don't be afraid

i'm trying really hard to rock our budget this year.

the only debt we have is my student loan, that we almost have paid off, and after that we'll be debt free.

(i don't consider house notes and car notes debt, you can't really live without either)

it's a wonderful feeling.

--

so our awesome friends, starling and wendi, introduced us to dirt cheap

i had never heard of them until i moved to the south.

the first time i went into one, i went in and walked right back out.

it was unbearable for me.

(and it didn't help that i was pregnant and sick)

things were just out of order and messy.

again, doesn't go well with me.

but i decided to give the hattiesburg dirt cheap a try.

I.LOVE.IT

the deals you find on stuff is amazing,

for instance...

this is one of our favorite games to play.

at wal-mart you'll pay $19.99 for it.

I paid $1.50 for it today!

woot.woot

(if you haven't played it, do, with lots of your close friends!)

i also had this find today...

baby boy has been needing a diaper bag.

they had a whole bin full of j.j. collection

this bag goes for $59.00 at Target or online.

I got it for $5.00!

and it is in tip top shape.

--

i also bought him :

6 pairs of clothes

2 pairs pajamas

3 bibs

3 recieving blankets

and

2 beanies

wanna know what i spent?!?!

$20 big ones!

isn't it awesome!?

if you have a dirt cheap near you,

that's in good shape.

GO!

thankful thursday

Lance is such an amazing father and husband.

He has long stressful days at work, and it would be so easy for him to just

come home, lay on the couch, and watch TV.

That's something he does not do.

He leaves every bit of work at the station and comes home happy to see us, and ready to play!

This is what our evenings are like when I'm either making dinner, or cleaning up the kitchen.

I'm thankful for you, Lance Tyler.

valentine love notes

If you're in need of a fun, cheap, and cute centerpiece for your table

here's what I did...

I'm trying to be better about using things we have around our house to use as holiday decor.

Hopefully we'll have it filled up by Valentines and then we can read our love notes to eachother that night.



jump.jump.jump

when Layla was about 10 months old i started to try and teach her the concept of jumping.
we'd do it every night after i'd brush her teeth.
i'd stand her up on the counter, and she would say, "1..2..3..!!" and just fall into my arms.
we'll about three months ago, she finally got the concept!
she jumps on and off of everything.
heaven help us!

thankful thursdays

one of my new years resolutions is to not only be thankful for the things and life that i have but to show more appreciation for it.

i'm going to push myself to do "thankful thursdays" so i can be reminded weekly of how blessed i am.

that way, i'll have less time to dwell on the things that i don't have.

 (i find myself doing that way to much)

---

for my first "thankful thursday" post, i want you all to know how obsessed i am with making sure things are in their exact place and kept clean.

 
but I'm also thankful for messes like this...

because it means having a healthy toddler, that likes to explore.
because it means we've been able to provide for our Layla, and she's able to enjoy her home {and room}
and because it means we have cute little friends like this to come over and play with.

{we just love little miss "brook brook," she sported Layla's headband like this all day}

Baby Update :: 25 weeks

Wow, I don't feel very big until I see a picture of myself!
This little boy better be one big boy, so I don't feel so bad for getting so big!
I'm feeling great! Yes, I have the hips pains, the siactic nerve pains and the occasional  heartburt.
But I just feel so blessed.
So blessed that I can carry this little child and feel him move inside of me.
That feeling brings a joy to me that is undescribeable.
It's about the only thing I miss when I'm not pregnant.
I'm trying to embace this pregnancy more than I did with Layla.
I was SO strict on myself with Layla.
I would watch everything I ate, I worked out regulary.
And when I gained another pound I would worry about it for days.
With this little guy I haven't really even kept track. I do know I've gained 10 lbs but I eat whatever I feel
like eating. After all, I am pregnant and it's the only time in my life when it's ok to gain a couple extra pounds right? Don't get me wrong, I'm not a total junkie when it comes to sweets. I actually would prefer something salty instead. But lately I'm loving the Reese's Hearts! And no, not just a Reese's will do. It has to be a Reese's heart, or a Reese's Christmas Tree, or a Reese's Easter Egg. And you know what I do with it? I eat all the chocolate off of it first, then eat the peanut butter. Yumm! And I am getting my fruits and veggies in. But I'm also enjoying being pregnant, and enjoying my curves, or at least telling myself I am. Here's to another 15 weeks of pregnancy, and embracing being a woman!

perfect picture moment

 
one saturday afternoon.
i could hear layla giggling, so i went to see what the fun was all about.
she was just playing with her daddy.
so i snapped a picture.

i.love.these.moments.

just now getting to it

While my family was here for Thanksgiving we dressed up and had my mother and sister take some family pictures for us. They took them at the Train Station in downtown Hattiesburg. I love it down there. It's exactly where I'm going to take Layla's 2 year pics...as soon as I can get to it!

first dentist appointment

Today Layla had her first dentist appointment.
All is well.
No cavities, a perfect bite, and beautiful pearly whites.

All morning I prepared her by telling her we were going to the doctor and she'd have to say "Ahhhh!"
so that he could check her teeth. She did just that.

In fact, while I was filling out all our paper work in the waiting area she was trying to escape to the back, saying, "Doctor, Ahhhh" She was so ready.

I didn't get any pictures because I held her the whole time, but I had to document it, or I'd surely forget!

her birthday party

i know...

i get camera happy

B.A.D

and i can't choose just one

so enjoy!

{the morning of her birthday we let her open her card from Great Grandpa and Grandma Critton, she's one wealthy little 2 year old!}

 

2

December 31, 2010

at 7:36PM

this little girl turned 2 years old!

I still can't believe it. 

I know every mother says it, but my golly, 2 years have come and gone already and it still seems like yesterday I was holding her in my arms for the first time!

She is the light and joy in our lives.

What we would do without her is unimaginable.

She'll make me want to scream one second and the next she's hugging my neck as hard as she possibly can,

saying, "I wuv you mommy," or "I sowy mommy."

She talks and talks and tells the silliest little stories.

She has the cutest personality and is a spit ball of fire.

Her little voice, when she sings, sounds like angels.

She's just amazing.

The most perfect little girl.

We love you Layla Marcia!

Happy 2nd Birthday!