yesterday we celebrated my baby's 5 month birthday!  It was the first beautiful Spring day and we spent lots of time outside working on the yard and then with a trip to Target. :)

We of course continued to take our monthly pictures and Caroline's little personality continues to come out!

- you had baby food (green beans) for the first time last week. Mommy made it herself and you LOVED it! You have also eaten sweet potatoes and apple sauce and loved it! 

- you have really found your voice and have started really babbling and even doing this screeching thing. 

- You still spit up, but it doesn't seem to be as bad since you started eating some solids

- You went to the nursery for the first time today. You did great, of course.

- You are so much fun and you are really getting a personality.  We love coming home to you each day and playing with you until we put you to bed at night.  You are so content and you don't cry unless you are tired. 

- We love you SO much.  Sometimes I honestly don't know how I will love you any more.  You bring us SUCH JOY!