Here's a picture from Christmas at Abba and Ame's. I think we might have a model on our hands! Look at that perfect pose! 

I really just want to sit around and do nothing today but watch TV and crochet. Must be the cold weather. I had planned to go to Old Navy today, but that ain't happening. We have a $10 certificate that must be used by Friday, so hopefully I can go before then. It was one of those for every $50 you spend you get $10 to spend at another time. In other words, we want you to have to come back and you'll probably spend more than the $10, so we make more money!

Tomorrow is Justin's 25th birthday! I didn't really plan anything though. This time of year is so difficult....Justin is working long hours, plus it's so close to Christmas. Not to mention his mom's birthday is Friday! Craziness! While I'm a so grateful for Justin's job, I have a hard time liking it around Christmas. I really hate that busy season really kicks in right now. I know I should be supportive and not complain, but I want my husband at home more that 30 minutes before we go to bed. And I wouldn't mind being able to travel. Growing up with my dad working for LISD really spoiled me....he had at least a week off around Christmas. Still, I know it's because of Justin's job that I am able to stay at home with Kayleigh. Therefore, I will look on the bright side and be grateful there is so much work for him to do....job security!

Well, guess I should get out of my PJs! Love to everyone!

It's snowing!!!! Guess I need to bundle Kayleigh up and take some "My first snow" pictures! 

yummy bow 

This is how 5 1/2 month olds open presents 

We had Christmas over at Papa and Granny's yesterday. All Kayleigh wanted was the bows! 

Updates!!!!

* Kayleigh really likes teething biscuits! I personally think they are the most disgusting things in the world, but guess I'll just have to deal with that! I gave her one last night and she loved it. She dropped it about every two minutes or so, of course. Then she would start fussing until I put it back it her hand....I really don't like touching them! I can see a certain trend starting....Kayleigh likes to have her way and if she doesn't get it, she lets you know in a very loud way. She has started a nightly routine of crying off and on for about 20 minutes before she goes to sleep. It is the most pitiful cry in the world...you would think that she's hurt or something. I know she is fine because she stops the moment I pick her up and starts again the second I lay her down. My little manipulator! Too bad she has a pretty smart mommy who can see past her little tricks!

* Kayleigh is also sitting up on her own! Yeah! She can't quite get to the position on her own yet, but she sure is trying hard. She's also starting giggling! So cute!

* And guess what!!!! I found out this week that I can actually complete a B.A. degree online through Texas Tech! Justin and I decided I should go for it!!! So after I complete the degree, I am going to get my 4th-8th Generalist Certification at UNT. This way I can go to work once Kayleigh and the next one (yes, there will be another) are in school. Justin and I are super excited about this....mostly because, if I work we'll be able to pay off the house sooner and send kids to college.

* I never thought I would say this.....but I think I could see having another in 2006. At first I was thinking it would be nice to have my body totally to myself for a little while. I'll be nursing Kayleigh until July (maybe a little longer) and then to have one in 2006 I would need to get pregnant in the latter part of 2005 or beginning of 2006. So there would be the possiblity of me being either pregnant or nursing from Oct 2003-April 2007. That's like four years!!!!!
Anyways...Justin said a couple days ago, "What would be the point of getting your body back, only to lose it again ....why not just get it over with!". Also, the closer they are in age the sooner both would be in school and I could start working. That kinda made sense to me. Then again it would be nice to have one out of diapers....I have a book on how to potty train by 18 months, so that might work! It's not official of anything....just me thinking ahead!

Well I think that's enough for now! Love to everyone!

Daddy and his little princess! 

I really don' t like this weather!!! Kayleigh is on her second cold of the season. Snotty babies aren't fun at all! Of course, I am getting quite good at using the snot sucker thingy. Anyways!

I think the carefree days of a non-mobile baby are almost over. Kayleigh is trying to crawl. She gets up on all fours, but isn't quite sure how she's supposed to move from there. You should see the look she gets on her face...it's so cute and yet a little scary. I think my little girl is going to be Miss Independent, which could pose some problems in the future. Something tells me to read Dobson's book on the strong-willed child so I'll be prepared!

In other news.....the Christmas stuff is still in the attic. I'm tempted to just leave it there this year. I mean if I get it out now, I'll just have to take it down in three weeks. But then again I want all those Baby's First Christmas pictures. Maybe I'll just borrow the grandparents' trees. I'm still getting used to not traveling over the holidays. Somehow it doesn't seem like Christmas without the drive to my grandparents. I know Justin and I will start our own traditions soon enough, but in the mean time I miss the old ones. With Kayleigh here, now we have to decide if we are doing Santa Claus or not. Justin's family didn't do Santa, mine did. I really don't care either way....it's just one of those things you don't think about until it comes up.

Laundry is a calling.

I was looking through some old photos and found this one. I think she was about two months old. Don't ya just love that look!

Here's another one with great-great grandmother and Papa. 

Justin and I went to Paducah, TX this weekend to visit my Punkie and Papa. It has been almost four years since I have traveled out to the farm. I love the drive....four hours of fields and small towns! The picture above is Kayleigh, my dad, myself and my great-grandmother. She's 97 years old and still lives by herself! I'm so glad she finally was able to meet Justin and Kayleigh.

I have come to realize...

...my vocabulary stinks. I'm reading Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis and need a dictionary at least every other page!

...I actually prefer cloth diapers to disposable....except at night....I have a little pee pee monster and she soaks them!

...four-month old babies do not refuse to sleep out of spite, so there's no point in getting angry with them.

...becoming a mom has helped me to understand my own mom.

...sometimes I really want a break from Kayleigh and that's okay.

...I am selfish and focused completely on what is best for me most of the time.

...I am much more content when I am focused on what is best for others.

...I can be very critical and I'm not sure how to change that.

...fear has and still does keep me from developing close, intimate relationships with people.

...I need to be who I am on purpose and not use the "That's just the way I am" excuse anymore. (Thanks Bill)

...there are people in my life who really love me.

...I need tell those I love, that I love them more often and I need to use their names when I do it.

Here's the most recent picture I have...it was taken on the 18th of this month. That's her great-grandpa. 

This picture was taken at the end of September! Isn't she cute! 

Here's another....I think I took these last week or maybe the week before. 

Her favorite sleeping position...bootie in the air! 

Here's a picture that was taken a couple weeks ago.  

Okay...well I had typed up a whole post a couple of days ago but the darn internet crashed before I could post it. So, here I am trying again.

Nothing big and exciting going on. Although we sold the Explorer so now I am carless. Kinda stinks, but if it means I get to stay at home with Kayleigh, I can handle it. Although I have found that not having a car makes you really want to go somewhere...nowhere in particular, just somewhere out of the house. I'm going to have to start walking so I don't become stir crazy. I really do feel blessed to be able to stay at home though. I am so grateful that Justin thinks it is important too. There are days when I do miss working...just having something concrete to do would be nice. I think I am going to start putting my FlyLady control journal together. I think a little organization to my weeks will really pay off. I'll probably welcome the addition of a child or two once February comes and I start child care. I met with a prospective client last week and it looks promising. Her baby boy isn't due until January, so I would start watching him until March. I'm kinda glad the babies aren't coming until after January. Kayleigh will be almost 8 months old by the time the first one comes. I can't believe she's already almost 4 months old. I see pictures of newborns and think, "Wow, Kayleigh used to be that small", and then I want to cry because she's so big. I'm weird!

Well I've got housework to do! Bye!

Hello all! Sorry about the lack of posting lately. Our internet service is acting up and getting online is a little frustrating. I'm at my parent's house right now.....cable internet is so awesome! Too bad it's so expensive. Anyways!

Kayleigh is getting so long. She's actually filling up her 3-6 month footed sleepers. She's also wanting to sit up! I put her in the Exersaucer yesterday with a blanket propping her up and she loved it. She is starting to grab at toys and is totally fascinated by her hand. I love watching her look at her hand as she moves each finger and then tries to get her thumb in her mouth.

I had my first paying child care job on Tuesday! I'm watching Kendra's twin girls, Sara and Samantha, for a half day one day a week. I had so much fun playing with them. Although I did find out that almost 2 year olds are not quite ready for play dough...it went straight in the mouth...good thing it's non-toxic! I'm so used to working with 3 and 4 year olds I forgot little kids have almost no attention span. I think the longest time they spent doing any one thing was the 10 minutes it took them to eat snack. It was a good experience though. I'm going to see if I can't get a couple more toys like big legos or something. They loved the baby dolls I have....I even found some bottles Kayleigh doesn't use so they could feed their babies while I was feeding Kayleigh. Having other children around with Kayleigh wasn't so bad and Sheena actually did really well. I think this child care thing is going to be a wonderful experience!

Have a good day everyone!

I don't really have anything to blog about. Life has been pretty normal lately...which I guess is a good thing. Yesterday was a great day! Justin and I got to hang out with two of our couple friends...William and Sammi and Michael and Katie. Michael and Katie just spent a year in the Czech Republic...we had planned to go visit them, but I get pregnant so that went out the window. They are moving to Portland in a couple weeks....Justin and I are definitely planning to visit them there. Skiing is 45 minutes away from where they will live! Justin wants to go next winter and leave Kayleigh here with her grandparents. I almost cry at the thought of leaving her for a week and that's more than a year away. I really don't like leaving her ...I never thought I'd be one of "those". For example....Saturday night our church had a worship event and the music was too loud for Kayleigh, so Justin called his parents to see if they would watch her. (Thank you Ami and Abba for watching me on such short notice). I really didn't want to drop her off....Justin thought is was because I wanted to show her off to everyone, but really I just didn't want to be without my Kayleigh.

I think we might have a little chatterbox on our hands! Kayleigh has figured out how to "talk" and she hasn't stopped since. We used our camera to take a short video of her talking, so I'll post it once I figure out how to. She makes the cutest faces when she's talking...so serious, like she's really trying to tell me something. I wonder what she is thinking during our little conversations. I do plan on teaching her some baby sign language so she can communicate more effectively what she needs.

Sunday went great! She went into the nursery without a hitch...of course she's not really caring much whose holding her right now. It was so nice to sit in church and be able to really listen to what Tim is saying. I have missed so much from the the sermons these past couple of months.

Time for some more shut-eye!

The one thing I really miss about life before having Kayleigh is sleeping in on Saturday mornings. It's 6:30 am...I shouldn't be awake this early on a Saturday! There's a few other things I miss....spontaneous dates with Justin....being able to leave the house without worrying if there are enough diapers in the diaper bag....being able to go on weekend trips with just two bags. Yes, life before Kayleigh was much simpler! I wouldn't trade a moment though!

Justin and I have hit a milestone...we are ready to put Kayleigh in the nursery this Sunday!!! It will be nice to go to service and not have her there as a distraction. It's really hard to listen and pay attention when I'm trying to entertain or feed her. She went to the nursery during JOY this week and did great. She slept pretty much to whole time! And the big achievement....I didn't sit there thinking about her the whole time...I actually relaxed and enjoyed my time without her.

Well, I'm going to crawl back in bed, since Kayleigh is asleep again. Love to everyone!

I did it!! 

Look! I'm trying to roll over! 

Kayleigh is growing! I just did the first sweep of her clothes! She's wearing 3-6 month clothes now, so most of the 0-3 month stuff was too small. Actually the 0-3 month fit just fine around...it's the length that's too small....Especially with her big bootie cloth diapers on. She is starting to chub up a little too. Her legs are so cute and full of rolls, and she's getting those adorable chubby cheeks finally!

Okay, so I'm taking suggestions.... For a while Kayleigh was sleeping from 11 pm to around 6 am. Now she has decided that 4:30 am is going to be her wake up time, but she's not going to bed any earlier...which means I'm not either! I'm wondering why she's doing this all of a sudden. I'm thinking maybe she's going through some sort of growth spurt and needs an extra feeding a day. Any thoughts? Any suggestions on getting her back on the 11-6 routine (which was much better for mommy's sleep needs!)?

I'm trying to get myself used to not going anywhere during the week, so I haven't been out except to the grocery store for about 30 minutes. It's not so bad... although I find myself wanting Kayleigh to wake up so I'll have something entertaining to do! I have been able to spend alot more time reading and studying God's word. I'm really loving the JOY study we are doing. We are going through Proverbs using this really awesome study guide. I find it difficult to just read the Bible without some sort of guidance, so this is wonderful. I can't wait to get together with my small group and discuss it. I think when I start doing childcare, I'm going to see what the interest in a Saturday morning small group would be. I know there has to be more women like me who can't make it during the week. I'm also studying the book of Ruth with the Freshman Girls group I co-lead. I love this story of loyalty and God's divine provision.

In the minichurch Justin and I attend on Monday nights we are studying 1 Corinthians. I have to say I have never read through it until now. Last night we talked about how a person can do all the right things and look like a spiritually mature person and still not please God. It got me thinking about stuff. Like do I pursue spiritual maturity or am I pursuing God? Am I seeking to know God or to know stuff about God? I think so many times I get caught up in what spiritual maturity should look like that I forget it is just a result of knowing and following Christ. Spiritual maturity is a product of a life loyal to Christ. It should not be the object of my pursuit, but the natural progression of Christ working within me. I cannot mature myself....only Christ can cause the growth in me. Kinda makes boasting about how spiritually mature you are pretty dumb...seeing as you had nothing to do with it. Kinda like being in the right place and the right time. Well there's my deep thoughts for the rest of the month!

It's 5:30 am...Kayleigh's back in bed asleep after decided to make 4 am her wake up time for the day. I'm guessing she's not quite ready to give up her 10 pm feeding...oh well. I think I am becoming a morning person. Amazing what a child can change about you! I actually enjoy the early morning time after I put Kayleigh back to sleep. I never thought I could function before 8 am, but here I am putting words into sentences. Enough on that!

My second week as a stay-at-home mom has been great. I joined a couple women's groups at our church, MOPS (mother of preschoolers) and JOY. I had so much fun meeting new faces, which surprised me because I usually clam around new people. I don't know how long I'll be able to go to these, since I'm planning on doing childcare. I'm going to enjoy them while I can though.

Do you ever just want to be selfish? Do you daydream about all the stuff you could do if you didn't have to worry about anyone else? Please say you do, so I don't feel bad! I'm really dragging my feet on this childcare business because I want to just be a mom. I don't want to give up MOPS and JOY. I want to just be with Kayleigh and not have to worry about three other kids. I don't know why I all of a sudden have this desire to be your typical Flowerplex soccer mom, but I do. And I know all these desires are not bad in themselves, but they are not what is best for our family. I need to make some money and the best way for be to do that is care for other children in our home. I always thought I was a homebody, but now the prospect of not being able to go anywhere is driving me nuts.

Well....I need some more sleep! Love to everyone!

Road Trip!!

Well, the first official road trip with baby went great! We drove down to Austin for Labor Day to visit William and Sammi and see some of my family. Kayleigh slept all but the last 30 minutes on the way down! Sammi and I went over to San Marcos on Saturday for some bargain shopping....it was so crowded...took us 20 minutes just to find a parking spot. The Carter's store there had some really good deals. I can't believe how much people spend on baby clothes...there was a shirt at Osh Gosh B'Gosh that was $20.00...I have a hard time spending that much on a shirt for me! Anyways! Our time with William and Sammi was so enjoyable...we hated to leave. Sunday we drove over to my Uncle Dan's place on Lake Travis. The whole family was there...well almost. Kayleigh met her great-grandparents, Punkie and Papa, her great aunts and uncles and some of her second cousins. They all think she's adorable, of course! Kayleigh really was great the whole time. She's so flexible and laid back...must get that from her momma!

Well, I'm going to go back to bed for some more shut eye! Love to everyone!

Justin's mom took this picture...isn't it adorable! Forget paying for professional photos, I'm just taking her to her Ami's house! 

Kayleigh has her first cold :( ! She's got a stuffy nose and has a little cough. Poor baby! She sounds so pitiful when she coughs....makes her whole body move. Hopefully, it will clear up by Friday, because we are supposed to go out of town. I think she might have passed it on to her daddy and I...oh, the joy of having children.

Anyways!

Well, I am officially unemployed at the moment! It's nice to be at home again, but now we got to figure out how to pay the bills. I really need to find a full-time child to start in October. I have one baby coming in February, but that's the only "for sure" client so far. It's hard not to start worrying about the whole situation. Why is trusting God with financial matters is so difficult? We trust Him to save our souls and to give us new life in heaven, but when it comes to dollars and cents we want to control everything. Amazing!

Love

Recent pictures 

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it!


Kayleigh slept through the night last night!!!! She woke up a couple of times and made some noise, but then went right back to sleep! Yea! Hopefully this will become the norm! She has also finally figured out how to get her thumb in her mouth, which means I don't have to get up to put her pacifier back in! I'm so excited!!!

Kayleigh was in a really good mood this morning. She was all smiles and cooing up a storm. I think she really likes her morning time with Daddy. Justin gives her a bottle and gets her ready for Granny's while I'm getting ready for work. She just loves spending time with her Daddy! I can't believe how much she has changed since she was born. She looks so much like Justin....even has some of his facial expressions. She kinda looks like a little old man right now because she's rubbed off all her hair on top. She likes to inch up the crib and rub her head on the bumpers. Hopefully she'll have some hair on top before it's time for her three months pictures. Her hair still has some red in it....I'm thinking it's going to be a light reddish brown color.

I have also found the best cure for a grumpy mood....Kayleigh's smile! There's just something about your child responding to you with a huge toothless grin....makes all the worries just melt away. I love to just sit with her and watch her little expressions. She has the biggest, most beautiful smile in the whole world (I'm a little biased...can you tell). Nothing lights up my day more...well maybe a big hug and a smooch from her Daddy tops it, but not by much!

Well I best get back to work! Only 4 more days left!

Okay, I think the sleeping thing may be solved...at least for now. I think Kayleigh is just starting to be more alert and that's why she's awake more. I was so used to her sleeping 2-2 1/2 hours after every feeding, that I kinda freaked when she wouldn't sleep at all between some. Now I just up the frequency of her evening feedings and she'll sleep a good 5-6 hours at night! Yea! I just wasn't looking for our routine to change, but I guess she did it for me. The past three days she has eaten and napped at almost the exact same time everyday! She still likes to be held till she falls asleep, but I can deal with that...I love holding her anyways!

I'm back at work for the next two weeks. It's not quite as hard as I was thinking it would be. I get feed her on my lunch break and the past two days someone has brought her up to work for her afternoon feeding. I am glad this isn't a permanent situation though....makes for a pretty hectic day. The good thing is her daddy is home for these two weeks and grandmas are available to babysit. Only seven more days after today!

Kayleigh had her second doctor appointment today. She's a growing girl! She's up to 9 lbs 1 oz and 21.5 inches. That's still smaller than my little brother was when he was born. I can't imagine having a baby that big! She has officially graduated from newborn diapers and is finally filling out her clothes. She looks so much bigger than when she was born.

Kayleigh is a pretty good baby. My only complaint is the child can't figure out how to get to sleep on her own. I know I'm supposed to let her cry it out....but she doesn't stop crying! One night she cried for almost three hours....after that I just couldn't take it anymore. She'll fall asleep if you are holding her, but if you put her down too soon she's wide awake and screaming in five minutes. Lately she's been waking herself up after about an hour and refusing to go back to sleep...she's not hungry or dirty....just tired and crabby. If I pick her up and rock her she goes right back to sleep! Like today...I think she's maybe napped for a total of three hours and it's almost 5 pm. I'm getting a little frustrated with this...since this means I get no sleep also. So if anyone has any suggestions on getting a baby to sleep, I'll take it! Other than that, I have no complaints!

Well, she's has yet again woken herself up and is screaming, so I'll write later! Love to everyone.

Here's a picture with Daddy!  

Here's us!  

Here's a picture with Ami and Abba 

I finally got a chance to post some pictures on here. I'll get some picture of Kayleigh with her Ami and Abba as soon as I get some loaded. I use the computer at my parents since they have DSL...it's so much faster than our dial-up!

Wow! I can't believe Kayleigh is 4 weeks old! She really has changed since her birth. Her next doctor's appointment is a week from Friday, so we'll see how much she has grown. She's starting to get schedule down as far as eating and sleeping are concerned. She sleeps up to 5 hours at night!

Well it's almost time for her to eat again! Talk to ya later!

Kayleigh and Uncle Mark 

Kayleigh and Granny Thompson (my Granny) 

Granny giving Kayleigh a real bath! 

Here's the other baby, Sheena.