Flu Takeover

There won't be any pictures with this post, because, frankly, you don't want to see it! What has been going on in our lives over the past four days is anything but "picture perfect" moments! Bailey came down with the flu for the first time ever. It all started when she threw up on Scott's back while he was giving her a piggy-back ride on Tuesday night. I went on to find out she threw up in her crib minutes before, but I didn't notice when I went in to get her because it was dark (I know I am a rookie... I thought the smell was that she had bad gas... lesson learned!). I got Bailey to the doctor Wednesday afternoon, and by Thursday she was back to her normal self......

Mom, however, was not her normal self at all. Yes, I got the flu Thursday morning. I woke up and immediately took off for the bathroom... I'll let your imagination take it from here. Needless to say, it only lastest for 24 hours, and as of right now, we are a healthy household. Scott has somehow stayed away from it. He attributes his success to Airborne!! He is lucky considering him, my mom and my brother-in-law Matt are the only ones who haven't come down with some form of the flu since we all spent a long weekend together last weekend. I am glad that I survived my first round of the flu as a mom, but I hope it doesn't happen often.

Look Who's Talking!

This stage is so fun because Bailey is saying a new word every day. Here is a list of some of her vocabulary and what the words actually sound like:

love you (uve you)
bath (bash)
juice (shuesh)
star (dar)
snow (no)
yes (yesh)
coat (coke)
blankie (bankie)

Luckily, she can also say a lot of words right:

hi
bye
mommy
daddy
go
ball
MILK! (always in a loud shrieking voice)
Elmo
book
puppy
oval
two or too (all numbers are two and she says too if she wants something "too")
potty (OK... a lot of times she says poopy but I'm working on it!)
seat
sit
shoe
no (of course)
hot
all done
happy
night night
where are you
papa
mine
you

I have been trying to teach her to say her name, but it mostly sounds like "Beeley." We'll keep working on it! I keep telling myself that I need to write this stuff down, because I know I will forget some of the funny things that she says. Who knows what she will say tomorrow!

What is Bailey Up To???

Bailey got into the baby powder and had herself a good time!




Bailey enjoys making telephone calls, but her conversations usually consists of "Hi. No. Bye."




Bailey enjoys trying to put on her shoes and playing with the flashlight! (Yes, at the same time!)




Bailey is also working on her modeling portfolio with this windblown look... :) J/K

Fully Committed in 2012

Scott and I came up with a New Year's Resolution to do together. Our resolution is to get back on the Dave Ramsey envelopes and start doing monthly budgets again. We were very good at this before we had a child, but since I am the "master budgeter" in our family, it has gone by the wayside with being a mom, working part-time and going to school. Needless to say, I lost my commitment to the whole budgeting process in the last year or so. I am even going to try and pick up my couponing skills again, but that is just a "sub-goal" to our resolution!!! :) God has truly blessed Scott and I, and we always want to be good stewards of what He has given us! It's like Dave Ramsey says... "Live like no one else, so you can GIVE like no one else!"

2012 will also bring my graduation from grad school!!! Though I am excited to be done, I am already contemplating my next steps. Scott tells me I just need to relax for a while, but the thought of not replacing school with something else makes a busy person nervous! The ending of one long-term commitment always means the ending of a chapter in life and the start of a new unknown chapter. Though new chapters can be exciting, I tend to make them scary with my "planning" tendencies. Maybe this time I'll learn and I will just take some time to relax (besides I could blog more).

I got the title for this blog from our church service today. FULLY COMMITTED is the slogan that my church family will be pursuing and living by in 2012. Here is an excerpt from a letter from our pastor: "What if every follower of Christ was FULLY COMMITTED in 2012? What if we were FULLY COMMITTED to our marriages, and FULLY COMMITTED to our families, and FULLY COMMITTED to our church? What if we lived with an "ALL IN" attitude with our integrity, and giving, and serving, and worship, and praying, and witnessing? I think we would see a move of God that is unmistakable, and unprecendented." Powerful questions and words!

When I finish my blogs, I sometimes feel like my thoughts have been all over the place; therefore, so have my words. I guess what I am trying to say is that my ultimate New Year's Resolution is that I want to be FULLY COMMITTED in 2012 with our family's resources and my next steps. More importantly, I want to be FULLY COMMITTED to my God, my family, my church, my job, my school work, and my unkowns that 2012 will bring!

Holiday Recap

The holidays were SOOOO FUN this year! Bailey is at that stage where she actually pays attention to her presents and wants to open them. I think I had more fun watching her open her own gifts more than opening my own (and I got some GREAT gifts)! We had a crazy holiday schedule that consisted of:

Friday - getting together with Scott's immediate family
Saturday (Christmas Eve) - getting together with Scott's extended family during the day and having our own family Christmas that night before we headed to Urbana
Sunday (Christmas Day) - we spent the day with my family (including my sis who made a special trip up Christmas night so she wouldn't miss seeing me... love her) and my grandma as well as the Fagan, Davis & Zakowski bunch (lots of laughs for sure!)

The Monday after Christmas we spent the day relaxing at my parent's house. It was so nice and definitely needed! Bailey really was a trooper during the holidays!!!

We spent New Year's Eve with some of our small group friends. It was another night full of fun and laughs. We ate at the Texas Roadhouse (without the kids... WAHOO!) for dinner. After dinner, we picked up the kids and went back to our friend's house for dessert, LOTS OF COFFEE, and a few intense rounds of Catch Phrase. Girls rock at the "Entertainment" category!

Here are a few pictures of Bailey's Christmas:

First glimpse of the doll house Uncle Ben made for her!

Sitting at her new table (Thanks Papa & Grandma!) drinking her "shuice!"

Hugs for Grady!!!!  What happens next doesn't need to be revealed... :)

Memory Lane... A Holiday Tradition

This time of year always makes me think of years gone by and the people who have come in and out of my life. Maybe it is the receiving of Christmas cards from high school and college friends, the posting of pictures on Facebook of something from my past or the current and fresh goodbyes that stir memories of "the good ole days." This time of year is just notorious for taking me on a walk down memory lane.

It starts around Thanksgiving when the first Christmas card I receive every year is from my friend Sara who was my best friend growing up. I smile as I see her cute, growing girls, but then I am reminded of the passing years and how the only thing that connects Sara and I now is one card a year followed by possibly a brief conversation via text. I often think "how does this happen?"

Then I hear the music of Christmas past from a church cantata long ago or see pictures of the church I grew up in all decorated at Christmas time (it was always beautiful), and once again, I think, "where have the years gone?" I loved the church I grew up in. I always felt loved and a sense of belonging. In fact, I have fond memories of playing "hide and seek" with my sister and church friends while our parents decorated that church for Christmas. We were always the first to see the beauty of the Christmas season within that church building when all of the hard work was done. (Of course, I had it easy back then... I didn't have to do any of the work!)

As I said goodbye to a dear friend/co-worker last week (who is headed for a great job opportunity), I can't help but think about "the good ole days with Christine." Once again, another change in life that may have me traveling down memory lane every now and then. Like many others, Christine has impacted my life, and as this time of year always does, I am sure next year I will think about our friendship and think "wow, I can't believe it has been a year since Christine has been gone!" I know that I will keep in touch with Christine, but it still will not be the same when I don't see her every week.

Needless to say, I have learned a lot through the years as I have had many people and places come in and out of my life. I have learned the importance of taking time to remain in contact with the people that make me who I am. I don't always have the opportunity to pour a lot of time into keeping relationships at the type of level that I prefer (my love language is quality time), but sometimes a text or two is enough to show that I still care and appreciate the ways that people have impacted my life.  Plus, it is a great reminder to treasure the present moments and the people that surround me right now, because it may become "the good ole days" before I know it!

If you are reading this, you have most definitely impacted my life and made some "good ole days" memories for me. Just know that I cherish the way each and every one of you have impacted my life, and I hope that you take some time to take a stroll down "memory lane" this holiday season and cherish the "good ole days!"

Holiday Card

We have opted not to do a Christmas card this year due to the craziness of our lives right now. We also figure that with blogs and facebook we keep you updated fairly regulary. I'm sure we'll get back into the swing of things next year. For now, enjoy the card below, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Berry Merry Frame Holiday Card

Create modern holiday cards with your photos at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.