Feelin' Artsy

This weekend I decided instead of running the usual errands and cleaning the apartment, I would enjoy some time with Lily showing her the world of arts and crafts. I LOVED IT! So nice to not worry about what needs to be done, and focus of just relaxing and letting my creative juices flow. Here are some of the art projects I accomplished this weekend. True, I am no picasso, but there is just something about completing a craft or an art piece that makes me feel happy.

Painted these clay pots to put in Lily's room. I am going to change up the theme in her room to 'in the garden' and fill these with fake flowers. Lily chose the colors ;)

Our family tree. painted the tree and the dots are our thumb prints. Lily's orange, me green and mark red. As we have more children, their thumb prints will go on the canvas as well.

Made the board at a church activity, however I finally finished it! Had to use the pink fabric because I ran out of the white, but I think it turned out well. Also got to make a few flowers for lily's hair. So easy to do and very therapeutic.

 

Lily also got to complete her first piece of art work. I stole the idea from a friend who had her first child do the same thing, and I wanted to do the same with my first. Such a fun idea! Lily loved it. I splattered some finger paint on a canvas in the bath tub, put lily in there and showed her that the paint spreads when you touch it. She dug right into the paint, rubbing her belly against it and stepping on top of it. Of course she eventually wanted to repaint the bath tub, but the awesome part is it washed away easily. Now we have an amazing memory and art piece we can enjoy for the rest of our lives. Lily is an artist! Que Magnific!

The finished master piece

Messy Lady!!!!

Just had to add a picture of my curly head beauty. I LOVE THIS GIRL!



Betting on Me

Tomorrow I will be joining a weight loss competition at my gym. 

The competition starts on the 26th and ends March 2nd. Each competitor needs to pay $50 dollars to join, and then the winner will receive all the money that was put into the pot. There is a mens and womens competition so winners split the cash. Winner is based on best results based off a picture, weight and body fat loss.

I have been debating all week whether or not to join. Why?

A. You have to pay $50 which I can't afford to lose.

B. I HATE competing. Because I am a major sore loser.

C. I don't feel that I have the time to focus on the extra work outs.

 

The reason I changed my mind:

A. It is great motivation to get where I want to be.

B. The possibility of winning and getting some extra cash seems really nice.

C.If I continue to make excuses to not do hard things, I'll never be proud of myself.

 

Besides, it is six weeks...how hard could it be?!

wish me luck.

The start. Yikes.

Theme Torn

Okay...so Lily is turning one next month. And I need to start planning her one year birthday party. It's gotta be awesome...I mean, it has to be the most creative party I can muster up in my brain. Why? Because Lily is the queen of our home and deserves the best. So, ideas????
Well, I am torn between two themes. Candy Land and Sock Monkey. Candy Land theme is great because there are so many ways to be creative with the decorations, the food and Lily LOVES food. Sock Monkey is cute, age appropriate and healtheir than eating a booka load of candy. So torn...can't decide. I wish that she was old enough to say, 'mommy, i'd like a princess party', but alas, she cannot speak. I guess this is a good thing though, it will probably be the only time I will be able to choose her theme for her birthday party, the rest of the years she will have an opinion whether I like it or not.
Okay, enough jabber, these are some of the fun ideas I have according to each theme. I have to make my decision by the end of the month so I can start planning. What will it be???

So this is the Candy Land Theme. How cool are those balloons! Cellophane, balloon and painted wrapping paper tubes.

Cellophane and colored paper plates...EASY!

Okay, i'm not this talented...but I am sure I could pull something like this off.

And then lots of candy with the game board. Such a cute Idea!

Love it!

Lily has a lot of pink sock monkey stuff, so it would work to have her stuffed animals be part of the decor.

Very cute ideas.

 

Lily is a sock monkey baby, so I feel like this theme is more her...but not as fun!

This won't happen...but I thought they were cute

And then we can make invitations like this and have pictures taken with her sock monkey hat?

I'M SO TORN!!!

Hopeful

 

 

 

I am going to miss 2012, probably one of the best years of my life. Why you say?! It's obvious...LILY WAS BORN! Mark and I were discussing all of the things that happened in 2012, the good, the bad and we both agreed, it was a pretty awesome year. But alas, the past is for us to remember, not to live in...so it is time to say goodbye to 2012, and hello to 2013!

With 2013 comes no expectations from our family, we have nothing planned. It is totally unpredictable what will happen this next year. But we do have some goals in mind as to what we hope to accomplish. Since this is sort of our family journal, I will document our resolutions so I can reflect back on them a year from now and cut and paste them into 2014 ;)

Family Resolutions:

• Be better with Finances...if you don't need it, DON'T BUY IT!
• Save enough to go on a fun vacation
• Eat healthier as a family
• Be more consistent about tithing.
• Be better with all the religious stuff we are not consistent on...

Personal Resolutions

• Lose the next 20 lbs I've been saying I'll lose.
• Run a 5k...I say this every year...but this time I WILL do it.
• Allow time to accomplish all the projects I'd like to do.
• Use up all my vacation time I have earned by the end of the year.
• Magnify my callings
• Find ways to enjoy my job
• Worry less, have more faith and enjoy life.

Mark Resolutions

• To complete enough school so there will only be one semester left come 2014.
• Lose 20 lbs. to reach ultimate goal weight.
• Play in at least 5 golf tournaments.

Lily's Resolutions

• Go from walking to running.
• Try new foods
• Learn new words
• Turn 1 :)
• Continue being the cutest little girl in the whole entire world!!

Alright, that's it for now.

I am always a little fearful for a new year to begin. Afraid of tragedy and heartache. But as an apostle of the lord once said, 'your future is only as bright as your faith.'

I pray for a happy, safe and healthy new year for my little family, may the lord watch over us and protect us. I love life, and I am hopeful for the new year.

 



Lily's First Christmas

It's amazing how much a child can change christmas for a parent. This year I had ZERO interest in what I was going to receive for christmas. My only concern was how we were going to make this christmas extra special for our little lady.
I had a nightmare the other night that I had forgotten to get Lily christmas presents, that just shows you how important this is to me. The funny part, she is so little and will probably never remember her first christmas, but the fact that we have the opportunity to set her on a path of happy christmas' to come, makes it worth it.
We have been cuddling alot today, singing christmas carols. My thoughts? Nothing is better then holding my sweet baby in my arms and hearing her humm as I sing to her. *sigh*.
Here are just a few pictures of Lily's first christmas. She received LOTS of presents from Santa, Grandma's and her mommy/daddy. She has so many toys now! And I realized today that her birthday is in just two months...and she will receive even more toys! Let's just hope people give her clothes. lol!
These are in no particular order, but I will explain each photo.

Lily's main present, a giant gorilla pillow pet! She loves it, as I am typing this, she is enjoying a bottle and sleeping on her gorilla. so cute!

We were all spoiled by santa this year. Lily had the best spread.

Thought this was really funny, but Lily loves her dolly from great grandma O. This is actually how she gives her kisses.

At her Grammy's house, in her christmas pajamas...she looks thrilled. lol!

Presents christmas morning. she was not getting the concept of unwrapping the present...she needed assistance.

My baby enjoying her presents on christmas day at the grandparents.

This was at Horton Plaza, lily's second encounter with santa. She would not take her eyes off of him!

We went to winter haven, family tradition and so cold outside!

Lily meeting Santa for the first time.

Playing with the christmas tree.

A pre-Christmas photo. Love our little family!

We love our little Lily and are so grateful to have her in our lives. She brings so much happiness into our home and to everyone she meets. She is such a good natured little girl and is just an all around happy baby. We could not have been given a better child and we feel honored that heavenly father has asked us to raise her. I love her with all my soul, forever.

Now off to bed to wake up at 5 AM for work...vomit!

San Diego Quick Trip

We had the opportunity to go to San Diego to visit Mark's grandmother and Auntie Clarice. She has never seen Lily and it was a total surprise when we arrived, she was very happy to meet miss Lily. Wish that I could have recieved more time off of work, but hopefully we will have another chance in March.

Lily got to see the ocean for the first time and play in the sand (which she loved), we also did a bit of shopping at Horton plaza. We had pretty much just one day to enjoy in San Diego, but it was nice to get away. I love San Diego, and would love to live there someday.

We visited with my cousin Lena and her family, as well as my Aunt Holly and cousin Justice. It was so awesome to see them and have them meet my little family. They are such good people, hopefully I we will see them again soon.

First Steps...

Lily took her first steps today! YAY! Sure it was only two steps, but I was so excited and happy for her! I am soooo proud of how well my little sweetie is progressing and her desire to learn and to grown. She has achieved so may steps, sooner then I had expected. I was so worried that I would find out from someone else that she had taken her first steps while I was working, so I am so happy that she took her first steps towards me. I am going to work with her so she can continue learning to walk, I am predicting she will be walking on her own by Christmas. This girl is doing it all on her own, with hardly any help from mark and I. She is such a smart girl! (I am sure all parents think this about their children, but I really do think she is a smart little girl). I am just happy right now. I am going to try to catch it on video next time. yay!
She also had her 9 month appointment and is doing great. She is in the 90th percentile for weight (my healthy chubby girl), 54th percentile for height and 97th percentile for head circumference (see, told ya she was smart.). She was showing off to the doctor how well she can stand. She did not want to sit down during the whole visit! Show off! I love my little girl so much and am so proud of her. She is my happiness and my greatest blessing. Mark is my medicine and Lily is my peace, I am so blessed to have both of them in my life to make my world right.