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.