Mallaire Moments

February picture a day, day 2 and 3....

2012-02-03T11:18:00.000-08:00

February picture a day, day 2 and 3

Day 2: Words

These words couldn't be any more true!

Day 3: Hands

I love his chubby little hands more than anything!

It is Friday!! Yay! Happy weekends friends!

February Photo a Day......Day 1

2012-02-01T07:26:00.000-08:00

Today is February 1st. It is one of my most favorite months of the year! To celebrate this month, I am going to challange myself and do a Photo a day challange....Hopefully I actually keep up with it!

Day 1: My view today.....

My drive to work....in traffic...my least favorite part of my day

My classroom....I spend more time here than anywhere

Happy Wednesday my friends,

10 months

2012-01-28T11:52:00.000-08:00

Luke,

You are 10 months old, my sweet boy! Wow has the time flown! You have changed so much lately and are SO much fun!

You started your 10th month of life on a very sad, scary note! Ever since Christmas you had not felt very well. It stated with a runny nose that turned into a cold, that turned into ear infections. We took you to the doctor multiple times because your ears were not getting better. Finally last Friday (Jan. 13th) you woke up in the middle of the night with a really high fever and you were breathing really heavy. We decided early Saturday morning to take you to the hospital. There was no wait, thank goodness and they took all of your stats right away. You had an almost 103 degree temperature and your oxygen levels were on the 80's....not good. They ended up taking an x-ray of your lungs and concluded that you had pnemoniua in your left lung :( at that point they said that they needed to admit you into the hospital, but they did not have a pediatric unit at the hospital we were at, so they had to tansfer us to another hospital...in an ambulance. Talk about scary. The worst parts were trying to get IV's in you. They had to do it twice and each time it ended up coming out. When we got to the other hospital, the doctor there said that you did not have pnemonia (thank God) but because your stats were bad when we first got to the hospital she wanted you to stay over night to monitor you. So we stayed that night, but you kept your fevers up. Almost every 5 hours your fever would spike into the 101's. Later we then found out that some of your blood work came back showing a virus......so with that we had to stay another night so that they could draw more blood and check it again....so we had to stay another night....long story short your blood work all came back normal (again, praise God) but your fever was still there. They then decided to give you inner muscular antiniotics. those finally worked. After day 2 and 1/2 we went home....Yay!! You were so sick and it was nice to be home in the comfort of our own home.

The doctors concluded that you just got a really bad virus and your body was fighting really hard. I am so thankful you were okay!! You had great doctors and nurses helping you out!!

Anyways....on to the fun stuff...what you are up to:

~You are about 25.5 lbs and 31 inches long!

~You are wearing a size 4 diaper

~Your hair is coming in a lot lighter, although pictures make it look darker than it is.

~You are eating a lot more foods and don't really love baby food any more. You love shredded chesse, yogurt, noodles, waffles and anything really that we are eating :)

~You still drink a bottle every 2-3 hours.
~You love the gummy bear video on Youtube. You would watch it all day, every day if we let you. You always watch it on the Ipad, so every time you see it you think it is for you to watch your video. Sadly, when we don't turn it on you throw a fit.....stinker..the fits are starting. You throw your head back and lay on the floor and cry. DRAMATIC....
~You play on the floor really well and love all of your toys. You are so fun to watch play. For the most part you are good at playing and entrtaining yourself, but once you get bored, you will cry until we pick you up...again, so dramatic. ( not that we don't play with you, but it is good for you to be self entertaining sometimes)

~You like to make growling noises. You do it alot and usually while you are saying "mama". I have no idea where this growling came from, and why my name is what you say while doing it. It's too funny!

~You hum yourself to sleep. ADORABLE!!!

~You love your walker...you walk all around the living room! Even when you run into things you just back up and move around it. It is really cute!
~You are wearing mostly 12-18 month clothing

~ You are WALKING!!! it is so cute! You look like a little zombie, but you are so good at it! You walk all over the living room, from one side to the other. I am so proud of you babe!

~With the above said.....I feel like you are turing into a toddler before my very eyes. My little baby boy is growing up...tear!

My love, dad and I couldn't be more proud to be your parents. You are such a joy and are SO much fun!! I can't wait to see what the next month will bring :)

Love,

Mama

You have finally figured out the stickers and try to pull it off before I can get a picture :) Stinker!

So behind and random thoughts

2012-01-24T14:52:00.000-08:00

Again, I have not blogged in so long!! So much has been going on. I have written Luke's 10 month post, but have yet to add pictures to it. I could never publish a post without pictures of my little man :)

~We have been busy trying to get little man healthy....we spent 2 and 1/2 days in the hospital. I explained what happened in his 10 month post....not so fun and very scary. He is doing SO much better though!

~I just started Weight Watchers online. I was always interested in it, but never wanted to pay for something that I should be able to control myself ( ha, that's a joke :) ) but my husband's work had a promotion for one year free of WW online. So here I am going on week 2. I actually really like it. I get to eat the same things, but I just have to track everything. It really helps me decide if what I am about to eat is really worth the points. I start with a certain amount of points each day, and then when I run out there are weekly points that I can use. It really is a good way for me to keep myself accountable. It also helps that I am down a few pounds also :) I am thinking that it is going to help me reach my weight loss goals!

~I love watching The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, but this season of The Bachelor is really bugging me! I didn't know if I really liked Ben at first, but as the shows go on I think he is a great guy, but the ladies on this season are crazy! I have yet to watch last nights episode, but I have heard it is crazy. I hate that women can be so mean and spiteful. Oh well, I guess that's what I get for watching a "reality" show. It is definitely one of my guilty pleasures :).

~My husband is a saint. I came home from work yesterday feeling SO sick. I didn't know how I was going to handle being with Luke all night feeling the way I was. So my sweet husband took work off and stayed to be with little man while I slept. I woke up feeling a little better today, thank goodness! Nick, if you are reading this....Thank you thank you. I appreciate you more than you know!

Well that's all the randoms I can think of for one day.

Have a great rest of your Tuesday!

First Steps

2012-01-12T20:55:00.000-08:00

Luke,
My baby, you are growing up so fast! Tonight you took your very first steps! You started with just a few steps and then would sit down, but you worked your way up to about 5 steps before you would sit down! Daddy and I could hardly believe it! I am so glad we were both home to see it! Crawling is still your fastest mode of transportation, but I have a feeling that you will be fully walking soon!

I tried to get it on video but of course you stopped doing it once I was recording you! I will keep trying :)

We love you so very much!!

Love,
Mama and daddy

First (really random) post of 2012

2012-01-12T15:01:00.000-08:00

I thought I was going to be better at blogging in 2012, until I realized that I have not even written a post in 2012 yet! So bad!

I feel like a lot has been going on, but then when I try to write, I usually realize that nothing too exciting has happened. But for the sake of the blog and that somebday my children will (maybe) read this, I need to be better documenting things.

What we have been up to:

~Luke has been sick for the past 2 weeks. Poor boy. Right before Christmas he started getting a runny nose, that lasted about a week and then he started getting a fever :( at that point I took him to the doctor and he had an ear infection in both ears. He was on an antibiotic for about 3 days and he wasn't getting any better, so I took him back to the doctor and his ears were still pretty bad. At this point our doctor put him on a new medicine. He has now been on that for 5 days. I think he is feeling better, but he is still very clingy and wants to be held a lot. This is his real first sickness and I feel so sad for him. I just want to take it all away! I think he is on the mend and will be back to himself soon!

~Work has been keeping me busy!!! These first graders drain me! I am thankful for my job and try to enjoy my days with those kiddos!

~ Nick is as busy as ever! He is with Luke during the day and then works nights.......I appreciate him more than he knows!!

~I have been a little blah also..... I need to feel better asap!

~ I have a lot of goals for 2012 and look forward to what they will bring!

~I just bought new tires for my bugaboo stroller, but have NO idea how to put them on! I keep telling myself that Luke and I will go on walks when I get home from work, but have yet to put the new tires on. Not that I don't have another stroller to use......So really I have no excuse!

~ I am such an, " I'll do it tomorrow" type of gal and I REALLY need to break that habit. It is not good, in so many aspects of life! Anybody else like that?

I think this is random enough for one sitting!

Tomorrow is Friday!! yeah! Then a 3 day weekend! Yes, Please!

Goodbye to the best year if our life.....

2011-12-30T09:51:00.000-08:00

How do you say goodbye to the best year of your life?!? I love that a new year is about to approach us and that we can start off "fresh", but I have to say that I am a little bit sad to say goodbye to 2011.

Luke was born March 17, 2011. It was by far the very best day of our lives!! He is the biggest blessing God could ever give us! It has been a wonderful year seeing our sweet baby grow and grow. I guess I can't be that sad for the new year. I look forward to all the new things 2012 will bring!

I am never very good at making "resolutions". I think that any time can be a good time to better yourself. But no time is a better time than the beginning of a new year! So here are a few things that I plan on doing to begin a "healthier lifestyle".

1. Working out.....I have a love/hate relationship with working out. I absolutely LOVE the feeling right after you are done working out. There really isn't any feeling much better (other than the obvious things) than when you have completed a workout. The problem I have.....getting my butt moving and actually working out! Since I had Luke I have not stepped into the gym. Awful I know!! I have gone on walks with him, but nothing enough to give me that "endorphin releasing, sweaty, feel good feeling" that a good, hard workout can do for you. I have a weird phobia of taking Luke to the gym childcare. I am not "one" of those moms that needs to keep her child germ free from everything, but I have worked in a gym childcare ( a really good one in fact) but I have a hard time trusting that they really keep it as clean as they say they do! Okay...all this talk may need to lead into another "resolution"...stop being a germ freak and take your son to the gym with you!" anywhoo..... the point is I need to get moving...and I just need to find a way that works best for me, because this jiggly tummy and legs/butt need to go!!!

2. Healthier eating habits. Plain and simple... I need to eat better and make better choices. This will not happen unless I take the time to change my habits. I want Luke to grow up in a healthy home, and food is one of the many things I want/need to do better with in order to make a healthier lifestyle for my entire family!

3. Worry less. My goodness do I worry. Half of the time I don't even know what I am worried about. Someone once told me to write down all of the things I am worried about and look back on it and see how many actually came true. More than likely very few would come true. I think I am going to do this. It is not healthy how much I worry... which brings me to my number 4.

4. Trust God more! He knows the desires of my heart and I need to give my worries to him. I don't know why I have such a hard time with this. I always feel like my beliefs are strong, but then why do I worry so much? Giving it all to him, and letting myself know that no matter what, everything will be okay, is something I need to remind myself and actually start believing.

5. Smile more and just be happy!! This will help me in so many aspects of my life. I have a wonderful life. It is not perfect, but I was never promised a perfect life. It has its ups and downs, but it is my life and I wouldn't want it any other way! I need to put more effort into being the best mom I can be, the best wife I can be, and the best teacher I can be! Unless I start putting more of my energy into these things, I am just going to end up not enjoying them to their fullest! (as you can see, my job comes last, not that I don't think it is important or that I don't enjoy it, but my heart (and energy) will always be somewhere else).

Well....That is what I am going to start my new year focusing on! I am sure I will find new things that I need to "better" but right now, I think my list is a good one! I think it is unrealistic to have 5 million "goals" to achieve in a new year. So starting off simple I think will work for me.

So with a little hesitation....goodbye 2011, you have been wonderful....and Hello 2012...I look forward to your many possibilities!!

Let me leave you with a cute little video of my ~~little~~ big boy walking across the living room with his new walker! ( and don't mind my annoying voice :)

LOVE him!!!! :)

Christmas 2011

2011-12-30T09:13:00.000-08:00

Christmas this year was SO much fun! No, Luke isn't old enough to understand the true meaning of Christmas, but we sure had a great time celebrating his first. I loved watching him open his presents, stand on the boxes and babble on to his new toys! It makes me really excited for the coming years and the time when we can truly celebrate Jesus' birthday!

Christmas Eve was spent at Nick's grandparents house. It is always a great time! Nick's entire family(he has a huge family) was there and it was so nice to be with family! We had great Mexican foods for dinner and yummy deserts! Luke was spoiled like crazy from all of Nick's family. I feel so blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives!

Christmas day we spent with Nick's dad's side of the family. We had lunch/dinner over at his cousins house. It was a lot of fun! I think his dad really appreciated that we spent Christmas with him this year. It is so nice to see how much he appreciated us being there and celebrating with him.

I did not spend Christmas with my side of the family this year. I had a hard time at first with this thought, especially since my family goes up to our cabin every year, but I got over it! I have my family of 3 right now that comes first, and I was completely content being with my boys and Nick's side of the family!!

I am a huge believer/fan of traditions and missed my yearly traditions with my extended family, but it was SO much fun to start new little traditions with my little family!

All in all we had a wonderful Christmas season with lots of fun, food, presents, celebrations and laughs!!

I hope yours was just as wonderful!

( I just realized how very few pictures I actually took on Christmas. I guess we were having too much fun, and Luke is crawling everywhere I can't get a face shot of him, lol)

9 months...a little late

2011-12-26T20:45:00.000-08:00

9 Months old on Dec. 17, 2011

You are always crawling towards the camera so I get the top of your head a lot!

Or I get your behind....you were LOVING all of the Christmas presents. All you wanted to do was climb on them :)

Luke,
My little man...you are 9 months old (on Dec. 17) I can't even believe it! We are having SO much fun with you! I am so shocked at how much you have grown...it's hard to believe that only 9 months ago you were this little baby that was so dependent on me and daddy and now you are becoming more independent, crawling everywhere, pulling yourself up, standing for a little while by yourself, and eating new foods! I think this month has really made me take a step back and think, wow my baby is turning into a little toddler before my very ~~teary~~ eyes!
Here is what you are up to my love:
~You are 24.3 lbs and 31 inches long! You are in the 92% for weight and 99% for height!
~When people see you they always think you are older than you are. You are SO tall and solid!
~You are wearing mostly 12-18 months clothes! When it comes to pants, for the length you need 18 months.
~You are on your last box of size 3 diapers and then we are on to size 4!
~Your hair is still a dark blondish brown
~Your eyes are dark...but still not completely brown!
~You are talking up a storm. Your babbles are my favorite things to hear. It is SO cute and you do it the most right before you fall asleep...so precious.
~You are eating all sorts of foods now! You are eating most baby foods as well as some table foods. You love mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, spaghetti, some meats, and all sorts of other soft foods!
~You have 6 teeth! Holy moly! Your two bottom teeth have been in since you were 4 months, and then within the last month your top 4 teeth have popped through. Your top center teeth and your "eye" teeth or the "sharp" ones as I say. I am amazed at how fast they are popping through. You poor guy, you have had some rough days and nights because of this!
~You still look just like your daddy :)
~You crawl everywhere! You are so fast, one minute you are in one room and before we know it you are in the next (supervised, of course)! You also pull yourself up on everything. If you are able to grab onto something and pull yourself up, you will! You also stand by yourself for a short while. You usually realize what you are doing and get really excited, clap or wave your hands all over and then fall to the ground! You are too funny!
~You are taking at least two naps a day. Usually one around 9 or 10ish and then again in the afternoon. You are still a little unpredictable when it comes to sleeping. That goes for sleeping at night as well. For the most part I would say you are sleeping through the night, but every now and then you have an off night and are up a couple of times. You go to bed between 7:30 and 8:30pm.
~You wake up around 5:00 or 5:30 and then usually snuggle with me in bed until 6:30 or 7:00am(only on weekends or when I am on breaks from school). I LOVE our snuggle time!
~You say "mama" and 'dadda" It's pretty much the cutest thing ever! The only bad thing is that you have learned to throw in a mama or dada when you are crying in your crib. It's a killer. You make it really hard to let you cry it out when you hear those sweet words! That's about all you say, but like I said before, you babble all day, but we are working on other words and a little sign language.
~You don't love to be held too much. Now that you can crawl and are so mobile, you love to be on the ground exploring. It makes me a little sad that you don't want me as much anymore. Oh well, I knew it was in due time!
~You are starting this new thing when people hold you, you start hitting them. It's playful, but I have NO idea where this came from. I have to blame it on you just being a boy, because I have no idea where you would have learned that from. You got a hammer toy and you instantly know to hit things with it! I am in for it, if you are starting this early.... I have to get used to this boy, crazy, rough stuff :)
~You are a little dare devil. You make me nervous my boy! You love to look out the back door, but you just pull yourself up by sliding your hands up the window....sometimes you slip and you bonk your head. It is just the phase we are on, we have falls, tears and then you are ready to go again! Somehow you always want to stand or play where you shouldn't. I swear babies have instincts of where they should not be!
~You went through a couple of days where you all of a sudden hated the bath. You would just cry and try to crawl out of the tub, but now you are back to loving bath time!!
~As of lately you are such a daddy's boy!! You LOVE your daddy. The minute you see him your eyes light up and you smile.
~You are starting to wave. Its cute, you get both hands going and you do if for a while!

Well my babe, you are truly my very best friend, and we love you more than you could ever imagine! Thank you for being such a joy!! I can't wait to see what the next month holds for you!!

Love,
Mama

P.S. Your 9 months pictures above were impossible to take...you are such a mover and climber, I couldn't get you sit still for a second!

Love that grin :)

Visiting Grammy Tammy....he babbled on and on while he was sitting there..I think he was talking to her :)

Look at all those teeth!

Such a goof :)

So busy and a few picture

2011-12-11T11:32:00.000-08:00

Life is so busy....but I feel like a broken record when I say that....but seriously it is!! I am almost on Winter Break!! Yay!!

We got some pictures taken a few weeks ago and we just got them back! They are pretty precious! My sweet Luke decided that he was going to be pretty serious in most of them though....oh well, it was the stage and mood he was in at the time, what can ya do?!? He's still pretty precious to me!

Happy Sunday!

It all makes sense....

2011-12-04T17:51:00.000-08:00

Well not everything in life, but the past couple weeks my sweet little Luke has been CRANKY!!! Not bad, but just a little whiny and wanting to he held all day long!! Well what do ya know.....two top teeth popped through! I just noticed one last night and another one just breaking through the skin today! So there are 4 teeth total now! I feel like his first two came really early (at 4 months) and then we have been waiting for more for the last 4 almost 5 months!! Poor guy, it all makes sense now why the last couple of weeks he has been a little "off"

I am hoping that we have a little break between the next set of pop troughs, but you never know! I am really glad we don't remember the pain of our teeth coming in. It HAS to hurt!!

We had a nice relaxing day today. We put up our Christmas tree ( which totally looks tiny and I never realized how small it really was until this year!) Maybe next year we will need to do some black Friday shopping for a bigger tree. The one we has is good for now, but in the future I would rather not have a Charlie Brown look alike tree!

It is Sunday, my most favorite and most dreaded day of the week. I love it because it is our Family day, but then I hate when the evenings roll in and I realize once I go to bed, it's back to work the next day! Ugh! Only two more weeks and I am on Winter Break!! Thank goodness!!

I hope everyone had a great Sunday, and is truly grateful for what they have in life. I learned about a family through my sister a while ago about this Dad that is battling cancer. He is married and has two kids. What I am hearing is that he is not doing well. My heart has been hurting for this family. I can't even imagine. Here I am complaining of having to go to work tomorrow and there are people fighting much bigger battles. It really puts life into perspective. I am praying for this family and truly hope God can heal his body and let this family become whole again.

I think once you get married and have kids you realize that you are not only needing to take care of this child, but how important it is to take care of yourself. Not that cancer discriminates, but I have realized in the past 8 months how much Luke needs me and Nick and how much we need each other. If I think about it too much I stress myself out....my point here was just to be thankful for what you have, and if you can pray for this man that is battling cancer, I am sure his family and himself would appreciate it!! (his name is Troy by the way)

Okay, my friends! Have a good evening, and week ahead!

8 months old!

2011-12-01T20:31:00.000-08:00

My sweet Luke,

You are 8 months old!! (well actually on Nov. 17, 2011) I am only a few ~~days~~ weeks late!

Oh my goodness buddy, I really think this is the month of a big growth spurt. You are developing right on track and are learning new things every day. I am amazed by what you are doing theses days. Lets talk about it:

~You are about 24 lbs and I am not sure your height at the moment!

~You are wearing a size 3 diaper. Daddy bought you size 4's, they fit but are a little big, so we aren't quit there yet!

~You are wearing mostly size 12-18 month clothes, very few 9 month clothes fit anymore. I realize how many adorable outfits you never wore because you grew so fast!

~You are an eating machine. You eat three baby food meals a day and then bottles in between. We are on all stage 2 foods and pretty soon will start with stage 3. You love the gerber puffs and would eat them all day long if I let you! (if you asked your dad, he would tell you I let you eat too many of them.....nah, they are snacks...they say that 20% of a child's diet is from snacks...I think it is fine :)

~ You have had your first real cold this month. You poor thing. It has lasted on and off for a couple of weeks. It is just the cold season and unfortunately you caught the darn thing! With that said, you have become quit attached at being held. Nap times for daddy during the days are hard, and putting you down at night is quit the chore. I really think it is just because you aren't feeling very well and just want to be close. I can't complain to that....I love snuggling you!

~You are crawling EVERYWHERE!! You army crawl still, but for the most part you are up on all 4's and are SO fast!!

~ You are pulling yourself up on anything and everything you can! You also stand on your own for a little while if you have a good balance!

~You love to stand up in your crib. Yes, it's cute and all, but it has made nap time and bed time a little harder because you will just stand there and cry.

This picture cracks me up, you are so proud that you can stand in your crib!! Don't worry, we have since lowered the crib to the very lowest setting)

~ You are pretty stuborn. If you don't get your way, you will get a little mad. It's cute now, but lets not let that become a habit, mmk?

~You make this really cute growling noise. I am pretty sure it's the way you and daddy communicate while I am gone! It must be a man thing :)

~Your hair is growing a lot and is still a light brown/dark blonde. I am still not sure which color it will turn out.

~Your eyes still are a mystery to me. I can't pinpoint what color they are. Dad says they are brown, but...whatever....I think they will be blue (fingers crossed) Either way, you are adorable!!

~ Changing your diaper/clothes is like taming a wild animal. You move and throw yourself all over the place. It is usually a 2 person job, but these days it's usually only daddy and I separately trying to do it. You are an animal my child!!

~You truly are such a sweet boy that loves to be close to his loved ones. As long as someone is around and in eye range, you are happy.

~ Getting ready in the mornings are really hard. You are so mobil, but I can't just let you rome the house while I am showering, so you are usually stuck in your jumper while I am in the shower and doing my hair. You don't last long. I have resorted to putting you in your high chair in front of the TV and putting on baby Einstein. It works for about 5 minutes, and then I give you some puffs, and I just gained myself another 5 minutes. Usually by the time I get in the car, I am already exhausted! ( and I probably look like I only spent 10 minutes getting ready, lol)

~You say Mamma, and Dadda....it's too cute!!

~You love books and turing the pages. The teacher in me LOVES this!!

~Anything new to you that you touch you only use your one pointer finger to touch. For example this past weekend we got family pictures taken (which I will post when we get them) and you were sitting on the grass for the first time and all you did was touch the grass with your one little finger. It is really cute, and you do that with anything you touch.

~ You still only have your bottom 2 teeth. I swear you are teething, but nothing new has popped through yet!

Well baby love, your 8 months of life has been amazing. You are such a gift from God, and I cherish you so very much. I love all these new stages and can't wait to continue and watch you grow.

Love you baby,

Mamma

You love sticking your tongue out!

3 generations of Mallaire boys :)

"Whatcha doing down there Bear?" (again, we have lowered the crib since this picture was taken)

One of my many attempts to get a picture on the chair. He never says still!

"Look what I can do, hahahah" (that's what I picture in my mind what he is saying)

My 2 teeth!

Happy Thursday, Friends.....I am SO thankful tomorrow is Friday!!

I promise, and updates

2011-11-29T12:38:00.000-08:00

I promise that Luke's 8 month post will be up before he turns 9 months (hopefully)!! But I am excited to share a few pictures that we got taken this past weekend!! I don't have the disk yet, but she shared a few cute pictures on her blog, that I will share! I am happy with the few I saw, and can't wait to see the rest!!

her website is http://www.clairebeeler.com/ and the link to our pictures is http://www.clairebeeler.com/blog

Luke is growing like crazy and doing and learning new things everyday! He is SO fun, but SO busy!!

I am teaching 1st grade now. Long story short, the 2nd grade classes got combined and I got moved to 1st grade. I still miss my 2nd graders, but my 1st grade class is starting to really grow on me (even though I had to write a referral for one of my students yesterday because of her behavior. SO SASSY! I have never met a more disrespectful child in my life!) Other than that, it has been okay! My heart is still wanting to be at home with Luke, and someday I will be, but for now I am thankful for my job!

We had a great Thanksgiving that I will post about also! My goodness I need to get better at this!

Happy Tuesday, friends

Gobble Gobble

2011-11-24T08:01:00.000-08:00

Well, as you can tell....I kinda stopped blogging for a few days ~~weeks.~~ It was not because I could not think of things I was thankful for....honestly, each night when I would normally sit down at the computer to write, I was being very thankful for a sleeping baby and a bed that was calling my name..... So sorry!!! I love writing, and this blog really does mean a lot to me, I just need to find time and commit to it!! with that said.... HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Today is by far my favorite holiday of the year!!! It is a day completely devoted to spending time with family and friends, and celebrate all the things we are thankful for and blessed with. It is all about family, food and ohh what do they say...oh ya, football?? I love me so football, but I would rather be looking at all the black Friday adds in the newspaper! We woke up this morning and watched a little of the Thanksgiving day parade...but Luke got sleepy and now here I am writing....

This year has blessed me beyond imaginable! My sweet Luke was born and poof my whole life has changed! He is so much fun, and such a joy. I could go on and on about my sweet boy, but if you read my blog, you know that I could talk about him all day long!

Don't get me wrong, there have been some very rough patches along the way, but whose life doesn't right? It's all about how you handle it! (um, I am eating my own words though, because that is so much easier said than done) I have had a rough teaching career this year. SO many ups and downs, but right now I am thankful for a sweet 1st grade class that already tell me they love me and that I am the best teacher ever! ( although, it could have been because I has just sugared them up with a yummy Thanksgiving celebration cookie :)

With all of the unknowns in life, it is so nice to rely on God, who is faithful to me always. Even in the moments that I doubt ( and to be honest, I doubt a lot) I try to remember that no matter what things are going to be okay. Financially, Spiritually, and Physically......We are all going to be okay...no matter the outcome. I worry a lot, I have anxiety, and I have so many fears in life, it is not healthy...I am trying to take the steps to change this!! I know this will all pass and I would have the strength to move on from these crazy thoughts that go on in my head! ( I swear, becoming a mom changes your life in SO many ways.....good and bad....only bad because now I worry about every single thing with Luke...again I am trying to get past these issues in life :)

Anyways......Today is such a great day to celebrate life, and all the wonderful things in it! I am so very thankful..... My family and friends are one of a kind, and I am blessed by them all!!

Have a wonderful day my friends!!

Day 13

2011-11-13T11:02:00.000-08:00

Day 13

Today I am thankful for a husband, that despite was not feeling well yesterday, and works so much for our little family, woke up with Luke this morning, let me sleep in, and made me breakfast!! I could never explain the love that I have for that man. I am not here to tell you I have the best husband in the world, but to me he is perfect. Flaws in all (because we ALL have them) he is so perfect to me and Luke! I am SO very thankful that through the last couple of weeks, actually months, I have had a strong man beside me to make things seem just a little better! Through all of our everyday struggles, he is supportive, loving and tells me the truth, even when I don't want to hear it ( I think I may be repeating myself on this, but it is so true). So today, I am thankful for getting to sleep in.....but truthfully I am thankful for Nick, today and always!!

Happy Sunday, Friends :)

Day 12

2011-11-12T10:12:00.000-08:00

Day 12~ of Thankfulness

Today I am thankful for my sweet little niece Stella. We are celebrating her 2nd birthday later on today! She is such a sweet, adorable little one, and I couldn't be more thankful to be her Aunt! She is a great cousin to Luke and they love each other so much! I have 4 adorable nieces and 2 nephews. I have never met, or may never meet one of my nephews, but I am so grateful for them all!!

Being an aunt is wonderful, and I have SO much love for those kiddos!

Sweet Stella Bella and Me

Day 11

2011-11-12T10:04:00.000-08:00

Day 11...on 11/11/11

Today I am thankful for all the veterans out there!! Not just because today is Veterans Day, but I am thankful for them everyday!

I am married to my very own Veteran and I could not be any more thankful or proud! Nick served in Afghanistan and went through a lot while he was over there. I am SO thankful he got home safely. Not all do. And for that my heart breaks into a million pieces. I can't even imagine. Being thankful is never enough. We truly have no idea what is is like to be in the military unless you a soldier you are married to someone that is. It is tough, but when they get home and you see them for the first time in a year, and you know it is over, and you can finally breath......It is worth it. They did their duty, you did yours and now is when we thank them for all they have done for us. ( Sorry, that was kind of a personal feeling I had when Nick finally got home)

Thank you to ALL the Veterans out there!!! This country would not be safe if it wasn't for you!

I am behind

2011-11-10T20:08:00.000-08:00

I am so behind on my 30 days of what I am Thankful for, that I am just going to begin again today. So today is the 10th (right? I don't even remember at this point)

Day 10 of Thankfulness

Today, even in the midst of feeling like my day came crashing down on me, I am thankful for a God that I can pray to and give my problems to when times are tough. He is there for me no matter what. Good times and bad times. He is ALWAYS there. Today is one of those days I wish he could just take me by my shoulders and physically guide me in the right direction. Or at least give me a really clear sign! I feel like my thoughts and my emotions have been so negative lately, and I am usually not that type of a person. I am ready to feel like myself again and become a little more positive. Things always have to get better right? Again, I am thankful for a God that forgives me when I am being selfish, emotional and bratty. I need to get over this bump in the road, and become the best Mom and Wife I can be!!

Adios.....I need to go to sleep!

P.S. to my hubby.....Thank you for putting life into perspective....even when I don't want to hear it! I love you!

Just because

2011-11-06T12:02:00.000-08:00

Not that I will EVER forget how cute he was.....but I had to share!

I love you buddy!

Running

2011-11-06T11:43:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

It is a nice, crisp Sunday here in AZ, and I am really enjoying it! It is finally feeling like Fall! It is the weekend, so of course I am as happy as can be. I am praying that my week is nothing like it was last week...awful.... Anyways, on a more positive note...

When I used to hear the word running I would cringe. I always hated running. I remember back in junior high our P.E. teacher (who I may add was HUGE, and would never run with us) would decide each day if he either wanted us to run the short distance of just around the baseball field once, or the long run around the entire school yard. I HATED when it was the long run. I was always embarrassed because I would have to walk half of the time, and would be so out of breath by the time I was done. My hate for running started young. I also remember one time when I was in late Junior high again, one of my brother's friends dared me to run up our street hill 3 times in the middle of the winter (in Oregon, so it was cold), so I did it, but ended up in the ER because I couldn't breath, from my asthma. Okay, so needless to say, me and running have never gone hand in hand.....but deep down inside of me, I REALLY want to be a runner. I always have. I want that satisfaction of doing something that I really hate, but can start to love. I think it would be so good for me physically and mentally...

So this brings me to my next point...I really want to run a marathon. Actually my goal is to run more than one......but I think I need to start small. I always say I am going to run the P.F. Changs marathon in January, but I never do (and I actually payed one year and still didn't do it :/). So I thought that I would start small and run the Pat Tillman race in April. It is only a little over 4 miles, but I think that is a good goal.It is for a great cause, and if you don't know about it, go to http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/pats-run/ . I would eventually like to run 1/2 marathons...I am not really sure about the full marathons, but I guess you never know!

Now, where do I begin....I guess I better start ~~running I mean jogging~~ walking fast and work my way up to jogging, and then running! :)

Day 5 of Thanks!

2011-11-05T21:08:00.000-07:00

Day 5

As much as I complain and complain and complain about my body. I am thankful for a womanly body that was able to grow my sweet baby boy in. I can always think of a million things I would change about it, but the most amazing thing my body has ever done was grow my sweet Luke! And for that I am SO very thankful for the miracle it was able to perform!

Sorry this post is so short, but both my boys are asleep and I need to join them :)

Happy Saturday!

Opps I am behind

2011-11-05T21:02:00.000-07:00

Oh goodness, I am behind in blogging again.. what's new!?

Back to what I am thankful for...

Day 3

I am thankful for my Dad! I have always been very close to my dad, but ever since my mom died, my dad and I's relationship has become even closer. I would always talk to my dad and all that stuff, but my mom was the one person that I would spend hours and hours talking to about EVERYTHING! Well, now that my mom is gone, my dad has become my only parent, and I cherish him more than he will ever possibly know. I was the only one really living at home when my mom died, so it was my dad and I that lived together. (my brother lived at home for a while during this time, but wasn't home as often). We spent a lot of those first empty feeling evenings together after mom was gone. It was pretty awful, sad, hard and lonely for a long time. My dad and I started to do pretty much everything together.

3 months after my mom died, Nick was deployed to Afghanistan, so I really had a lot of time at home and to spend with my dad. Not that I would ever wish or even like to think that I am thankful for my mom dying, but it has brought my dad and I very close. I can talk to him about everything and he has stepped up and taken the role of both mom and dad. He is the strongest man I know, and would do absolutely anything for us kids. My Mom and Dad were a great example for us kids on what a marriage should be about. My parents were happily married for 33 years. I am VERY thankful for my dad, who not only loves me, but loves my husband just like he were his own son, and he LOVES my sweet Luke. My dad is an amazing Grandpa, and I have loved watching his new role at being a grandpa. I could never put into words how much I love my dad, but all I know is that I am SO thankful for him and cherish him so very much!

Dad and Me with my big ol preggo belly!

Grandpa and Luke

I had to add this picture in of my mom and dad because it shows just how much they truly loved each other!

I am Thankful Day 4

I am thankful for my home! It may not be the biggest, pretties, most conveniently located house in the world, but it it perfect for us for the time being. I am so thankful to have a roof over my head and warm bed to crawl into each night. I am thankful for a house to call my own. We have more than we can ever ask, no matter how hard life can be, and how tight money can be, we make it work, and for that I am so very thankful!

30 Days of Thanks

2011-11-02T21:14:00.000-07:00

I am exhausted, worn out, beat up(not literally), sore and everything else that could be wrong tonight, but despite my bad mood and heavy, sad heart, I REALLY am so thankful for so many things in my life. As many blogs I have read are doing. I am going to be posting 30 things I am thankful for in the Month of November. No matter my mood or what is laying on my heart, I have plenty to be thankful for!

Day 1(since I missed yesterday): I am thankful for a baby that smiles at me when I walk into the room!

Day 2: I am thankful for my husband that works so hard for our family and sacrifices A LOT!!!

I really do love the month of November! The weather is changing, the crisp air is so refreshing to smell and best of all.... Thanksgiving is coming (my favorite holiday)!

Goodnight my friends, I am hoping a good nights sleep will help this mama lift some heavy burdens off her heart!

7 months old!

2011-10-24T20:15:00.000-07:00

Luke,

Buddy, you are 7 months old! You are becoming such a little boy before my very own eyes!

You are SO much fun and are starting to really show your sweet little personality!

Here is what you are up to:

~You are about 22lb

~I don't know how tall you are this month since you haven't had to go to the doctor

~You completely sit up on your own for long periods of time! You still fall over every once in a while, but you are starting to use your hands to keep yourself from falling!

~You are just about to crawl! You get up on all fours and sway back and forth, but you usually just army crawl to get what you want! You are SO close!

~You scoot yourself so fast to try and get any electronic device you can! If you see a remote or a phone anywhere close you will bee line to get it!

~You still have just your two little bottom front teeth!

~You are wearing a size 3 diaper

~You LOVE food! You really do love all fruits and veggies, besides green beans.

~You eat three meals a day with a bottle about every 2-3 hours

~Your favorite toy right now is your blue whale. I don't know what it is about this whale, but the minute you get it you squish it into your face and squeel!

~Your still sleeping pretty good, although you have decided that waking up at about 12 and 3 am is a good idea again!

~You are ticklish! Your armpits and inner thighs are the most ticklish and I love to hear you giggle!

~You are such a little talker. You babble on and on and I wish I knew what you were saying :)

~You are starting to grawl. It is really funny, but a little embarrasing when we were in church, like this past Sunday ;)

~Your hair is getting so much lighter and are getting a lot more of it!

~You are starting to really recognize when daddy and I leave or enter the room!

~You love cups. When daddy and I are holding you and we try to drink, you usually try to grab the cup, and making us almost spill what we are drinking!

~You love Bear (our dog). You usually try to crawl to him wherever he is laying.

~You are such a happy, sweet baby.

Here are random pictures from the last month!

My big 7 month old

I LOVE this look you give :)

Really bad quality, but your smile is adorable!

You look so mischievous :)

You love to play in your crib (for a little while at least)

Your favorite blue whale. And your bib that is the size of a cape :)

Brushing your teeth. You LOVED it

Well baby boy, another month has passed and we couldn't imagine life without you. You are such a blessing.

Love,
Mama

Worry and Fear

2011-10-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

Warning: I am feeling very vulnerable and honest. This is the real life stuff. I need to get it out and on ~~paper~~ to remind myself and my readers that life happens and not everything is perfect, as so often we only write about the good times......

I am REALLY struggling with worry and fear at the moment. I have so much going on inside of my head, I don't even know where to begin. I worry about anything and everything. I have always been a little worry wart. It is NOT a good quality. My worst actually. But I don't know how to stop it? I hate this feeling, because I feel like I have lost faith and that I am trying to hard to be on control of my life. In a way, maybe that is what I am trying to do. Ever since I became a mom, I feel like my anxiety has multiplied. I worry about Luke, I worry about Nick, I even worry about the darn dog! I have this fear that something is going to happen to me and Luke isn't going to have me growing up. Not because I think I am the best mom in the world, but I am afraid I am going to miss out. It all goes back to my mom dying. I don't want my kids to feel the way I do about losing my mom. Yes, I know that most people will lose their parents first, but I am talking prematurely. I am SO afraid of the what ifs that I am taking away from the joys right now. I struggle with this on a daily basis and I have got to do something about it. I am not going to go into any more details because I don't want to give into these feelings. I want to get past this life time struggle of mine and begin to really enjoy life.

P.S. Thank you to my sweet husband that always has the right things to say to me. I replay his words over and over in my head and remind myself that I NEED to let go and let GOD!!!

A few bible versus that are encouraging to me today:

Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest. (Luke 12:25-26)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

What do you do to cope with your every day struggles?

Oh and I will have a 7 month update on Luke asap!!

Old MacDonald had a Farm.....

2011-10-16T15:48:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we went to the MacDonald's Ranch which has it's annual pumpkin patch festivities! We had a great time! It was a little warm, and really didn't feel very "Fallish" out, but we still had a good time! We went with Nicks mom, his Step-Dad and Nick's brother Noah! I am not in any of the pictures because I was behind the camera and the ones I am in are on Nick's mom's camera. Anyhoo...here are a few pics from the pumpkin patch!

My Brother-In-Law Noah riding the horses!

My sweet boys!

He was getting hot and sleepy

Hi buddy :)

Luke and Grandma, Alicia

Finally gave in and fell asleep!

Noah, Luke and Nick

I really do envy all of you out there that have "true" Fall weather already! It stays way to hot here in Arizona this time of year!!

Peek-A-Boo

2011-10-16T14:42:00.000-07:00

PEEK

BOO

I SEE YOU, LUKEY :)

My Soul Friend!

2011-10-12T14:58:00.000-07:00

I never did finish my girlfriend post that I started months ago. I am slacking on my blog posts these days. I just feel like I am mentally checked out of life right now. Has that ever happened to you?

ahh side note....I HATE when telemarketers come to my door and ring my doorbell 3 times, ESPECIALLY when my baby is sleeping! Can't they figure out when no one comes to the door the first time that they aren't going to come!!!

Anyways...sorry, got off topic!

Well today I really want to talk about my Best Friend, Tina DuPont!! When I think about my sweet friend I get tears in my eyes. I never knew I was going to meet such an incredible person and friend!

I met Tina in 2008. We were in the Elementary Education program together at ASU! The best part of collage was meeting her and getting to spend so much time together! When we graduated, I think the hardest part for us was not only were we now in the real working world, but we didn't get to spend as much time together.

Tina and I became instant friends. I felt like from the moment I met her that she truly understood me and she was one of those people that you cherish and long for as a friend. As we tell each other, we feel like we are soul friends. I feel like God gives you friends of all sorts. I have my good friends, my friends that are like sisters, friends that I don't talk to often, but I know are always there for me, and then friends that make you step back and say, "I am so lucky to be friends with this person." Tina has been there for me since the day I met her. She can usually tell what kind of mood I am from the second I answer the phone. She usually calls me at the moments I need her the most, without even knowing, and can usually finish my sentences when I have forgotten what I was saying! :)

Tina lives in Tucson, which is about 2 1/2 hours away from where I live :( she moved there with her fiance so that he could go to Law School at University of Arizona. As much as I am sad that she is not here in Phoenix, she is where she should be for the time being. Skype dates and occasional weekends are going to have to do until they get back!

One of the best things about Tina, is how much she loves Luke. It makes my heart happy that Luke has such wonderful people in his life, especially Tina. She is such an awesome Auntie! Half of the time she calls me, I really think she just wants to know how Luke is doing :)

How do I wrap up a blog entry about such an amazing friend? I guess with a thank you.

Tina,
Thank you for being the friend I always needed, but never had until I met you. Thank you for loving me no matter where I am in life. Thank you for your selflessness, and loving me as such a true friend. You will never truly know how much I cherish our friendship. You may be one of my "newer" friends, but I feel like I have known you forever.

Thank you for being my soul friend!

One of many blogs I read

2011-10-05T15:32:00.000-07:00

I have been blogging for a couple of years now, but just recently I have been dedicating more time to it. With writing more, I have found more blogs that I love to read!

One in particular that I love is www.hungryrunnergirl.com! You MUST check out her blog. Not only is she funny, but she is a dedicated runner. Her running has motivated me to become a runner. I am no where close to being a runner yet, but I hope to get there someday!

She has a giveaway on her blog today, giving away Altra's Intuition running shoes! One thing that I don't really have is a good pair of running shoes. Knowing that hungry runner girl is such a good runner, I would take her recommendation on a good pair!

Again, if you are looking for an awesome blog to read she is the girl for ya!! Here is her link for today's giveaway, http://www.hungryrunnergirl.com/2011/10/running-shoes-giveaway.html#comment-102189

Happy Wednesday, friends!

A day in our life

2011-10-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

I read a few blogs that have documented a typical day in their life. I thought that I would "write" mine down, so in the future I will remember what my days were like at this moment!

I can't say that we have any "typical" days. I work Monday-Friday, so Luke is with Nick on Monday, Wednesday's and Thursday's. He is then with my sister on Tuesday's and Friday's! So really the only days that I am consistently with Luke during the days are on Saturday's and Sunday's!

On the weekends, here is how our days usually run:

~Luke wakes up at around 6:00am
~I change his diaper and then we go out to the living room to hang out.
~Once he is awake enough, I put him in his jumper or lay him in his pack n play and make him his bottle.
~He usually eats around 6:30 or 7:00am
~We then play on the floor for the next hour or so
~He takes his morning nap around 8:00. It can last anywhere between 30min-1 hour.
~At around 9:00am I will feed him either a fruit or veggie and then a bottle.
~We will then play again on the floor, or he will play in his jumper for a little while. I sometimes try to get some things done around the house, but to be completely honest, I usually just lay or sit on the floor with Luke and relax with him. I don't get to do it often, so I take advantage of it!
~He will take another little nap between 12:00-1:00pm. He is not a long napper, but he takes little ones throughout the day.
~I will then feed him another fruit or veggie and another bottle. (he has a bottle about every 2-3 hours and fruit or veggies 3 times a day)
~The rest of the day we just hang out. Either on the floor in his jumper or we sometimes run errands until around 6ish (I try to be home by 6ish to start our nightly routine)
(The rest of this list is a Monday-Sunday ritual. Once I am home from work Mon-Fri, this is still what we do each night!)
~Between 6:30-7:00pm I feed him dinner (either a fruit or veggie and some oatmeal)
~I then give him a bath, lotion him up, put his jammies on let him wiggle around on the blanket on the floor and then feed him his last bottle around 7:45pm ish!
~He is in bed between 8:00pm-8:15pm!
~He for the most part will sleep through the night. Every now and then he will wake up to eat.
~We then do it all over again the next day!!

I LOVE my weekends with Luke! It always makes it really hard to go back to work on Monday's :( But, you gotta do what you gotta do! He is taken such good care of during the weekdays, which I am SO thankful for!

I have the next 2 weeks off to be able to spend my days with my little man, and I am cherishing every moment!

Happy Monday, Friends!

~Breanna

Heart attack Parent moment!

2011-10-02T15:09:00.000-07:00

This morning was not quit the normal wake up for us! It was about 5:30am and I heard Luke start crying in the monitor. Nick got up to go check on him and through the monitor I heard Nick say, "oh my gosh" and then yelled for me. I ran into the living room where Nick was holding Luke and Luke's face and nose was covered in spit up. It was running down his nose and out of his mouth. He started gaging and chocking on his spit up. I immediately got the blue suction bulb and started sucking saliva and spit up from his mouth and nose, all while he is crying! He was still gagging and not swallowing correctly. He never stopped breathing or anything, but both Nick and I were a little panicked! I called the pediatrician's after hours number and spoke with a nurse. She said that we shouldn't be overly worried, but to make sure he stays sitting up as much as possible today. He starting acting a little more like himself and we finally fed him. He then sneezed and a ton more junk came out of his nose! We were thankful for that sneeze because ever since then he's been fine!

Talk about a heart attack moment as parents! I am sure we will have more, but man, the moment anything, as little as it can be, happens you realize how precious this sweet baby is to you!

Thank you God for allowing Luke to cry for us and allowing Nick to get to him so quickly. I know that I can't shield him from everything, but I pray that whatever is in our hands we handle and make the best decisions as possible!

Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

--Joshua 1:9

Teething Necklace

2011-10-02T13:51:00.000-07:00

So, my sweet little Luke LOVES to grab my necklace! I love that he will lay on my chest or while I am holding him and play with it, but he tries to bring it to his mouth! It is too short, and I wouldn't want him to chew on it (because it is metal). Well I have been researching teething necklaces and found one that I love! It is $29.00, but its super cute! Do any of you have teething necklaces? Are they worth it? I want to make sure it is a good investment before I buy one. Any suggestions?

This is the one I found that I like!
It is from http://store.chewbeads.com/

Just what I needed...

2011-10-01T21:29:00.000-07:00

My happy boy! His eyes are closed, but it's a good shot of his TWO teeth!

my big boy, sitting up!

I spent ALL of today, at home, in my pajama's playing with Luke. It really was just what I needed!! I realize that the hustle and bustle of the weekdays don't leave me enough time to just sit and play with my little man. I am thankful for weekends! We had so much fun and there is nothing better than hearing him laugh! So very thankful for this day. I am also on Fall Break next week, so to many more days of just hangin' out! yeah!

We are trying out a new Church tomorrow, so hopefully we like it and can find "our" church that we feel is just right for us!

Happy weekend!

5 years ago tonight...

2011-09-27T12:03:00.000-07:00

5 years ago tonight(9/25/11) I remember sleeping on the waiting room floor at the hospital. The doctor had given us one last hope that my mom could pull through, and that her stroke could reverse itself. It was going to take a miracle, but I was praying harder than I have ever prayed. I was clinging on to any hope I could get. I honestly had no idea how my life was about to change.............My mom died on September 26, 2006. I replay the moment in my head over and over again, It haunts me. It gives me chills. It makes my heart sink to the floor. The sounds, the room, everything...I will never forget. I had to leave the hospital without my mom. She had died. I remember sitting in the front seat of my car while Nick was driving me home (The rest of my family were in other cars). I sat there with a huge gift basket on my lap, crying. I had never experienced pain like that before. I spent almost every waking moment next to my moms side. Even so much that when she had stopped talking(from having a stroke) she would write to us on a notepad. One of the last things she wrote, was asking where I was. Even up until her very last few days of her life, she was worrying about me. She knew that I was probably beside myself and she wanted to make sure that I was okay. I love that thought, but it also makes me so sad. The last words that I got from my mom were written on a piece of paper :( . I hate that I lost my mom when I was 21 years. I hate that I don't get to have any new memories with her. But I LOVE that I got to spend 21 wonderful years with her and that she gave me more memories in my 21 years than some people get in a life time. I still wonder and ask why she had to die. But God has a bigger plan and he knew what he was doing. Life is tough, and you just have to get up the next day and figure out how to go on. Even when it seems impossible.......

So much going on!

2011-09-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

I feel like life is going about a hundred miles a minute. All of a sudden I am 26 years old with a husband and a 6 month old baby! It is so crazy to me how much my life has changed in the past 6 years. I remember turning 20 years old. I truly had no idea what the next 6 years was going to bring. It has been the hardest, sadest, happiest, most rewarding 6 years of my life.

My mom died when I was 21 years old. I got married when I was 23 years old, I had a baby when I was 25 years old, and now here I am......What is next? I honestly have no idea, but I do know that life is going by fast and I want to enjoy every moment to the fullest. I need to start living in the presence (is that the saying? Or is it present?), not thinking about what is going to be.....I think too often I am thinking about tomorrow and not enjoying today.

So here is to enjoying today, and not worrying about tomorrow...(If you know me well enough, that is a HARD thing for me to do).

Have a great Wednesday,

Month by Month

2011-09-20T22:24:00.000-07:00

6 months old!

2011-09-20T15:31:00.000-07:00

Ohh my sweet boy,

You are 6 months Old!!(on 9/17/11) Where has the time gone? I can't believe how much you have grown and changed in your short, sweet little life! I adore you more than you will ever know!

Here is what you are up to:
~You weigh 20.5 lbs and are 30 inches long! You are SO tall! You are in the 90th percentile for weight and you are off the charts in height! Pro basketball player on our hands? Oh, but my love you can be whatever you want to be when you grow up!

~You love eating! You have now had Peas, Carrots and Green Beans! You love them all! I am pretty sure you are going to love all foods!
~You are sleeping from about 8:00pm-6:00am!
~You are wearing a size 3 diaper and wear some 6 months clothes, but mostly 9-12 month clothes!
~You are rolling around everywhere! I am pretty sure once you figure out that your arms can hold you up you will be crawling away soon!
~You are sitting up for a little while by yourself. Still a little wobbly, but you almost got it :)
~You smile all day long! You are so happy!
~You have TWO teeth! and you poor thing, still smile through your pain :(
~Your eyes are getting darker. They aren't quit brown, but they aren't blue. I think you may have hazel eyes!
~Your hair is still darker on top, but your new baby hairs are blonde. I still think you are going to be blonde!
~We had to lower your crib because you were grabbing on your crib bumper and using it as a blanket to snuggle up against. (I would find you up against the side with your arm hanging over the bumper. I was afraid you would start pulling youself up with it next)
~I put you to bed still awake and you have been doing so well putting yourself to sleep. (you whine a little and then are asleep within minutes)
~Naps are a different story. We are still working on them. As of now you still take about 30 min naps every 2 hours.( although, I think you nap better at Auntie Britt's house, becaue I always get texts from her saying how long you have been sleeping, and they are usually longer than when you are at home, stinker!)
~Your daddy makes you smile like crazy. You are best friends and it is the cutest thing ever!
~You are saying "mama" but I don't think you are associating it with me yet. Your daddy thinks I am trying to get you to say "mama" first, but I say "dada" to you just as often. We will see what you really say first :)
~I am trying to work on basic sign language with you. We will see if you catch on! (or if I teach you correctly)
~You are eating three meals a day, as well as your bottle every 2-3 hours.
~You get so excited sometimes that you shake your arms uncontrollably and almost hit yourself in the face. It usually happens when you are playing with a hard toy. It's cute, but I am afraid you are going to hurt yourself!
~You are starting to reach for people when you want to be held. ADORABLE!!!
~You love your jumper!
~You are such a blessing my boy!
Here are some random pictures of you throughout the month!

Eating your carrots!

This picture makes me laugh so hard. Your face is HILARIOUS!!!

I LOVE that sweet smile!

Swinging for the first time!

You LOVE grandpa Larry!

My big boy in the store cart!

I love you baby so very much! You are such a blessing!

Love,

Mama

Random Thoughts Thursday

2011-09-15T11:01:00.000-07:00

So I was trying to think of a blog topic and I couldn't come up with anything remotly good, so I thought I would just write down my random thoughts!

Here goes:

~I have not been feeling very well lately. I have been really dizzy and weak. My whole body ached and my spine has been killing me. I went to the ER last Thursday because I just didn't feel right. Long story and expensive bills later....I have no idea what is wrong with me. I am thinking it is a hormone imbalance becuase I just stopped breastfeeding..Any other Mama out there have those symptoms?Ugh! I have to say that in the last 2 days I have felt a little better...thank God! It is hard to function when you feel like you are in your own world!

~I have decided that my health needs to be one of my main priorities in my life. I want Luke to grow up in a healthy, happy home and the only way I can make sure of that is if I am living that way. I don't want to look back on Luke's childhood and not have the energy to keep up with him and not have pictures of me and him because I don't like how I look in pictures. I do not want to instill (sp) self doubt and bad body images to my children. I need to be happy with myself before I can teach my kid(s) to be happy with themselves. Being a parent has so many responsibilites and I want to do my very best!

~The 10 year anniversary of 9/11 was last Sunday. I can't believe it has been 10 years. So unreal. It was also my 26th birthday. It is funny how the older you get, your birthday really does feels like just a regular day. I had a very nice day though. I am blessed and felt loved!

~ Luke is sleeping through the night...almost! A part of me doesn't want to write this because I may jinx myself, but for my blog sake, he is! He is only waking up once at around 3 to eat and then he goes back to sleep. It is glorious! More on him later, becuase my sweet little baby is growing like a weed and is going to be....GULP....6 months old on Saturday!! ahh where has the time gone?!?

~School is exhausting! My heart still aches to be home with Luke, but I am learing to really enjoy my days with my students. We are having to move locations of our school the first week of October....so the blood, sweat and tears that went in to getting my class together in July, will all be taken down and then put back up in my new classroom. I can't even think about this right now, it stresses me out!

~I really want to start making croc pot dinners. Do you have any good recipes you want to share with me? As a wife I really want to be better at providing my hubby a good meal before he leaves for work everyday, and croc pot meals sound like they could be the easiest method for me!

~I am really looking forward to Fall. It is one of my favorite times of the year! I can't wait to decorate and I have to admit I already have my yummy smelling candles lit!

Happy Thrusday!

~Breanna

She's not here...

2011-09-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

Today is my mom's birthday. She would have been 57 years young! For the first 21 years of my life it was a day of celebration. Celebrating her birth and the many years to follow. For the past 5 years we have had to celebrate her birthday without her, missing her presence in our lives. Sometimes it still seems so unreal. I ask myself some days, "is she really gone?" " Am I really living my life without my mom?" It still hurts deep into my bones. I still have moments when I ache for my mom. Time makes things hurt a little less on a daily basis, but that doesn't mean the moments when you break down and gasp for air because you miss them so much don't happen.They do.

I hate that my mom is not here to be a grandma. She has 4 beautiful grandchildren that she never got to meet. That is when I start to question again, "why did she not get to meet them? Why was she taken from us so young?" Those are questions I will have until the day I get to ask God myself. I do have the comfort in knowing that God knows best, and he took my mom for a reason and she is in the best place we will ever be. Thank you God for giving me that comfort.

I look at Luke and it makes me realize how much a mother loves their child(ren). You never truly know how much your parents love you until you become a parent yourself. It is unexplainable. I am so grateful that my mom left such a great example for us. I am a better mom becuase of her. I wish I could tell her all of these things, and I know she is looking down on all of us, smiling. I just wish I could talk to her, tell her stories. See her hold Luke and love on him. I miss her voice, her smile and the sound of her flip flops as she is walking. There is so much I miss and so much that I will forever hold in my heart.

Today is my moms birthday and I am celebrating her life.

Struggling...

2011-08-30T15:53:00.001-07:00

I always feel like I have so many blog topics I want to write about and usually plan to write daily, but then my day ends and I am so exhausted. By the time Luke goes to bed I am done!! I want my blog to reflect my life and for me to remember all of the wonderful things that happen in my life. I have a blessed and happy life, but things right now are a little tough.

I am still struggling being back at work and not home with Luke. I get better every day, but I still long to be home with him. I love teaching, but I find myself not enjoying it as much as I should because my heart is somewhere else. I give all of my energy into teaching, and all of my energy into being a mom. I am T.I.R.E.D.

I miss my husband. He changed his work schedule to stay home with Luke during the day and then he goes to work at night. It is such a blessing, but he is so tired. I feel like we are more like roomates than husband and wife. He is tired, I am tired. Things are just hard right now. We NEED a date night asap! Any takers?!? (just kidding....kinda)

I miss breastfeeding Luke. I am struggling with this one REALLY bad. I long for the time spent with him doing something only I could do! I miss it and I can't get it back and I am so sad. Being a teacher is great, but the schedule is demanding and I only have one break a day. One break a day=milk supply gone. I still get so emotional about this. I almost can't get past the fact that I am done. I know this is not the end of the world, but it doesn't make it easier to go to work everyday knowing that my job has stopped me from breastfeeding. ( I tried everything to keep my supply up, it just wasn't working anymore) I know that it will get easier and I will probably laugh about how emotional I am about this, but again I am tired, and tired Breanna=extra emotional.

I didn't want this post to come off that I am not grateful for my life because God knows I am! So blessed! Luke is the most amazing gift I could have ever recieved and Nick is such a great partner to be going through this crazy life with.

I do feel that it is okay to feel a little beat up from time to time. I know that this is just a season of our life and pretty soon I will look back and be thankful for these harder times and appreciate them even more than I do today.

Thanks for listening to my gibber jabber. Sometimes it is just nice to get it off your chest.

Happy Tuesday! Only 2 more days of school this week!! Yay for 4 day weekends!

~Breanna

First Tooth!

2011-08-22T18:51:00.000-07:00

Luke,

Your first tooth came in today! (8-22-11) You are such a big boy!

Mama's attempt to getting a tooth picture...didn't work out so well. All I had was my iphone and you just wanted to eat my hand :) I love this picture though, it makes me laugh!You have found your toes!! You bring them to your mouth and try to suck on them...cute/gross!You love sucking on cold wash cloths. It must feel good to those little gummies!I love when you suck on your fingers. You make loud sucking noises. Adorable!!

Here is a little photo booth app from my phone. You were sucking on my hand. I love you!

Oh how you are growing my sweet baby. I love you more than you know!

~Mama

luke, You are 5 months old!

2011-08-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

I am 4 days late on this post, but better late than never right?

Luke,

You are 5 months old today (8/17/11)! I can't believe how much you are growing and changing!

Here is what you are up to:

~I am guessing you weigh about 18ish pounds! You weighed 17.3 pounds last month so I am just guessing you are in the 18 pound range now!

~ You are so tall!! I think I wrote in your last post that the doctor thinks you are going to be so tall! I don't doubt it. Everything I buy you that is supposed to be pants on you come up to your calf! It makes me laugh. I call them your capris. Dad doesn't like that term :)

~You are rolling like a mad man! I set you down and off you go! still only towards the left side, but you got it down my love!

~You started on rice cereal at 4 months and you weren't too sure about it at first, but then you started to really like it. I just switched you to oatmeal and you LOVE it!! You look so big in your high chair!

~You are such a happy baby! You really only cry when you are hungry, tired or don't feel well!

~You are teething like crazy! You drool all day long, your hands are in your mouth constantly and you love chewing on wet wash cloths. I keep hearing about this Sophie the Giraffe toy to get you for teething, so I may need to invest in that! You poor thing have been teething for months now! But no teeth yet!

~You are starting to sit up a little bit and it only lasts a few seconds before you fall forward or to the sides. You are so strong though! You will sit up soon and in your own time!

~You are still spending your days with Daddy and then with Auntie Britt and Stella! I am so blessed that you are taken such good care of while I am at work! Daddy adores the time with you and you love going over to Britt and Stella's twice a week!

~You still are not a very good napper! You sleep for only about 30min-45 min every 2 hours or so! You are our little cat napper!

~You are sleeping pretty well at night! You go to bed between 8 and 8:30 and then sleep until about 2. I usually feed you then and you go right back to sleep! but then you are up again at about 4:45 and then fall back asleep until 8am ish!

~You "talk" so much! I Love hearing your sweet little babbles!

~Your eyes are getting darker and darker and your hair is coming in a little lighter!

~You are an official tummy sleeper. You sleep your best on your tummy and we have come to terms that you are just fine sleeping that way!

~ Sadly, breast feeding you is coming to an end. Mommy only gets one break a day at school and that is not enough to keep my suppy going for you. I am very sad about this and have cried many tears over it, but you are healthy and happy and being on formula is not that the worse thing in the world. I will just miss the bonding time with you that only you and I shared...ahh tears are flowing as I am writing this! 5 months was a good run, and am glad I could do it for that long!

~You love to grab faces when people are holding you! It is so cute! It is like you are trying to get as close as you can and take everything in!

Well sweet pea, It has been such an amazing 5 months with you. Daddy and I can't imagine life without you, and feel so blessed by you. I can't even begin to explain the love I have for you. Thank you for being such a sweet boy. I adore you!

Love,

Mama

Where do the weekends go?

2011-08-14T09:26:00.001-07:00

I feel myself repeating this every time I haven't blogged in a while, but I promise I will do better! I started back at work a couple weeks ago, so blogging has taken the back burner! I am going to do my best to write a couple of posts a week!

Today is Sunday, and the weekend has flown by! They always do! I will hopefully be back this afternoon to continue on my "Girlfrinds" post and of course post a few pics of my sweet boy!

Enjoy your Sunday!!

Luke is 4 months old!!

2011-07-17T10:17:00.001-07:00

Oh my baby, you are 4 months old!!!

Luke,

I'm pretty sure you get cuter and cuter every day! I am so beyond blessed by you!

What you are up to:

~You weigh 17.4lbs which is in the 93% and are 27.5 inches long, which is in the 99%. You are a big,tall boy!!

~We transfered you to your crib, and it's taking some time for you to get used to!

~You have officially rolled over! You only roll from your back to tummy, and only towards your left side! It's super cute, and the minute I put you down on the floor you immediately roll over.

~ The problem with the above ^^^ is now when you are in your crib you flip to your tummy! I can't keep you on you back anymore! I have been told though that once you can flip over you should be fine sleeping on your stomach...but it still makes me nervous!

~We are going to try a little rice cereal today...I will blog about that separately!

~You are "talking" like crazy. I love hearing your sweet little coos! I think it is so sweet when I am driving and all I hear in the back is your little voice! ~You are the king of cat naps!! You don't sleep longer than 30 minutes during the day. I am not kidding...30 minutes to the T!! You take a little nap about every 2 hours, but now that daddy will be home with you during the day(and then having to work at night), hopefully your naps will turn into either one or two longer naps(so daddy can nap too)....we will see!

~I am going back to work tomorrow.....:( I love teaching and all, but I am so sad to leave you!! I am glad daddy will be home with you, but I will miss spending my days with you :(

~Your eyes are still a dark dark blue.....

~You are wearing a size 3 diaper

~Your hair is starting to come in a little lighter, I still think you are going to be a blondie!

~You love to stand! When you are laying down and we grab your fingers, instead of rising and sitting you automatically stand! You are so big and strong!

~Your pediatrician is guessing that you will be about 6'4'' as a grown adult! Wow!

~You are going to be spending two days a week at Auntie Britt and cousin Stella's!! You always have such a good time with them, and we are so blessed that they are whiling to watch you those days!

~You still eat about every 2 hours. You are hungry all day long. For the last couple of weeks you have gotten up at night almost every 3 hours to eat! It's exhausting! I know this is just a small "bump" in the road, and it will pass! ( I have no idea why this section is black, sorry)

~You drool so much and those hands are in your mouth all day long! The pediatrician said that your gums are swollen, so teething is upon us!

~You smile and squeal so much! I love it! You do giggle once in a while too! Music to our ears!

~You are grabbing things in front of you like crazy!! I love watching your eye- hand coordination!

What are you looking at, Mom?

Well lovey, another month has passed and I can't imaging life without you!! I look forward to the next month and to see all the new things you learn. Your Daddy and I love you more than anything.

Love,

Mama

GF # 2....Angie Mallaire

2011-07-15T11:04:00.001-07:00

where do I even begin with this story........

Angie and I have been friends ever since I moved into 5947 E. Kings Avenue. When was that you ask? When I was 6 years old.

You see my family and I moved to Arizona from Indiana in 1991. We lived in a small two bedroom appartment while our new house was being built. Little did we know that while our house was being built, some kids across the street were playing in our unfinished house!

When we finally moved into our house, we met those kids! They were the Moore's. They had three kids. Jason, David and Angie. Jack and Nancy were the parents. I still remember standing on the sidewalk outside meeting them. I don't remember any other details besides that. I bet you could ask Angie, she has a memory like no other!

We became friends instantly. My brother and her middle brother were the same age. They became best buds too! Angie was right in between my sister and I's age. All three of us girls hung out alot. We even made friends with other girls in the neighborhood.

Now fast forward a few years.... Angie and I went to the same Elementary School, North Ranch. She was a year ahead of me, so we weren't in the same class, but we were still best friends!

Now fast forward to when I was in 5th grade and she was in 6th. My family was moving to Oregon an I was devistated. I was sad to leave Angie and of course my brother was sad to leave David. This is where the story gets interesting...haha, if I haven't lost you already....

You see, Angie and I wanted to be related. So we came up with a plan. I was going to marry her brother David, and she was going to marry my brother, Bryson. It was perfect! That way we would be sister-in-laws. Well there was never any interest from either sides. Although I think Angie had a crush on my brother, and I think I had a crush on her older brother, Jason, lol.

Anyhoo....obviously we never dated each others brothers. And my family moved to Oregon. Angie and I stayed in contact, as well as two young girls could. When I would visit Arizona in the summer I would always see her. We could talk on the phone every once in a while and would write letters back and forth.

Are you still with me?!? Okay! Now, we lived in Oregon for about 4 years, when my dad got a job offer to come back to Arizona. He took it and we were back to AZ. I was NOT happy.I had made wonderful friends in Oregon and I loved living there. But I was a freshman in high school....I had no choice.

Angie and I became good friends again, and eventually were back to being Best Friends! I became good friends with her friends and High School was a pretty fun time!! Oh the memories we have from high school :)

Now remember, Angie was a year ahead of me, so when she started her Freshman year of College, I was still a senior in High School. It was tough at first. All the years before, I always had my friends that were a year older than me, but now they were all graduated and I was still there. I eventually made awesome friends my age, but I missed my girls!

Well, now it gets even juicier......hahh....Angie began dating a guy named Ray. Ray was a nice guy and Angie knew from the very beginning that he was a keeper....( I think, I could be wrong) We had all hung out with Ray and his friends for a couple years by the time Angie and Ray began to date. I knew Ray, and thought he was a nice gentleman. Well one day we all decided to go hang out at Rays house. Little did I know my life was about to change.....

We were all sitting around Rays dinning room table, when in walks this hansome fellow that I had never seen before.....When I say handsome, I mean my heart went WAHBAM!!! Beating faster than it ever has!! He has a shaved head and a Billabong sweatshirt on! I remember asking Angie, "Who is that?!?" she said that it was Rays brother, Nick, and he was home on leave from bootcamp. WAIT, WHAT?......Ray has a brother????? I had been hanging out with Ray and everyone one for almost 2 years and I am just now knowing he has this adorable brother?

*Side note- Angie met Nick like 5 times before she actually comprehended that he was Ray's brother. He only lived in the same house as Ray. Hahaha it is an ongoing joke in the family now!

Well now it was around Christmas time 2003. I went on a small vacay with my family and when I came back for New Years, We all met up to hang out. Well guess who came along......Rays brother Nick. Now this was the second time I had met him and this time I wanted to talk to him and get to know him...

Shoot I know I got off topic about Angie, but this story is important!

Long story short....hahaha if that is even possible. Angie began seriously dating Ray, and I beganseriously dating Nick. In December of 2006, Angie and Ray got married. In February of 2009, Nick and I got married.....DO you know what that means?!?!?

WE ARE SISTER-IN-LAWS!!! Yes, we married brothers. Just not each other's brothers!!

Now, the story doesn't stop there. In July of 2010 I found out I was pregnant! Yipee! Well guess what? In late July, early August, Angie found out she was pregnant! We both had been trying and GOD decided to let our sweet babies to only be 5 weeks apart!! Yep thats right, were were pregnant together and now we are mommies together!!!

Craziness if I do say so myself!!

Angie and I have a friendship that goes beyond just friends. We are like sisters. We have fought like sisters, and we have made up like sisters. We have something unconditional.... something that will always be there, no matter what!

We continue to grow in our frienship all the time. We are so different, but I think that is why we have been friends for so long! She has helped me be more outspoken, and I have helped her....umm not sure....maybe be more shy?!?...I highly doubt that!

I am excited to continue our frienship, and allow our sweet boys to become very close cousins!!

Life is crazy, but God knew what he was doing that day back in 1991. Who would have thought we would have come this far? And have the lives that we do?

Angie, I cherish our frienship and love that we are in all the same stages of life together. Ican't wait to see Jacob and Luke grow up together and see our families continue to grow!! I love you sweet friend and am so thanful for your friendship!

P.S.~ I am sad that I didn't have any young pictures of us! We have SO many, but none of them are on my computer! Just picture us smaller and cuter! (actually, we both were not the best looking kiddos...I had huge glasses, and we were both awkward in our bodies, you get the picture)

Also, sorry about the spacing, I have tried to fix it 4 times and it just keeps going back the way it was, it's driving me nuts but oh well!

There ya go! "Girlfriend" number 2!! I'll be back later to introduce number 3!

Have an awesome weekend!!

~Breanna

I'm feeling random!

2011-07-14T21:19:00.000-07:00

I know I have only done one "girlfriends" post and I promise I will continue, but I had a few things on my mind tonight that I wanted to get "written" down.

~Whoever said breastfeeding helps you lose weight is a BIG FAT LIAR!!! I am now almost 4 months PP and I do not feel that breastfeeding has helped me lose weight! I know that I am no Jillian Michaels here and work out like I should, BUT...I have been watching what I am eating (at least trying) and doing as much walking/moving around as posible when it is 115 degrees out! I feel like I am between a rock and a hard place..(is that the saying? Or did I just make that up?) I want to work out...but they say to be careful and not work out too hard because your body produces lactid acid that can be released into your breastmilk and it is not good for your baby! Okay, I know that I dont need to hard core work out, but in my mind all I can think about is, "Am I working out to hard? Am I sweating too much? Am I dehydrating myself?" All the things you "can't" do while breastfeeding! Ugh!! I just want a waistline that doesnt consist of "love handles" and a nice handful of "extra fat" in the front!! I think that if you did lose weight "from" breastfeeding, you would have lost that weight that quick anyways!! Okay....my tantrum is over!

~ My precious Luke rolled over today!! He went from his back to his belly twice! It's still a struggle since he is such a big boy, but any time I lay him on the floor to play he is trying to roll! We just need to work on his arm strength, he just doesnt want to push up on those hands!

~I go back to work on Monday and I am really struggling with this thought. I know it is what is best and needed for our family right now, but my heart aches already to be with my boy!

~We are going to start on some rice cereal this weekend, stay tuned to see how that goes!

~Nick changed his shift and is working crazy hours so he can stay home with Luke while I am at work. We miss him and hope that he can start med school sooner than later so he can be doing what he truly wants to be doing!! We love and appreciate him so much!!

~I bought the Zumba workout videos and they finally came in the mail...(shoot, if my hubby is reading this.....yes, those darn infomercials get me every time....but thats what happens when I am up at 2:00am feeding little man) I plan on starting those soon!

~I just starting reading, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" and am hoping this will help me, help Luke sleep better. It is 9:40pm and I am currently listening to my boy trying to put himself to sleep....it's tough! I also just transfered him to his crib in his room. I am hoping this will help both of us to start sleeping better!

~My house is a MESS! I know I never have that perfectly clean house, but you should see my living room! I am tempted to take a picture and post it, just so I can get the guilt of letting it get that messy! You would never guess there is a baby living in this house ;)....but I won't put you through that! I guess I need to add "clean living room" on to my list that consists of...clean the kitchen, clean the guest bathroom, clean the office, vacuum Luke's room and clean our bedroom...ohh wait i just named my entire house! Uff Da....I need a maid!

~I just finished reading, "Heaven Is For Real" and LOVED it!!! If you have not read it yet, do yourself a favor and read it! You will feel restored in the promises God has for his children! I cried through almost the entire book, but it was so good, and I loved that it was all through the innocence of a child!

~I am trying to read a book my sister gave me called, "Living above Worry and Stress". it will be good for me to read it. If you know me at all, I worry and stress about EVERYTHING!! I would say this is my biggest fault. I NEED to get it under control

~I went to Costco today and spent $162.35 and have no idea what I got. I hate when that happens! I have currently walked to the kitchen 3 times since starting this post to get a snack and have returned empty handed each time. (Actually this may be a good thing, at least for my hips)

~ Okay, maybe this only happens to me and it did today, when I went to costco) but when I don't have Luke with me, and I go places, once I am inside where ever I am, I will all of a sudden have a small panick attack that I left him in the car on accident. It happens almost every time he is not with me!! I guess I have this fear that I will accidently leave him in the car, which will NEVER happen, but I still have these small attacks! Has this ever happened to you?

~Have you watched Extremem couponing? Oh boy I wish I was that good! Although I have better things to do than sit and cut coupons out and actually go to the store to buy all that stuff!! I am all for coupons, but I guess that is why they call it, "Extreme couponing."

~I havent't washed my hair in 3 days.....sick

And that is all.......

Goodnight my friends!

Meet Britt.........

2011-07-13T10:54:00.000-07:00

My first girlfriend post is going to be about Britt.....She is not only my best friend but she is my sister!! I would not have categorized her in my "girlfriend" post, if she truly wasn't one of my very best friends!

So I have obviously known my sister my whole life! We are only two years apart, so we have always been very close. We grew up playing barbies together and everything else little girls like to do! We hardly ever fought and if we did it was short coming. I have always looked up to my sister and feel that she has been such a blessing in my life. Britt has always been that "motherly" person in my life. Even before my mom died, she still played that role very well. I do have to say I am so thankful that she reminds me so much of my mom! :)

Now that we are both adults and have families of our own, we have new things to share together in life. I love that I can call her to ask her parenting advice, and we can hang out with each other just like true friends! My sweet Niece, Stella (Britt's daughter) is such a little love and I love being her 'Auntie"

I look forward to the coming years as our families grow, and we can continue on the longest, healthiest, most cherished friendship I have!

Thank you Sister for always being there for me, and blessing my life in so many ways!! I love you to the moon......

So there you have it! Day one of my "Girlfriend" post! I am doing it in order of the longest I have known each friend, not the importance to me!! I love them ALL so much and for SO many difference reasons!!

Have a great Wednesday friends!!

~Breanna

Life Happens....

2011-07-12T10:39:00.000-07:00

Hi loves,

I know I said that I would start the week with my girlfriends posts, but yesterday was a little rough! Little man had his 4 month shots and was NOT a happy camper yesterday. Needless to say, when he went to bed, so did I!

I have lunch plans today, but I'll be back tonight to introduce you to my first girlfriend....

Have a great day!!

~Breanna

Girlfriends.....

2011-07-08T11:13:00.000-07:00

As I was laying in bed the other night I was thinking about how important it is to have good relationships in your life! I have a wonderful relationship with my family and my hubby, but sometimes it can be hard to maintain good, strong friendships with women! I decided that next week I am going to dedicate each day of the week to one of the amazing girlfriends in my life! I have been blessed by these women all in different ways! I am excited to introduce them to you and tell you why they are so special to me!!

Today is Friday! Yay! Nothing too exciting going on around here! When you are home everyday of the week, the weekends tend to just blend together! Although, that will change soon :( I have to be back to work on the 18th boooo.... Don't get me wrong, I love teaching but my heart is with my little man now! It is going to be interesting going back! I could use some prayers!!

Have a great weekend friends, see you back on Monday!!

~Breanna

*Side note: I just typed this whole thing one handed while breastfeeding!! 10 points for me!! And who's counting that it took me 34 minutes... :)

P.S. Sweet Luke giggled for the first time today! Just for the record! Cutest thing EVER!!

Our day today....

2011-07-07T22:17:00.001-07:00

This is what our day looked like today....

But no worries, tomorrow will be better :)

Almost Wordless Wednesday....

2011-07-06T12:27:00.000-07:00

My two loves. I am blessed! ( Sorry the quality is pretty bad, it was taken with my iphone)

Lonely, Ohhh so lonely....

2011-07-05T16:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know I am pretty lame when it comes to blogging, but I am trying to get better, but come on people, 2 followers???? That's all I have! Sad!

If you read my blog, leave me a comment, and follow me!!

I promise I won't think you are a stalker. I read so many blogs on a daily basis, so if you are a stalker than guilty as charged!!

I know most of my posts are about Luke, but I promise to start making it a little more interesting for those of you that aren't interested in what size diaper my son is wearing and how many times a day he is pooping! But how could you not be, he is so stinkin cute!!

Anyhoo, leave me some love now and then, and stop making me feel like all I do is talk to myself!!

Peace out,

~Breanna

Friday!!

2011-06-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

We LOVE Friday's around here!! Mostly because that means Daddy gets to be home with us all weekend!!

But this weekend I am taking my hubby to the Point Tapatio Resort!! Luke is spending the night with Grandma and Grandpa Boxall! He is going to have a great time!! He is so spoiled by them already! And of course Uncle Noah will be there to play with him!!

It will be my first night away from Luke. I know I will be fine, and he of course will be fine, but it will still feel a little weird!

I will let you know how our weekend goes on Monday!!

Have a good weekend!

~Breanna

Here's a picture of my sweet boy! I think his facial expression is hilarious and I am pretty sure he is flipping me the middle finger :) I love him!!

Luke is 3 months Old!

2011-06-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

Luke you are 3 months old today (acutally yesterday, sorry I am a day late)

Here is what you are up to:

-You are between 16-17 lbs. We aren't quit sure since we haven't been to the doctor since you were 2 months and you were about 14lbs then. Daddy will weigh himself and then weigh himself while holding you, so it is just a guess.

-You are wearing size 2 diapers still. I have a feeling we will be moving up again soon :)

-You have found your hands! You chew on them all day long! I think it is so cute!

-You are just starting to really fight your sleep. I promise buddy you aren't missing anything!

-I am attempting to put you in your crib for naps but you wake up the minute I set you down. We have to work on this!

-You are either going through a growth spurt or I am not producing enough milk to feed you because you are hungry all day long!

-Because of the above we have supplemented with formula....not ideal, but I'd rather you not be starving all day.

-You are getting so tall. I swear you are going to be a basketball player someday :)

-For the most part you like tummy time. You have such a strong neck! We have also started putting you in the bumbo. I still hold your head a little but for the most part you are holding your head up all by yourself. We just need to work on head control and then you are all set!

-You smile all of the time and it melts my heart. I can't wait till the laughing and giggling starts!

I love you big boy! You melt my heart and LOVE the time we spend together!

Love,
Mama

It's like a treasure hunt.....

2011-06-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

(Image found on google)

I had to share with you guys ( I like to think people actually read this thing, but as of right now I have 2 followers, yes you read that correct....2, maybe one day I will have at least a hand full :)

Anyways..... My last post was about baby items that I have loved. Well my other obsession is a place that you can get most of those things......Kid to Kid! It really is my favorite place to shop at for baby items. I actually should have never found out about this place. There are 4 locations in the valley and I have been to every single locations on several occasions! Okay lets be real, I go to at least one ~~two~~ probably once a week! The thing is, you never know what you are going to find and I think that is why I love it so much! There are new things coming in every day and I just HAVE to go check it out! Most of Luke's clothes are from there! I like nice things, but I don't like the prices of most nice things, so Kid to Kid is perfect for my taste!

I cringe at the sight of regular baby store prices. I will browse children stores but my mind always goes back to kid to kid and how much more I can buy for the price of one stinkin shirt! So on that note....any mama out there that has not been to kid to kid you MUST check it out! I am warning you though, it can become addictive (or maybe I just have a problem?)

A few of my favorite things....

2011-06-14T11:07:00.000-07:00

I thought that I would write a little about the things that I have loved and have worked well for us and for Luke!!

The Rock and Play Sleeper

I love this rocker for many reasons! First of all I love that it is inclined in the back. Poor Luke has acid reflex so it is perfect for him! Second....It is SO easy to move around. I am able to push it from room to room without having to pick it up! (Although I do have carpet, so I am not sure how it is on other types of floors) It also rocks back and forth. It is easy to tap with your foot or hand. Luke really likes this and takes quit a few of his naps in it. Last, it is really easy to fold up and take along with you. We take it with us when we know we are going to be at a place where he may need to nap or just hang out (friends house or family gathering, etc.) I would rate this an A+ and must have!

Bath Sponge

I love the bath sponge for bath time. We do have a baby bath tub, but I found that it was hard to use by myself. When Luke was first born he was too small to sit in it, and he didn't like the baby net that you lay them in. So we invested in the bath sponge and it has worked great! It was only like $6.00 at target. I have two of them so we alternate them. I just set it in the bottom of the tub, fill the bathtub up a little (very little) and then set Luke on the sponge. He LOVES it. He is able to splash his feet around in the water and I am able to give him his bath without having to hold him up. Just make sure that when you are done you rinse it out and lay it on its side to dry. About every 2 or 3 times I give it a deep clean to make sure it is ready for his next bath. I wouldn't say this is a must have, but it sure has helped make bath time relaxing and a good experience for all of us!

Crib Wedge

I don't have a ton to say about this other than it is helpful if you have a baby with acid reflux. Although Luke has acid reflux he LOVES laying flat. This wedge is great right now because Luke is only in his crib for a shirt amount of time while I do things around the house or if I am folding laundry in his room. He has a hard time falling asleep with the wedge. He is still sleeping in our room so I will have to see if we will keep it when he is in his crib for the nights! Again, not a must have, but is great for acid reflux.

Swing

This is pretty self explanatory. Luke loves this and it has been a life savor. When he wakes up at 6:30 am, I feed him, change him and put him in this bad boy and he is asleep for another 2 hours! I never know how long this will last, but for right now I love this swing!

Arms Reach Mini Co-Sleeper

This is my all time favorite baby item! This is what little man sleeps in every night. It is right next to our bed and it has been amazing! He sleeps great in it and it is so easy for me to feed him in the middle of the night. I love that the one side comes down and it feels like it is just an extension of our bed! I have loved this and would recommend this over a bassinet or co-sleeper that goes in your bed. If your baby is anything like mine, he would wiggle his way down and I would be so terrified that Nick or I would roll over him! NO Thank you!! I am SO glad we invested in it!

Well that's it for now. If I think of or come across any other items that I love I will do another post! But for now here it is. I hope it was helpful!!

Have a great Tuesday!

~Breanna

Luke is 2 months old!

2011-05-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

My precious Luke,

Today, you are 2 months old! I can hardly believe it! You have truly become my very best friend and I love you more than anything! Thank you for being such a sweet boy and showing me what a true miracle looks like!

What you are up to these days:

~You are 14.3 lbs and 25 and 1/2 inches long.

~You are still in the 95th percentile

for your weight and height.

~You are wearing a size 1 diaper, although I think you will be moving up soon!

~It still seems like you eat all day long, but I think it is about every 2-3 hours during the day.

~For the most part you only wake up twice during the night to eat.

~We go to bed every night between 10:00-11:30 pm.

~We have our nightly routine: If it is bath night (every other night) then we take a bath, lotion you up, put your jammies on and then you do your last feeding before you fall asleep! I love this time, it's just me and you babe and I look forward to it every night.

~You have found your hands. You suck on them and I think it is so cute!

~Your Paci soothes you and I love the noise of you sucking on it!

~You really are such a good baby, but when you are mad/sad/hungry you sure let us know with that big cry of yours.

~I have put you in your crib every now and then to get some things done around the house. As of right now you love your crib and just lay there cooing and kicking to your musical mobile.

~You are sleeping in your arms reach co-sleeper next to our bed. You are doing SO w

ell in it. After your last feeding, I set you in it, awake or asleep and before I know it, we are both asleep!

~You usually wake up between 6:45-7am, you eat and then we go out into the living room into your swing and you sleep again until about 8:30 or 9am!

~Your hair is starting to fall out and coming in a little lighter! I am curious to see what color it will end up.

~Your eyes are still a dark blue!

~Your acid reflux is still around. I am praying it goes away soon!

~I love smooching your cheeks and pinching your chubby little legs!

~You are starting to smile and "talk" a lot more. It is so cute!

~You are wearing mostly 3-6 months clothes.

~You look like your daddy :)

~Nursing you is such a bonding time that we share.

~You are the sweetest boy I know!

Well my love, another month down, and I adore you more than you could ever know! I look forward to the next stages in your sweet little life and I am SO grateful I was chosen to be your mama!

Love,

Mom

MIA

2011-05-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

I know I have been a little MIA from my blog lately, it is just so hard to find the time! I promise I will be better! I will have an exciting post tomorrow because someone is 1 month older in this family :) be back tomorrow! Have a wonderful Monday!

~Breanna

Luke has lots to say!

2011-05-16T11:07:00.000-07:00

Birth Announcement

2011-05-03T09:58:00.001-07:00

Luke's Birth Announcement!

Family of 3!

2011-05-02T13:06:00.001-07:00

Just thought I would share some sweet pictures of Luke, and our family of 3!

Look Who's 1 month old!

2011-04-17T22:41:00.000-07:00

My Sweet Luke,

You are 1 month old today! I can hardly believe it! You have brought so much joy to your Dad and I! How do I even begin to tell you how much I adore you? I don't think it's possible! Well my sweet boy, I love you more than anything in this world and don't know how I have ever lived without you! Thank you for allowing me to love you more than I ever thought was possible! You have even made me love your daddy even more, he is amazing! Thank you buddy!

What are you up to:

~ You are 11lbs 15 oz

~23 1/2 inches long

~You still have your days and nights a little confused and sleep your best in the early mornings

~You LOVE to eat! You eat about every 1 1/2-2 hours during the day and about every 2-4 during the night.

~Your favorite place to sleep is on the Boppy! Your co-sleeper and our snuggle nest for our bed don't compare to the Boppy!

~You have such dark hair still! Your daddy jokes with me all of the time about how all of my genes are taking over in you. Little does he know, you look exactly like him! (in my opinion)

~You are wearing mostly 3 month clothes, as well as some 3-6 months (depending on the brand)

~You are in a size 1 diaper

~You love to be held, and what mama doesn't love a snuggly baby!?!?

~When you are sleeping at night in your snuggle nest, you love to have either dad or I's hands wrapped around you. You love to feel touched at all times!

~ When I sing to you at night, you like to get as close to my face as possible. You calm right down and just stare at me....I love those moments!

~Your eyes are still a dark blue, but daddy is convinced they are going to turn brown...we will have to wait and see!

~You, my love can poop like nobodies business :). You probably have at least 10 poopy diapers a day! The doctors say that now you could start going days without pooping, but I have a hard time believing that!

~You don't love sleeping at night, so we are trying to get a schedule down!

~Putting you in your car seat is heartbreaking! You cry so hard when we put you in it, but then once we pick you up, you are just fine and usually asleep!

~You have acid reflux and I blame myself for this and I am so sorry babe. I have reflux as well and they say it is a genetic thing.....I am praying yours goes away soon!

~You make the best faces. You have your old man face where you scrunch it up, you have your smiley face, and my favorite is your pooping face. When you are pooping or have gas you put your lips together and make an O face. It is SO cute!

~We are starting tummy time with you! You have such a strong neck already and move it back and forth!

~We have not gone many places yet, just a few places to run errands. We spend our days at home and I love it!

Thank you my sweet boy for being such a blessing!

Love,

Mama

A-Z all about me

2011-04-08T17:48:00.001-07:00

I thought this could be fun...I should be writing Thank you cards instead........oh well!

A-Z, all about me. =)

A. Age: 25

B. Bed spread color(s): Cream and Black

C. Chore you dislike: Dishes...and laundry....I don't mind actually putting the laundry in the washer and then the dryer, it's the folding and putting away that I HATE!

D. Dogs: Yes, we have 1 dog. Mr. Bear Mallaire!

E. Essential start to your day: Putting my glasses or contacts in..lol, I am not an everyday Coffee drinker, but I usually need to start my day off with some nice cold water!

F. Favorite color: It depends for what. I love pink for a lot of things, but I would never paint a wall in my house pink, I also love green, turquoise green! But when it comes to clothes...Black all the way( only because I somehow think it is more slimming...but honestly you can't really hide the love handles and roles that well, especially now after having a baby...)

G. Gold or silver: Silver..... But I am really not apposed to Gold.

H. Height: 5′ 7”

I. Instruments you play(ed): Never have played an instrument....I always wanted to play the flute, and I would love to learn to play the guitar and piano...maybe one day!

J. Job title: Mom, Wife, Teacher

K. Kids: Luke- 3 weeks old!

L. Live for ______: God, Nick and my little man!

M. Most embarrassing moment: Probably the time when my foot fell asleep at a restaurant and I didn't notice until we got up to leave and I fell flat on the floor, twice! hahah

N. Nicknames: Bre, Nik, Babe, BreBee

O. Overnight hospital stays: Just when Luke was born!

P. Pet peeves: When people know that a lane is about to merge into one lane and they keep going in front of everyone! There are about 5978907 more things that people do while driving that drives me bonkers, but Ill just leave you with one!

Q. Quote from a movie: " If you're a bird, than I'm a bird" ( I think that is how it went, I dont remember and I am not taking the time to look it up)

S. Siblings: I have an older brother and Sister. I am the baby!.

T. Time you wake up: Well lately its been about 12am, 3am, 5am, 7am and so on! one day we will have a schedule!

U. Ultimate vacation spot: Hawaii is my favorite place I've ever been too! (Maui to be exact)

V. Vegetables: broccoli, Carrots, most veggies really!

W. What makes you run late: Not getting up early enough! And now it's because I have a baby!

X. X-rays you’ve had: On my teeth for the usually cleaning/checkup

Y. Yummy food you make: oh gosh, I guess Fettuccini

Alfredo!

Z. Zoo animal favorites: Giraffe

Well that was fun! Happy Weekend!

Breastfeeding and breathing

2011-04-05T12:44:00.000-07:00

I honestly have had a hard time writing this post. Before I was even pregnant, I always knew that I wanted to breastfeed my babies. There was no question about it! But, I never realized how hard it can be :( I know that breast milk is the absolute best thing for Luke and I plan on continuing to breastfeed, but to be honest, I am struggling. He latched on right away which was great, but my little man is hungry ALL THE TIME!! I don't feel like I am producing enough milk for him! There are times when he will be so hungry that he goes crazy trying to latch on, moving his head back and fourth so fast and hard that is scares me that he will hurt his head! Nick and I call him, "Wild Man" because he goes crazy!

I try to pump a few times a day to help with my supply. I don't know if it has helped or not. We have given Luke a bottle in the middle of the night (with my breast milk) after he nurses for a little while, but is still hungry ( oh and I don't need to hear that it is not good to give a baby a bottle so early, and that it will interfere with breastfeeding, I've already heard it, and frankly I am doing what I feel is best for Luke and Me) That is what I am struggling with most. I DON'T want to have to give him a bottle at night. I want to exclusively breast feed, but there are times when I know he needs more. Ugh...I never knew it could be so hard, but I am doing to do whatever it takes to do what is best for Luke!

On to my next topic.....breathing.... I never knew babies can have such weird breathing patterns. I was not told this at the hospital, or anywhere for that matter! Luke is almost 3 weeks old and he still has certain breathing patterns depending on what he is doing. If he is awake he has a normal breathing pattern, if he is asleep, but not in a deep sleep his breathing is crazy! There are even times when he will hold his breath for about 5 seconds....talk about giving a new mama a heart attack! When he is deep asleep he will breath soft and normal. I know there is not a manual when it comes to being a mom, but boy I am one big stress ball! I knew that I worried a lot before having Luke, but I have reached my all time high now! SO stressful!

* I wrote this post a couple days ago, and I have to say breastfeeding has gotten a little easier in the last couple of days. I know that it takes time, and I am proud to say that I have stuck with it and am feeling a little more confident with his feedings! Thank Goodness! Being a new Mama is stressful and I am glad that the little "bumps" are starting to smooth out a bit!

Happy Friday everyone! We are hoping for a nice relaxing weekend! Its supposed to rain here in Phoenix.... and we all know that we LOVE us some rain!!

~Breanna

My Miracle

2011-04-02T18:56:00.001-07:00

I title this blog post as "My miracle" because what I am about to write is the most precious, God given miracle a human being can receive...... My sweet son, Lucas Ryan Mallaire. Here is our story, the story that God created before I even knew it was coming....

Being pregnant for close to 10 months is tough. I am not going to lie, I had my days where being pregnant was a challenge. I was extremely sick for the first 5 months. Having a full time job and trying not to throw up was hard! But as hard as some days were I LOVED being pregnant! I loved watching as my stomach grew bigger day after day. The sweet movements I would feel from him was one of the best feelings I ever experienced. I felt like my body was doing what it was created to do...growing a baby. Every day I was experiencing Gods miracle inside of me.

As my due date was approaching, I was beginning to become anxious. I was so excited to meet my little man, but I honestly was a little scared of what was about to come. Not scared in a bad way, but scared as in, "Can I do this?" I was about to bring a human being in this world, and I want to be the best mom to this boy as I could possibly be. My very purpose in life is to be the best wife, and mom I can be. I was hoping this was possible.

On Wednesday, March 16th I had my regular scheduled doctors appointment. There had been talk about how big Luke was going to be from day one. I always measured bigger and my ultrasounds determined he was a big boy. What were we expecting?..... my husband was 11lbs and some change! Of course we were destined to have a big baby! When the doctor came in and did my exam, it was very routine. I was dilated 1cm and that was it. Nothing to be too excited about since it can take a while to dilate. We talked of where we were going to deliver when the time came we scheduled our next appointment, not expecting what was coming that night...

After the appointment, Nick and I went and had breakfast. We ran a few errands and spent a good 2 hours in Babies R Us ( that was becoming a ritual for us those days). When we got home I made dinner. At this point in the night I was starting to feel a little "crampy" nothing extremely bad, but a little uncomfortable. I remember telling Nick that I was starting to feel a little different, but it was hard to explain how. As the night went on I started to become even more uncomfortable.

WARNING: Now is where I start talking about yucky stuff, so if you don't want to read about it, then stop! :)

At about 8:00 ish, I went to the restroom and noticed that I had lost my mucus plug...fyi, that is the worst word ever...I hate the word mucus...yuck! and I was also bleeding. The only position that was some-what comfortable was on our computer chair at our desk in our bedroom. Every time I tried to lay down my "cramps" got worse. I tried to get some things done around the house, and concentrate on what my body was telling me. About an hour later my "cramps

were getting worse and I finally admitted to myself and Nick that I thought I was having contractions. Now since I had lost my mucus plug, was bleeding and was having what I

"thought" was contractions, I decided to call the on-call nurse at my doctors office to ask them their opinion on how long I should wait to go to the hospital ( since we were having him in Scottsdale and we live in Avondale). The doctor that I talked to said that I was probably only bleeding from my exam that day and that I should not go to the hospital until my contractions are 5 minutes apart and I am in ALOT of pain. So we waited. I sat at the computer trying to get through my contractions. I downloaded a nifty little app on my iphone that times contractions, so I started using that every time a contraction came.

When I started my contractions were about every 8-9 minutes apart and lasting about 45 seconds. As the night went on my contractions started coming every 4-5 minutes. At this point I was extremely uncomfortable and told Nick that I think it was time to go to the hospital. My water had not broken yet, but I knew that what I was feeling was very different than my every day pregnancy symptoms. We got all our stuff and headed out of the house on our way to the hospital! The drive is about 45 minutes, so needless to say it was quit an uncomfortable ride. All I could do was breathe and grab on to the seat handles every time I had a contraction. I like to think that I was handling them pretty well, but who knows!

We got to the hospital around 10:30pm. As we were riding the elevator up to the 2nd floor, all of a sudden I could feel liquid leaking out of me! I started laughing and told Nick, " I either just peed myself or my water just broke." When we got to the check-in, they had my registration already and sent me straight into the triage room. I got into the room, changed into the spiffy gown and tried to breathe through my contractions. The triage nurse was soo nice! She put those pink and blue monitors on my belly right away and we could hear our sweet boys heartbeat. The nurse checked me again and I was still only dilated to a 1. WHAT!! I was a little disappointed because I was terrified that they were going to send me home and I was not sure how I was going to handle the pain if they sent me home.

The nurse then asked me if my water had broken yet. I told her that I thought it broke in the elevator but wasn't sure since it wasn't a whole lot of liquid. She decided to test me to see if it had broken. When she was done checking all of a sudden a rush of liquid came out and I was sure that she had finished breaking my water for me. I told her that I think my water just completely broke, she checked me and said, "Well you are right, it did. Guess what you are staying with us now!" I was relieved since I knew they were not going to send me home! At this point I had decided that I wanted an epidural! I wimped out pretty quickly, but I was so uncomfortable, and needed some relief!

Now I was in my delivery room, getting all settled in. The doctor that was going to do my epidural was in my room already setting up all his stuff! Talk about getting things done quickly! He gave me my epidural and I was all set! The nurse that I had at the time told me that this is the time that I should try to sleep. So sleep is what I tried! Unfortunately the epidural decided not to work on my left side. I was still feeling every contraction on the left side of my body. Not fun! They had me turn to my left and lay on that side for a while to try and get the medicine to move to that side. It was not working! A couple hours went by and I was still feeling everything. She decided to check to see if I had dilated any more and when she checked me she said, "No wonder you were feeling those contractions so bad, you are at an 8." The nurse decided to up the medicine in my epidural. It still didn't fix it. So she upped it one more time and a few hours later it finally worked! I was relieved!

By now it was Thursday, March 17th- St. Patricks day! I was excited to think that we were going to have our sweet Luke on such a lucky day. With him being Irish and all, it was a perfect day to bring him into this world! At about 6am my nurse came in and decided that I needed to switch from side to side to try and get Luke to turn. He was head down but he was turned the wrong way. I did that every 30 minutes for the next couple of hours.

At around 8:00am the nurse came in checked me, I was dilated to a 10 and asked if I felt like I was ready to push. I couldn't feel anything, only pressure. From this point on I started pushing with every contraction. The pressure was increasing with every contraction and was becoming really uncomfortable. In my mind I knew that labor can last a long time. I knew that if could be hours from now until he came, or he could come any minute. With each push, I pushed as hard as I could. I wanted him out, and I put every ounce of my strength into each push. I didn't want to be pushing for hours!

After about 5 or so pushes the nurse told me to stop pushing! WHAT stop pushing? For all you moms out there, once you are pushing, it is really, really hard to just stop pushing! The doctor was not there yet and they needed me to stop until she got there! ahhh! The pressure was so intense that I was about to go crazy! Fast forward about 20 minutes, the doctor got there, I pushed a few times and he was out!!!

Lucas Ryan Mallaire was born at 9:58am on March 17, 2011! He was 9lbs 8 ounces! It was the best moment of our lives! He cried right away and it was such a wonderful noise!

I feel blessed beyond belief how smooth my labor went! Luke has become such a part of our family already and we can't imagine life without him!

I will be updating more often about our sweet boy....I hope you join us! Life is good, and I am excited for what life is all about being a mama!

~Breanna

2 years, true love

2011-02-28T19:13:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking about writing this post, honestly for the past month. What can I say to my sweet husband on our 2nd wedding anniversary? That it has been wonderful? Awesome? Hard? Romantic? Challenging? All of the above? Yes, our marriage has been wonderful! We have done some awesome things! We have a hard time not seeing each other as much as we would like, money is tight (which stresses me out, and in turn makes things harder). Romantic? Yes, a few specific nights have brought us to where we are today(within weeks of meeting our first child) sorry if that was TMI.... :) (Dad if you are reading this, sorry).

There are a million things I could say about my husband and about our marriage, but I thought I would take a different approach to my anniversary post. I want Luke to know his dad. Truly know him for the man that I fell in love with 7 years ago, and have had the privilege to be married to for the past 2 years. I am not sitting here bragging about my husband and trying to make him sound like a perfect man. But I am proud of who he is and what he has become the last 7 years, and Luke, our first boy deserves to know how his mom feels about his dad. It is important. I knew from a very young age how much my mom and dad adored each other. I think, actually, I know that my parents marriage was a huge testimony to me and my siblings about what a true marriage can be about. I only hope to instill the same testimony for my children. I have no idea what parenthood is all about yet, but I am weeks away from knowing, and I am looking forward to raising the best human beings I can :)

2/28/2011- Your Mom and Dads 2 year wedding anniversary

Luke,

My sweet boy. You are not even here yet, and I am so in love with you. I have spent the last almost 10 months closer to you than I ever will again. You are a part of me, and I have enjoyed every minute of it! In July of 2010 I found out I was pregnant with you. I was shocked and surprised and overjoyed! The morning I took my pregnancy test, I was alone. When your dad got home, I told him to go into the bathroom and look at the counter. Lying there was the test, and it of course showed a positive test. He looked at me and just smiled. He gave me his half smile that still melts my heart. At that moment we became parents. Life changed. We loved you from the second we saw that test. The past almost 10 months have been a whirl wind of emotions. We talk about you every second of the day. What are you going to look like? Are you going to have my brown eyes? Or your dads beautiful blue eyes? His blond hair, or my (naturally) brown hair? I get butterflies in my stomach just thinking about looking at you for the first time, holding you, smelling you, snuggling you! I can hardly stand it!

I think about the sweet baby you are going to be, the boy you will grow to be, and the man that you will become. I am overwhelmed with the thought of you being anything like your dad. If you are anything like him, I will be so proud! He is genuine, loving, loyal and hard working! He would do anything for us, and you should always know that! Your dad loves me, and I know that. Not in a conceded way, but in a true, loving, respectful way. He has passions and you will know them. He is true to who he is, and I am so hopeful that you will be your own person as well. Be a leader, and make good decisions. I pray that you have great friends and a love for God. I pray so much for you my sweet boy, and I can only hope that I can be the mom to you that you deserve. One thing I know for sure is that your daddy and I will ALWAYS love you. Thank you for making me a mom and allowing me and your dads heart to change because of YOU!

Life is about to change, and we are so ready! I can tell you right now that we won't be perfect parents, nowhere near, but we will do our best to allow you to know what unconditional love feels like. Thank you again, sweet Luke for giving me the opportunity to become a mom. I look forward to the days ahead, becoming a family of 3!

I love you,

Mom

P.S. My sweet husband. Thank you for the past 2 years. I don't have the words to describe how thankful I am for you. Thank you for loving me and Luke. We are truly lucky. Here's to 65 more years!

Showering Luke with Love

2011-02-13T19:17:00.000-08:00

This weekend Nick and I had a family Guy/Gal baby shower and it was amazing! My best friend and sister-in-law Angie ( if you don't know our story, we have been friends since we were 6 years old, and we grew up and married brothers, and now we are both pregnant, only 4 weeks apart. That is my really quick version of our life story) and brother-in-law had a joint shower. Our mother-in-law through it for us, and it was AMAZING! I will share some pictures soon!

I have lesson plans to still write tonight and finish my valentines cards for my kiddos. Oh the life of a teacher, I am too nice to them(well, most of the time).

I only have 4 weeks left of work before Maternity leave! Thank goodness, I am so tired and NEED to do so many things around this house to prepare for Luke! I can get through 4 weeks right? Yes, of course I can!

Have a wonderful Sunday evening, and I will share pictures of the wonderful showers I have had!

Goodnight,

Breanna

31 Weeks Pregnant!

2011-01-23T09:55:00.000-08:00

(the only picture we got yesterday. My husband feels the need to do thumbs up in all pictures lately)

I am 31 weeks pregnant!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 31 Weeks

Size of baby: Luke is the size of a head of lettuce (19 in, 3.9 lbs)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I am not sure. All I know is my doctor said I have been good and consistant on my weight gain. I don't want to know the number!

Maternity Clothes: yes, all of my clothes are maternity, besides some shirts and cardigans

Gender: A Boy, Luke Mallaire!

Movement: Yes, I feel him all of the time :)

Sleep: I don't sleep that well. I toss and turn a lot! All I can say is thank goodness for my body pillow!

What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach, and Wine!

Cravings: Mexican food, Japanese food...actually anything really!

Symptoms: I feel full all of the time and have a hard time eating. My back is getting achy, and my feet hurt at the end of the day! Oh the joys of pregnancy :)

This week I turned 31 weeks preggo! I have finally began to feel HUGE! I don't feel quit as big, until I look at a picture of me and realize how big my belly really is (and maybe my double chin)! oh dear, and I have up to 9 weeks to go! As big and as uncomfortable I am feeling, I am really enjoying this time. I LOVE feeling Luke move. He moves around a lot and now they are becoming a little bit painful. Yesterday I felt like he ran his entire elbow across my entire stomach. It now seems like more distinct movements and I can almost guess which body part he is sticking out! I am sure I have no idea, but I like to think I know!

We had our 31 week doctors appointment this past Wednesday. It went really well. I am still measuring a little ahead, but our last ultrasound looked great and we just might have a big, healthy baby on our hands :) I can't wait to meet our sweet boy! I love thinking about what he will look like and how he will act. Will he have Nick's beautiful blue eyes, or my brown eyes? Will he have light hair or dark hair? (we know he has hair, we have been told many times in our ultrasounds) I am just so anxious to see him!

I have about 7 weeks left of work! I will be done March 11th! As much as I may miss my kiddos, I am anxious to have time off to get some last minute things done for Luke, and some time to myself, before my life changes forever (in the best way)! I will have 11 weeks off, and then will go back for the last two weeks of school! My sweet Sister is going to watch Luke for us for those two weeks, which I am SO grateful for!

Thats about all I have to update on! Nick started school last week and seems to already like his classes! He loves those science classes, that I could never imagine taking! He is so smart and loves all that stuff! That is why I could never be a doctor :) I'll leave that one up to him! He has this semester left and then an internship and then he will be ready for med school! I am so proud of him and everything he does. He not only goes to school, he works full time, and takes such good care of me! He does it all without complaints!

Happy Sunday everyone! Have a great week!

2011=TRUST

2010-12-31T09:52:00.000-08:00

As I sit here thinking about the last year I can't help but think about how it started out. On January 1, 2010 Nick and I lost our first baby. I was 8 weeks pregnant and I had a miscarriage. It was one of the worst days of our lives. The moment you find out you are pregnant you instantly become parents. I watched as my husband became a dad and the love he already had for our unborn child. Unfortunetly something was wrong and God had a bigger plan for that sweet baby and for us. We now have our angle baby in heaven and we are at peace with it. Well how do you go on after that? Well you just do. The following days and weeks were kind of a blur. I was sad, mad, hurt, lonely (for my baby) and so many other emotions. I had such great support from family and friends, but it didn't make the ache in my heart go away. Eventually the pain goes away, but you never forget...and I will never forget.

I refused to let 2010 become a bad memory. So it went on, and I lived life. I had a lot of great things happen in 2010. I graduated college, went on amazing vacations with friends, and got a teaching job. What started off as an emotional, life changing year, began to change and become one of the best years of our lives. In July 2010, we found out we were pregnant again! What a blessing! As of now I am 7 months pregnant and we can't wait to meet our sweet boy. March can't come fast enough for us! It just proves that a year that starts off with heartache can end with so much hope and excitement!

So what will 2011 hold....I have no idea, but I do know that I am looking forward to it. I look forward to becoming a mom. Something I have longed to be for a very long time! As I have heard on KLOVE and on a few different blogs I have read, I am picking a word this year that will help guide my year....that word is TRUST....I have a lot of new, exciting, scary and emotional times ahead of me, and I know that I need to TRUST that God will guide me in the right directions and comfort me in the times when I need him the most. (was that a run-on sentence?) I have always had a hard time with worrying and being in control, and hopefully as 2011 begins I will learn to let go and TRUST.

The last day of 2010 has been a nice low key day for me so far. I am reflecting and thanking God for the many blessings he has given us. I can't wait to welcome 2011 and begin the next chapter in our lives....life is beautiful, it sometimes takes the worst of days to appreciate the best of days!

So Goodbye 2010....Welcome 2011...I have so much hope for you!!

Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bag and bedding

2010-12-05T10:34:00.000-08:00

Now that Mr. Luke is on his way and will be here before we know it, I have been thinking about what kind of diaper bag I want....I mean.....We want!

When I was about 8 weeks pregnant I went to my favorite consignment store and found an adorable brand new Coach diaper bag. It is really cute, but the minute I showed it to Nick he said, "Wow, I am going to look awesome carrying that around." (in a total sarcastic way). Ever since then I have been searching for a diaper bag that we both like. Well I found it, and I LOVE it! It was a little spendy, but I found it on the Pottery Barn kids website, and what do you know, we had giftcards from our wedding that we never used from Pottery Barn and it was just enough to cover the diaper bag! Yay! I am so excited to get it! It is still a little girly, but Nick still liked it too! It will be here Dec. 9th and I can't wait to see it! The bedding we got Luke is from Pottery Barn Kids as well! Thank goodness for gift cards and trendy consignment stores! If I could buy everything from Pottery Barn Kids I would!

Now I guess it would be important to start getting the main things we need for Luke! It's crazy how expensive baby furniture is! Thank Goodness he is worth every penny! All we really need is a crib, dresser and changing table and we are all set! I got his Co-sleeper for our room and a glider! I just can't wait to put it all together!

The sweet boy already has a good collection of clothes...what can I say, I love to shop and especially when it comes to baby clothes I...just...can't...help...it! We will be in major trouble when we have a girl! Good thing this Mama is all about baby consignment stores! They have the cutest stuff and it is very reasonably priced! Babies grow so fast, there is no need to spend too much money on the things they will grow out of in two seconds!

Happy Sunday everyone, I hope you had a great weekend!

~Breanna

(The one I got is the bottom left, black and blue bag, but they are all sooo cute)

(Luke's bedding, It has light green, navy blue, light blue, beige and brown in it! and no that is not zebra stripes, it just looks like it!)

24 weeks preggo and random thoughts!

2010-12-03T09:30:00.000-08:00

( Luke was being shy, so here is a nice picture of his spine :)

(Luke at 21 weeks. Look closely, it is of his profile)

I am officially 24 weeks pregnant this week! Time is flying by! I really LOVE being pregnant! I don't however, love all the symptoms I have had. Beginning with morning sickness that lasted most of my first and half of my second trimester. Fatigue that I feel still has not gotten much better! I honestly don't feel like I got that 2nd trimester burst of energy! And now I am experiencing the dizziness and muscle aches! ohh goodness! But you know what? Like I said before I LOVE being pregnant and I LOVE carrying this sweet boy of ours. Any aches and pains is worth it, I would do anything for my boy, and as his mom I feel so honored.

We had our 24 week appointment on Wednesday(12/1/10). Everything looks great! We do need to have another ultrasound done at our 28 week appointment because he is measuring about 7-9 days ahead and they just want to check him again! I am all for another ultrasound to see him! And maybe that means he will be joining us a week earlier :)

I have been feeling Luke move like crazy. In the beginning he would move mostly during the day while I was teaching, but lately he has been moving during the day, but mostly at night! If I lay down or even sit down I usually can feel him a movin' :) I love it!

Well today is Friday and I took the day off. I have not been feeling the best this week, so I listened to my body and took a personal day. It feels good just to lay in bed, watch T.V. and rest this preggo body!

All day long I just think of the moment when we meet Luke. I know moms always say it is the best moment of their lives when they get to see and hold their babies for the first time. I just can't wait! I am still in denial that I will have a son and that he will be mine! I have seen him on the ultrasounds and I can feel him inside of me, but I still have to pinch myself and remind myself that this is real life and in less than 4 months he will be here with us! ohh goodness :)

I came across a picture the other day and it was a picture of a mom holding and hugging her child. For some reason my mind automatically went to the thought of my mom holding and hugging me. I just have to say, my mom was an amazing mother. The BEST if you ask me! One thing I will never, ever forget about her is the love she had for her kids. My brother, sister and I were so lucky to have her. She was loving, protecting, understanding, comforting and best of all a true friend. She never made you feel that you could not talk to her, she understood. She knew her kids inside and out, and most of the time she knew how we were feeling even when we did not. One of the most important things I learned from my mom is how to love. How to truly, unconditionally love. I love my son already. Unconditionally. And I feel that the mother I am going to be is because of my mom. I learned so much from her and I don't think she even knew the impact she was going to leave on my family. Luke will be joining a family of true love. He is a blessing to all of us already, and I CAN'T wait to be the mom I have always wanted to be, and knew I could be, because of the one women that has changed my life forever! My mom would have been the best grandma, but it is such a blessing and comfort knowing that she has already met Luke, she knows him, and is blessing him with her love from Heaven! I love that she loves him...Unconditionally from the most perfect place any human can be!

Luke, you have so many people that love you already, and I can't wait to see your precious face!

Happy Friday everyone, hope you have a wonderful weekend! Here is a little pregnancy highlight for ya!

I am 24 weeks pregnant!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 24 Weeks

Size of baby: Luke is the size of an Eggplant

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I only gained 1 lb from this weeks appointment from the last one, but honestly I avoid looking at the scale! I think its been about 10 lbs total

Maternity Clothes: yes, all of my clothes are maternity, besides some shirts and cardigans

Gender: A Boy, Luke Mallaire!

Movement: Yes, within the last couple weeks I have been feeling him a lot more!

Sleep: I don't sleep that well. I toss and turn a lot! All I can say is thank goodness for my body pillow!

What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach, and Wine!

Cravings: Mexican food, Japanese food...actually anything really!

Symptoms: A little dizziness and a few headaches, but oh so worth it!

My moving boy!

2010-11-21T19:35:00.000-08:00

I am 22 weeks pregnant and I love the stage of pregnancy I am in! I feel better (besides the occasional nausea and tiredness), My belly is getting bigger (the only time in my life when I have liked that), and I am starting to feel Luke move around a lot!

He must have had a growth spurt this weekend because he has been moving like crazy! Yesterday, (11/20/10) was the first time my hubby was able to feel him move! It was such a memorable moment for the two...I mean three of us! I was laying in bed and started to feel him move around. I yelled at Nick to come in to see if he would be able to feel him. The moment he put his hand on my stomach Luke went crazy! He started moving and jabbing me over and over again! It was to the point where all I could do was giggle, it was almost tickling me, and the most movement I have felt that I started to feel funny (but in a good way, does that make sense?) I was so excited to be feeling so much movement!

Today I have been feeling him off and on! I love the sweet reminder of this precious life growing inside of me! Such a blessing!

Thanksgiving is this Thursday and I have a short work week this week! I am thankful for that! Hope everyone had a great Sunday!

~Breanna

What the hips!

2010-10-14T12:22:00.000-07:00

So I had no idea that when you are pregnant that you seriously can feel your hips moving! I have woken up every morning the past few days and my my hips ache! Who knew? I sure didn't! I guess I am in store for a lot more "things" you truly don't know about until it is happening to you!

I am on Fall break from school this week and am LOVING every minute of it! It is going by WAY to fast, but when does time slow down when you want it to? Never! I love that after this break, we have Thanksgiving break, and then Christmas and New Years break, and then before we know it, BAM...March will be here and we will get to meet our sweet Luke! We really can't wait! Nick is so cute and is just dying to have this sweet son of ours with us! He talks to my belly ( oh and if you see him around, don't mention I am telling you this :) and is just so sweet with me, and how he talks about Luke! It just melts me thinking about him being a dad! He is going to be so wonderful at it!

I am attempting to clean the house today, but I like how it is 12:30 p.m. and I am still in my pajamas, haven't brushed my teeth yet ( ew, I know gross) and have laid in bed most of the morning! I knew I could be lazy, but when you have such a demanding job, you forget what lazy feels like!

Well I am off to do, who knows what, but I need to do something productive! I hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday!

~Breanna

In Gods Hands

2010-10-12T16:23:00.001-07:00

I need to start blogging more, and recording what is happening in this amazing pregnancy of mine! More for myself than anybody else!

I think I have written before about how sick I have been throughout this pregnancy. Literally the day I hit 6 weeks, I was nauseous. From 6 weeks up until about now, I have felt sick everyday, all day long! It was so miserable! I feel a little guilty saying how miserable I was, because I would go through it all over again for this sweet baby growing inside of me! I am not ungrateful whatsoever, I just never realized what Mama's to be can go through! I would say working full time had made it even harder! There were days when if I had any other job other than teaching I would have taken more days off. I had days where I would stand next to my trash can in my classroom and would dry heave until I would either throw up, or would eventually be able to walk away ( don't worry it never happened when I was with my students, thankfully) It took everything inside of me to not throw up in front of my students. It took lots of cracker eating, candy sucking, ginger ale breaks to keep everything down. Yuck! Yuck! Yuck! is all I can say!

I would talk to my dad almost every night on the phone. He would ask me how I was feeling and I would usually say "Not so good" he said that he can hear that in my voice, and could tell that I just wasn't myself! and it was true, I wasn't myself. I felt like a zombie in my own body, that would only sleep and eat, and go to work, and then would get up and do it all over again the next day. I was in survival mode. I did whatever I had to, to get through the day and once I was home I was done! In my (Bre Cave) as Nick calls it, our bed was the only place where I could get some relief. Not because I necessary felt better, but because I would go to sleep at 7:30 every night just so I didn't have to feel nauseous! Anyways, now that I am almost 17 weeks I think I am finally feeling better (fingers crossed)!

Well, if I didn't have the typical every symptom in the book pregnancy, as is, last Wednesday I had my normal 16 week appointment. My appointment was at 4:15 that day, but around 2:15 I felt like I needed to go to the bathroom really bad ( nothing out of the ordinary for me these days) but when I went the bathroom ( without getting in to much detail) I had some bleeding. I of course freaked out, because they always tell you that any blood during a pregnancy is not normal, so initially I think something horrible is going wrong. But of course, being a teacher I had to go back to class and pretend that everything was fine until school was over. ( I have realized that teaching while your pregnant is really not very ideal)

Once my students were out my door, I was out the door! I left for my appointment as quick as I could! Trying to walk through a hallway of kids and teachers and put a smile on your face, when you are falling apart inside is not easy. When I was finally to my car I of course call my husband asap. I have to tell you, I wish I was more like my husband. He is so calm, and encouraging in stressful situations. I have been through a lot in my life, and no matter what the situation that was happening to us, he always stays calm. Even if the outcome was life changing in a good way or horrible way, he was there, calm and reminding me that everything, no matter what was going to be okay. And you know what? It has been okay. No matter what. Just like he said.

As I got to my doctors appointment (Nick wasn't there yet), they called me back, and I was shaking horribly. I was nervous, scared and hopeful. As I got into my room, the nurse took my blood pressure and then was ready to put the doppler on my belly. As she put it on, she went over my stomach a few times. I thought I heard the heartbeat a few times but she kept moving it. So I of course got nervous, until she said, " There it is, nice and strong" FEW!! I was so relieved. As she left, my doctor walked in. She immediately asked me how I was doing, like she always does. Well this time I said " Not so good" and she looked at me with worry in her eyes. So I told he what had happened, and to make a long story somewhat short, lol she checked me, and then got me into an ultrasound just to make sure everything was okay.

So that is why I got an ultrasound at my 16 week appointment! Our sweet baby was just fine and everything else looked great! He just wanted to keep us on our toes. I still do not know why I had a little bleeding, but I have had none since, and plan on not having any more! I am just so thankful my sweet Luke is healthy! that is all a Mama can ask for!

So because of all this, I have a question for all you Mama's out there? How do you get through almost 10 months of your pregnancy without worrying every second about your sweet baby inside of you? I have faith in God that he is protecting me and Luke and that he already has both of our lives planned out, and that it is all in his hands, but how on a day to day basis do I tell myself, stop worrying and let God take control? I believe with everything inside of me that God is the Author of my life and is writing this incredible story, but why then is it still so hard? Do I not have enough faith or trust? Am I relying too much on my own comforts and not enough on God? I know I am not the only person that has worried about their child. I know that it has JUST begun, and I have a lifetime of worrying to go through with this sweet boy! I just love him so much already and can't wait to meet him and love him more than I can even imagine!

Worrying is something I have always had issues with. What are some ways you control worrying and how to let the little things go? I am curious to know?

Hope everyone had a great Tuesday!

~Breanna

Sweet Baby Mallaire

2010-10-09T14:45:00.000-07:00

Our Sweet BOY!! Yep that's right, we are having a boy!! We couldn't be more excited!!

I have not updated in a few days, (yes I know I said I was going to be better at this blogging thing) but here is my last Pregnancy update!

I am 16 weeks pregnant!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 16 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby boy is the size of an avocado

Total Weight Gain/Loss: not really sure! I avoid looking at the scale!

Maternity Clothes: yes, work pants. Most of my work slacks were getting to tight, but dresses, shirts and skirts are my normal clothes!

Gender: A Boy!!

Movement: I think I have felt him move, but I could be wrong!

Sleep: I don't sleep that well. I toss and turn a lot! All I can say is thank goodness for my body pillow!

What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach, and Wine!

Cravings: Bean burritos, japanese food, watermelon, Chick-Fil-A (yummy)

Symptoms: Still nauseous every now and then, but this week I have finally felt a little better! Praise God!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!!

So many changes!

2010-09-25T14:23:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted on my blog! I have finally given it a makeover and it feels a little more like Fall! Speaking of Fall, it is my Favorite time of year! (once Sept. 26th is over with) I love everything about Fall! The decorations, yummy candles, the crisp air, and that Fall smell that flows through the air! Nothing better!

Well since I last posted, a lot has happened. I am now a full time teacher! I teach 4th grade at a charter school in phoenix. It has been quit an experience! When they said your first year will be challenging, they were right! But at the end of the day, I love what I do!

The best and most blessed change in my life lately is the sweet baby growing in my belly! Yep, I am 14 weeks pregnant! I could not be any happier! I can't believe Nick and I are going to be parents. It is all so unreal! Nick has been such an amazing, supportive husband through all of this! Lets just say I have not had the smooth sailing kind of pregnancy! I have had every type of symptom they warn you about! The first six weeks were perfect! I felt great! but literally the day I hit six weeks, I began feeling nauseous, I was extremely tired and was so sore( you know where ladies!). I began getting worse and worse. The sickness lingered all day long! Whoever termed the word "Morning" sickness was obviously a man! because I have been sick all day, everyday! Now that I am in my 14th week, I am starting to feel some relief! I have my good and bad days. I finally gave in and started taking zofran for the nausea. It helps sometimes, but not always! ugh, I am just hoping for full relief soon! I have to say though, I would be just fine being sick for the rest of my pregnancy, I just feel so blessed to be growing this miracle inside of me!

Well that is what is happening here in the Mallaire household! I will post some belly pictures soon! as of now I haven't felt well enough to even think about taking a picture of myself, ha!

I will be back tomorrow to talk about my sweet momma! It's been 4 years since she went to be with Jesus....I can't believe that :(

Have a great Saturday! Is anybody doing anything fun? The hubby and I are off to the Daniel Tosh (from tosh.0 on comedy central) show tonight! Its the 10:30 show....hopefully this pregnant mama can stay awake :)

Here is a little Weekly update about my pregnancy. Quit a few of the blogs I read do these on a weekly basis, so I thought I would try it out! No picture this week, but I promise to have one next week!

I am 14 weeks pregnant!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 14 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby M is the size of a Navel Orange ( or peach some say)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: gained 2 pounds

Maternity Clothes: yes, work pants. Most of my work slacks were getting to tight, but dresses, shirts and skirts are my normal clothes!

Gender: Don't know yet!

Movement: Not yet! although I swear last week I felt little butterfly flutters on my left side!

Sleep: I don't sleep that well. I toss and turn a lot. I am exhausted though! (and have weird dreams)

What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach!

Cravings: Bean burritos, japanese food, watermelon, Chick-Fil-A (yummy)

Symptoms: Still nauseous, but I have an okay day here and there! Very tired, and a little moody :)

Day of Silence for Cohen

2010-07-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

http://www.inthiswonderfullife.com/

Memorial Day Tribute

2010-05-31T10:25:00.000-07:00

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."

John ( 15:13)

I have been sitting at my computer for an hour watching tearful videos on YouTube. I came across this video and had to share it. Grab some tissues, you will need them. I know it is over 10 minutes, but take 10 minutes out of your day to pay tribute and remember our fallen hero's, it's the least we can do.

These videos hit so close to home to me. I thought I was going to be one of those wives (girlfriend at the time) who was going to lose their loved one overseas. I felt my whole life slip away from me in November 2007. I thought Nick was dead. It was the worst feeling I have ever had. Although Nick was extremely sick, he was alive. ALIVE!! Thank God he came home to me, and not a casket.

I was extremely lucky to have my soldier come home, but there are so many people that don't. My heart aches and cry's thinking about the pain and suffering those soldiers and families have gone through. I can't imagine.

Thank you to all the men and women out there sacrificing their lives for our freedom. It doesn't come free, and I hope that we as Americans can support and remember all they have done for us in the past, present, and future! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to our troops, and don't forget their families, there is a lot of sacrifice and bravery that comes along with being a family member of a soldier. It's not easy, but it's worth it!

Happy Memorial Day. My challenge for you today is to thank a soldier or pray for a soldier. Prayer goes a long way, and they will feel it!! :)

When the conversations change...

2010-05-30T18:26:00.000-07:00

My husband and I were talking today about what we would name our future son ( no, I am not pregnant) but we have these types of conversations a lot. And I love that we can and he is just as much into them as I am. Of course we can't for the life of us agree on a boy name. We have the girl name and have for a long time now, but if and when we have a boy, we are going to be in trouble! Every name I pick he doesn't like, and the very few he actually says I don't like. We could have a problem!

During our baby name conversation today, I stopped and took a minute and thought, WOW I am at that age where husbands, and babies and families and all that good stuff starts to happen, and it's weird to me. Since when do I have conversations with my husband, wait what husband...I have a husband? oh Ya I do, and now we are talking about babies? Where has the time gone? There are days when I feel I should still be in the 8th grade, not talking to my husband about babies! But I also realized today that I LOVE where I am in life. I have a wonderful husband, a beautiful house, a job, amazing friends, and the list goes on!

I am at that place in life where becoming a mom is what I look forward to. I don't look forward to what party I am going to go to on Friday night, what boy I can flirt with, or waiting for that phone call from that special boy. Don't get me wrong, I had my moments of deciding which party to go to on a Friday night, flirting with guys, and I had MANY countless nights waiting for a boy to call. I'm also not saying that I don't like to go out and have a good time every now and then. I love getting dressed up and going on with my girlfriends for a girls night out (just not every night, or every weekend), I enjoy going on road trips and having a little spontaneity in life, and going to a house party with friends is always a good time in my book. It's just not what I look forward to all of the time anymore. Does this make me boring? crazy? If it does, so be it! I have things to look forward to, but I am also very content where I am. And it feels good!!

Life changes, and I enjoy the conversations that seem to change with age. I love each stage of life Nick and I go through. Bring on the baby conversations, they make me happy!!

Happy Mothers Day

2010-05-09T09:50:00.001-07:00

Happy Mothers day to all the wonderful mothers out there!!

I sure do wish I was spending the day with my Mama! I know she is in heaven smiling down on me and my siblings today, loving being our mom!! She was simply amazing and I cherish all the memories I have of her!!

Thank you Mama for continuing to play the most important role in my life. Your unconditional love carries on everyday and I feel so blessed to call you my mom!! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for being such an incredible women! I can't wait to be a mom myself so I can love my babies the way you loved us!!

I love you forever and miss you so much!!

My Sweet Boy

2010-04-29T20:49:00.001-07:00

I love this boy....he melts my heart and loves me unconditionally! What more could a dog mommy want?!? Nothing...he is such a blessing!

I love you my sweet Bear Mallaire!!

2010-04-28T22:46:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, I LOVE shopping. Shopping and I have a love/hate relationship....well it's actually all about love, but the lack of money is the hate part! I find myself dreaming of cute clothes, and often find myself thinking about what if would be like to desing my own clothes! A little known...well actually it is probably unknown to most, but before I began my degree in Elementary Education, I wanted to go to FIDM (Fashion Institue of Design and Merchandise) in California. I wanted to design clothes for a living. I love the thought of designing clothes. I am just not creative. At all. I can't draw for the life of me and I have a really hard time expressing myself through drawings. I feel that I would be able to come up with ideas, but I would need somebody to do the actual designing. Needless to say, clothes designing went down the drain....but my love for clothes has not! Instead I am creative in the classroom with sweet children that no matter what my drawings look like, they love! So... Clothes Designer or Teacher?!?.....I think I picked the career for me....and who knows maybe I will teach, design and become a photographer all at once! Who says I can't?!? I am a dreamer, and oh boy do I dream of a career with teaching amazing children, capturing memerable moments, and who knows maybe design a few clothes...Life is a journey...who knows where it will take me...and I look forward to the ride!

Here are a few of my favorite places to shop:

Ann Taylor Loft: I LOVE everything about this store. It has the looks I love...Casual, Chic, Preppy and Dressy all put into one store....Did I mention that I LOVE this store...well I do!

Pros: Adorable Clothes

Cons: It's a little pricey.. but I seem to go when they have a great sale selection, so keep your eyes open :)

Target: Who does not LOVE Target?!? In my opinion that could not be possible :) I love that Target has introduced so many great new clothes designers which in turn means more options! I always seem to find something new and cute at Target (and not only can I find a cute new outfit, I can grocery shop at the same time... can't go wrong with that)

Pros: Convienant, Clean, Mult-purpose, and Fun!

Cons: NONE....okay maybe a few....I always seem to stand in line! They need to have more of those cute red shirt wearing chashiers available! (P.S....I really do think they are cute!), but that does not stop me from going! Things can also be a little pricey...again find the clearance isles....there is always something to be found!

TJ-Maxx and Marshalls: I love going to these stores. They have great designer clothes for half the price! I always seem to find something new when I go!

Pros: You can find great deals on super cute designer clothes!
Cons: These stores can be busy and you have to search for things...you have to be in the mood to search and shop, but it's so worth it if you find something!

My Sister's Closet: And no, it's not Britts Closet (my sister). It is one of my most favorite places to shop! My Sister's Closet is a recycled designer apparel store! This means that I can bring in my old clothes and get store credit or a check for my clothes! I love it. I ALWAYS find something cute!

Pros: great deals, awesome designer clothes, purses, jewlery, and shoes!
Cons: You have to search! You can't walk into this store quickly! You have to have at LEAST an hour to go through this store! but it is worth it! Some people don't have the patience to enjoy a store like this, but if you can manage, I promise you won't be dissapointed!

Well that is all!! Those are a few of my favorite stores!!

I hope you had a good Wednesday :)

My Sweet Girls.....

2010-04-20T23:11:00.000-07:00

I have 3 Adorable Nieces.....I am one lucky Aunt :)