Project 365: Day 42- July 28th (and Project 52)

I know, I know... I'm supposed to be writing a blog about yesterday, but I think today... I'm just going to reflect a little bit about this thing called
MOMMY LIFE.
Tayler turned 17 weeks old yesterday... and before I forget, let me share a picture of that cute little booger!

Ornery. Ornery. Ornery.
Everyone always thinks I'm playing when I say she's ornery, but seriously folks-- this is legit, haha! I know she's only almost 4 months old, but that girl be JOKIN' on her momma, haha!
She has not been wanting to sleep at night here lately. We were doing so good. She was sleeping in her crib til about 4/5 in the morning thanks to the lovely invention called OATMEAL ;) and then BAM out of nowhere she decides she no longer wants to sleep when I put her in her crib. Where'd that crazy girl come from? She whines.. and whines... and whines... until about 2 am even when I'm holding her. I know, I'm shocked! I don't know who replaced by sleeper, but please bring her back, haha :P Nah, in all seriousness-- I think she's teething and that makes her restless. Imagine if you had teethers just poking through your gums :( And she doesn't understand what's happening, bless her heart. But what she does understand is that she is keeping her mom up!! LOL I'm serious! I went in to her room the other night and said 'Tayler, it is 2AM, it's time for bed...' and she just smiles :) Yea, you know what you're doing little lady! haha! Thank God I don't have to get up for work the next day or I'd probably be the mean lady that no one wants to work with, haha!
Tayler is 16.2 pounds now and loooooooooooooooong. She's my big girl.
She's getting the hang of sitting up by herself finally! haha! She's 'talking' up a storm. Laughing up a storm... just growing by leaps and bounds.
And since we're reminiscing, I figured I'd share this...

Tayler Serenity.... a tiny baby revealed to me through a blue line on a stick 1 YEAR AGO JULY 29TH of this year. I'll be the first to say this--- that one blue line scared the living daylights out of me. I took 9 tests after this one in the days to come to make sure what I was seeing was right. And yep, it was! I was pregnant. I knew I was. I'm the most regular person when it comes to that evil time of the month we all know and... well... dread. So, when I was late, it was quite evident. 3 weeks after taking this test, I took a test at the doctor's office. I remember it like it was yesterday. I went to a clinic downtown, peed in their lovely tiny cup, and sat in the waiting room just anticipating hearing the news all over again. The nurse came and got me, took me into one of their back rooms, and she said, 'Alyssa, honey, (while grabbing my hand) you're pregnant....' (Apparently they thought I was going to be in crazy, dramatic shock...) I said, 'I know...' and we proceeded to discuss the fact that 10 preggo tests later... I figured they were right! :) I had proof and it was time to get the regular doctor appointments started.
As I previously stated, that news scared the beejessies out of me. What was I going to do being a MOTHER? I wasn't ready to be a mom. I could barely keep myself together. I suffered from anxiety-- I hated going places alone, and most of all? I DESPISED GOING TO THE DOCTOR/HOSPITAL. I never go to the doctor unless it's extremely serious. And when I walk into a hospital, I pass out. How was I going to make it through a pregnancy? My mom even said the same thing (through her gritting teeth--- she wasn't exactly happy at first!) All I could do was cry for the first week-- worrying about how I was going to last for 36 more weeks.... I wasn't ready for this. 
But guess what? We made it. I have an almost 4 month old now. I gave birth WITHOUT an epidural. Took way too many blood tests (and pee tests!) Had 7 ultrasounds. Heard news that my baby had a chance of having down syndrome. Went to a major hospital to check on her. Stayed in a hospital for 5 days. Watched her go through jaundice testing. Watched her get her shots.
We've been through a lot....
and it's only by the grace of God that we made it.
I told my mom... despite how everything happened (I'd only been dating E for about 5 months when I found out I was pregnant for Tayler. We lived in a 1 bedroom apartment. We weren't married...) I knew it was all in God's plan. If I had to plan a pregnancy my first time around, I never would have. I was too scared to do that. So, I know that everything happened for a reason..
And now, I feel tremendously blessed. Tayler gives me so much joy... even at 2am when I'm crying from the lack of sleep, haha! Being a mother isn't EASY, but it is WORTH IT and I think that's the only thing that matters.
So cheers to 1 year ago-- July 29th, 2010. The day God changed my life.
I love you, Tayler. Never forget that.

Project 365: Day 41- July 27th

Today was a catch up day! I had to get dishes done and other random things! Andddddddd, I made some yummy breakfast casserole!! :) Do you want the recipe for that? Check it out HERE.

And after that, I went with mom and dad to look at some of the houses they are looking at.. and of course, it got us dreaming. A few of the homes had 3+ acres of land which meant that there was PLENTY of land for us to build a house near theirs :) It is a dream, but could it possibly be a reality! What are our thoughts? We want a basic modular like this--

We want something like this and then we plan on building an unfinished basement! We can work with that later. We want to put a pool table down there, a few extra rooms.... all of that good stuff!
Now, we just pray! Pray that God will bless this idea and lead us down the road He wants. If we're meant to do that, then so be it! 
Jesus name.
Cheers!

Project 365: Day 40- July 26th

Everything is done for our wedding reception Saturday :) We finalized everything today and got all of the little last minute things completed. Well, I guess I shouldn't say EVERYTHING. We still have to pick up food, decorate the place, and make the salad, green beans, and rolls... but that's it! :) We have the hotel booked. Someone to pick us up... I think we're set to go. Do you even know how excited I am? E and I got married in December... I was 6.5 months pregnant and we didn't have a real wedding. We got married at the court house. And while I do not regret that decision, I do wish I would have gotten to celebrate with everyone :( So now.. my parents have made it possible for me to have the wedding reception of a life time! I even have a dress! It's crazy... I'm already married to the man, but I still have butterflies and little girl excitement for Saturday! :)

My husband and I both decided today to start a weight loss challenge. We're going to motivate one another. I still have a few pounds to shed to get to my pre-preggo weight, so we decided to start up a work out plan, rules, etc. We even have a prize! :) If I get to my goal weight first, I get $200 to do whatever I want with. If he reaches his goal weight first, he gets $200 to do whatever he wants with it. Let the games begin, right? We even took our pre-weight loss pictures too.

Wish us luck and I'll be sure to keep you updated on our progress! :)
After that.. E went to work and I hung out with Tayler. I had a few shows from Monday that I needed to catch up on, so Tayler and I sat on the bed and enjoyed them. Tayler even sat up like a big girl :) She's getting better at night leaning forward like she usually does, haha!

Big girl :)
Then her and I got ready and we went to the ball field with Gigi to watch Papaw play some ball. She was doing good.. awake and alert, chit-chatting with her Gigi..

Then I looked over 20 minutes later... and well... here's what I saw, haha!

Out like a light, haha!
Cheers!

Lose the Pounds!

4 months after Tayler was born and I'm STILL not back to my pre-preggo weight! I feel disappointed with myself... and it's time for that to change!
So, today I'm done with drinking pop... done eating fast food... I'm ready to fix this situation.
I wear a size 5 jeans and I wore a size 4 when I got pregnant for Tayler.
I was 136 pounds when I got pregnant for Tayler and I'm 147.2 pounds right now. UGH UGH UGH. 
So the hubby and I decided that we are going to work together to be healthier and be fit! Here's our START pictures: E:

Me: 

So, today marks the start of a LIFE CHANGE. My goal-- lose 15 pounds. Starting.... NOW!

Project 365: Day 39- July 25th

We had SUCH a list of things to do today it was insane, haha! And go figure--- my husband lacks extreme motivation to even get out of bed. I know I shouldn't be whining-- he works midnight shift, so he's used to sleeping for quite awhile during the day, poor fella, haha! Prior to leaving, I gathered my list. E makes fun of me for this... but I swear, we'd never get everything done if I didn't make them LOL and the stroller required a post-it of it's own. We were going to the mall and Tayler is just too heavy to carry around in her car seat anymore LOL! 

 What was on that long list? - Get E's outfit the wedding reception
- Get a hair accessory for me
- Get nude make-up for me and waterproof mascara
- Get a pair of white flats
- Get bouquet
- Get garter
- Get masks for us as well as our guests
- Get clothes for Brittany out of storage unit
- Pick up Formula
And guess what?
WE GOT EVERYTHING DONE BY 6:30PM! :) We are officially all set for our wedding reception, we just have to pick up the food Friday/Saturday :) Whoo-hoo!

Ethan was having fun at Der Ver Ber messing with all of the decorations, haha!  

Once we got home, we had some dinner, and of course-- we played with Tayler. She had a rough day with being drug everywhere in the world, so we gave her a bath, fed her some yummy oatmeal, and we relaxed her. She had fun, haha! :P

Then we relaxed while she slept and watched 'The Lincoln Lawyer.' 
Cheers!

Project 365: Day 38- July 24th

We wanted to have a pretty relaxing day today. That's typically how Sundays roll for us since that's the night E has to go back to work. We woke up, watched some TV, ordered some pizza, and played with Tayler. Typical, right? :) We must have wore her out though because she became a snuggle bunny which rarely happens anymore. Someone tell me how she can be almost 4 months old and NOT want to cuddle with her mommy anymore. I didn't give permission for this to happen little miss Independent! So, I took advantage of it today ;)

E and I went and looked at a few other houses today... I fell in LOVE with this one... 

 It has a living room as soon as you walk through the door, then you go into the Master bedroom/Master bathroom (with a jacuzzi tub ;)). After the living room, you walk into a GORGEOUS kitchen with beautiful tile and amazing countertops! And off to the side of that is the utility room. It's huge! Then you walk around the counter and there's another living room (which we would totally use as a game room-- pool table, bar, etc.) As you keep walking you see a bathroom and 3 bedrooms connected to it. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! We'd have enough room for the kids we want to have PLUS a library ;) YAY! Now, it's just up to the good Lord to help us!
Then I traveled with my mom and dad while they looked at a house. As I previously stated, they are trying to find a place closer to where E and I are going to be living. We know the location, just don't have a house just yet, haha! :) Once we got home, I made dinner-- barbeque chicken, baked potatoes, corn, and pudding treats while Mom kept making Tayler laugh. It was ADORABLE, so I taped it for everyone to see!

Cheers!

Project 365: Day 37- July 23rd

Today was going to be a super awesome day! :) We were going to Leeann's BABY SHOWER! :) Yes, I said it haha! Cue baby fever, because yes indeed--- it happened! :P Leeann is pregnant for a sweet little girl named Fayth. I'm so excited to see her and so excited for Leeann and my cousin Justin. They are going to be wonderful parents. The shower was gorgeous! They had little gift bags with nail polish, files, make-up headbands, and lip gloss. How sweet, right? and we had AMAZING chocolate cake. Yummy! The shower was held here:

Steak n' Stein at Roscoe Village :) Thanks Google-- what a gorgeous picture since I forgot to take pictures of it hehe! :) Thanks for hosting it, Aunt Trudy! We loved it! 
Tayler posed with the Mommy-To-Be :)  

 She loved her cousin Justin talking to her :)

After that, we headed home for a relaxing night at home! We were exhausted! We had some bratwursts and played with Tayler-- a typical night in this household! Mom was holding the cell phone and having her stare at it and follow it, hehe! She's holding her head up so good now!  

 Cheers!

Project 365: Day 36- July 22nd

Today was another busy day, haha! E, Tayler, and I went to visit 3 houses in the town over from the town we originally wanted to live in. It's not ideal, but it's what we can afford, so that's the route we thought we would take.... It was a cute little house, but we are having a very frustrating time with the realtors. I guess I'm not going to really call out names or businesses because I don't want to burn any bridges so to speak, but I'll summarize our experience and my thoughts--
We were lied to... two times. How upsetting. I know we are a young couple and I know we don't have that 250,000 dollar budget that some people in this world have, but that still doesn't mean you can feel free to disrespect us, you know? I won't go into details about the first lie for the sake of this company, but I will say this. We wanted to make a VERBAL offer. We were told we could not do this... then we were told, 'Okay, we'll make a call and let you know what the seller says.' We then get a phone call that the seller will not negotiate on the price and that he won't take any lower than the asking price. We were okay with that... until we PERSONALLY talked to the seller... and he said, 'I was never contacted by 'said company.' You wanted to make an offer? How much?' ANOTHER LIE. I couldn't believe it! Like I previously said, I know we're young... but we are not stupid and we will figure things out. So guess what? I refuse to work with them anymore. If you're going to lie about a simple offer, what else will you lie about? 
So, after that madness... I came home, cleaned the house, and then mom, dad, E, Tay, and myself went out to dinner :) Here's Tayler while everyone was eating hehe! She's too cute!

And we went to Walmart and bought some glasses for E.. and he even bought me a new shirt, hehe! :) I love it! Thanks so much, E! 

 
Cheers!