30 Days of being Thankful AND Halloween

A wonderful friend of mine put on Facebook today that everyday, for the entire month of November, she's going to put up something she's thankful for. After politely telling her I was stealing her idea, I took to my blog homepage. 

And here I sit, trying to decide how to start off the month. I have no doubt I'll figure out 30 things to be thankful for, but the difficulty is which to start with. Isn't that always the problem? Where to start? 

After careful consideration, I decided it's not who or what I mention in what order, but the fact that I'll mention them in their entirety. 

I figured, every night when I say my prayers, I start off with thanking God for the roof over my head, so I'll start there.

DAY 1: I am so incredibly thankful for my home.

Never in a million years would I ever think that I would own my own home with my husband at the age of 22, but we do, and are so blessed to.

It may not be in the location we would first pick, but we're getting use to the area, and the things around us.

And it really doesn't matter where it is, or how big it is, but what happens inside it.

The laughs and the stories and the memories we are creating in this home are ours and will forever hold a place in our hearts. 

A home is where the love is, and boy is there a lot of love in this place!

Photo Credit: Karen Leigh Studios

Also, last night was Halloween, and we ended up going with Plan C! for Baby Dean because the hubs and I are terrible parents and waited until the day before Halloween to try and find him a costume. 

(Plan C was find anything that was cute and would fit him.)

So, introducing the CUTEST Moo Cow in town:

We walked from my in-laws house down to my aunt's and came back. Only stopping at a few places for candy, and awkwardly walking by the rest.

Common' people he's not even 6 months, he can't eat candy, and the hubs isn't a fan of sweets and I'm still working on getting rid of my baby weight, we are NOT stopping for candy.

The night went well, Baby Dean only started to get fussy as we were just about back to my in-laws, and I think that was only because his face was cold AND it was his dinner time. 

He didn't mind the costume, and he was so stinkin' cute, I found it money well spent. 

We can't wait until next year he'll be a year and a half and may actually say "Trick or Treat" or "Thank You" or even half understand what we're doing. 

I love being a Mom. 

Is that so weird?

Ok, So I'm going to be VERY determined to post daily. 

What're you thankful for today?

They didn't tell me about this.

They don't tell you about certain things when you have children. 

Sure they warn you about sleepless nights, the cost, and that your in it for the rest of your life.

They also tell you that you'll feel a love like nothing else can compare to.

But there are a lot of things they don't tell you about.

Like, when you decide what you want your kid to be for Halloween, you'll never be able to find the costume, so you'll have to settle for Plan B.

OR

When you think you've FINALLY got your kid to sleep through the night, they hit that "6-month mark" where they start waking up constantly like a newborn.

OR

Things that use to soothe them, suddenly scare the crap out of them. Like the vacuum.

OR

Getting them to eat solid foods is NOT an easy task. Like, some children apparently hate the taste of just cereal, therefore, just start the veggies and your life will be simpler.

OR

Overnight your kid will LITERALLY outgrow the clothes they have been wearing for over 5 months.

OR

Your kid will probably just sleep through the biggest storm to ever hit the east coast.




No worries. Sandy won't take us down without a fight!

1,2,3,4, FIVE

Baby Dean,

You are officially 5 months old. 

On your 5-month birthday, we were in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee on a family vacation with your Maw Maw, Paw Paw, Uncle Matt, and Uncle Matt's girlfriend Sandy. You HATED the drive and being in the car at all (which we were a lot of the time). 

We visited lots of places and saw some beautiful things. One of your favorite parts of the trip was the Aquarium, that is one thing I think everyone will agree on. You couldn't take your eyes off the fish and sharks and crabs... everything. You LOVED it. And I loved it for that reason.

Your current likes are:
*Rolling over and being mobile
*Rolling when I'm trying to change your diaper
*Laughing at everything
*Playing Peek-a-Boo
*Playing with your favorite toys
**You're even starting to LIKE eating cereal!!!

Your current dislikes are:
*Being put down to play alone
*Getting your diaper changed
*Saying good-bye to Daddy when he leaves for work
*The car

Today, you started working on crawling. 

I showed you all day how to use your arms and by the end of the day, you were getting the hang of it, and trying on your own. Even though I'm sure I'm going to regret saying this one day, I can't wait for you to get even more mobile. Daddy and I agree that if we were to put you in water when you try to crawl now, you'd probably out swim Michael Phelps. 

You're amazing little boy. More amazing than I could've ever hoped my son would be.

I love you little one.

Countdown to Lift Off

So, apparently today, some dude is jumping from space. Weird.

Who grows up and says, "One day, I want to risk my life by jumping from space just for the hell of it."

Apparently, this guy:

At least he's good looking.

For those that don't know we are about to take our first family vacation, to Tennessee. For 4 days. 

Not just the three of us, but also my in-laws and brother-in-law and his girlfriend.

And we're driving all in the same vehicle.

Now. I am excited beyond words.

BEYOND. WORDS.

HOWEVER. This is the first time we're taking our baby away from home for more than one evening. And in a car for more than 4-5 hours. So needless to say, my anxiety level is like a level red. And red always means bad. I don't know why, but it does.

So I've created lists. And I have lists for my lists. And lists for my lists for my lists. 

My countdown to lift off is on now too.

Pray for me as I pack the entire nursery. 

What? I was a girl scout! You can never be too prepared! ;)

***APPARENTLY the wind was all, NO WAY MAN! You aren't doing some crazy ass jump today! So Felix Baumgartner is going to try again tomorrow...***

The Perfect Fan

Heard this song the other day, (not for the first time) and I know it's super old, but its what I strive to be and I hope and pray that my son thinks of me this way when he's older.

The Perfect Fan
Backstreet Boys

It takes a lot to know what is love
It's not the big things, but the little things
That can mean enough
A lot of prayers to get me through
And there is never a day that passes by
I don't think of you
You were always there for me
Pushing me and guiding me
Always to succeed

You showed me
When I was young just how to grow
You showed me
Everything that I should know
You showed me
Just how to walk without your hands
'Cause mom you always were
The perfect fan

God has been so good
Blessing me with a family
Who did all they could
And I've had many years of grace
And it flatters me when I see the smile on your face
I wanna thank you for what you've done
In hopes I can give back to you
And be the perfect son

You showed me
When I was young just how to grow
You showed me
Everything that I should know
You showed me
Just how to walk without your hands
'Cause mom yo always were
The perfect fan

You showed me how to love
You showed me how to care
And you showed me that you would
Always be there
I wanna thank you for that time
And I'm proud to say you're mine


You showed me
When I was young just how to grow
You showed me
Everything that I should know
You showed me
Just how to walk without your hands
'Cause mom you always were
The perfect fan

'Cause mom you always were
Mom you always were
mom you always were
You know you always were
'Cause mom you always were
The perfect fan

Don't hate that it's Backstreet Boys.

Here's some pictures to also suffice as a decent post for the day.

Happy Saturday everyone!

We like White Trash Things

So, Pinterest isn't a complete waste of time. In fact, I've found several items on it which have helped me to decorate our home, recipes that have satisfied our taste buds, and crafts to keep in mind to do with the babes once he's a little older.

When I find a recipe on Pinterest that is not only easy to make but also both I AND the hubs enjoys... Well I feel like I've won the lottery. You see, my husband has what I like to call "simple taste buds". He dislikes my homemade spaghetti sauce, he would rather have canned Manwich sandwiches than my homemade BBQ sandwiches, my family's recipe for chili? No thanks, he'll take the canned stuff. The guy doesn't even like stuffing for crying out loud. So you see my dilemma when planning meals. Also my future dilemma when it comes to making sure Baby Dean has a broad palate.

So as I was scrolling along Pinterest one night I found an intriguing recipe titled, "White Trash Casserole". We tried it for the first time a few weeks ago and it was big hit. I made it again tonight, packed half for Dean for lunch, and had a plate myself, and determined I should share my great find.

WHITE TRASH CASSEROLE
(not my recipe! Found on Pinterest!)
So the ingredients are as follows:

1 pound ground beef
1 onion chopped
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can of corn drained
1 block of Velveeta Cheese cubed
1 bag of Tater tots

Now, to make.

Preheat oven to 350.

Brown the ground beef and onion together, then drain.

Put the ground beef and onion mixture in the bottom of a casserole dish

Pour can of Cream of Musheroom soup over ground beef mixture.

Pour can of corn over cream of mushroom soup.

Put Velveeta cheese cubes on top of corn.

Put tater tots on top of cheese.

Bake for 45 minutes or until tater tots are golden brown. (Be sure all tater tots are cooked! Not just the ones on top!)

And that's it!

The beautiful creation comes out looking like this:

And after you take one scoop out:

And when you place a whole bunch in a tupperware container for your husband to take to work:

The best part of this stuff is that it reheats SO well. Seriously, it tastes like it's fresh out of the oven once you reheat it days later. 

It is also SO filling. Like two serving spoons full on a plate fill me up for an entire night. 

So go on and get white trash with yourself! 

Don't forget to pull out your TV tray and eat it while watching Honey Boo Boo.

Oh I went there :)

Let's Get a Few Things Straight

**Please note that I wrote this a long time ago, but have neglected posting it, until I had it worded just right so as not to offend anyone. Shout out to my mother-in-law for assisting me in this difficult task.**



Well. The babes has learned to roll from back to tummy now, and he is officially mobile. 

Watching him roll from one end of the room to the other gets pretty ridiculously hilarious. 
But he's cute, and he's mine, and I love him.

Now.

Let's get a few things straight. 

Society has put such a negative connotation on stay-at-home Moms that often times women feel ashamed that they are doing so.


I know that I personally have this insecurity that I am not contributing to our home enough, because my contributions to our family are not financial. 


This is what God has called on me to do. This is my role.


I've known for a very long time, before I even met Dean, that this is what I wanted to do. I wanted to be able to stay home and raise our children, and if I was blessed enough to do so, I would be thrilled. 


And. I. Am.


Now, I understand not everyone can do this. I find working Mom's inspirational. The mom's that work 40 hours a week, and then come home and cook and clean up dinner, and bathe their children and put them to bed, and clean the house and do the laundry...

They AMAZE me.


If my life takes me on a different path in the future, I'm sure I could be a working Mom too but my goals will still be the same and I am committed to them, my family will come first. Because of these goals, they will be raised with the morals and values that the hubs and I have:


God comes first. Family is forever. Respect your elders. Use your manners everywhere you go. Have the confidence in yourself that I have in you. Learn to be independent, proud and love yourself before looking for love in someone else. Materialistic things will get you no where in life. Be happy with what you have. Be present in each moment. Appreciate everything you have been blessed with. Treat others the way you want to be treated


So telling a stay-at-home Mom that she does nothing but sit on her butt and watch TV all day is not only hurtful, it's like telling her she doesn't care about her family, or herself.

Telling a working Mom that she should be home with her children and not working is not only hurtful, it's like telling her she doesn't care about her family, or herself. 


What right does anyone have to judge me or anyone else or decide what their role should be in their own family unit? 

"Women are a precious gift from God to the world. They are creative, sensitive, compassionate, intelligent, talented, and according to the Bible, equal to men. God created man first - but quickly discovered he needed a helper. Not a slave, but a helper. He created a woman from one of Adam's ribs and called her Eve. Note that Eve was taken from Adam's side - from something close to his heart - not the bottom of his feet. Women were never intended to be walked on, disrespected, bullied, or belittled. Eve was created because Adam needed her. It's the same today; men need women, and they need them to be more than a cook, housekeeper, sex partner, or baby making machine." -Joyce Meyer

Think before you speak.

Be kind to one another. 

Your children are watching, be their example!