Sometimes you stop long enough to look around you .

Reflecting tonight after my quiet time.

 I have the Best in-loves and "Nina & Pawpa" on the planet, so Blessed with them as my parents. A little overwhelmed with how much they love on me sometimes. Makes it hard to understand my birth parents and things in my childhood.

My girls will never go through what I did and that's all that matters.

 Watching them with these two reassures me that they are safe and they are truly loved. I've come a long way in the 10yrs since God put them in my life. I'm able to forgive, able to heal and finally live my life the way God intended me too without hiding.

O-N-E

 Alyssa Jane turned 1 on Sunday. Hard to believe it's been a year already! I've dealt with my denial, I had a good cry, I boxed up tiny baby mementos and looked over her baby pictures all while whining to Evan about how time needs to slow down.

Alyssa facts:

She's 21lbs, is 31inches tall (99 percentile). She has 4 teeth and is almost walking solo. She likes to read books, clap to music, sing songs and watch Bubble Guppies. 

Her Faves: Blueberries, bananas, French fries, yogurt bites, waffles and green beans.

Not so faves: Pasta, peas, strawberries, beef anything and oatmeal.

Aly,

My sweet, joyful, giggly girl. How I adore your smile and love your laugh. You make our family complete. You are such a blessing to your daddy and I and I know you make your big sister awfully proud with all your milestones and achievements. 

We are truly thankful God chose you for us. How I miss your kicks and bizarre cravings during my pregnancy, how we laughed at how you would react to Avery's voice versus your daddy's. The day you were born, I was so calm and happy. I was never afraid or nervous, I wasn't even anxious. You came on your due date all on your own in what was an easy delivery. You were bright eyed and curious of everything around you and you slept! I knew then you were going to be amazing.

 The past 365 days you have stirred things in my heart, you've helped me slow down and reminded me to stop and take in what's happening around us. You've  created new bonds with your sister and family and even friendships we owe to you and your "cuteness". You are a very loved girl. I hope you always know this first and foremost. That you are loved, you are cherished and you are priceless my sweet girl.

 Your personality shines like the sun. You are so spunky and happy ALL the time. You hardly cry unless your impatient about food or ready for bed. You love music and bubble guppies. You sing anytime your can and are a hoarder or binkies and books. I hope these things never change, well, the binkies of course but everything else is so you.

Happy Birthday, Darling BaBoo.

Mommy, Daddy and Big Sister Avery 

Stay tuned for pictures from her 1yr photo shoot. Coming soon! 

Daily thought bubbles of a SAHM

 Why do I bother to vacuum when 5-10min later there's food/ and toys everywhere?

How can little people poop so much?

Why do the carts at the grocery store not accommodate small kids? Do they make the baskets so narrow and not deep enough to hold them and your groceries in on purpose?

Why can't there be a mom channel with decent TV on during nap times? And I mean not soap operas and talk shows but like a prime time show on for the moms at home to enjoy without DVRing it to watch sneakily in the middle of the night.

When in doubt, do what works for YOU.

If you were to record my actions for one day and then replay it in fast forward you may think you hit the rewind button instead because of how repetitive I am in cleaning up and picking up things.

Sometimes playing princesses and tea party can be annoying, just like watching the same cartoon for the millionth time a day. But I'll do it every time I'm asked because it won't last as long as I'd wish for it too.

Parks are gross.

God Bless netflix.

No matter how long you wait or how distracted you get them to be, as soon as you drop your pants to pee the door will open. Every. Time.

It's ridiculous how easy it is to forget to eat even when you spend a ton of time in the kitchen cooking and preparing everyone else's three square meals.

Yoga/sweatpants/pajama pants are like sexy lingerie.

Eating out is no longer as relaxing or appealing as it once was.

I admire working moms.

A little bit of this, a little bit of that..

This month is flying by! 

After my last post about rocking the Flu for NYE, my germs decided to share themselves on my entire family! 2 weeks of each of us taking turns was horrendous. Poor Avery, she had it the worse with having H1N1 while not suffering ALL the symptoms like I did. Evan and Alyssa had milder versions of the flu and Alyssa seemed to take the longest to get rid of it. Needless to say, I was full on mama bear mode and fretting like crazy and hardly sleeping. My energy is still not fully back yet, I tire very easily and my appetite is still not fully back. Avery went back to school today and was more thrilled than Evan and I.

Lesson learned. If the Dr.'s office cancels your flu shot appointment, seek alternative places to get it! I still can't get the shot but I'll get the pneumonia shot to help my body battle anything the winter brings with it.

Speaking of winter, where is it?! The US is in this huge freeze while it's in the 60's here. Don't get me wrong, it's on the cool side but after our crazy ice storm in the beginning of December, nothing else has happened. Maybe February will show us a last hurrah? 

Otherwise, life has been all about getting healthy and getting everyone else healthy this month. Alyssa turns ONE on Sunday but due to this mean flu season and so many people with little ones having it, we decided not to have a party. (Does that make me a bad mom?) she'll get a smash cake with family and next week is getting pictures done with our favorite photographer. I'm very excited about that.

Hard to believe she's already a year old. Then again, don't I say that about Avery too? 

Looking forward to our routine and schedules to come back, lots of stuff, exciting stuff is about to take place for us and I'm ready for every bit of it. 

That's all for now,

Brittnye

2014

The first day of the new year is almost at its end. I've been in bed for two days with the flu (fun,right?!) and must say that despite the yucky ending of 2013 and the miserable beginning of 2014, I'm eager to see what this year holds for me and my family.

I didn't blog nearly as much as I have in the past, and that will be something I work on more this year. I have so much to look forward to and as I'm sure everyone else is doing lately, my reflections of 2013 truly remind me how blessed I am.

-The birth of our youngest.

-A wonderful Church Family.

-My health scare and Surgery in June.

-Several trips and the memories that will forever go with them. (Galveston, Oregon, California)

-Avery starting Pre-K.

-Evans job having a successful year.

I'm not into making resolutions but I do have a few goals in mind for this new year. Trips are being planned that make me excited as well.

I'll close for now. Stay healthy my friends and blessings for your year!

-Brittnye