In 1 month she’ll be 1

Posted on July 18, 2008 by Amanda

It’s been decided. We are having Ella’s 1st Birthday party in Sacramento. The hotel that we always stay at when we come to visit has a big pool and convention rooms that they are going to let us use. So, the party will be inside for all the cake, presents & fun stuff and then when it’s all over we will be having a pool party!!

We’ll be having a couple of small parties in Oregon. One with the Hurd family at a pizza parlor, and then I was thinking of having a small little party for my friends at Lithia Park. Something small, but fun for Ella.

But I CAN’T WAIT TO GO TO SACRAMENTO!!!! I miss everyone so much and I can’t wait for everyone who hasn’t met Ella yet to finally meet her. I’m going to start making her invitations this week and get them mailed out.

My Sweet Boy

Posted on July 17, 2008 by Amanda

I sometimes wonder how my beautiful little boy has become so polite. He’s so different from other children, especially boys. He’s polite, he has manners, he truly cares for others. I was in the gas station yesterday, and he told Brittney to call and check on me because I’d been in there too long. What 6 year old thinks of things like that? He holds open doors for me and says “Ladies first.” He loves to have me wait in the car so he can open up my car door.

The main thing that gets me is how he’s such a sucker for his baby sister. He loves that girl so much, and strives to be the best big brother that he can be. How did I get so lucky?!?! He’s such a blessing to us and I want him to know how thankful and happy we are that he’s our son.

I feel bad sometimes, because I’m not the most patient parent out there. I’m not going to lie and say our lives are picture perfect and we have no faults. I love my children, but sometimes I want to run to the hills screaming. I feel bad for all the times that Jayden has gotten on my nerves. He’s so sweet and I need to work on having more patience with him. I need to do more one on one things with him. I always said that just because we were having another baby I would never be too consumed by her, but I feel like that’s happened.

Parenting is so hard. Even the good parents out there struggle, and we never feel like we’re doing enough. Sadly, I don’t think we ever will feel like we do enough.

My Perfect Marriage

Posted on July 17, 2008 by Amanda

My aqua aerobics teacher said something last night that I loved. She said her marriage is perfect. Sometimes it’s perfectly wonderful and sometimes it’s perfectly horrible, but it’s always perfect.

I love it! That sums up my marriage perfectly 😉

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter

Posted on July 16, 2008 by Amanda

I finally had to jolt myself out of this Twilight obsession and start a new book. Many people seem to love The Memory Keeper’s Daughter so bought it. I started it and am enjoying it so far. I’m a little sad though that I’m moving on from Twilight ~ it’s a sick obsession. I really hope this is a good book. Stay tuned for a review when I’m done.

Did she really say deodorant on her boobs?!?! Yes I DID!

Posted on July 16, 2008 by Amanda

It’s Works for Me Wednesday!! I’m gonna share a tip that can come off as a little gross, but it’s what works for me… DAILY! This heat is killing me ~ I cannot stand being sweaty. It DRIVES ME CRAZY! What’s worse is I have these boobs on me that are huge compared to what I’m used to. I wasn’t that small before, but ever since my pregnancy with Ella, I’m big – and big means SWEATY!

I told you this was gross, so if you’re offended then I guess I just lost you as a reader, but if you’re a woman, and a woman with boobs then I’m assuming that you’re still reading. When I am going through my morning routine I grab my deodorant and put it on my underarms, then I put it under my boobs and in between. Waaalaaa no sweaty boobs.

There’s a lot of other great tips going on over at Shannon’s blog.

Happy Birthday, Jessie

Posted on July 14, 2008 by Amanda

Yesterday was my sister Jessica’s 21st birthday. I’m sad that I didn’t get to be there with her to celebrate and just wanted to talk about her for a minute.

Jessica and I have lived quite a different life. A life in which we were separated for many years, yet we’ve remained so closer through it all. I moved away a year ago and I miss her like crazy. She’s one of my best friends and I’m truly sad that our babies will not be growing up together.

Jessica always knows what I’m thinking, what to say, and I can tell her anything AT ALL. I love it. I love having such a wonderful sister, with true, honest, and helpful advice. She tells it how it is and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I’m proud of the mommy that she’s become and the life she’s making for herself. Going to school can be challenging, but she’s doing it and I couldn’t be prouder.

Jessica, I love you and I hope your birthday was a wonderful one ~ I’m so sorry that I couldn’t be there. Happy Birthday, baby sister.

Beautiful Peace

Posted on July 14, 2008 by Amanda

Today really was so wonderful. I talk a lot about my favorite thing about living here and it’s Lithia Park. It’s beautiful. It makes me happy. Tonight we packed a dinner picnic and headed up to Lithia Park but drove even higher than the park area and found a beautiful duck pond with a perfect, shady, grassy area. We parked and set up our little picnic area on the grass and ate dinner in beauty.

I’m not gonna lie. The entire time I was sitting on my blanket on the grass thinking, ‘Man, I wish I would’ve been in this exact spot reading the Twilight Saga Series.’ Yes, I know, obsessed.

Anyways…. it was great. Nothing but us, nature, and happiness. I think we should eat dinner there every night.

Praying for the solution

Posted on July 12, 2008 by Amanda

I have been pretty stressed out lately. I can’t exactly pin point what it is that stressing me out, but I think I have a pretty good idea now. I work for my grandparents. The work that I do for my grandma creates no stresses for me at all. It’s petty work compared to what I’m used to. However, the one small little fraction I have from my grandpa is the reason why I struggle to breathe sometimes. He’s so up and down and all around and it’s driving me CRAZY!

Last night as I was in bed I was so irritated and I was talking to Gino about his crazy new idea that actually hurts my feelings, and Gino actually told me to pray about it. What? Back up. Did my husband really just tell me to pray about it? That’s kinda huge. Gino doesn’t talk like that. So I did. I prayed about it and I think I know what I’m supposed to do. I feel better today.

On another note, for the past couple days it’s just been us. The in-laws are gone, and we’ve just taken these couple days to try to get things back on track. Home cooked meals, back to the YMCA for our aqua aerobics, watching movies together ~ just being our little family. It feels so good.

Professional Pictures – FINALLY!

Posted on July 11, 2008 by Amanda

I finally got professional pictures done and I am SO PLEASED! I get to go and pick them up today and I can’t wait to get them up on my walls. I hope you enjoy looking ~ the other boy is Vani and he’s my adorable nephew!! I’m sad that Alana, my niece, wasn’t in the pictures, but someday we’ll get all the cousins together for a picture.

She’s Walking Now – Full on :(