Monday, May 30, 2011

Happy Memorial Day

Still packing, friends.  We will be moving in a week.  Until after the move, I will continue to post only occasionally.  Bare with me.  I will be back.

Cat friend!

Trae is starting to eat solids!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Brief Update

Hey, guess what?  We are leaving the apartment life behind, FINALLY!  After three apartment moves, endless loud neighbors, mold, leaks, and oh so many more joys, we are going to be moving to a house.  I had previously written about us buying a house.  We did not end up buying.  Instead, we decided to pay off credit cards and other debts and continue renting for awhile longer.  I feel like this was a fantastic plan because I can now proudly say that we are almost debt free.  We still have the unfortunate car bill, hospital bill, and a washer and dryer to pay on, but really, we have come so far in a year!  I am really proud of us.

As soon as Trae wakes up from his nap, we are going to put down the deposit on our new rent house.  I am  really excited about this!  The house is three bedrooms and the garagehas been turned into one big game room.  It has a real washer/dryer room and a real kitchen!  Can you tell that I am happy about that?  What is even better is that all of our neighbors will be old people.  Ah, silence!  

And now for a Trae update.  While Art was home, Trae had his first professional photo shoot.  He was great.  He smiled for every picture!  I was so proud.  Yesterday, he had his 4 month shots.  He didn't like them, but he was pretty good the rest of the day.  Also, he is now sleeping every night from 7pm to 7am.  I know, he is perfect.  Please don't steal him.  Oh, and one more thing... We are starting to try solids!  He hates them.  I can't wait to start making all the fun stuff, though.  We just have to get over the rice cereal first.

Okay, back to packing.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Moving

Yes, I have been absent from blogging again, but for good reason.  Art and I have been packing up our apartment so we can get outta here next time he is off work.  I am so excited to finally be in a house.  Other than packing with Art, we also had family pictures done.  There are some cute ones.  I will post as soon as we get the disc.  Well, I will probably not be posting too much in the next week, so don't give up on me.  I will be back as soon as I finish packing!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

HOPE

I found an old journal tonight.  I forgot how terrible my first few years of college were for me.  I spent my first two years at a Baptist college.  Please don't even get me started on religious schools.  I love Jesus... so much.  He has the power to rescue, for sure, but I still would not recommend ANYONE to go to a religious school... This journal I found reminded me of just how hard it was for me to go to a close-minded school being open-minded me.  I was so depressed, hurting, wanting to not even exist anymore.  It hurts me to read it.  It hurts me to remember who I was.  Here is the thing, guys... I didn't die.  I want every one of you to know that no matter what you are going through, rescue is possible.  I AM STILL ALIVE.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Today:

Today I...

  • Got two pairs of jeans and a skirt for $30 at Forever21
  • Got a book on how to make my own baby food
  • Got six big bottles of Bed Head shampoo for $50
  • Bought Trae some new toys
  • Got flowers and gin from my husband
  • Ate sushi and seaweed salad
Let me elaborate.  Bargains, bargains, bargains!  Forever21 is one of my favorite places to get clothes.  They won't last a lifetime, but they are cheap and fun.  I think everything I wore today was from there.  It is really importnat to me to make my own baby food for Trae.  We haven't started any solids yet, but I know the time is coming, so I thought I better start reading up and getting what I need.  The WalMart salon was having a great deal on Bed Head shampoos.  If you buy one big bottle, you get two big bottles free.  Holla!  One of the toys we got Trae was a little blue dog that shakes and plays music. He got the biggest kick out of it.  I love hearing him laugh.  Art got me some really pretty flowers.  It was really sweet of him to do that.  They are lots of lilies floating in a vase.  It is a very different arrangement from what he has gotten me in the past, and I really love them.  He also bought me a bottle of gin because he knows the way to my heart.  Also, I am about to sit down to eat LOTS of sushi and watch The Big Bang Theory.  I know upon finishing I will feel like I have eaten way too much, but I only eat this much once every three weeks, so I think it's okay to live a little, right?

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Finally, A Moment To Myself

Alright, so, the last few days with Trae have been a challenge.  He was doing so well sleeping through the night every night, then all of a sudden it's like he is a newborn again.  He is up and inconsolable every three hours.  It. Is. Driving. Me. Crazy.  If you didn't know, I'm really serious when I put a period after every word.  He has also been super cranky and really tired during the day too.  The problem is, he just won't sleep during the day now.  I even gave in and put him in his swing and NOTHING.  Really, I am frustrated and glad beyond belief that Art is coming home soon because I need a Trae break.  I love being a mom always, and I enjoy being with Trae 98% of the time... but the other 2%... I just need some time for me.

I am also super stressed about this week.  Art will be home this week, which is always nice, but there is just so much we need to accomplish in seven days.  We need to find a house to rent, buy a million groceries, see family and friends... I know it doesn't sound like that much.  I am just overwhelmed.  Debbie Downer, Negative Nancy, blah, blah, blah...  On the positive side, Art coming home always means one good thing: take out sushi!  We wait until Trae goes to sleep then order up some sushi... and of course a seaweed salad for me, because YUM.

Trae fell asleep sitting up... while eating.  I told you, the kid has been tired.

Trae has also discovered that his hands are really great because they can hold a bottle.  He still needs a little help, but he'll have it down soon.

In exchange for Trae not letting me sleep and waking me up at 6 every morning, I took two hours to get ready on Saturday while Trae (somewhat) patiently watched.  I feel like it was a fair trade.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Happy Birthday To My Dear Friend Hillory

WARNING: I AM ABOUT TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THE MOST UNFLATTERING PICTURES (OF ME) OF ALL TIME. As for if Hillary thinks she looks good in any of these, I will let her be the judge.

So here is a little background.  I went to a Baptist college in Shawnee, Oklahoma for two years.  It wasn't my thing.  I may or may not have had a little too much liveliness for such a close-minded school, so before my junior year, I left.  Another girl who I had seen but never met also left OBU that year and we ended up at the same school.  BOOMER SOONER!  We were roommates for two wonderful, fun-filled years.  Today is her birthday, and because she is one of my best friends in the world, I am going to take this opportunity to show you just how cool we were.

Really, if I tried to explain half of the things we did, you would think I was a nut (I won't even try to explain or even mention our nicknames for each other)...but humor me.

Hillary and I are vastly different.  Maybe that's why we got along so well.  I am pretty sure we were friends from the first day we lived together.  I mean, I think so... I hope she does too!  Hillary put up with me when I invited male belly dancers into our apartment.  She put up with me for the whole semester that I dated a dirty hippie (Literally, he was dirty.  He smelled.).  She even went clubbing once!  We had so many nights that we stayed up laughing at the most ridiculous things... We had a meeting with our RA because we were just so loud at night.  (One of my favorite memories of all time was the night of my bachelorette party when we decided to go ring our old RAs doorbell and run away (I swear, it's the fastest I have ever run in my life.  I am told differently, though)... then go streaking.  Okay, I was a little (lot) intoxicated.  She even took care of the bump I got on my head after face planting into the top of her car while waving at the banana hammock boys.  Wait, do I sound crazy enough yet?  I promise I'm a responsible person now.)  And, oh, wedding planning was so much fun after midnight. I know, I know... None of this is entertaining to anyone but us, but I just was to get the point across that we had a lot of ridiculous fun.  Did I mention that she was my maid of honor?  Okay, okay, without further a-dew... I promise we took the majority of these before we made any friends...  Obviously.


 I'll start off with a good picture of is to prove that we can be pretty.
 I'm not sure why I am posting this, other than it is just so bad, it makes me laugh every time.
 Really, I'm not sure what we would have done without photobooth.

 This was one of our first nights at OU... And definitely our first photo shoot.

 Hillary was nice enough to never tell me that my haircut looked awful... Even when I thought it would be cool to keep one piece longer than the rest.  She is such a kind soul.  Also, she never judged me for wearing so many necklaces.  I never noticed that till now.  True friend.
 Fafessional.
 Really, who hasn't wanted to know what you would look like with freckles or a mole?
 RAY!
 The first (and last) time Hillary and I went dancing at da club, yo.
Hey, every photo shoot needs props.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ONE OF THE GREATEST AND MOST FUN FRIENDS OUT THERE!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

A Little Glimpse Into My Day

6:30: Wake up. Try to keep myself awake while entertaining Trae and watching the SNL I recorded.
8:00: Trae's first nap.  I take a nap too.  Sleep, yes...
10:30: Get up. Feed Trae.  Get Trae ready.  Get myself ready.
11:45: Subway time.  My kitchen light burned out, and I won't attempt cooking in the dark... Especially      
           after I spilled hot soup on my foot while attempting that yesterday.
2:00:  Feed Trae again.  Force Trae to take a nap...

... Which brings me to now.  Trae has been asleep IN HIS CRIB for the last hour and a half.  I am amazed.  I have checked on him a million times to make sure he is okay, because this just doesn't ever happen.  Not to mention, he has now slept through the night for three nights in a row!  I want to run and jump and do cartwheels right now.  I am just so thrilled.  Let's hope he keeps this up.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Trae's Dedication

Trae is growing up so quickly.  Just in the last week he has learned SO much.  The main thing he has discovered are his hands.  This kid is smart.  I already have him working on the peace sign, and he is half way there!  Seriously, he is such a joy.

Trae was dedicated at church today.  We had the opportunity to pick out a life verse for him, and we picked this:
A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” – Isaiah 40:3-5

We picked this passage for a few reasons.  Mainly because when I was pregnant, this verse appeared EVERYWHERE.  Seriously, before Trae, I had heard this verse a few times in Bible classes in high school, but I hadn't given it much thought.  Then, bam, it's everywhere.  I read a book that repeated this verse over and over.  I had a dream about this verse.  It would pop into my head randomly all the time.  And honestly, this is what I want for Trae.  I want him to go into desolate places and to meet lost people and stand strong while preparing the way for the Lord.

Oh, and yeah, it's Mother's Day.  On this day, I always think about what makes a mother.  I know one thing that does not make a mother.  Pushing a baby out does not make you a mother.  Caring for a child, loving a child, and nurturing a child make you a mother.  So, regardless of whether or not you have given birth, Happy Mother's Day.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Just Some Thoughts...

Hi, friends.  I feel like I have been a little MIA for the last week.  Honestly, I have been completely uninspired when it comes to blogging.  I have been spending a lot of time with Trae, as I should.  When he is sleeping, I have been getting my nerd on by watching documentaries on Netflix instead of blogging.

Today, I watched Babies.  Wow.  Fascinating, really.  Here is what I got from the film.  In America, we are so privileged with so many unnecessary things.  Let me give some background for those who haven't seen it.  The documentary follows four babies throughout their first year of life.  There are no words to the documentary, just film showing how they are developing.  I really didn't pay too much attention to the specific places where these babies were born.  Only one of these babies was born in the US.  The others were born in... I want to say Africa, Japan, and Mongolia.  I think I got that right.  I just couldn't help noticing how different the US birth was than the others.  The baby was born in the hospital.  It was shown being connected to IVs right after birth.  I guess that was the main thing that got me.  I just think it is so unnecessary.  The baby in Africa was born in a village where it grew up naked and rode around on his mother's back while she went about her daily work.  It developed just the same as the US baby.  In fact all of them developed just fine.  We really pamper babies here.  Please don't take that the wrong way.  I am so thankful that we have the technology to do so, but I wonder how much is really necessary.    I LOVED my epidural, but birth would have happened fine (but very painfully) without it.  I'm glad that the hospital was able to monitor Trae, but I think he would have turned out fine without all the heel pricks and newborn checks and what not.  Just thoughts there.  Great documentary.  If you like that kind of stuff, please watch.

In other news, my little Trae is a little bit sick today.  He had his first fever.  Poor guy.  He didn't let it get him down though.  Other than being a little more tired than usual, he was fine.  Of course, I am a worried mama.  I have never had a sick baby before.  It makes it hard having Art gone and trying to figure out if he is okay.  What if he isn't okay and I am here by myself?  I think that is where a mother's instincts come in.  Going back to what I said earlier about the movie, in the US, we are able to take classes before we have a baby and we prepare ourselves by reading up on anything and everything.  I know I did.  But really, I think all women are born with a motherly instinct.  I'm sure without my Google searches today, I would have still known when to worry about a fever.  The way we are made is amazing, you guys.  God did some great thinking when he created humans.  I believe we have far more instincts than we will ever realize because we let technology take care of everything.

And finally, I opened up the mail today to find a Mother's Day gift for me, from Art...
What a great guy.  I have been given strict orders not to wear it until Mother's Day, but until then, I have had a good time looking at it.  How did he know something like this would suit me so well?  Oh, I may or may not email him links of things I find that I love.  I just let his conscious lead him when it comes to what I deserve.  Haha.  I think he did good.  This necklace is handmade and can be found here.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Shopping Results

I bought a few new things yesterday... Like: This little dress from Forever 21, necklace and earrings from Forever 21, and a cardigan from Antropologie.
 Oh, and these fun glasses.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Things Done Today:

Today I...

Went to church.  I wasn't brave enough to leave Trae in the nursery, but his time is coming.  He just wont sit still during church anymore.  The child likes to move.  Therefore, church for me was spent standing in the back swaying back and forth with Trae who just wanted to move and stare at the Exit sign.

Had lunch with our house church.  Appropriately, the sermon today was about community, so it was fantastic to spend some quality time with some great people.

Went shopping... By myself.  This hardly ever happens, but I have to say, it was really nice.  I spent a good hour in Forever 21 and picked out about a million accessories, as usual.  However, in the end, I put back everything but a necklace, a pair or earrings, two pairs of glasses... and okay, two shirts.  THEN, I went to Victoria's Secret and Antropologie... and I got to buy things at both!  Thank you, gift cards!  I will post pictures of my finds tomorrow.

Ate at Taco Bueno... also by myself.  They have some great new healthier menu choices that I am enjoying... Like the BC Tostella.  They may have had these things on the menu for a long time, but I am far behind in the fast food world.

And because I promised, here is a picture of Trae from this afternoon.  While I think my glasses are awesome, he obviously does not.