Catching up.... somewhat

Things have been pretty good in our world.

We have found a house that we want to buy.  The owners are building so we have 4-6 months to sell ours.  If we don't, we are prepared to pay two mortgages.

Aubri is still the best thing to ever happen to us.  She's such a little sweetheart.  She loves her Mommy and Daddy unconditionally.

She's getting her 1 year molars.  Let me tell you, that shit is no joke.  I can see that it hurts.  She's had a slight fever, a snotty nose, and well, the poops.  A good nights sleep has become a myth at our house.  Although, last night was better.


We went camping for the 4th of July.  We went and watched fireworks.  Aubri was tired so I don't know if she liked it or hated it.  She was too tired for us to tell. We got to do some four-wheeler riding.  Aubri got to be spoiled and ditch her routine for a long weekend.  And the pups got to run wild.

Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the summer!

Birthday Party

Aubri's birthday party was a couple weeks ago. The party was supposed to be outside at a park under a pavilion.  The day of the party it was cold and raining.  We set everything up at the park and then decided to move the party to my mom and dad's garage.

In the garage:

We had a friend of ours take pictures at her party and I love the way they turned out.  

She loved the cupcake.  She received lots of nice gifts.  And once we got to the garage, we all had a great time. 

I think she liked being the center of attention too. 

1 year

One year ago today, we were blessed with the most perfect baby girl.   In one year, she has taught us so much and learned so much herself.

She can walk now.

She's using a potty chair (sometimes).

She's eats table scraps.

She can give high five, play pat -a- cake, dance, and give kisses and "awwws."

She can say mom, dad, Shelley (shhhh), Abby (babbby), Papaw, Gigi (grandma maybe), cup, puppy, hey, baba, and babbles like a champ.

She weighs somewhere around 25 pounds.

She loves shopping cart rides and going for wagon rides.

She loves taking baths, having snacks, and flushing the toilet.

When we brought her home, we had no idea what we were doing.  Now, we couldn't imagine our lives without her.

We love you more than words could ever describe.  You bring so much joy and happiness to our lives.  You will always be our baby girl.


Happy Birthday Aubria Rose! 

Hey, remember me?

I'm so far behind in the blogging world that my only choice is a bullet post.

• The hubby didn't end up going to WLC (Army training).  He hurt his back the week before.  He's not sure how.  He ended up having an epidural and wasn't able to go.  We were glad to have him stay home.  But my ears hurt from all the whining. 

• After a couple of months of extending contracts, crossing our T's and dotting our I's or i's, we were able to transfer what is left of Matt's GI bill to Aubria.  He has 26 months remaining.  Divide that by 9 months per school year and she has almost 3 years of benefits to use.  Tuition.  Room and board.  Books.  I am elated that we have one less thing to worry about. 

• Speaking of the little tornado, Aubri will be a year old at the end of this month.  I will do a better update on her then.  But for now, she can wave bye, give kisses, give high fives, and is showing interest in potty training.  She has a potty chair.  We put her on it when she wakes up and sometimes between naps/sleeping.  She has done great.  She prefers to poop on it rather than in her diaper.  But, we are not forcing it.  She crawls like a champ and will eat just about anything.

•  I've been slacking a little on the dieting but I'm hoping to get my butt back in gear now that Easter is over.  I'm down to pre-pregnant weight.  And have lost a total of 15 pounds.

• We put our house on the market.  So far, we have two Looky Lou's.  We take that as a good sign.  However, the town we are wanting to move to has nothing we are interested in.

• Baseball season has started.  Here is a picture from "family fun time." 

That's about all I have for today.  Sorry for the lack of posting and commenting.  I'm going to try harder.  

Hope you all have a great week!

Army related news

I haven't talked about my husband being in the Army for awhile now.

The hubby was active duty Army, then Army Reserves, and now he is in the Illinois National Guard.

One weekend a month, he packs up his gear and leaves.  We live about 70 miles away from where he does his drill.  More often than not, he spends the night.  He is usually gone from 6:00 Saturday morning until 6:00 Sunday evening.

A couple of months ago, he signed a new contract.  A three year extension.  As of now, he has a commitment until July of 2016.  Around the same time, he was also promoted.  He is now a Sergeant. 

This all means a couple of things for us.

First of all, he will have a 10 + year (actually 12) commitment to the Army.  When you have a commitment of over 10 years, you can transfer your GI bill (the thing that pays for him to go to school).  From what I understand, he can't transfer it to Aubri because he already starting using it and it has to be used within 9 years from the time he started using it.  So, basically, we are going to try to transfer it to me.  If my school is paid for, I will go as long as I can.  Matt has done a great job with school and has one class left.  I'm super proud of him for going.  

Also, because of his promotion, he will have to go to WLC.  That stands for Warrior Leader Course.  I'm not sure how much of the details I can share.  But, what I can share is that it is a couple states away.  He will be gone for two and a half weeks.  And it's coming up soon.  

When I think about him leaving for two weeks, I get a little nervous.  Aubri has went from a perfect little angel that likes to sit on a blanket and play quietly to almost a toddler that likes to roam, yell, and get into things.  Taking care of her has become a two person operation.

But, then I remind myself, it's only two weeks and a half week.  I can totally do it. 

He should be able to text me and call me everyday.  We can probably even Facetime.  It's two weeks, not 15 months, or a year, or 9 months.  We will all be fine.  

The thought of him leaving is a big reminder.  A reminder that it could be a lot worse and it is a lot worse for some people.  Having him home with us every night is something I try to not take for granted.  I will never forget what it was like when he was deployed.  But, I think we both grew a lot when he was gone and looking back, I'd do it all over again.

Aubri and I will miss you!

Sleep in her own room?

Well, so you probably all already know that our child is a little bit spoiled.  Not a brat but spoiled, nonetheless.

She still sleeps in our room, right next to the bed in her rock n play.  She usually sleeps all night.

Matt thinks she needs to start sleeping in her own room.  We tried it, twice.  The first night she woke up at 2 a.m. scared and the second night she woke up at 12:30 a.m. scared.  (Matt said she wasn't scared.  I might just be making that part up.) After she woke up, we fed her then put her in her rock n play.

Yesterday, she had her four month check-up (and shots).  I asked the doctor if she was old enough to sleep in her own room.  I think he thought I was a little nuts.  He said if we don't get her in there in the next month or so that she will have separation anxiety when we do put her in there or end up in our room until she's two.

I still think she's too little.  I mean she's just a little peanut.  She needs her mommy.  If she wakes up in the middle of the night now, she can see me.  I give her her Nuk Nuk (pacifier) and she'll go back to sleep.

We do have a queen sized air mattress.  I guess I could just sleep on the floor in her room.

I've officially turned into one of "those moms."  I'm sorry that I used to make fun of some of you. Thoughts?

Aubri and Mr. Vinnie

So, I suck at blogging

I realized today that I forgot I even had a blog.  I mean I didn't totally forget but my blog hasn't crossed my mind in a week or so.

What can I say?

I've been busy. 

Everything used to always have to be in its own place in our house.  I've given up on that.  Our living room is full of baby stuff.  And I've learned to be somewhat okay with that.  And sometimes, there is even laundry that needs folded.  Gasp!

I've been busy at work. 

School started last night.  I'm taking "Federal Tax Accounting."  What a snoozefest!   It's rough!  And last night was only night #1.  I dropped my other class because I didn't want to pay for it.  I'm actually going to fill out my FSFA again this year.  (Haven't even bothered the last two years.)  Maybe now that we have a little dependent, I can get some kind of grant.  Unfortunately, when you work and are married, you don't get any assistance.  Kinda of assbackwards if you ask me. (No offense to anyone, I just think it's crap.) I get the pleasure of paying $500 to $1000 every semester so that I can be free of student loans.  Enough with that rant..... 

Aubri will be 4 months old this week.  And we are having her Christening this weekend.  Outside.  At a park.  By the hippie that married us.  Guess, how much I care that people are talking shit about the way we are doing it?  Not one damn bit.  She's our child and we are entitled to do her Christening however we want, wherever we want, and whenever we want.  Same applies to how we plan on raising her.

So, we've been trying to get ready for that.  Getting food, plates, cups, stuff like that without going overboard.  I mean does it really matter if the napkins are cute or if they are just regular napkins.  I don't think so.

And I get to wake up to this little face.  That keeps me busy.  You know, spoiling her.

She is absolutely without a doubt the best thing that ever happened to us.  There is nothing that I wouldn't do for her. 

Happy Little Scamper

Last weekend we took little Peanut camping.  The weather was perfect.  There was a "no burn" order but that didn't stop us from having a good time.  Hopefully, now that the weather is nicer, we can start camping more.

Aubri got spoiled while we were camping. You know, because she never gets spoiled any other time.

Her you're-not-really-gonna-make-me-sit-in-this-bumbo-seat face.

Family picture time!

At three and a half months old, she can already rock a hoodie.

Uncle Lyle camped with us too.

Playing in Grandma's camper.

By next year, we would like to sell our camper.  We need a bigger one.  She needs more stuff for camping than Matt and I do combined.

Hope you are all having a great week!

SALE!

My mom is having a sale on all of her in-stock items until Monday. She makes handmade baby blankets, tag blankets, burp clothes, books, and most recently, an item called a "Tummy Soother." A tummy soother is a basically an herbal heat pack for babies. Aubri uses hers in the evenings when she gets a little grouchy.

So, go check out her facebook page and etsy site and use the code 10STITCH at check out to receive 10% off.  

If you see something you like on facebook that is not listed on etsy either let me know or message her via facebook and we will list it on etsy.

Here are some of my current favorites:

There is also an album on the facebook page titled "Gift Sets."  A gift set comes with a 36"x44" double flannel blanket, tag blanket, and two matching burp clothes.

And here is Aubri with her favorite tag blanket and matching tummy soother. 

And feel free to let me know if you have any questions!

Have a great weekend!

Only Child

Chances are Aubria will be our only child.  

Matt and I feel like we were extremely lucky to be blessed with her.  She's perfect.  (I know everyone thinks that.)  But she really is.  She was born a 10 on the Apgar (whatever it's called) scale.  We could not have gotten a better child.  There is not one day that goes by that we don't tell her how good she is and how pretty she is.

She gets a little grouchy in the evenings but besides that, we have no problems with her.  Sometimes she sleeps all night.  And she can usually entertain herself, if need be.  She doesn't have to have a special formula or diaper.

We tried to get pregnant for 3 years and had one miscarriage before I was pregnant with Aubri.  Neither one of us want to go through that again.  Also, being pregnant was no walk in the park for either one of us.

Matt and I are 30 years old.  Now granted, we are not 50 and still possibly capable of producing more children but we are no spring chickens.

Not to mention, kids are expensive.  We are doing fine being able to afford everything our sweet baby girl could ever need or want.  Probably even some stuff that she doesn't need or want.  And we want to be able to do exactly that, give her everything she wants.  If we had another child, we might not be able to do that. 

I'm not saying that people should only have as many kids as they can afford to spoil, but that's what we are doing.  

The problem is that people are always making comments.  "When are you having another kid?"  "Oh, you have to have more."  "She'll want brothers and sisters."

I don't think anyone else is entitled to make that decision for us.  

We have talked about it.  We've made up our minds.  We have a perfect little angel to spoil and we are happy with our family.

Now, how do I politely tell people to drop it?

3 months

Our little Aubria turned three months old on Monday.   Since we've brought her home from the hospital she's grown into such a little character. 

She loves to smile.  And giggle.  She always wakes up happy.

She's a die-hard Cardinals fan.

She likes to take naps with Daddy on the couch.

She loves her tag blankets that Grandma made for her.  

And she apparently knows how to flip the bird.

She sits in her big girl high chair while we eat sometimes.

Her arm is too fast for any camera to catch.

She likes to sit in her walker and look at her toys.

She took a nap in her crib... once.

She is wearing mostly size 0-3 but wears 3-6 month sleepers.

She wears a size 2 diaper.

I have no idea how much she weights.  Maybe 14 pounds.

She still sleeps in our room in her Rock n Play.

She just started sleeping all night.  Like, as in, from 9:30 to 6:30.  It's a beautiful thing. 

She tries to roll over but can't yet.

She loves her baby gym and loves to kick her legs.

She loves Mommy and Daddy. ;)

She likes bath time.

She likes to be snuggled before bed.

She likes books.

She thinks the dogs are nuts.  And her Mommy and Daddy.

She prefers to wear socks.

I don't even really remember what life was like before she came.  What did we do?

We wouldn't trade her for anything.

2 month pictures

We had our pictures taken (mostly Aubri's) on the hottest day of the year, outside, a couple weeks ago.  I got them back the other day.  My aunt took our pictures.  I want to have a canvas made but I'm way to indecisive to pick one for that so maybe you could help.

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2 - Not an option for canvas - just wanted to show you.

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8- Just sharing

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13 - Just sharing

She was obviously asleep most of the photo sessions, which is good and bad.  

Hope you all have a great week!