Framed

This project was inspired by the ridiculous cost of picture frames.

You could easily spend $30 or more on a nice frame...

Or you could pay $3 and use your own two hands to make it one of a kind.

If you can't tell, I was on a frame-making kick.

I even made a frame for a mirror.

Now, on to hanging them up!

Short Leash

Alayna is teething.

Despite the fact that she wants to be held ALL of the time and starts whining the INSTANT I am out of her sight, it hasn't been too bad.

But I just don't think I can take much more of the attention.

I need a little space. Not to mention the fact that I actually need to accomplish something around the house.

All well. I should be happy for an excuse to not get the laundry done. Right?

Oh, and the funny thing is. She is getting a top canine tooth.

So before long, we will have us a little vampire baby.

Weird. But funny.


P.S. Thank you to all who gave me recipes. We have been trying them out and LOVING it!

A Favorite

When my fabulous mother came to help when Alayna was born, she bought me one of these.

Oh, how I love it!

Can you believe that after being married almost four years, we didn't have one? You would have thought that out of all of our wedding gifts, there had to be at least one. Nope. Not a one.

I can't tell you how much I love the fact that I can put my ingredients in it, forget about it, and then have a scrumptious meal at the end of the day.

The only problem is. I have only two crock pot recipes. They are both delish, but we need a little more variety than that. :)

This is where I need your help. I KNOW there are readers of my blog that are wonderful cooks. Do any of you have a crock pot recipe that is a favorite? Please share.

I am sure Dan will thank you. As will I.

7 Months Old

Here she is. 7 months old today and doing her favorite thing...playing outside.
Alayna has really learned a lot this last month and is becoming quite the "big girl".

She can now roll from both back to front and front to back consistently. This has led to her sleeping on her stomach, which she does like to do from time to time. The first time she awoke to herself sleeping on her stomach, she was a little scared. I don't think she could quite remember how she got that way.


Here's a short video of the rolling queen.


Alayna has also learned how to sit up and as you can see, she is quite proud of herself. I think this really does make her feel like a "big girl".

Sometimes the sitting does end up with her falling over, but not always with a smile like this picture suggests. The boppy has been used a lot around our house these last few weeks. It seems to lessen the tears when there is something comfortable to fall on.
I am proud to say that we are progressing in the baby food area. We have found a couple things that Alayna likes and a few things she does not. So far squash and bananas are her favorite. And rice cereal, oatmeal, and sweet potatoes are not so much her favorites.

Here is a video of Alayna eating squash. Sorry it's so long.

When trying to get a good photo of Alayna for this post, this is what she kept doing...her fake, cheesy smile that seems to say, "Fine mom, if you have to take a picture, this is all I am giving you."

I thought that didn't start until they were older. Guess I was wrong.

But our days are mainly filled with this
And sometimes our days have a little of this going on.

(Unfortunately, this video didn't show it too much but, Alayna does a puppy dog whine, mainly when she is tired and sometimes it is quite funny.)

She also has become even more talkative and makes a lot of sounds that incorporate "da da". She doesn't actually say it referring to Dan, just mixed in with other sounds.

We have just confirmed that she HATES the pool, which is a bummer considering the hot weather (in the 90's), we have a pool like 30 seconds away, and she has a dang cute swimming suit.

Being the parents that we are, we still take her there and she still cries, but we are hoping with time she will get used to it.

Oh, and in case you were wondering.... she still has her chubby cheeks.

Pampered

Yesterday was my first official Mother's Day! And it was a day filled with being pampered.

First, my wonderful husband let me sleep in by watching Alayna when she woke up at 5:45am to wish me a Happy Mother's Day. (Wasn't that nice of her?)

Next, he made a scrumptious breakfast of Egg McMuffins and Juice. (No. He did not go to McDonalds and order them. He made them all on his own.)

Following the breakfast came the present opening. Of course I have already opened my present from Alayna and Dan, but they also gave me these beautiful flowers and a thoughtful card.

My mom and dad gave me a fabulous book called I am a Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson. I am already 3/4 of the way done and I have loved it! If you are looking for a good, short read, I would totally recommend this book.

And Dan's parents gave me some money that I know just how to spend. :)

The entire day was spent with my two favorite people and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Alayna was extra good at church, which was surprising since she skipped her afternoon nap.

Dan made me a delicious dinner and dessert. (Some of the food on the menu: Italian chicken, pasta salad, rolls, confetti cake with rainbow chip frosting and cookies n' cream ice cream.) AND he did ALL of the cleanup!!!

Alayna went to bed early due to no nap.

And to top it all off, I got to talk to my little brother who is serving a mission in Guatemala! (He comes home the beginning of August.)

All I have to say is...Mother's Day is the best!

I have the most beautiful daughter whom I love, love, LOVE!
I absolutely adore my husband!
And I am so grateful for my wonderful Mother! She is AMAZING! If I can even be half as good of a mother as her, then I will have accomplished something great. Thanks for putting up with me, mom.

Oh, and Happy 100th post to me! Can you believe it? I really do like blogging, if you can't tell.

A Purchase

Meet my Easter/Mother's Day/Memorial Day/Fourth of July/Every other holiday (including my b-day) Present.


Yes. It's a treadmill.

I know. All of you are in shock right now.

Why did I choose a treadmill (of all things) to purchase?

It was the best option for me to get into a regular routine of working out. I have been doing all kinds of work out videos for a few months now, but I also really needed some good cardio. With a small baby, it was hard for me to "get out" with her nap schedule and such so I decided to bring the running to me. Now I can run when she is sleeping, watching Baby Einstein, etc.

I am proud to say that I have been running Every. Single. Day. Since my buff husband carried it up to our third floor apartment. (That's another story in itself. I'll just give you a couple of details and save the rest for another post. Bottom of the stairs. UPS guy vanishes.)

I have now worked up to running twice a day for 2 mile increments.

Since I am not a natural runner I have learned a few things along the way:

1. Did you know it takes 30 days to form a habit?....And promising your husband if he buys it, that you will use it every day.
2. There is such a thing as runner's clothing. Chaffing can happen. My arms have been a little sore.
3.It is best to get good running shoes. I have already added running shoes on my wish list. My 8th grade gym shoes will last for a while longer, but ultimately I would like a nicer pair.
4.The so called "rhythm" that runners say they get into when running, must be something that happens after the first month since I have yet to really experience a rhythm where I feel as though I could run for forever.
5.The last quarter of a mile NEVER gets any easier to run.
6.A runner's high? What is that? I still don't think that is possible for me....although, I will admit I do feel good about myself when I am done. Not because I feel like I am getting rid of the extra baby fat that Alayna so generously gave me, just because I actually made it through another 35 minutes of torture.

Despite all the hard work and sweat, I am really enjoying my Easter/Mother's Day/..... present! (Gasp!)

Outside

Oh the outdoors.

Going outside is a must for Alayna and I. For me, it is refreshing to leave our apartment to enjoy the wide open space. (Apartment dwellers, you know what I mean.) And for Alayna, just sitting/laying on a blanket with toys will suffice. Although, we mix it up with a little wading in the pool...since swimming still is not her favorite and stroller rides.

When leaving to go outside I will gather all her toys and other necessities (including a book for me to read), put them in her bag, grab our blanket to sit on, and then pick Alayna up. Immediately she will reach for the blanket and give it a big hug. All of this is done with a large grin on her face.

Hugging the blanket. So, needless to say, the variety of pictures on my camera is limited. They all seem to be quite similar.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of Alayna soakin' in the rays. (Don't fret. I am a good mother and apply sunscreen several times a day.)

Side note: A red headed person with somewhat fair, freckly skin can even get a tan when spending an adequate amount of time in the sun. I have tan lines to prove it. Now, it may not be tan compared to the average person, but it is for me.

This is the face...

of a baby who slept all through the night!

I am a proud momma.

I can't even describe how great it felt to not have to get up. P.S. I am totally ok if this is short lived. At least I know she can do it and there is a light at the end of the tunnel.