Friend finding fridays!

LINK UP!

Last night was rough to say the least. I always seem to complain, but never praise her when she does good! Ooops. The past 3 nights have been pretty good..except for last night. She's only been waking up once a night and it's around 6am. Well, last night she decided to go to bed at 8pm (which is normal time for her), wake up screaming at 8:45, go back to sleep- wake up at 9:45 screaming again, go back to sleep- wake up at 1am screaming- go back to sleep and finally waking up at 4am for a feeding. I have no idea what her problem was last night, but it SUCKED! I'm so sleepy. She woke up at 7:20 this morning and it's now 8:52 and she's already back to sleep. 

My little con artist escapee. 

I should be napping, but am I? No. I'm too busy blogging. 

What are the weekend plans?

Today I need to go back to Target and return some stuff I bought for my living room because I've changed my mind. I'm going to lunch with Jeremy & tonight he's taking us out to dinner & going shopping for the house. Jen invited me to The Winery so I may go for a drink after Rylee is fast asleep. They have these awesome wine slushes. 

Saturday I'm not sure what I'm doing really. Maybe lay in my pj's all day for once like I do everyday.

GIVE AWAY!

Who doesn't like giveaways??

Mama  is offering an awesome giveaway going on now at her blog! Check it out!! It's a $20.00 gift card to CSN that pretty much offers anything & everything!

And who doesn't like to win free stuff?!

Mommas can be sexy too!

I've decided to post a picture of me during our honeymoon in paradise & then pictures of me now in the same bathing suit. =) I'm pretty proud of myself for being able to fit in it...except the top is a little small because of these big ol' milkers.

(Click to enlarge) =) 

Maddie's Bow

Today is a sad for this this family. My heart aches for them. I could NOT imagine going through that. She was such a happy baby and all of a sudden passed away. Maddie's mom asked in honor of her today we dress our little girls in the biggest bow they have since Maddie always wore big bows. Rylee is showing her support. Thank you to From Mrs. to Mama for sharing her blog.

I also found this special cause on facebook for Maddie. Go buy a shirt & help with their funeral costs! I'm doing it!

I have also started a new photography blog that will have tutorials on how to do fun stuff in photoshop elements & light room. Go check it out! I'm going to try my hardest to post 1 tutorial a day..maybe more if I'm lucky!

Calling all mommas & mommas to be.

I'm so aggravated.

This may be long & I know a lot of you don't read lengthy posts, but I need everyones input..especially MOMMAS!

We have been trying to get together with 4 of our friends for a while now, but they are super busy. Two weeks ago I texted all of them & told them to let me know when was a good night & I would cook dinner at our place & they could come over.

Did they ever tell me when a good night was? NO.

They texted me Sunday and asked us to come over Thursday at 7:30 for dinner.

Great, right? NO.

Problem? Rylee's bed time is 8pm. 

Do I want to risk getting her schedule messed up for just dinner? NO. 

I tell all of these things to Jeremy and he says "let's just go and deal with her." I would pretty  much be dealing with her the entire time since we wouldn't even get there until 7:30. What a nice dinner. A screaming baby & a cranky ass mom. He knows how she gets around 7pm because all she wants to do is sleep. 

I'm a little sad because I really do cherish these friends, but I'm not willing to risk her being cranky for them. One of the guys texted Jeremy and said "don't babies just sleep where ever, like in their carriers?" WTF. First off, you have NO kids and NO experience so don't tell me how babies are. 

What would you all do?? 

Third times a charm

I'm seeing how many times I can post today.

Remember how I told you Jeremy professionally bass fishes? Here is a few pictures from Saturday's tournament where they came in 1st place! =)

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$$$$$$$$

Which makes momma happy!

VIDEO!

This video sucks, but this is what Rylee does ALL day long!

Prez Day

Did damage to my bank account for Rylee & she was such an angel the entire day!

One year ago...

A lot happens in a year, but you never really notice it until you sit down & think about it.

February 21st, 2009 I was in the middle of planning my wedding & honeymoon.
February 21st, 2010 I just found out I was pregnant.

How did this happen, you ask? Besides the obvious, bangity-bang-bang.

We never really talked about having kids. I mean we did, but never a "serious" talk I guess. We just went with "whatever happens, happens." I'm a firm believer "if it's meant to be it will happen." I remember the dreaded aunt flow was suppose to come this day. I was sitting in our spare room at the desk doing math homework and kept thinking I was having a little more discharge than normal. T.M.I. I know- maybe I should have warned you before? Oh well. I texted my sister, Melanie, and she kept telling me to go buy a test & Loni kept saying the same thing too. I just knew I would be sad if it was negative. The peer pressure finally gave in & I went. The entire time I was driving to the store I was so, so nervous. Maybe more scared? I get home & make myself pee. IT WAS POSITIVE! Definitely a little faint, but there was totally a line there. O.M.G. I was definitely in freak out mode! These are the people I told in order: Melanie, Jen, Loni, Keri, Sarah..then Jeremy. You're probably wondering why Jeremy wasn't the 1st person..I'll get to that later. 

Luckily I had bought a 3 pack of tests. I kept thinking "no way, this can't be happening." Melanie told me to pee on another stick, so I did & it was even darker than the 1st one. I waited about an hour and peed on yet another stick & it was definitely a dark line. See above pic. After those 3 I was done peeing on sticks. There was no doubting it. 

I freaked the hell out. I was shaking..in a good way though..lol. 

Now on to why I didn't tell Jeremy first. Well, see, he does professional bass fishing (for all of those who don't know) and he was at one of his tournaments. His busy season is January-October so it was either us get pregnant this time of the year or we would be waiting until next February. I didn't want to tell him over the phone because I knew he would freak out and not be able to fish properly, lol. So I waited for what seems like FOREVER for him to get home. I told him & he was completely shocked. He knew how happy I was. 

My first ever tummy picture at 6 weeks.

He never really believed it until our 2nd doctors appointment & the doctor did an ultrasound at 9 weeks.

Sorry for the crappy pictures. These were taken a year ago and I didn't feel like going back and re-scanning.

Who would have thought that a year later I would have an amazing 4 1/2 month old daughter who starts smiling at the sight of her daddy. Amazing.

Photography blog

I've decided I won't bore the people that could care less about photoshop and/or editing any photos on here.

I created a new photography blog; check it out here!

There's not much going on over there yet, but there will be...give me some time! Follow & grab my button if you're interested :)

Hobbies?

I think I have found my new expense hobby: Photography, but it's so dang expensive! I'm not talking about becoming pro..just doing it for me & my pictures. I love it. It's fun & addicting. I bought some photo paper & I will print the pictures on my printer too. YAY! No more going to the store a gazillion times now.

Here are a few before & after pictures...*note: this was my first time editing them like this*

Now I want a new lens for my camera..oh boy. Jeremy won't be too happy about that. :)

On to Rylee news...I have got her on a nap time schedule! YES! She takes her naps from 12pm-3pm..thank god! I love my "me time." Sometimes I take naps too. She sleeps full time in her crib now, along with naps. She's growing so, so fast.

I'm thinking of maybe starting a photography how-to's blog..what do you all think?

Night #2

Night #2 in crib went okay, but not as good as night #1. She went to sleep at 8pm and woke up at 12:45 crying. I nursed her & she went back to sleep at 1am and slept until 6:30, but she kept wiggling around and making noises the ENTIRE time! Somehow, I got her back to sleep around 7:15 and she slept until 8:45.

While she was laying in her crib trying to sleep she decided to start squealing for 15 minutes. She wasn't crying, just squealing at the top of her lungs. I decided to record a few seconds on my phone. This recording sucks because it was on my phone & it's on the little video monitor I have in my room.

Right now she's sleeping in her crib and she's been out for 2 1/2 hours.  I'm going to give her 30 more minutes then I'm going to wake her up.

This is of her laughing/squealing again. She's so silly.

Love.

First, let me start off by saying my husband is the best. I came home yesterday and he gave me this..

Second, Rylee slept in her crib for the first time last night & it was great. She slept a lot better in there. She still only woke up one time (which is normal), but she didn't wiggle around as much. I think her bassinet is too small for her now. She likes to wiggle & squirm so much. When I went in to get her at 4am she was all the way on the side. I don't think I could have done it without my video monitor. I woke up like 10 times to roll over & take a peak at her. Jeremy texted me this morning and said "I slept good, but I kept waking up worried about her because she's so far away" AWE. That makes me teary eyed. He's the best daddy. It's 8:30am here and she's still sleeping. =) I was a little sad putting her in there, but I think it's time. I'm ready for my bedroom back and not having to be so quiet because we're afraid we would wake her up. It's a good move.

"She is growing perfect", Doctor says

Rylee had her 4 month check up on Thursday. She is 14lbs 11oz and 26 inches long. She is 75th percentile in weight & 95th percentile in height! Doc says she's looking like she will be tall like daddy. =)

He asked me about starting solids and I told him I was waiting until 6 months. He said I could even wait until 7-8 months if I really wanted since I am breast feeding. I think I will start oatmeal at 6 months & baby food at 7 months. 

She had to get 2 shots. =( She cried more when they stuck the thermometer up her butt to check her temperature though. Poor baby. 

This will be day #3 in getting her on a nap schedule. I LOVE IT. Mucho thanks to Loni for giving me tips. I swaddle her around 2pm and put her in the crib. She usually sleeps for 2 - 2.5 hours. That gives me my much needed "me" time. 

We had a rough couple nights, but the past 3 nights have been good. She's been going to bed at 830 and then she will wake up around midnight, but I let her squirm around and she puts herself back to sleep. Then she will wake up between 3a-5a and once I nurse her, I swaddle her up and she'll sleep for another 5-6 hours. 

She now will grab toys that are in front of her instead of me having to put them in her hand. She's so crazy. She squeals at the top of her lungs when she gets excited..lol. Daddy thinks she's going to be shy because when you make her laugh she covers her face with her hands. 

This is how she falls asleep at night...weirdo!

This would be baby Layla. She's so tiny!! Only 4 lbs. I felt like I was lifting a feather compared to my chunkster.

4 MONTHS!

Where has the time gone? I will probably say this every month..get over it. I just can't believe it.

Yesterday she was 4 months old. We had a quick photo shoot. She wasn't into it yesterday..

Redecorating!

Since I'm at home a lot now with miss Rylee it has made me go crazy with my house.

I'm finally done painting my living room. We only did 1 accent wall, but it looks good! It's orange. I'm in the process of picking out new blinds and curtains & then curtains for the sliding glass door. Once this living room is done I will post before & after pictures. =)

We are also going to lay tile in the bathrooms! YAY! Maybe I can talk Jeremy into buying a new vanity too....

Last night was a little rough. She went to bed at 8pm and woke up at 330. I tried three different times to get her back to sleep & all failed. Every time I got her to sleep by rocking her, then I'd put her in the bassinet & she would sleep for 15 minutes and wake up crying. I finally gave up around 530 and put her in bed with me. She STILL kept waking up every 30 minutes! UGH. I gave up & got out of bed at 9am and now she's sleeping away....

She also holds her own bottle when I'm not here to feed her. It made me a little sad to see it...

Picture quality sucks because it was taken with Jeremy's crappy phone, but GOOD NEWS! His iphone 4 is coming in today! The real test will be to see if I can keep it a secret until Valentine's Day.....

1st time in her crib

Good thing I live in Florida... ha! ; )

Rylee was taking naps in her bassinet when she was younger..then I got into the habit of sticking her in the swing. I've decided she needs to sleep in her crib..where she belongs.

Today is the first day taking naps in her crib! She's actually never slept in her crib so it's the first time for that too! I'm excited. I swaddled her & laid her down, walked out to get the video monitor & when I walked back in she was passed out!  It's been 30 minutes so far! YES!

I'm enjoying being able to watch my tv shows without pressing "pause" a million times & shopping online. Oh yeah, and that I was able to eat my lunch in peace. =)

I bought a blow up rubber ducky for her bath time! She loved it.

She tries so hard to get moving

Sweet baby girl laughing. It almost sounds like she's about to scream..lol.

Cloth Diapers

A lot of moms in my mommy group are trying cloth diapers. I think I want to try it. I'm on this kick about saving money.

If you use cloth diapers: do you like them? how much money has it saved do you think? would you suggest it?