2016 New Year Resolutions

1. Grow a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord - I am hoping to do this through a variety of ways. I am absolutely going to do a daily devotion every morning. I am so much kinder and more patient when I get up a few minutes early before the kids and read a devotion and pray before getting the day started. I also am looking forward to trying out Bible Study Fellowship in the fall instead of continuing with Mom 2 Mom. I love M2M, but I am in my 4th year of a 3 year study so I have heard all the lessons already and I want something that will challenge me a little more. So after April no more Mom 2 Mom for me. I am also hoping to read the book(s) that coincide with the lessons being taught at church. I really enjoy having a book that talks deeper on what the pastor preached that week and we are starting a new series in 2 weeks so I have to go buy the book.

2. Go on at least 1 date a month with David (continuing from last year) - You would think this would be so easy, only 1 date! It is almost impossible to happen. We did good for a few months last year and then fell off the wagon. I don't think we have been on a date in the past 5 months (with the exception of my birthday dinner, which I count as a date!) I have access to babysitters so there really shouldn't be any excuse to not go 1 out of 30 days.

3. Workout and live a healthier lifestyle - I am stating this goal very loosely, because I don't want it to be a specific number or anything that I am guaranteed to fail at. I just want to get back into working out, whether it be yoga, group classes, or just lifting weights. I would like to say I'd do it at least 3 days a week, but we all know things come up and that won't happen some weeks. I also want to watch what I eat and make healthier choices. Again, I love food and won't give up things I love to make only healthy choices so I am just going to try to be healthier overall.

These are the 3 main things I want to work on, but of course there are tons of other areas to improve. I could cook more, look less at social media, not text and drive, have a meal ready when Dave gets home from work...millions of things I could go on and on about! But the 3 above are what is most important to me and so I'm going to focus on that and not bog myself down with to many things to keep up with. What are your New Year Resolutions? Anyone have anything great that I am forgetting? I'm on Day 6 of January and I am off to a great start. Gym twice this week so far and doing good with my devotionals. I need to schedule a Date night we David ASAP!


PS: I know texting and driving is horrible! I have gotten so much better and really only look at my phone if I am stopped at a stoplight. I really should just put it in the back so I can't look at it at all while in the car, but people call and text and sometimes its urgent! Wahhh! I know I'm just making excuses. I WILL stop texting and driving in 2016!

Happy New Year - Emily is Engaged!!

Emily (my sister-in-law if you are not aware) was born on January 1st 32 years ago. Sounds like it would be cool to have a 1-1-84 birthday, but in reality it's horrible! Everyone has their own New Year's eve parties to attend so no one ever wants to celebrate her birthday. And definitely not on the 1st since most of her friends are hungover lol. This year Will decided to throw an actual birthday party for her so her friends would be more inclined to come. For the past month, Will and I have been in cahoots planning the whole night. We picked out decorations, rented a green screen photo booth (that turned out to be really fun & cool! Notice the background differences in the photos below), got food and drinks, and most importantly picked out a ring! 

Yes that's right about a month ago Will asked Bill for permission to marry Emily. After he got the approval from Dodaddy, he enlisted me to find out what exactly she wanted and to go to Underwoods to pick it out. It was so much fun looking at all the rings and we chose a gorgeous diamond band with a single solitaire diamond. It was so hard to keep it all a secret, but I knew she would be so surprised and excited when it actually happened. 

Here are some pictures of the decorations and first half of the night. 

Around 10 o'clock, Will brought out the birthday cake and we all sang happy birthday to Em. According to our mapped out plan, we were supposed to play Heads Up (the game on the iPhone) after cake. So I initiated the game, and thank the Lord Emily was on board to play. All the teams went through the first round. On the 2nd round, Emily was holding the phone to her head. Will acted out "Will you marry me" and got on one knee and pulled out the ring. She was so surprised and happy! After the proposal he played a slideshow of videos from friends and pics of them which was so sweet. 

We ended the night with a perfect view of fireworks and a chinese lantern send off. He lives on the 27th floor downtown and the fireworks that the city does were literally right outside of his window! The picture below is of Dave & I's chinese lantern. Almost everybody's fell into the river, but ours floated off into the distance. It was cool! And of course I had to take a pic of the gorgeous ring!

 I am so excited for Emily and for all the planning and fun we will have over the next 9-10 months. If you would have said she would be engaged by now 6 months ago, I would have laughed in your face. But God has a plan and it is finally her time for marriage to happen! Look out blog readers, this blog is about to become 1/2 kids and 1/2 weddings for the next 9 months! :)

I hope everyone had a great New Years Eve/Day! I can't believe it is 2016!  Be back soon, I am going to do a separate blog post of my new years resolutions so I have some people to hold me accountable. :)

Blakely's 9 Month Update

Height: 28 1/4 inches - 73%
Weight: 16 lbs 13 ounces - 25%
Head Circumference: 17 3/4 inches- 82%
Vision: You see good as far as I know. Dr. Mary has never had any concerns at least.
Movement: Big month for this category. You went from immobile to crawling...atleast a little bit. You can go about 4-5 crawls before giving up. Sometimes your legs slide out from under you and you end up on your belly. Thats the worst because you can't figure out how to sit up again once laying down. You can go from sitting position to crawling and vice versa. You are going to be flying around here in no time.
Eating Habits/New Foods: Still doing 3 ounces of milk every 3 hours throughout the day. We have made sure you get 3 meals a day though because you are hungry. You are starting to do more bite size foods. New foods we have tried this month are: cheese, yogurt, pears from a fruit cup, cheerios, deli meat, pork, ground beef, strawberries. You are still doing lots of pureed food. I made a second batch of food and it only lasted about 3 weeks so we are definitely in need of a cooking session.
Sleeping Patterns: Nothing new in the sleep department which is nothing to complain about, because you are a great sleeper majority of the time. You wake between 7:15 and 7:30, take a nap around 10,  take a 2nd nap around 2 or 3 pm, and go to sleep around 8 pm.
Sounds/Words: You still say Mama and Dada, but no actual other words. You are starting to imitate sounds that Delainey or I make. I am working on hi and bye bye as we speak.
New discoveries/accomplishments:
-You did your first 2 signs! They were milk and more
-Your can crawl
-You celebrated your first Christmas and did great in Christmas eve service. You definitely wanted to sing with the choir
-You met Santa for the first time and did good sitting on his lap.
-You went to your first Mickey's Xmas Party and stayed awake until we left the park at 11:45 and saw the Osbourne lights at Hollywood Studios.
-You did your first hayride through Luminaria in Avondale
Places you went/Adventures: December was packed with activities. You did the Julington Creek boat parade, a live nativity at Christ's Church fleming, met Santa at Delainey's school, went to Orlando for Mickey's Christmas party and to Hollywood Studios for the Osbourne Christmas lights, went to story time, played a lot with your cousins Walker & Waylon who were in town, went on a hayride for Luminaria, celebrated Christmas eve at church, had Christmas morning at our house then dinner at Gammoes.
Clothes: You are in 9-12 month clothes. They are a little big, but they definitely are doable. Most leggings and jeans are 12 months. We are in 9 month sleepers now. Still a size 3 diaper, but definitely ready for size 4. I am finishing that box of 3s though by golly! lol
Sister updates: You are obsessed with your sister. She blows on your belly or sucks on your fingers and makes you laugh hysterically. You are starting to imitate her by yelling if she yells or making sounds similar to what she does. She is such a good babysitter and is always willing to help whenever I need something.
Weekly Pictures:

December to Remember - Week 4 (Part 2 - Xmas Day)

Christmas morning started for Blakely around 7:15, but not till almost 8 for Delainey! Delainey woke and said Mom it's Christmas morning and ran out to see all the gifts. She opened her stocking and moved right over to Blakely's toy. She definitely helped her "open" most of her presents. Her "big" present from Santa was a bike. Each year Delainey has to do a scavenger hunt to find her last big gift. She did awesome this year by solving the riddles. The end of it led her out to the garage, where her new bike was sitting. She put her helmet on and hopped right on and off she went. She is a maniac on that bike. I personally think we should take off the training wheels and teach her, but Dave says give her a few weeks with them first. After playing with our toys, we had the usual egg casserole and monkey bread for breakfast. Georgie & Ivy came to eat and play for a little while and then it was off to naps. Dave & D watched a movie and I cleaned the house and showered to get ready to go to Gammoe's. 

We headed to Gammoe & Dodaddy's around 1. We opened presents and played over there and then had dinner around 5. Will's parents and brother and wife were there so we had a full 12 people for dinner. After dinner, we played some heads up and called it a night around 8. We had a fantastic day, but boy were we exhausted. 

The next morning, Delainey woke up and played with EVERY single toy she got. She must of have sat in her room for a good 3-4 hours playing :) I'd say it was a good Christmas. Me, in all my OCD glory, took down the Christmas decorations, and I mean even the lights on the house. HAHA Dave was called into surgery and I figured what better time then over the weekend while we didn't have much going on. We hung at the house, played with neighbors, and headed to bed early.

Yesterday, we went to church and lunch and then to the pool for a little while since it was 85 degrees. Got to keep Delainey swimming so she doesn't forget. We headed to Gammoe's for an early birthday dinner since her birthday is on Tuesday.
We have a busy week ahead of us again. Blakely has her 9 month check up and Thursday is New Years Eve and Will is having  a big party for  Emily's birthday. Then dinner at Marcia's on Friday with the family for Emily's Birthday. This time is crazy!! I hope everyone had a great Christmas!

December to Remember - Week 4 (Part 1)

We had a crazy busy week that was so much fun! The fun started on Monday when Delainey and I went to an Irish Christmas performance at the Times Union theater with Gammoe & Dodaddy. Think river dance with a little bit of singing. Delainey loved it and was standing in the aisle jumping up and down trying to imitate them lol. 

It was my month to host supper club, so Tuesday I had a White Christmas White elephant themed party. I made a shrimp pasta, we did a white elephant gift exchange, and played an intense round of heads up. I am so thankful for my friendships with these ladies and for our monthly girls night. I look forward to it every month! 

Wednesday we finished some last minute shopping, went to the grocery store, and stayed up late wrapping presents since Xmas eve was going to be a busy night. 

Thursday morning (Christmas Eve), I had Alicia drop off Collins to start a new tradition for the girls of making Christmas cookies. They rolled the dough, used the cookie cutters, and decorated them all by themselves. They had such a good time. Of course while the cookies were baking they had to do some princess dress up and other games. 

We headed to Christmas Eve church at 4 pm. Unfortunately David was called into a surgery (It was his holiday to be on call), but I preferred that he miss church and not the girl's opening presents on Christmas morning. Thank the Lord Grammy & Pops were there to help me corral the girls during church. They actually did really well. Blakely was singing and making some noises, but as long as we  kept feeding her puffs she was good to go. 

 After church, we went to dinner at Carabbas and Dave was able to meet us there. We made one last stop by Grammy's house for dessert and to open a few more presents and then called it a night so Santa could come bring presents. We sprinkled reindeer food in the front yard, set out cookies and milk for Santa, and a carrot of course for Rudolph, and say bye to Dash since he was going to be staying in the North Pole.

I'll be back with another post about our Christmas Day!