3 Months

Alyssa Jane is 3 months old today.

I seriously don't remember time flying by this fast with Avery. I guess since Aly has Avery to look up to she thinks she needs to speed up the baby process and it's showing. She is in such a rush to grow up while I am crying over NB outfits she can no longer wear. Perhaps it's the idea/thought that she's the last of baby-ness I'll have as my own as we're pretty sure we're done procreating since we've done it twice with amazing results. ;)

Some fun factoids on our sweet girl.
*She is a cooing machine, heaven help us when those coos become words.
*She's sleeping through the night! 7-11.5 hrs a night and I am not complaining.
* She has found her feet and loves sticking them in the air for no reason, tonight as she had them up she started wiggling from side to side, she'll be rolling over soon.
* You've never met such a smiley baby.
* We're eating cereal twice a week now, she likes it a lot and doesn't waste any!
*She can high five! (I swear)
*Her hair is falling out more in the back but we know it wont be gone long.

Catching up is hard to do.....

I know, I know...I have done it again on my lack of blogging and that's not something I intended to do so early in the new year. However, my reasons are valid and you all like really huge update posts more than my random ramblings anyhow....all my awaiting comments say so... *insert sarcasm here*

I'll do my best to finish catching up on December through this week in the next 3 entries. How is everyone doing so far into 2013? Everyone good and healthy?

XOXO,
Brittnye

25 Days of Christmas.....

Okay, sue me I am totally in the Holiday spirit. (anyone liking the new layout?)

Yes, it was 80* yet again today in Texas where the weather is so not with the time of the year, however, there was mention of a nice cool down coming in next week which I'm hoping will last all month.  *fingers crossed*

SO, typically I would be complaining about how most stores and radio stations are already playing non-stop Christmas music, but not this year. This year I am LOVING it. With the tree and decor already up, a few presents wrapped and already under the tree, gift lists made and the calender filling up with events and things to do. (pregnancy allowing me to attend of course) I am getting so giddy about it all. Add in the extra excitement of our family going from 3-4 (plus the 2 kittos) possibly in less than a month...yeah. I'm a happy girl.

 A few pics of the Holiday cheer in our home....

So since I am in the Holiday spirit, I figured I'd share some of my FAVORITE Christmas songs. (I'm also wide awake so this'll help pass the time)

25 Days Of Christmas Play list (Hartfield Family Style)

Also in NO particular order & Many Thanks to YOUTUBE.....

1.) "Emmanuel" - Sleeperstar

Listen to it here and you can also check it out on iTunes!

2.) "Do You Hear What I Hear?" - Carrie Underwood

Again, check it out here.

3.) "Hallelujah (Light Has Come) - BarlowGirl(I'm sriously addicted to this song right now!)

Beautiful Lyrics



4.) "Linus & Lucy" or as we call it "The Snoopy Dance" Song.

Linus & Lucy

5.) "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas don't be late)"

Who doesn't like this song?

6.) "Wonderful Christmas Time" - Paul McCartney

Oh yeahhhhhh

7.) "Mary Did You Know" - Anyone but Kenny Rogers

Clay Aiken did a good version...

8.) "It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas" - Bing Crosby

Classic

9.) "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" - Andy Williams

Never Gets Old.

10.) "I'll Be Home For Christmas" - Michael Buble'

Seriously, forget YouTube, buy his Christmas album!

11.) "Believe" - Josh Groban

Cool movie, great song.

12.) "The Christmas Song' - Nat King Cole

Another Classic

13.) "White Christmas" - Frank Sinatra

Like you could have a list without FRANK SINATRA!

14.) "Adore Him" - Kari Jobe

Love her.

15.) "O little Town of Bethlehem" - Various

16.) "What Child Is This?" - Selah

17.) "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer" - Various

18.) "I saw Mommy Kissing Santa" - Jackson 5

19.) "Baby, It's Cold Outside" - She & Him

I love her unique-ness

20.) "Carol of the Bells" - Trans Siberian Orchestra

Because you know you rock out to this EVERY year.

21.) "Breath of Heaven" - Amy Grant

(Although Amy Dixon, a sweet friend of mine does an INCREDIBLE version of this that I love way better)

I wish I knew how to play piano. (random)

22.) "Born is The King" - Hillsong

It's Christmas!

23.) "A Baby Changes Everything" - Faith Hill

Oh how true.

24.) " I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas"

25.) "Carol of the bells, sing we now of Christmas" - Barlowgirl

Sing we now of Christmas

It's a Texas thing...

Saturday I'll be a busy, busy bee. I'll be enjoying a lovoly 5k/1 mile walk with THIS AMAZING WOMAN bright and early. Then it's off to the TEXAS STATE FAIR. Where not only will I walk my booty off, but I'll be eating some of the most bizarre fried foods known to man.

Like some of these things:
Buffalo Chicken in a Flapjack BEST TASTE - A buffalo chicken strip is coated in flapjack batter, rolled in jalapeno bread crumbs, deep fried to a golden brown, skewed, and served with a side of syrup. Crowd pleasing appetizer or a meal in itself! inside the Automobile Building and in the Thrill Way.



Fried Bubblegum MOST CREATIVE - You’ll swear it’s bubblegum! A light as a feather bubble gum flavored marshmallow is dipped in batter and lightly fried to perfection. Decorated with a swirl of icing. A final sprinkling of powdered sugar completes this treat! It will blow you away! Granny’s Funnel Cakes on Coliseum Drive.
Deep Fried Pineapple Upside Down Cake - Fresh and sweet pineapple rings are delicately dipped in cake batter, fried, and coated with a caramel, sugar, and cinnamon glaze. What tropical treat is complete without a cherry on top? Fun Way across from Guest Relations and Nimitz Avenue by the Embarcadero.

Deep Fried Texas Salsa™ - This spicy medley of jalapenos, roasted garlic, onion, tomato, and pepper is rolled together, dipped in masa, and covered in crunchy tortilla chips. Into the fryer and served with warm, deliciously creamy queso. Located on Cotton Bowl Plaza at the Taste of Cuba stand and the Beer Garden.

El Bananarito - In case you are wondering, it’s a deep fried banana rolled in a flour tortilla, topped with whipped cream, powdered sugar, a dusting of cinnamon, and a touch of vanilla extract. Top it off with your choice of smooth, hot caramel or decadent chocolate syrup. Funnel Cake stand on Fun Way.

Fried Autumn Pie - Fairgoers will fall for this hard to resist puff pastry infused with a scrumptious combination of pumpkin, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and fall spices. Deep fried and rolled in ginger, cinnamon, and sugar. Chicken on a Stick stand located on Nimitz Drive, near the entrance to the Embarcadero.

Hans’ Kraut Ball - A conglomeration of taste: browned pork sausage, onion, garlic, a zing of sauerkraut, mustard, and tasty seasonings all rolled into a mouth-watering ball of delight. Covered with seasoned bread crumbs, deep fried, and served with your choice Spicy Mustard, Raspberry Chipotle, or Ranch. Hans Mueller tent next to the Main Stage, in Cotton Bowl Plaza, and at on Nimitz Circle.

Walking Taco - Stroll down the Midway with this concoction of seasoned hamburger meat, lettuce, onion, fresh tomato, grated cheese, sour cream, and tasty salsa. Inventively served up in a Nacho Cheese flavored Doritos® bag! Darn Good Corn stand across from Gateway Pavilion tent on Coliseum Drive.


Yeah....prepare for one awesome photo entry this weekend.  Did I mention I haven't been in 3 years and it'll be Averys first State Fair and train ride?! (We're taking the train rather than driving) Soooooo excited.

How To Make August Awesome

My sweet friend, Therese posted this as her blog entry earlier today and I fell in love with it. So with her permission of course, I'm stealing it and sharing it with you lovolies.

This summer has seemed to fly by and although we haven't done too much we have still been very busy. Thanks to Augusts arrival though, I am suddenly aware that we're running out of time to enjoy Summer.  Then again it's between 105*-108* this week so how anyone can "enjoy" that is beyond me!

10 Ways To Make August Awesome
(In no order and made up as I please)

1. Have something to look forward to:  For me, I think I will have August speeding past be the thing I look forward to most, haha. Seriously though, not much is planned for August and yet Sept-January is full of fun events we've been planning for 6 months! I will just throw out a last minute something..... I'm looking forward to Avery starting her new school and fitting in well. I've been getting some negative feedback for putting her in a Pre-preschool type program when she can be home with me and honestly I understand where these people are coming from but at the same time....it's not like she has to go everyday and I can have her home whenever I feel like it. I just think she needs the socialization in a bad way and this school has a wonderful regime I like rather than sending her somewhere and paying lots of money for her to finger paint and watch TV. I'm aware she's not even 3 and this is in no way enforced, if she doesn't like it, she will not have to keep going.  We just feel she will get more out of this rather than being home with mommy 24/7. Sorry, that turned into a rant...moving along....

2. Create A Goal For The Month: I have 2 goals for this month. One is to lose 10lbs. Seriously, since we've moved back to Denton and Evan is now working nights, I hardly cook at all, we eat out way too much and it's starting to show on me. Thanks to Evans job, he is in the best shape he's been in. EVER. So yeah....I'm on a mission. My second goal, is to go from running 2x's a week to 4-5x's a week. I seriously am enjoying my morning runs but I need to do more and I need to start legitimately pushing myself more to get geared up to doing a 5k or even a 10k (which the thought of that alone sends me in a panic and laughing at myself).

3. Plan A Dinner Party: I've been wanting to do this since we moved into our new home. We have had a few people over to BBQ outside on the deck but I'd REALLY like to have a few people over to enjoy some wine, board games and an all out feast made by myself. However, for this to happen I have to have a number of other couples free on a Saturday night (the only night Evan is home besides Sunday) and we also need to finish up a few house projects and buy a dining room table and chairs (on my to-buy list since April).

4. Buy New Clothes For Fall: Evan and I have a closet full of clothes but we can not wear over half of it. Evan has lost 40lbs in the last 8 months!! He needs new duds. I am still stuck in Maternity clothes and HS t-shirts. Yeah can we say upgrade needed? I'd like to own more than one pair of jeans for once in my life. (Sad, I know) Good thing is though, Evan and I have had this conversation twice in the last week and I'm pretty sure the end of the month is looking good for us to go shopping just the 2 of us for a new wardrobe.

5. Get Crafty: Thanks to my obsession known as PINTEREST, I have fallen in love with so many DIY crafty ideas for a home. I'd love to get into it and start making things for the Fall/Winter season to make my home "Pop". Like a Wreath for my front door, a new color of paint in the entryway, Antique hunting for a nice Old lamp to bring the living room together or even dare I say, busting out the Sewing machine and making Curtains for Averys bedroom, my bedroom and the living room.

6: Sign Up For A Fitness Class: The Rec center is literally a 4 minute walk from my home and SUPER cheap. I think I will sign up for a Zumba class or something along those lines so I can have some alone time while also meeting other ladies. I truly do not get out hardly ever.

7. Have a Ladies Night: I think my last paragraph hit on something. I need a good Ladies night. A few friends, some margaritas, a movie or some dancing....and perhaps not in the same town we live in. Any reason to put make-up on and heels works for me. Whose in?

8. Buy a Random Cookbook & Try Every Recipe: Or maybe start an email Recipe swap with friends and get s little book going. I also have several recipes I want to try thanks to Pinterest, so maybe that can be a nice treat to help with some other mentioned items on the list. Try something new and share it.

9. Invest In Some Travel Books: I'm a huge reader, I read all the time, but I think it may be a good idea to buy some travel books on the places we have planned to visit in the next 3 months to a year (Colorado, Oregon, England, Louisiana, etc) to make the best out of these trips no matter how short they may be. It would also help me with the budgeting for them and getting the most out of the money we get saved up. Ideas?....

10. Look Into Spring Programs For COLLEGE: Um...yeah. It's time I seriously got my rear in gear. I have 2 test to take this month (another reason Avery is going to school and I'm getting more free time (AKA-study time) and I need to start looking at the 4 area places I can go to school in the spring and sort out what it is I actually want to pursue for a career and start my PLAN. I need to start making calls, setting appointments and getting to know a few people who can help me with this. Not to mention figuring out financial aid, I seriously doubt it's ever to early to start planning for that!

Wow.... and now August suddenly looks BUSY for me.

I don't mind. How about YOU what is in store for your August and what are some ways you can make it Awesome?

-Britt