Saturday, September 8, 2012

much to say about nothing...

can you believe it's already september?!?!
where does the time go???

as i'm sitting here on the patio - the petals off our crape myrtle tree falling
off and blowing in the wind - listening to the koi pond waterfall - about to start watching
dray and his dad figure out the new plugs for the pond...
i think to myself... i LOVE this time of year.
weather changing :: halloween, thanksgiving & christmas decorations
out in stores :: and of course.... FOOTBALL!!!

it's been quite the journey over the last 7 months!
moving cities, getting acclimated to our new environment, trying to get the house
into a home... the to-do list seems never-ending! 

the house ::
so much to do!!!  had big plans when we first moved in  ::  unfortunately some of the
list is getting pushed back due to having to purchase a new air conditioner  :: guess
that's just one of the 'perks' of buying an older home.
i've decided i hate, hate, hate tile floors  ::  i mean hate beyond words!
our original plan was to put in hardwoods :: not that they would be 'cleaner' but it would look
better than the white tile and... i wouldn't have to actually see all the dirt :)
we put it on hold because yes, i was adamant about building a pool at the end of this year ::
but after discussing it we've decided to hold off on the pool until lo gets a bit older  (i say 'we'... it's was more of ... honey, we'll get wood floors if you agree to holding off on the pool till she
gets older... )  so hopefully we'll have wood floors SOON!!
purchases :: haven't bought a whole helluva lot!  mainly due to i'm just not sure what
i want to do yet.  we have managed to buy new bedroom furniture and when hubby went out of town one week, i decided to pain the entry and the formal living.

got our platform bed  ::  the whole reason for this purchase was the dresser :: i fell in love with it!  it's unfortunate that we had just bought a new mattress & box springs before we moved :: so we now have a king size box spring in storage!



the entry and formal were a 'country light yellowish' color that i just could not stand.  i first went and bought brown paint  ::  once i put a trial spot on the wall i thought to myself... how boring and plain!  so i went a totally different route with suede gray.  dray's so happy he finally gets his mirror on the wall :)  and as you can see - the formal is temporarily being used as a playroom!





SO much i want to do and i know that once it's all done this will finally be
HOME!!!  
i've also decided to start of 'family wall' thanks to my mom's inspiration!!  so i've been on the lookout for frames - hobby lobby has been my friend however, pictures back in the day are such odd dimensions it's been a challenge finding the right sizes!!  still not sure where i'm going to put this 'wall' but here's the start...


it's still a work in progress!!!

other than working on the house and running after a toddler :: there's really nothing else going on!  we did manage to go to hawaii in may through dray's work and yes, oh yes, took a roadtrip to new orleans to see kenny chesney and tim mcgraw!
COM reunion!  a brief explanation :: many years ago we all went to the kenny chesney concert at pizza hut park in frisco - the whole bunch :: mom, dad, al and all his gang, mandy came in town with her friends beth, sherri and dave (we call him dd for daddy dave!)
we had all the bells and whistles... RV's, mopeds, 4 wheelers... we were in heaven!  so... as each of us girls were on a moped, scooting around the tailgating area - we stopped to take some shots with other patrons, we all got our pic taken with the drop background of kenny... and who could forget karaoke... oh yes, we had a karaoke machine!!!  
so... we, after many drinks, decided to name ourselves chicks on mopeds... COM!!
me, mandy, sherri and beth... dd is our agent and dray is our manager.  it's been an ongoing 'joke' for us girls for many, many years... and then FINALLY, thanks to my wonderful husband... we had a COM reunion in new orleans!!!


stay tuned :: we may make it big!!!  ;)

we are still in the process of planning a vacation with our vacation points :: of course, this has been in the 'planning' process for a few years :)  hopefully we'll be able to go next year!

dray's car is coming along :: the once 12-18 month project is now going on 3 years.
it's actually starting to look like a real car :: he and his dad try to work on it every chance they get :: poor guy - he wants it done so badly!!!

it may look like there's a lot to still do... but believe me when i say they've come
a long way!!!!
and of course :: i'm enjoying my ride :: although i don't drive it enough, shame on me :: dray's been enjoying it so that's good!

random ::
so here we are :: will be married for 6 years in october and have a wonderful 14 month old.
things sure do change don't they!  i would've never imagined i'd be where i am today 10 years ago!  i feel very blessed to have all that i have and i know i wouldn't be where i am today without the love of my husband.  he makes me a stronger person and just when i don't think i can progress , he's always there cheering me on and giving me the confidence to achieve whatever it is.  thank you baby :: thank you for everything you do for us :: thank you for providing a wonderful life for us :: thank you for being a wonderful daddy :: i know i don't say or show it enough but i appreciate all you do to make this family work :: i know i say sometimes that i feel like i'm the only one who's sacrificing things because of our lo - but i know you are sacrificing things too... xoxo

of course :: this post wouldn't be complete without pics of her... right?!?!
here's her typing a letter - she can really get into it... but as you can see, she got bored and decided her dinosaur was way more fun!


the start of a gourmet cook... possibly...




hopefully i'll post pics soon of the different updates to the house :: just gotta wait till that 'money tree' blossoms again :)







Thursday, September 6, 2012

where did my baby go??

yep, it's been a while since last post.
what have I been doing... enjoying our 'little girl.'
no longer a baby :: now a little toddler growing into her own each day.



where are we??
a master crawler :: a master cruiser around the furniture :: not quite a master at walking independently (I won't go into this one - as I feel like a failing parent due to my 14 mo old isn't running around like all the others nor does it seem she has the confidence built up to do so just yet - so if I continue on this topic the post would probably be 5 pages - all of which would be my insecurities as a parent but.. this isn't about me :) ) :: a master at 'talking' and pointing to what she wants :: quite the attitude - wants what she wants when she wants it :: loves loves loves giving kisses and blowing them :: loves getting into any and all drawers/cabinets :: loves emptying something just to put everything back in or into another container :: very inquisitive on how things work - always turning toys over to look them over and really studies it :: has become a master at using an iphone and thanks to daddy, an ipad as well :: loves bracelets - not just 'real' bracelets but anything she can put around her wrist/arm and go about her day :: loves loves loves music and singing and dancing - she's our little dancing queen :: loves being outside :: loves brushing her own hair - still working on brushing her own teeth! :: has seem to become daddy's girl and loves waking him up in the morning :: now that she's figured out how to turn the water on in the bathtub in mommy and daddy's bathroom it's her new favorite room :: loves her walking dinosaur and will walk with it all around the house :: loves sipping through straws and if she sees a drink with one in it she demands a drink :: loves helping mommy with laundry - or should I say, loves unfolding the clothes after mommy folds them :: seems to have a fascination with the oven - she'll stand there and push every button she can - it's been a challenge to divert her away and to teach her it's not safe :: loves mickey mouse playhouse and jake and the neverland pirates... and those of you who know small potatoes (dray and I crack up watching it... in a uugghhh way... she loves it :: not a fan of bows in her hair - i think cause her hair is thin and it pulls - so i have to put a ponytail holder on top of her head and add a bow :: loves loves loves Lego's :: loves playing hide-and-seek and peek-a-boo - restaurant patrons love us... she'll take my napkin, put it over her face and waive her arms... when you say 'where's brynleigh' she'll yank it off and just start cracking up :: loves waiving hi and bye :: still loves car rides and thanks to our trip to OK we have turned her car seat around and she's one happy traveler ...
guess I could go on and on... there's just so much I'm in awe about with her.  she's smart (of course I think she is :) ) you ask her where something is and she'll find it and gets so excited and starts clapping.  she's just a ball of energy and happiness and stubborn and funny... all rolled into this no-longer-a-baby-miss independent-changing every day... little girl!

some pics (I know that's what you've been waiting for :)...

our first plane ride :: great trip there (take off and landing were a bit rough for her) but a huge thanks goes our to the lady at the gate for switching our seat so she could have her own!!


the return flight was a bit different :: her seat = mommy's lap!
poor guy next to us - trying to sleep and me doing everything I can to stop her from
touching him!!!  thank goodness I got her to fall asleep 20 min in!!

we've starting teaching how to eat with utensils - it's a work in progress!!


our visit with Nana and Grandad - as you can see, I must do a better job at taking pictures with them actually in them :)
great time exploring with our fort Nana made, cruising around the furniture, swinging on the patio, playing with our bracelets and going to the Aquarium!



a lot of firsts over the past few months - some not so good!  bumps and bruises make me cringe!  i think falling out of the swing was the worst - BAM, right on her forehead.  mommy and daddy were horrified - finally, after consoling her and several calls to the after hours clinic we managed to get through!  lots of falls comes with trying to walk - like falling and hitting her chin on her table which caused her to bite her tongue - as daddy sees blood pouring out her mouth I just knew she lost a tooth or busted a lip - nope, she bit her tongue!  poor baby!  yet again, we got through it!  not it's all the falls from trying to walk - stubs a toe, hits her head, smashes her fingers... guess this is all 'normal' in the scheme of 'growing up.'

random :: loves climbing on her chair and jumping off :: gotta love the messed up hair look - she's decided she likes the feel of her food in her hair!!


another pic we were able to get...
4 Generations...


another new post coming shortly!
till then...