Guilty Pleasures

We all have them! I'll fess up, confess, and say that mine are:

Teen Mom and 16 & Pregnant. I realize I am not a tween but these girls make for some good trashy television. And they make me feel oh so good about my parenting skills.

Indulging in a whole pint of Vanilla Heath Bar Crunch ice-cream. Heaven! It's worth all of the guilty pleasure I can get.

Facebook, babycenter, and bloggy blog blogs. Addictive. Seriously addicting stuff.

The fact that on some nights I neglect all household duties and decide relaxing is way more important. "Happy wife, happy life!"

Sometimes rocking my sweet baby to sleep and holding her in my arms for awhile because I love the snuggles and miss when she used to sleep on me all the time. *Gasp*

I'm sure I have more, but off the top of my extremely tired, throbbing head this is all I can think of.  I will just add to the list as I think of them. Feel free to chime in!

Payton's 6 month update!

I still can't believe how unbelievable fast these past 6 months have gone by. We have gone from holding this precious little girl in our arms for the first time and having our hearts grow in love to loving her more and more everyday as we watch her turn into her own little person now.

 It already makes me sad to think in just 6 more fast months she will be ONE. And yes, I have already started planning her first birthday. haha! She is perfectly on target and hitting all of her milestones. So proud of her and all she can do.

MILESTONE CHART:

Child's Age

6 months  

Mastered Skills              

 (Most Kids Can Do)          

 Turns toward sounds and voices - YES for awhile now                         

 Imitates sound - YES        

 Rolls over in both directions - YES             

Emerging Skills

(Half of Kids Can Do)

Is ready for solid foods - YES

Sits without support - YES

Mouths objects - YES

Passes objects from hand to hand - YES

Advanced Skills 

(A Few Kids Can Do)

Lunges forward or starts crawling - YES to lunging, NO crawling

Jabbers or combines syllables - YES

Drags objects towards herself - YES & grabs them out of her toy basket 

6 MONTH STATS:

Weight: 15 lbs. 10 oz. - 50th percentile

Height:  26.5 in. - 75th percentile (Ped said she shot up, she went from 25% to 75% since last visit!!)

Head: Between 50-75th percentile so perfectly proportional

And her vaccines are delayed so she only got the 2nd round today.

Perfectly healthy, perfectly happy baby!

She did so well at the doctor's office for being very over-tired. We hated the shots, but let's be real...what kid doesn't? She was a trooper and back to smiling 2.5 seconds afterwards anyways. She had crap naps all day so after attempting a 3rd nap that she wouldn't go down for, we took her to the park. The weather here has been so nice (in the 60's) so we took full advantage.

Paytee Pie loved the baby swing but didn't know what to think about the slide. I think Layne and I had more fun, especially when we spotted this twirly do-da thing that Layne pushed Payton and I on. I could not stop laughing but Payton was not half as amused.

So we just stuck to the swings.

This smile is what my life is all about. Sometimes we just need to take a break from our everyday lives and enjoy the small simple things. "The best things in life are free."

On Sunday (her half-birthday) we ventured up to Grass Valley to visit my mother-in-law so Payton could see her Grandma! She lives about 40 minutes north of us, more in the mountains. I always love the drive and we always love visiting.

It was great getting to see her and Kristy and have a nice afternoon up there. We celebrated with Panda Express, cake, and ice-cream while watching some football and catching up. Recipe for a great day!

Payton lacked sleep but we managed to get through with just a few spurts of fussiness!!

On our drive home, we decided to take a different route and we ended up just going for a drive off a road less taken. It was beautiful and windy through the mountains. Of COURSE Layne loved it because we were in his super fast Mustang (that was for him).

Love & Smiles...Jackie

Pursuing your dreams

Sometimes it is not as easy as it seems, especially when life gets in the way. But you have the power to believe in your dreams and make them come true. I have taken the last year and a half off of work and school to focus on moving, pregnancy, moving again, motherhood, marriage and everything else that goes along with that. I have a million and one dreams. Of course not all of them will come true or happen for me, but dreams give you hope for a better tomorrow.

I am about ready to start working again and possibly start school up in the fall. My daughter is 6 months old and I have loved spending every minute with her these last 6 months. In a perfect world I would love to keep being a stay-at-home mom but financially I need to start working again for the future of our family. So I figure this is a good chance for a new beginning and fresh start. To everyone out there that might think it's too late to do what you want, it's not. I'm the perfect example. I have gone to two different colleges (almost 3), changed my major who knows how many times, and now at 23 years old I am doing it all over again.

I have years of experience working in childcare. I've worked as a caregiver/nurses aide (which I don't think I could do again). I got so tired of taking care of people's crap. No pun intended. These jobs would be the most practical for me to go back into because of my experience and schooling. However, I would really like to work in retail again (Shout out to all my Old Navy peeps!) as a merchandiser because my absolute dream job would be a Fashion Merchandiser or Buyer. I hope to someday get a BA in Fashion Merch. This is what I wanted to do in high school and when I first got to college. I majored in fashion design for a semester because they didn't have fashion merchandising. I loved every class except for clothing construction, and realized I did not want anything to do with making clothes. So not for me! So I fell back to nursing, which was another more practical option for me. I love the medical field but I thrive more on creativity and I get excited when thinking about a career I can be creative and savvy in. I only did 'okay' studying for the medical field because I did not enjoy the science or books of it. I felt I could not express myself. Helping others will always be something I want to do, but I can and will find other ways of doing that. I plan on working hard and working my way up. It's not going to be easy. A lot of people will and probably do doubt me, but I have the support and the drive to do what it takes.

My ultimate goal (right now) is to work as a Buyer, Stylist, or Merchandiser for a company or designer; or stay at home with my kids and run an online boutique. I know that I have many options so we will see what the future holds! Things change and people change. I know that whatever I end up doing it is going to be something I enjoy and love. You should deserve nothing less of that.

One thing I have learned is to not let people bring you down. If you have the passion and determination you can succeed. There is nothing worse than working a job you hate for the rest of your life and being miserable. Life is too short to live with regrets.

Big love and dreams,
Jackie

Cookie Monster

I am a sucker for all baked goods. One of my favorites to make are homemade chocolate chip cookies. I die for the chewy goodness, right out of the oven first bite, and fresh baked smell. Let's face it, dessert would be so dull without these delectable goodies.

So I thought I would share my top-secret cookie recipe...you should feel so honored. ha ha! Really though, I have yet to make cookies better than these babies. I don't even remember how I got the recipe or where, but I think I changed it up a bit and wrote it on this old sheet of paper. So there you have it. My kids are going to love me when they are older. hee hee!

Recipe:

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/4 pound of butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 t. vanilla
1 egg
As many chocolate chips as you like (You can also substitute with something else)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium mixing bowl beat softened butter and sugars on low speed until smooth.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

Add the egg and vanilla into the butter/sugar mixture and beat. Slowly add the flour a little at the time and keep beating until it is all mixed together.

Add Choc. chips!

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown around the edges.

Enjoy! 

For the love of cookies...Jackie.

Sick, Sick, Sick

You know those days where you just want to curl up in bed with a million blankets, watch feel-good movies all day, and cuddle with your loved one? Those perfect cozy, winter days. Well, I didn't quite get that day but I longed for it. Being sick has a way of doing that to you. 

Our cat had the right idea.

Thanks to my seemingly wonderful husband, I got through the day with as much grace as humanly possible. Even though the misery of running noses, sneezes, and coughs were consuming me, my family always has a way of making the day a bit brighter. I am, however, ready for this day and the rest of winter to be over and done with and hoping for a better feeling tomorrow! 

Payton and Layne, on the other hand, had a great day. They got to spend a little time alone together while I took a much needed relaxing, hot shower. A luxury to any mom. She loves playtime with daddy. It is so sweet to see her turning into a little daddy's girl. And of course Layne is just smitten with her. I'm perfectly content with that because I got the bragging rights that she babbled 'mamamama' first and still wants me when she is tired, hungry, or not feeling good so... all the time. ha ha.  

We absolutely love watching her play, grow, and learn new things everyday. 

One of her favorite things right now is her Jumparoo. She is a wild woman in that genius-made toy.

And did I mention she is teething? The drool fest, knawing on anything she can get her hands on, and sleepless nights have been going on for months it seems like. I am just waiting for one of those mean little toofers to sneak through. 

She has just recently discovered that her toes make fun play toys and tasty treats. Yum. 

And yesterday she was showing off how she loves to sit like a big girl all day long. My love bug is getting so big so fast! We have less than a week before her 6 month birthday!  I will post an update on her milestones and stats on Sunday or Monday.

"Enjoy whatever phase your baby is in. Something incredible is always ahead, but you can never go back." 

- Elizabeth Hasselbeck

The funny side to parenting

As a mom sometimes you just have to laugh at certain situations...

• The first sign of the "I'm pooping" face is a good time to pass the baby to someone else. This is my husband's motto. His 'I'm going to pass out and die' reaction when he gets a good wiff or look at Payton's poopy diaper is priceless. I have literally peed my pants from laughter, until I realize I'm the one that then has to change that 'I'm going to pass out and die' diaper. 

• I have come to realize that yes, my baby will dress better than me for awhile. And yes, she has 5x the amount of clothes than I do. I'm not jealous. Really, I'm not. 

• Clapping and cheering when my child burps. Not a problem now, but eventually I think I will want to break this habit!

• My baby's desire to be naked is only an issue if it lasts into her teens. 

• It doesn't matter if you don't get out much. As a mom you turn into a comedian, chef, and singer... and no matter how lame you are, your child still thinks you're the funniest, coolest person in the world. And they also provide YOU with hours of entertainment and exercise. I'd like to see your friends attempt this. 

• The only baby food you should sample is the fruit. Seriously, only the fruit. This is why I will be attempting to make my own baby food. Veal and corn...no thank you. 

• When you are trying to get your child to eat, you don't care how much gets on their face, hands, tray, or clothes as long as some ends up in their mouth...until you have to clean up at the end. 

• And my favorite...when we are telling Payton how much we love and cherish her and she let's out a big TOOT showing us her gratitude. 

The end is near I fear

I thought I had a few more months before my little girl wanted to wean herself from nursing! Waaahhhh I hate pumping!!! I have been having to supplement with formula here and there during the day since my supply has dropped and now little one has lost interest. Who loses interest in a boob?! Luckily, during her middle of the night feedings she still likes to snuggle up to mom and comfort nurse. I am so sad though that we are having a tough time getting back to nursing more often. I think I will go sulk now. Or just indulge in my Carl's Jr. the hubby brought home!

Of course, she will eat her solid food like it's going out of style...

Eating her green beans like a good girl.

Oh and I just wanted to add...I was pumping while writing this blog and all 6 oz. fell and spilt all over the floor. I think I should get some type of mom award for that.

New year, new blog

I finally got around to making a blog. Better yet, I finally found the TIME to make it. (YAY nap time!) Here's to hoping for another great year. 2010 is definitely the year to beat...as it was a year of pregnancy, giving birth to my beautiful little girl, and marrying the love of my life. Now I can just look forward to enjoying this new year as a family of three now and all the new adventures it will bring.

Follow me as I document my daughter's life and life as a mommy;

share recipes, stories, vent, gossip...you name it.

A perk of mommyhood:
 Being able to do all the things I would look silly doing without a kid!