11 Months

 

Stats

weight: around 24 lbs (home scale)

height: 28 in.

diaper size: 3

clothes: 12 months

 

 

Firsts

You took your firsts steps at 9 months but started officially walking about a week after turning 10 months

First Valentines Day

First time making Valentines

 

Random Facts

You got your 2nd haircut

You have 4 teeth now

You have started to bite

You LOVE your cousins

You have started having some stranger anxiety

You LOVE when you get to walk on your own when we are out and about

You are becoming very picky when it comes to eatting

You still are going down with bottles at bedtime and naptime

You are waking up a couple times a night

We still watch Mickey everyday & you are still in love with him

 

 

Maddux James you are the sweetest little boy.  You have been so much fun to watch grow.  We love you unconditionally & can't wait to see what the future has in store for you! :)

My Brief Break...

Ever since writing the post on giving up blogging or that unplanned break... I have missed it, I have wanted to write & I've had so much to say...
as far as sitting down and writing I can't say that I have because I have soaked up all my extra time with my guy & I have loved every minute of it-- & my house is starting to look spotless {except for the "birthday" room}

I'm not saying the break is over but I will tell you once I have a few blog posts drafted and more of a passion to write then I'll be back.

The BIG possibly never ending break...

I feel like this has been sneaking up on me for the past month or two... I feel like you deserve some answers especially if your one of my new followers.

There are a few reasons that I'm doing this...

1.) I feel like the past few months bloggers have really lost touch with why most of us blog. People are beginning to tear others down with rude and judgemental comments. Luckily I haven't experienced this but a couple of times and it's just responses I see on twitter shortly after I link a post up. It hurts but not as bad as what it could.

2.) Maddux is the biggest busy body you'll ever meet... I'm sure you think I'm exaggerating but trust me if you were to meet him you would understand almost everyone comments on how busy and grabby he is that I litteraly just don't have te time for this anymore... Plus my laptop broke thanks to Maddux so I can't be in the same room as him and I really need to take nap time for time to prepare lunch, clean, shower, read my bible or workout not to sit on the computer.

3.) Renovations-- hubs and I just started like last week renovating our house starting with our bedroom then the kitchen then the bathroom then madduxs room then our living room and lastly a playroom or baby number 2s room so I'm wanting to focus on that and not worry about when my last post was...

4.) Stress-- this blog is starting to stress me out and that is the last thing I need. I don't want to worry about what I'll write about or when I'll find time to write. When I come back I want a plan and I want a passion for it.

5.) I really want to focus on my etsy shop and get that out there I am trying to learn how to gain more clients etc. I love making the wedding favors and have gotten a huge amount of positive feedback from not only the brides that are purchasing them but also their guests! So, I just really want my main focus to be on that!


So, you will still see a 11 month post that is now a week late a 1 year post in a few short weeks and a birthday party wrap up once I get the photos back! But other than that I am goin to focus on me, my shop, my baby & trying to reproduce baby number 2 :)

I will still update twitter, instagram, Facebook & pinterest often!

23 Life Lessons On My 23rd. {part 4}

20. Bloggers are awesome.

One of my favorite things to do now is read blogs.  I love hearing that other people are experciencing the same struggles, triumphs & moments that I am.  I love being able to relate so well to someone across the country.  I love having the friend that is only an email away.  I love recieving kinds comments & emails. 

21. Be Smart With Your Money.

I honestly "try" to do this but I can't say that we always are... I mean for pete's sake we've spent 500+ on a first birthday party that is only going to be 3 hours long & we haven't even finished his party planning?  So, we have our moments.  I guess what I mainly mean is really make sure you enjoy what you are buying.  or really need what you are buying.

22. Enjoy the Small Things.

It's those moments that mean the most, the sweet smile your baby gives you when you get them out of there crib in the morning, the screams of DADDD all day long, the kiss your dad gives you after giving birth, the sweet words your mom tells you all the time, the hugs from a grandparent, the snuggles on the couch, the way your husband looks at you, the way a friend can make your day.  Those things my friends are what really matters in life.

23. Be You.

I feel like this is the hardest life lesson for someone to learn because it is so easy to just follow that click or group of friends. It also takes the longest because for awhile you don't know who you are or who you want to be.   Once you figure this out run with it and don't look back!

23 Life Lessons on My 23rd {part 3}

14. Teach Your Husband the Good & the Bad.

This sounds a little funny but I seriously think this is HUGE.  You need to let your significant other know the things they should and shouldn't do-- it's those little lessons that will prevent stupid arguements. For instance, put the toilet seat down, don't make that "gulping" noise when you drink, don't fart as soon as you wake up, don't yawn/yell when you stretch.  Yes, those little annoyance can be faded out & trust me you will love him more once all of those are gone. :)

15. Be Kind to Strangers.

You never know a simple smile or Hi could make there day.

16. Don't Judge.

I honestly can't say that I've learnt this 100% I try not to judge but everyone does and sometimes it's just out of habit.

17. Never Say Never.

 I was one of those people that was a parent before actually being a parent. I was always saying "OMG my child will never do that..." HA boy was I wrong I did almost everything I said I never would simply because that's what worked or that's what my child liked.  It's plain and simple you never know until you experience something what you will do.

18. Never give up on someone.

This one is a tough one for not only me but also my husband.  It's hard to sit and watch a parent just be so destructive with their life.  It's hard to watch a sibling take the brute of the desicions the parent is making. It's especially hard to watch your own child not know his grandparent.  It's hard to find a balance on what you should be doing to help the person and just leave it be. 

that was tough for me to right but the truth hurts and frankly this one sucks.

19. Be the Change You want to see in... Others.

It is so much easier to change the way you do things if someone else needs to as well. For instance Jayce needed to begin watching what he ate so what better way to make sure he does it than do it with him.  Also, be kind to others and people will notice that and catch on to it.

23 Life Lessons of My 23rd. {part 2}

7. Marriage is sooooo much more than what you think. 

 I mean that marriage is amazing I can't even begin to explain how awesome it is.... I mean you get to marry your best friend & experience a once in a lifetime kinda love.  That's crazy. That's awesome.  As long as you trust your partner, you love your partner & you communicate with you partner you can have a successful marriage.  Way to many people give up on marriage it's sad to see & I'm way to passionate about it to ever think about divorce.

8. Finding the bottom of a bottle doesn't cure anything it only causes problems.

I mean drinking socially and in a moderate amount is acceptable.  I prefer to just keep my distant on most days... I have a drink on occasion but I try to keep a sober mind for my sake and my sons.  After watching someone fight acoholism first hand you learn really fast that drinking doesn't solve any problems it only causes more.  It's so awesome to watch how great that persons life has become without alcohol!

9. No Bad Day is complete without brownie batter & doggy kisses.

So many days I would have a bad day & I would get home to a bowl of brownie batter & my sweet dog.  :) It really does solve anything.

10. The iPhone really is amazing.

I've only had my phone a few weeks but I'm in love already & I don't know how I went so long without it!

11. The love you have for your children is unexplainable.

you hear about it but to actually experience it first hand is just undescribable.

AMAZING.

12. Baby Boys are JUST as awesome as Baby Girls.

Every girl dreams of having a little mini me & I am no exception but,  Maddux is such a joy and has just a bubble of a personality.  He's amazing. Boys really do rule! :)

13. Money--You'll never have enough.
Seriously, I think everyone including myself worries way to much about money & what it buys when really it shouldn't matter... Things shouldn't make you happy Moments should & Money can't buy all of those ;)

23 Life Lessons of My 23rd. {part 1}

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today we get to celebrate me & my birthday! :)

In honor of my birthday I want to write 23 life lessons I've learnt it my 23 short years

I will be breaking this up into 4 posts. Because it became a pretty long post if I didn't.

.......

1. God is Everything.

it took me almost 21 years to figure this one out. I can honestly say that my life and everything else for the matter have meant so much more since beginning this religious journey.

2.Family is number 1.

This to took many years to figure out... it took me watching someone that I loved more than anything struggle.  It was then when I realized how much my family really means to me & how no matter what you are always there for family. Always.

3.Good Friends are hard to find & even harder to keep.

I've talked about this many times... Friends come and go. It's sad but it's life. Life happens and sometimes people jump off but that just means they are "true" friends. Find the "true" ones and appreciate them, seek them, let them know how much their friendship really means to you & don't let it go.

4. High School is for learning not to find your soul mate. (in some cases like mine you luck out & do)

Jayce & I go back to my 8th grade year. Crazy.  But I wish I knew then what I know now.  I loved him I did every time he broke up with me.  I would tell anyone I was going to marry him someday.  But those break ups were hard.  They brought me down. Bad.  The first break up I cried almost everyday of the 3 months we were apart.  I just wish that I knew that my high school years shouldn't have been spent trying to please him that someday he would come back around and grow some balls and some brains and ask me to be his wife.



5. Your Mom is Meant to be Your Best Friend.

I was lucky I learnt this early in life.  My mom & I were always best friends.  We spent a lot of times together & I would tell her almost anything.  While most girls in high school spent there time trying to hide things from their moms I was having lunch with mine telling her all the latest gossip.

I know I'm lucky to have such an awesome mom--but just remember how much you love your child & you'll know how much she loves you.

6. Rumors will fade.

I didn't deal with this much but it took one time & one thing plastered ALL over facebook from one of my so called friends who was mad at me at the time for a rumor to spread like a wildfire about me.  I learnt real fast to just let things go and that no one will remember this in a couple weeks & God forbid believe the rumor!

 

Welcome.

Click the above image to link up! :)   

Hi, I'm Ashlee a twenty something momma to my sweet baby boy & wife to my best friend.  I try to blog at least every other day but sometimes life just gets in the way. I'm sure you all understand.  I blog about my life as a mom & wife.  I like to throw in some random posts just about me along the way.   

Some things you need to know about me:: My world revolves around my son. But, I still love my alone time.  I believe that marriage is a forever thing. && I'm passionate about it.  We are currently trying for baby #2.We have been for 3 months now.  I run an Etsy shopI do custom invitations & personalized CD Favors or Gifts I don't have a parenting title. I do things that I feel are right for my child--no title needed.   

Things I Love::

Summer Days

Baseball

Getaways

Shopping

New Recipes

Good Deals

A full nights rest

babies dogs  

 That's a little about me & my life.  I love finding new blogs to follow & I love new followers Thanks for stopping by!:)

Perfect.

You read about it. You see it on the TV, on blogs, on pinterest, In real life.  You want it. You want that title.

That Perfect Mom. That Perfect House. That Perfect Blog. That Perfect Marriage. That Perfect Image.

I want it I strive for it... I strive to be that perfect mom, wife, blogger, etc.

But for me it means something so different than what others would define perfect.

As a mom... I let my child eat french fries, have a bottle to put him to sleep, not wear shoes 70% of the time, watch tv--not only at home but in the car, take a bath with more than a couple inches of water, eat chocolate chip cookies & cheeto puffs, I let him sleep with blankets, I don't let my child drink pop or juice (yet), I don't cloth diaper, I don't jump at his every want, I don't force him to eat things he acts like he doesn't like....

I do things my way. my style. The way I believe is right...for me & my child.

Not perfect to you but to me... Perfect.

My House... I leave toys out constantly, I let my child pull all the diapers off the shelf, My child has peed on the floor, I don't wash bottles daily, I sometimes have dirty dishes in my sink, There are piles of stuff on my table,  I don't cook daily, I don't dust or vacuum daily.  I don't always keep up on my laundry.  I do deep clean a couple times a week.

So, most days my house could be considered messy, but it gets clean... on my time... in my own way. 

Not perfect to you but to me... Perfect. (more like doable--for now)

My Blog... I don't have post scheduled for everyday, I don't have a schedule for blogging, I don't always post perfect pictures, I don't have the most organized layout, I don't always respond right away to my emails or comments, I do read your posts, I do read & reply eventually to all your comments,  I do post when I have something to say.

I'm always wanting to do some much more with my blog but, life happens.

Not perfect to you but to me... Perfect.

My Marriage... A lot of people say there is no such thing as a perfect marriage a perfect relationship-- I don't believe that for 2 seconds.  Marriage does take work, it takes time & effort.  I have 110% trust in my husband.  I believe in him I believe in us.  We have the same hopes, dreams and goals for our family... if you don't have the same hopes, dreams and goals you'll struggle. A perfect marriage is possible it's called happiness and contentment.  You can't always want that next best thing you need to realize that the best thing for you and your family is the man you met years ago and said I Do.

so marriage....

Not perfect to you but to me... Perfect.

My Image... I have gained weight & not just because of a pregnancy 11 months ago.  I have flaws.  I have opinions.  I don't always look my best.  I don't always watch what I say.  I don't do my hair most days, I do care if people don't like me, I do care what people think of me.

I always am wondering what people think of me, of my parenting choices, why people don't like me anymore, what I did wrong.  My Image... to me is a mom, a stay at home mom, a mom that doesn't get much of a break to do things for myself.

Not perfect to you but to me... Perfect.

A Brief Love Story...

Click the image above & link up your story...

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

We have been together 8 years on and off



2010

2. How did you meet?

We met when I was 14.  I decided I wanted to get a job so, I began working at our local Dairy Queen & he was also working there.  That's where it all started. :)

Our wedding-- 2010

3. If married, how long have you been married?

1 perfect year

Thanksgiving 2009

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?

We were married on a hot August day.  It was perfect! We had the ceremony outside at our local library.  Our wedding wasn't big but it wasn't small either... it was perfect.

Engagement picture-- 2010

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another?

no nicknames here?

2008

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

His Love for God.

He's the best daddy EVER.

He has the best sense of humor. :)

4th of July--2010

7. Tell us how he proposed?

Let's just skip this question, shall we? :) Just kidding... let's just say this. I ruined my own proposal.  I was home for the weekend from college and I knew he was going to propose and I was so anxious that I wouldn't quit asking to just see the ring and let's just say he had a fabulous proposal and well he caved and just got down on one knee said some sweet words and proposed.  It was sweet but looking back I regret ruining it!  I beg him all the time to "redo" it.  He always tells me no.

the "real" us-- House Hunting-- 2009

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

flowers.  Normally we plan a sweet date and just exchange cards.

Cananda--2009

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

Neither. I hate to sit at home but we live in Indiana so the sunset dinner on the beach would be AH-MAZING but not possible here. So, just a lets go out and spend time doing something kind of girl :)

Labor--2011

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day.

Go on a vacation to mexico & Vegas! && I'd love to renew our vows. :)

A Wedding--2011

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

We will probably have my parents watch Maddux & go out to dinner just the 2 of us. 

College-- 2007

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

I try not to ask for anything really on Valentine's Day because my Birthday is the very next day.

A wedding--2011

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

Never make failing an option. Always make sure that you are showing the other person how much you love them and need them. The little things mean the most sometimes.

A Wedding I was in -- 2011

14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.

Everytime I see my Husband and son together my heart melts.

That's love.



March 15, 2011



So What Wednesday {1}

This week I am linking up with Shannon @ Life after I "dew" for...
Today I'm feeling a bit feisty. So, this week I'm saying So What if....

• Yesterday was the first time in weeks that I actually cleaned my house instead of doing a quick pick up
• Maddux is struggling with sleep right now... He'll get it eventually, right?
• I feed my child french fries & ice cream it makes him happy & with the current food strike he's on I'm willing to do anything
• I keep raising my prices on etsy-- Momma has to make money or it's not worth my time away from my family!
• I LOVE Jersey Shore... everyone has their guilty pleasure & that is mine.
• I haven't cooked dinner all week-- we ate at my parents last night.
• people judge here on the interweb let them! You are YOU & you rock at that so let it go.  We are all grown ups & I'm over reading posts about people judging other  let's all remember if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all! It will solve a lot of problems here in the blog-sphere

That's all I have for now... I've recieved a couple of emails from my previous post {16 year old me} I'm hoping to address these with a follow up post soon!