I'm Backkkk!!

I'm BACK!!

I couldn't stay gone to long-- after switching I really got to thinking and decided that it really something that "needed" to be done. So, as you can see I brought over the new name, new "look", important posts & my new attitude.

 I have a few new ideas that I want to incorporate into this blog. 

Recipes.

Tutorials.

Guest Posts.

I seriously am excited I just hope I find the time for all of this!! :)

Hope you all follow along as my journey continues in parenting & trying to conceive!! :) 

2012

This list is going to be simple & to the point.

I try not to make to many resolutions simply because many of them I don't keep.

so... let's begin

• Take more pictures!
• I take a picture of Maddux almost daily-- my dad texts me everyday asking how we are doing and instead of sending him a "good" text back we send a picture.
• Cook More!
• I think as Maddux gets older I'll get better at cooking breakfast & lunch--right now I just munch for those & dinners I want to get to the point where we are eating at home at least 5 nights a week.  This would be great for us!
• Start a daily diary for Maddux
• I want to remember every day of Maddux's childhood--I want him to remember every day & when I read this I knew that I wanted to copy the idea and do the same for Maddux & my future kiddos
• SAVE,SAVE,SAVE!!
• this one is simple... we really need to work on saving our money.  We are spenders and we really need to work on this.
• MAKE a baby
• I'm hoping this happens I want Maddux to have a little brother or sister he loves other kids & I really want my kids close together.
• Get Healthier
• I want to be more concious of what we are putting in our mouths & I really want to start going to zumba again. I love zumba & really do miss it!

I know I said I wasn't going to have very many and it kinda went out of hand but things kept coming to my mind...

What are your goals & resolutions for 2012?

I hope this is your best year yet! :)

$0 Budget:: January Challenge

Last year you may remember I did a challenge in January that we would eat at home everyday except on the weekeneds-- this went ok... it was a bit of a struggle because at the time my grandpa was in the hospital so we spent a lot of our evenings there and then would just want to go grab something quick.  I like the idea of starting the year off with yet another challenge! I've grown a lot as a wife, mother & homemaker though and don't struggle as much with the cooking thing so, I've been thinking for awhile about what this challenge would be & then one day I stumbled upon...

 THIS

it was perfect for us.

it was meant for us.

it had to be done.

The $0 budget.

pretty much the rules I have personally made for myself are a lot different than those found on her blog but, they fit our family.

for Christmas we got about 14-17 gift cards to eat out on.

this was key to our success-- I knew this would be our biggest struggle

so to save us from breaking our rules I decided to ask for lots and lots and lots of giftcards for christmas.

we also got a couple walmart, hobby lobby & movie gift cards.

this was also to help ease the pain of not being able to spend our own money on random stuff we want.

Maddux even got a couple gift cards: Childrens Place, Walmart & $25 cash.

this is what I will use if I see something he has to own. :)

My Rules

• $10 a week of "blow" money
• No eatting out unless using "blow"money or gift cards
• No going into stores that we don't have gift cards too
• No buying stuff for myself, Jayce or Maddux unless using the available money
• Get completely caught up on ALL bills
• SAVE SAVE SAVE

The Splurges

I will be shopping for the following items...

• Birthday Party Items for Maddux
• @ least 4 birthday presents for Maddux:: one item a week
• $50 on christmas presents-- I'm doing great on xmas shopping for 2012 I already have 5 presents for family & Maddux has about 10.

most importantly I plan on SAVING EVERYTHING ELSE!!

I might not have much going into our savings account since we did get behind on our "budget" in December with the purchasing of Christmas presents but something is better than nothing.

We plan on doing this every 4 months.

January - April - July - October

I plan on bloggin hopefully no promises weekly about how I'm doing, what I'm doing and any ways or things I've done to help survive our $0 budget challenge.

2011 Recap

This year has been one of the best yets! 2010 was fun winning the lottery, getting married & finding out we were expecting but 2011 was really our year... we really grew in our faith, as parents & just within our selves.  let's look back shall we...

January

we were in our last trimester of pregnancy, I got Pupps, we had a 3d ultrasound of our little one.

February

We really took in our last month as a family of 2, we celebrated Valentines day & my birthday, I began experiencing severe swelling in my feet & ankles.

March

this is the month that our lives were forever changed.  We became Parents-- we were given a purpose for life.  Our breastfeeding journey began and ended this same month.

April

We celebrated Easter, We began spending a lot of time at the ball park, we had our first date night without Maddux & he spent the night at his grandparents for the first time, we also purchased the snuza for a peace of mind.

May

Maddux turned 2 months old,  I celebrated my first Mothers Day,

June

Maddux turned 3 months old, we went to the zoo for the first time, we quit co-sleeping. celebrated Fathers Day, we also finger painted for the first time, Maddux also went swimming for the first time!

July

Maddux turned 4 months, we got in a car accident, I thought Maddux seriously lost his penis & we spent A LOT of our days at the ball park watching his cousin play baseball

August

Maddux turned 5 months old,we celebrated our first wedding anniversary, we had 2 weddings, we celebrated daddy's birthday

September

Maddux turned 6 months, I got baptized, Maddux got dedicated, started saying his first word:: Hi. & Maddux went to his first DeKalb County Free Fall Fair :)

October

Maddux turned 7 months, Maddux was a super cute Octopus for Halloween, Maddux started crawling, started saying Dad & started waving.

November

Maddux turned 8 months, Maddux got his first haircut, Maddux gave up the paci

December

We celebrated our first Christmas, Maddux turned 9 months, Maddux had his first ER visit due to a high fever & Maddux got 2 teeth

So long 2011... let's hope 2012 brings some great things maybe even a little brother or sister for Maddux!!
We are so blessed... :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

9 Months {a few days late}

Last Thursday Maddux turned 9 Months old... seems crazy! 



Stats

weight: 22 lbs 4 oz

height: 28 in.

diaper size: 3

clothes: some 6-9 and some 12 (the 12 are still big but more comfortable than the 6-9)

Firsts

First Thanksgiving

First time standing all alone

First time saying "nana"

& honestly I think that's it...

:(

Random Facts

You have lots of personality shining through nowadays

You say 6 words now-- dad, mom, hi/hey, Yay, mmm...bite (pronounced "mmm..bi"), Nana

You can also--high five, wave bye bye, clap, dance & bounce

Mickey Mouse is still your favorite--nothing makes you happier. :)

You are always on the go... you are such a wiggle worm.

You love to eat

You aren't afraid of strangers but you are very unsure of men that you don't know

Bath time is still your favorite time of the day

We have started a nightly bedtime routine--dinner, play, bath, book, movie, bed--your adjusting well

Maddux James... You are such a joy to have in our lives.  Every new thing you learn is amazing.  You make us so happy & you are the most precious gift ever.

We Love you!

Happy 9 Months Baby!!