Ah, A day off!!

So Friday was my first day off in what seems like FOREVER. Michael also had the day off, which was wonderful! I started the day by letting Michael sleep late while I took Colten to daycare. I was originally supposed to work until 11:00 that day, but I was up most of the night with a very upset tummy. By mid-morning, I began to feel much better! Michael and I had lunch in the Riverside Area of Jacksonville at a place called the Whiteway Deli. It was YUMMY! We both had gyros...awesomeness! My coworker, "Mad Dog" had her last day at work last Thursday. She's moving out of state soon. She's a southerner just like myself, so we always had a blast at work! After our nice lunch we went to a doctor's appointment for a check-up with Dr. Fox. She had a big part in the pregnancy and birth of our son, Colten. She knows my history with Post Partum depression and did so much to help me get through that difficult time. She gives me a hard time about my weight a lot, but I have to appreciate her straight-forward approach. She was pleasantly suprised to hear I had lost almost 15 pounds! She also said I was the "highlight" of her day. I'm sure she tells all of her pateints that! I'm doing so great that I no longer need my anti-anxiety medication. I'm so happy...naturally!

After my great doctor's visit, we went to buy Michael some new work boots. He was able to get som really nice boots for a good price! We then went to good ole Sonic for a snack. I love that place!

We ended the day with a nice, family dinner. I love my little family. They are my everything! I have a few pictures of my fun day:


On the top floor of the Baptist parking garage



ME!



cheese!!!



the baptist women's pavillion in Jacksonville. Colten was born on the 3rd floor. My doctor's office is on the 15th floor!


Michael driving us to Sonic. he's so goofy!



AFTER MONTHS OF SEARCHING FOR A COMFORTER FOR MY BEDROOM, I FOUND ONE...AND FOR A GREAT PRICE AT TJMAXX!

My Amazing God...

I am still amazed at how God helps me to find answers to the many questions that I ask every day. I am cursed, or maybe blessed, with the inability to ever let my mind rest. I'm constantly thinking, wondering, questioning, planning, and worrying about things. Small things, big things, just everything. I sometimes feel inadequate as a person. I feel like I'm never good enough sometimes. I'm always striving for a perfection that I know is unattatinable. But recently, God has helped me to see that I am a good person, FLAWS and all! He has helped me to see that I am a GREAT mommy. I have a wonderful little boy who is happy, cheerful, and always wearing a smile! He is overall a wonderfully behaved child. The boundraries that Michael and I are establishing now are going to help him in the long run. I hate hearing him cry and fuss when he's in time out, but I know he has to learn now what behaviors are acceptable and what behaviors are not.

Many childcare professionals agree that NOW is the time to begin a foundation of discipline. Michael and I will not be beating our child. We will be teaching him productive and appropriate ways to handle anger. We believe physical punishment only encourages inappropriate and violent behaviors. We will also be teaching him to respect all humans, regardless of color, lifestyle, or opinions. After all, God created all people!

I have tons of pictures to share!!!


MY 16 MONTH OLD:





EATING SWEET POTATOES (before throwing and smearing them everywhere!)





YUMMY BREAKFAST!




ONE VERY TIRED BABY AT TARGET!!




THE MOMMY (WITH NEW HIGLIGHTS AND HAIR CUT)




MY VALENTINE'S PRESENT FROM COLTEN:

Lazy Weekends....

Because of how Michael's schedule is at work, he has had to work every weekend in February so far. At first, I dreaded having a rambunctious ALMOST 16 month old by myself all day. As it turns out, Colten and I have had a great time. Of course I've had those days where I watched the clock praying for 5:30 p.m. to get here. Cleaning house, doing laundry, and entertaining a small child and a hyper dog all at the same time is exhausting. But overall, Colten and I have had a great time. Next Saturday I have to work all day, so Colten will have that special time with his daddy. Colten has been such a mama's boy that I wondered if he would ever cry and want his daddy the way he cries and wants me. He's getting closer and closer to his daddy every day. Just yesterday he walked to the front door and said "Da da?" I had to tell him that "daddy went bye bye." He was so sad! But we are so grateful that Michael has a great job that he loves...and that allows us to have FREE HEALTH INSURANCE!!

Today, I did the impossible! I took Colten out to eat breakfast at Burger King. We sat inside and had a NICE, QUIET MEAL! No screaming, no food throwing, no sippy cup tossing. He was such a good boy! Afterwards, we went to Food Lion to pick up a few things. After that, we went to the park and played on the slide and the swings! We even saw three little dogs. Colten immediately started barking back at them. It was so cute! We came back home and had a great time playing outside before lunch and naptime! Such a perfect Sunday with my little man.

His newest works are Cookie, Cat, and Yucky (or as he says it, CUCKY).

Be sure to check out the video above! It's from our messy lunch today!

My Little CLIMBER!

So it looks like I have a climber on my hands! Colten has figured out to how stand ON TOP OF my Dining Room table. I spent half of the day today trying to keep him from climbing on top of the chairs, the table, bar stools, and couches. He's very adventerous and seems to show NO FEAR. I can tell he's going to be a passionate, fearless person, just like his mommy!

Colten's daddy has to work all weekend, so we are getting lots and lots of quality Mommy-Colten time. We had fun today! We watched the Wiggles, had a nap, and Colten helped Mommy clean the kitchen and living room. He's such a good helper!

Colten learned a new word today...BOO! He doesn't actually say "BOO"....it sounds more like "BEE!" He likes to jump out and yell "BEE!" It's so cute!

Here are some pictures of Colten I took today:

No, no no!

So the other morning during breakfast, Colten shook his head at me and yelled "No, No No!" I guess he wasn't in the mood to eat his banana. I can't believe how much he is growing every day! He's picking up new words really quickly, also. Just the other day he brought me his shoes and said "Toos, Toos." We went to the playground today, which usually turns into a full-out scream fest when it's time to head home. When it started getting windy and cold, I told Colten: "Say bye, bye Colten. It's time to go home." He waved bye-bye and began walking home without fussing!

He is such a dream come true! Here are some pictures of me and of my 15 month old heart breaker!


My new haircut and highlights: