need direction

before i get started let me say that i am blessed to be able to stay home with my sweet girl.  it is something that i've always wanted to do.  i love being here with her!  and i'm over the moon thankful for my amazing husband who works his tushy off to make it all possible.
now, with that being said, let's get to the point.  i'm lost. 

for the first time in my memory i don't have a schedule or an agenda.  and i've come to realize that i have no idea how to budget my time without the influence of a job or school to guide my time. my to-do list keeps getting longer, but i'm not getting anything done.

• of course there are things that need to be done around the house like dishes, grocery shopping, cleaning and laundry. 
• and more importantly there is the time i get to spend with my girl.  i want to play with her, teach her, create with her, and explore with her. 
• there's crafting time.  i've got closets, drawers & a brain full of ideas, fabric, paper, pens, wood, batting, thread, ribbon, buttons, stickers, paint etc and it is sitting there more neglected now that i'm home all day then it was when i had a full time job.
• hubby time.  my guy is working his tushy off to make it possible for me to be home and i want to make his life easier if & when i can.  not to mention carving out time for date night.
• me time.  now that i'm not around adults all day 5 days a week its more important for me to carve out the time to get together with other adults and recharge my batteries. 

waiting around hoping i will figure this out hasn't worked for the last 4 months so its time for a plan.  this is going to be a work in progress for sure.  but its time to get back to some of my teaching roots and start some "lesson" plans.  as soon as nap time is over we're headed to the store to get a planner and make this official.  but while sweet girl is still sleeping i better get the dishes washed so i can check 1 thing off my to-do list!

Caroline's 15 month stats

I should have been doing this after all her checkups just to keep track of how she's growing, but better late than never!  (All the pictures are from my phone and the main subject never sits still - please excuse the quality!)

Just before we left for the doctor yesterday Scoot pulled my water bottle down off the table and gave herself a giant bruise on her forehead.  Add that to the black eye she has from running into the side of a chair and I'm surprised they didn't question me for child abuse!  Bruises are part of the package though when your kid is half monkey - half clumsy.  See what I mean?!



On to the stats:

• 23lbs 2 1/2 oz. 
• 31 inches tall
• words she signs : more, all done, milk, juice, please, thank you, eat, help
• words she says: dada, mama, pop (for my dad), up, all done, thank you, bye bye, night night, apple, ball, dog
• she eats any and all fruits, but is "taking a break" from eating any veggies.  meat is also on her "maybe, maybe not" list, but she's always up for crackers.
• she doesn't like to drink milk at all!  and she prefers for her juice cup to be full all the time, if it gets to halfway she signs "more"
• she's obsessed with elmo, even though we never watch elmo.  the new rock-n-roll elmo commercials & target displays get rock star reactions from her!
• she just learned how to get on the couch by herself.  nothing is safe!
• she loves her "bank" and sleeps with it all the time.  i'm thinking of making a smaller, travel size blanket just to have as back up.
• she sucks her thumb when she is tired, but ONLY when she is holding bank.
• favorite toys: my cell phone, the remote, shoes, DVD cases, balls, crayons, books & her baby. 
• she's going to be a GREAT big sister in March!

my 'duh' moment

The three of us were sitting at dinner last night and Aaron was telling a story which involved very important hand gestures, sound effects, and facial expressions.  One of those sound effects was making a fart sound with his hand.  Wouldn't you know, with just one demonstration, my sweet, innocent 15 month old daughter picked up that lovely talent perfectly! 

And I thought, I want to remember this.  I want to write this down.  I want this recorded.  But I didn't want to put it on facebook or in her baby book.  Well DUH I do have a neglected blog where I could document such simple every day funny moments! 

my girl and her daddy

So here's to remembering that I have this place to record the moments of my family's life!

an end to the 5 month hiatis

Where are you even suppose to start if you've been outta touch for 5 months?!

Let's hit the highlights real quick ...

• I quit my job. I won't be going back to teaching in August. It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make. I'm going to miss my kids, the teachers, and the school! But I just couldn't stand the feeling of leaving my girl every day. I wasn't giving my kindergartners my best. I wasn't giving my daughter my best.
• I'm hoping to start an Etsy shop soon! I'm working right now to build up an inventory. I want to be able to give people choices right from the beginning so I've got to get busy!
• I've been in a major decluttering mood and anything in our house that isn't breathing is subject to being trashed, thrifted, or sold.
• Scoot celebrated her first birthday in June. That has to be the fasted year in the history of my life!! She is amazing and I'm so excited and blessed to be able to spend every day with her now!
• I'm actually up to date with my project 365! I've taken a picture every day for a little more than the first half of 2011! wowzers! I love this project!

My goal is to start recording more of life here. To keep my "journal" more updated and not let 5 months go by before I tell a funny story about my sweet girl.

Project Life Tuesday 2 for 1

I completely missed last weeks Project Life Tuesday, so this week I'm doing a 2 for 1. This week is up first.

Monday January 31, 2011

Is there a 12 step program for moms who go way overboard with little girl hair accessories? Aaron sure thinks I need one!! But my little hair challenged baby girl *NEEDS* all these bows and flowers so that I don't get those annoying "what a cute little guy" comments.

Monday February 1, 2011

I miss my little Scoot soooo much during the day while I'm at school. When I get home I need a little snuggle time to make my whole day better! So glad my little munchkin is so willing to oblige my snuggles and smooches!
Wednesday February 2, 2011

The weather today was beautiful so I convinced Aaron to go on a walk with me and Scoot. We put the stroller away when we finished the walk and Scoot was obsessed with her reflection in the dirty car window!
Thursday February 3, 2011

Happy baby surrounded by her toys and working on getting those socks off!
Friday February 4, 2011

Scoot's first time using a straw. We got her a sippy cup with a straw but she really did not understand how to get the water into her mouth. She loved drinking water through the straw this way though!!
Saturday February 5, 2011

Scoot pulled herself up between my legs to check out the project life book from 2010. I'm still going back and filling in some of the journaling.

Sunday February 6, 2011

Aaron and Scoot in the midst of their relaxing Sunday afternoon between church and the superbowl.
*And now we take a time warp back a week*

Monday January 24, 2011

My tiny baby is getting so big so fast! When did she get big enough to sit on my shoulders?
Tuesday January 25, 2011

Washing bottles is a major part of my day. Bottles and pump parts must be washed 3 to 4 times a day. I love weekends when I can take the pumping and washing down to 2 times a day - max!! But it's all worth it for my baby girl!
Wednesday January 26, 2011

These little knit hats are a wonderful way for me to make something and feel a little crafty at the end of the day when I have no more brain power. These require no thinking/counting/pattern.
Thursday January 27, 2011

We've been trying to remember to take weekly pictures of Scoot on this little lamb blanket since she was 1 week old. It was much easier before she was mobile!!
Friday January 28, 2011

We've been "Partners in Hope" with St. Jude Children's Hospital for several years now, and it has only gotten closer to my heart now that Scoot is here. I'm so glad there is a place like St. Jude to take care of these families who are facing a tough road. Our local radio station is gearing up for their annual St. Jude radiothon and I got my newsletter in the mail today.
Saturday January 29, 2011

We met my mom and dad at Red Robin to celebrate mom's birthday with burgers and singing! Scoot LOVED every time she heard them singing (there were a LOT of folks celebrating birthdays there tonight) and she never took her eyes off them while they sang to my mom.
Sunday January 30, 2011

Scoot moved up to her big girl car seat today. Her little tootsies were hanging out of the infant seat and I was always afraid I was going to bang them into the door frame while taking the carrier in and out. She already seems to be much more comfortable in this bigger seat. She's growing tooooo fast!!
I'm linking up over at The Mom Creative. Come visit and see who else is doing Project Life Tuesday!

Project Life Tuesday 1.17.11 - 1.23.11

Project Life Week 3! I am so excited about this whole thing!

*So far I'm caught up on all my pictures and journaling for this year!

*Project Life is reminding me to get my camera out daily and take pictures of any and everything. Some days it is really hard to pick which picture to highlight from the day! I love the habit that I'm getting into of having my camera everywhere I go AND remembering to use it!

*I'm trying extra hard to make sure that I have pictures with me IN them. I want Scoot to have proof that I was around when she's looking back on these books in 10, 2o, or 30 years! I'm not just the one behind the camera. Who cares that I haven't lost the baby weight or that my hair wasn't perfect?!

*These pictures are of our real life - there's clutter! and dust! and sometimes we wear pjs ALL day!

I'm linking up with Jessica over at The Mom Creative for her Project Life Tuesday fun. Come see how a bunch of other folks are using their Project Life kits and be inspired!

Monday January 17, 2011

Scoot pulled herself up on this box of diapers that we just had cluttering up our living room after Lollie and Pop very generously gave them to us yesterday. This time she stayed upright long enough to pose for a photo shoot. Thank goodness for Martin Luther King Jr. day and my day off so that I could be home to see her milestones!

Tuesday January 18, 2011

Scoot was having a rough night *staying* asleep. Daddy has the right stuff though! Stretched out on Daddy's chest with her blanket and she was out for a couple more hours. Daddy got in a nice little nap too!
Wednesday January 19, 2011

Mommy was checking facebook when Scoot decided to get in on some of the action! It's crazy to think how far technology has come since I was her age and I can't even imagine where it will go by the time she is a grown up! This picture will probably be laughable by the time she's ready for college, just like 3.5in floppy disks are now!
Thursday January 20, 2011

A 50's housewife? Nope, no heels or apron here. Just getting some chores done before we went out to eat with friends and Lollie came over to stay with Scoot.
Friday January 21, 2011

In an effort to not eat out as often I put a monthly menu on the fridge. It's also been a fantastic tool to help Aaron help me. He can see what's for dinner and get it started or even make the whole thing while I'm otherwise engaged with a certain nursing baby!
Saturday January 22, 2011

We found this Leap Frog table at a consignment shop for $18. It's in perfect condition. Aaron says it's not a deal unless we know how much we saved. He checked Walmart and Target to find out they are asking $49.99 for it new. And check out those standing skills!
Sunday January 23, 2011

We are only eating out if we have a gift card or our parents call us for a grandbaby fix. Coxie called for her fix tonight and we were thrilled to get a nice dinner at Smokey Bones. Scoot was fantastic while we ate and very social after we finished. She especially loved eating her shoes! Aaron and Grandaddy were just glad that the football games were on all the TVs.

Project Life Tuesday 1/10/11-1/16

It's Tuesday again and time to share my pictures for the past week. I already love that this is helping me keep up with my pictures AND journaling each week. And one week at a time is SOOO much easier than a month at a time!

I'm going to keep myself accountable by linking up with Jessica over at The Mom Creative. Be sure to visit and see what some other folks have been up to this week.

I have a hard time picking just one picture from each day. Especially with Scoot on the scene now, I usually have at LEAST one picture of her and then possibly something else. I've decided that to help me use more of the pictures I'm taking I will have one for each day and then have one spread of "Monthly Leftovers." Maybe at the end of the month I'll share my Monthly Leftover spread.

Monday January 10, 2011

I big-puffy-heart LOVE Scoot's little tiny feet! She LOVES to stand up all the time now, so I get this view quite often. This girl also will NOT keep socks on her cold little toes. I feel so bad for her purple piggies, but she takes off everything that covers her feet except if she has a sleep sack on. This girl will even pull her feet out of footie jammies by putting her foot through the space between the snaps! Even as a tiny baby she would fight her legs out of her swaddle before she went to sleep. Looks like we are destined to have cold feet around here.

Tuesday January 11, 2011

We've had the coldest winter I can remember in a long time. The snow has been frequent and heavy, but luckily we haven't had too much ice. When I got in the car to leave work and checked my mirror before backing up these icicles caught my eye. The ice makes the trees look so pretty, but I'm glad no limbs have fallen on any power lines around my house and that it's not on the roads so far.
Wednesday January 12, 2011

My Project Life Kit for 2011 finally came in the mail!! I've been stalking the delivery guy for several days just waiting for it! Aaron does think I'm slightly nuts for wanting a picture of me with the box, but it's just part of the whole process!
Thursday January 13, 2011

While changing Scoot's diaper tonight I notices that she had a light rash on her tummy. It's nowhere else, not spreading, and not bothering her. Not sure if it was something she ate, crawling in a 2 piece outfit with her tummy right on the rug (as opposed to wearing a tucked-in onsie), or a new shirt she wore today.
Friday January 14, 2011

An unexpected package on the front steps today was a Christmas present for Scoot from Papa Frog and Annie. She loves unwrapping gifts... and sometimes chewing on the paper. She got an adorable outfit! And how appropriate that she is wearing a froggie outfit to open a present from Papa Frog! Perfect!
Saturday January 15, 2011

Scoot is enjoying the box that her gift from Papa Frog came in. It's always more fun to play with boxes, bags, cords and shoes than the box full of toys! And check out the drool on the chin. This girl can slobber with the best of 'em!
Sunday January 16, 2011

Scoot is 7 months old today!! Where did my baby go? She pulled herself up to standing today, but I was too slow with the camera to catch it. Here she is instead, headed for the cords to Daddy's game. Just checking to see how much longer she had to get to those cords before somebody scoops her up and redirects her to the mountain of toys just behind her.