Wordless(ish) Wednesday

The Caring Crowns Pageant
2/18/2012

Four Years.

Today is a sad day.

Four years ago I lost the woman who I thought was only second to my mom.

Meredith

Last year, at this time, I was still pregnant and didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl.

Did you know my beautiful daughter is named after her?

Well her and one other person.

Emmalee Meredith

My best friend growing up was/is Emmylou. 

So when we named our daughter Emmalee, we altered the spelling to pay homage to her and her middle name is Meredith, after this woman, my second mom.

I know she would LOVE that Emmalee was named after her, and I'm pretty sure she'd make a big deal of it. She would love that she meant that much to me.

I know she was there when Emmalee was born, it's the only thing that could describe my amazing labor.

She's in charge of the crazy storms we get, watch out... if she has anything to do with it, there will be a blizzard today.

She sends us signs constantly. Purple butterflies and dimes in random places.

--- Sidenote: Dave haaaates working where he does because it is honestly below him, but he does it until he can get something else because the job market is terrible... would you believe every night he finds a dime while working!?---

I know she's here, she always is.

I just ask, if you're a praying person, that today you say a prayer for her family and my mom.

It's been four years, but the pain still feels like yesterday.

Keep Up.

I'm exhausted and have about 5 more minutes before I'm going to pass out so here's a quick catch up...

1. We are on our second night of no sleep. 

After bringing Emma to the doctor this morning we found out our poor baby is suffering from teething, a head cold, an ear infection and rug burn on her nose from falling while trying to stand on her own.

Thankfully she is on Amoxicillan now so we should hopefully see an improvement.

2. I'm actively job searching.

I'm being selfish and saying I am so unhappy that I need to take care of my happiness first. Hopefully there will be a couple of changes, can't say for now!, and things can get realigned.

3. We are getting a faaaabulous tax return. 

I can't wait. It will be a 100% catch up. Plus we'll have left over to pad our savings account until we can find better paying jobs.

4. I filled out my FAFSA tonight. 

I am literally 2 classes and a practicum (or equivalent) away from walking for a Masters degree.

Considering our current incomes and debts, I see no reason why I shouldn't get a good amount of funding.

5. I am currently obsessed with the Hunger Games trailers. Someone needs to be my date.

Clearly, the commercial just acme on and I stopped long enough to watch it.

6. I have the next two days off and other than dinner plans with friends, I'm not doin' shit.

<3

8 Months!

Holy schnikes.

My little peanut of a princess is 8 months old. It's really crazy.

When you're pregnant or have a new baby, people always say " Time will fly" or "She'll be 18 before you know it" and oh my goodness, they were right.

So here's some 8 month pictures! 

She sits on her own, after pushing herself up from being on her belly.

She crawls, everywhere. But only if she wants something. So far the best motivators are a cell phone, the tv remote, an XBOX controller, grown up food, or her yellow sea horse.

She's really starting to play with her toys and will crawl to ones she wants.  She's learned if you pull on the basket full of toys they will all come tumbling out.

She still loves tubbies but has decided she does NOT like having her hair washed or when water goes in her eyes.

She's trying to stand already, pulling herself up on the side of the tub or on her car seat.  She reaches up to the coffee table but hasn't started lifting herself up yet.

She LOVES food. She prefers grown up food to her own but loves her puffs, yogurt melts and multigrain cheerios! No teeth yet but that hasn't stopped her from eating actual green beans, bread, chicken, potatoes and  ice cream!

She isn't saying any words but has started putting consonant sounds together. Usually its "mmmmmt" or "patek" I have no idea what she's saying but if you say it back at her, she giggles like crazy. 

She falls asleep on her own and goes to bed in her crib. Because she is still breastfed (!!!) when she wakes up to eat she usually ends up in our bed because I fall asleep and don't put her back in her crib (oops!)

And speaking of bed, we only use the binky for bed time now! :)

And did I mention she LOVES shoes!

She will crawl to her room and pull out the shoe bucket and proceed to take out every pair! Plus she tried to get a bow every time I change her diaper...

Did I create a girly girl??? :)

She's getting bigger everyday and is so smart.

And in other news,

I participated in a Valentine's Day swap!

Here's what I got!

A photo album, slap bracelets (!!!) and love cuffs. haha.

Plus a bunch of Hershey kisses that were gone within minutes of opening the package!

My package was from Megan at Greetings From Texas!
She is super adorable and I love her posts!
You should go follow her too!

And of course, a big Thanks to Megan at O. is Me!

Ps. Have you signed up to win some birthday goodies?!?

Getting bigger.

Ok, so I know it's not yet time for the 8 month update for the Princess but I have to share!

She has grown leaps and bounds in just a couple short weeks.

I just packed up 95% of her 3-6 month clothing because finally, at 7 and a half months, she is too big for them! Her little legs shot out and are now way too long for the 3-6's; they all look like capri's. :)

Also, we realized that we no longer need her swing, her Bumbo, her Boppy, her whale bathtub or Rock N Play sleeper. I have so much that she won't use again.

And she sits on her own now!
She'll push up from being on her hands and knees and sits straight up!


And also, because of this, we needed to drop her crib mattress down a bit. It was up as high as it could go because all she was doing was rolling but now that she's mobile, I don't want to learn that she can pull herself up when she pulls herself over the railing.

She is still crawling backwards, which my mom told me is all I used to do, so wierd.

But now, she throws herself forward too.

She'll be on her hands and knees and then just lunges forward and belly flops.

Hilarious.

It just seems like all of a sudden she's too big for her stuff and is growing way too fast.

I'm happy that she's growing but everyday she is becoming more and more of a big girl and less of my baby. 

It's Here! The Birthday Giveaway!

Happy Birthday to me!

Ok, well not yet, but in 3 weeks I turn 26!

So obviously this week's Pinteresting Link Up will be all birthday related!

But let's be honest... you're not here for the Pinterest pictures!

You're here for the GIVEAWAY! :)

I'm turning the tables and YOU get the present this year!

Well, maybe.

I'm hosting a GREAT giveaway for a box full of wonderful things!

Complete the Rafflecopter below for the most amount of entries. 

There's a total of... you guessed it... 26 possible entries!

I won't tell you the full details of the prize yet, but I will tell you there is make up, nailpolish, Yankee Candle items, Bath & Body Works items, candy and more in it!

I'll give you a few sneak peaks at inside the box as the end of the drawing gets closer!

The giveaway will run until my actual birthday, Febuary 21st and the winner will be notified!

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway