Layne's Celebrity Look-Alike

Is it me or does my husband have a close resemblance to Hugh Jackman? I think this automatically gives me permission to declare him as my pretend celebrity boyfriend.

Hugh               vs.                 Layne

But seriously, I think it may be the hair, face shape, scruffiness, and eyes.  

You know your a mom when...

• You don't get dressed until 2 PM. Heck, your lucky if you even get dressed at all. Sweatpants and tank tops become a wardrobe staple. (For us SAHMs!)
• Your house is in shambles but you feel accomplished because the baby is fed, changed, and happy. Plus, it adds character. 
• You no longer feel the need for a purse when your diaper bag fits everything you ever need. 
• You stay up late at night just to get "me" time. Even if it means you get little sleep. Yes, my baby STILL wakes up at night.
•  You crawl under the crib at 2 AM searching for their pacifier as if your life depended on it.
• You call a pacifier anything but "pacifier". 
• Hearing any kind of news of a child in pain brings tears to your eyes.
• You can get dressed, put make-up on, do your hair, and entertain the baby...all in under 20 minutes. 
• Baby magazines have replaced fashion magazines.
•  You never arrive anywhere on time. You are always doing "one last thing" before you actually leave the house.
• You actually laugh out loud when someone with a newborn asks if it gets easier. 
• Bodily fluids don't gross you out anymore. Sorta.
• You have considered trading anything for just one night of good sleep.
• You consider parenting to be the best job in the world. 

Little Things

You know when there are those people who are too smart for their own good and you hate them for it? Lo and behold, that's my dear daughter. Of course I love her though. Girlfriend has tricks up her sleeves and sometimes I ponder how a 9 month old baby can know so much. I have worked with babies and kids for years; I've seen milestones after milestones, but when it comes to my own I am left bewildered, like I have just discovered some ancient wonder.

You always know your baby is going to grow up and do all sorts of amazing things. I'm sure to the next person hearing about what she ate or that she clapped is not really thrilling or amazing, like somebody winning American Idol would be. But it's all foundation. And like my husband says, "You're watching intelligence being born. What's more amazing than that?" Who knows, maybe I am holding a musical prodigy in my possession. It's the little things she picks up from us though (or doesn't) that make me a proud mama. One of my favorite things is seeing her wave. She moves her little fist sideways back and forth like a princess and I think it's so funny. I sure as hell don't wave like that, and I certainly don't think my husband does either.

It's things like pulling her arms out of the car seat straps when she knows she's getting out of the car, or putting her head down and pushing when she wants daddy to flip her upside down, or being able to open the door by a handle if we're holding her up. I am certainly not bragging by any means but I am proud, and I am proud to share. Babies should be praised for all they do because they grow and learn so much during that first year. And ehem, how cute are they?

Walking with Walker

This is my little girl, on the move. Not even 9 months old yet. I'm in trouble.

I got these Size 3 shoes at Once Upon a Child for $3.50. Steal.

I'm so happy the weather is outdoors worthy now. It looks like walks and trips to the park and lake are calling our names for more frequent visits, and I'm more than happy to oblige. I'm pretty sure Payton is getting bored here exploring the same old territory, when I find her playing with everything but her toys and just looking for trouble.

Her absolute favorite thing to play with is my laptop. I can't even get on it when I'm around her or she B-Lines straight for it and puts up quite a determined fight until she gets to pound away on the keys. I only let her do this due to the fact that my laptop is on its last leg anyways. Lately our days with her are filled with a lot of playful laughter and fun, amongst chase downs and some skillful hawk eye action on my part. Which she also participates in...

Happy Sunday! 

It's never too late

Exciting news! Layne and I are both going back to school to finish our degrees. I'm going to be starting the Academy of Arts University in San Francisco, Fall 2011. I'm majoring in Fashion Merchandising and I'll be doing the classes online so I don't have to commute over there. I am so excited to finally start toward a career path that I'm passionate and excited about. I actually have enough credits to classify me as a junior in college but only a few of my core classes will transfer over.

Their Fashion program is one of the most prestigious majors at the Academy; partly because they are the only school invited to NYC Fashion Week to have their students present their upcoming clothing line collections. The first two classes I have to take are Intro to Fashion Business and Fashion Illustration. Although my focus is in Fashion Merchandising, they expose you to all areas of fashion so your portfolio is much more versatile and appealing. The next steps for me are just registering and filling out financial aid forms.

In the next few months our lives our going to become much more hectic. It makes me sad to think I won't see my husband and daughter as much, but I am welcoming the changes for our future. It will just make us treasure the time we spend with each other even more. I don't like the thought of putting Payton in daycare, but at least she will be over a year old. Hopefully we can find a way to only put her in 3 days a week. I will just need time to do school since classes are very intense, and I may be working part-time also.

It goes to show it's never too late to do anything you want to do! :)