Silly Mommy

I'm not quite sure if I'm doing this right. It's my first time blogging. Anyway, it's me...K or as Mom likes to call me around here- Baby K. I'm not a baby anymore but the poor broad just won't let go. I'll let her think I'm still little for awhile longer. I've heard tell that today is her favorite holiday. It's not that I plan to change it for her, but I do want to see if I can make her inner witch come out. Here's what I've done so far...

1. I was a perfect angel until Daddy left this morning. I do this to trick her. She thinks- "yes, today is going to be a great day!" But boy, is she mistaken. I saw her working on putting elastic on this awful green, hairy thing that she expects me to wear on my head tonight so that it won't come off and I've got to tell ya- THAT'S NOT HAPPENING. I'll show her just who is boss around here.

2. This brings me to my next point. Mom has worked so hard on making my costume this year, but get this...

It's WHITE!
Go ahead and catch your breath from all that laughter because I know you know that I'm going to dirty that up within seconds of putting it on. I think I'll even feign forgetting how to walk for the entire night just so I can crawl around and completely ruin the thing. It'll be great.

3. She's dressing up, too. I had to remind her today that just because it's Halloween she can't forget she's a mother and not watch me. The way I did this is I snuck into the guest room where she keeps her makeup and I found some blue stuff that I think she puts on her eyes. Then, I tasted it. It wasn't that good so I just smeared it all over my face to make it look like I had eaten a lot. After I was done there, I grabbed some more for good measure and spread it all over the floor. Boy, is she mad. I watched her put it in a drawer that she thinks I can't open, but little does she know I can open it AND get stuff out of it from the very back. Silly Mommy.

4. Just to really put her on edge, I'm screaming at every single thing. I can't really talk, but I am pretty good about letting her know what I want usually. Key word is usually. This morning, just for kicks, I sat next to the couch and screamed bloody murder. I did this for minutes before giving my first hint- which was to look under the couch. She's pretty smart despite her appearance on most days so she caught on quickly. She looked under the couch where she found at least ten toys I had thrown under there. Mom, nearly 35 weeks pregnant, crawled on the floor and got every last toy out from under it...except that one red ball that I wanted. I let her know. Now that I have three red balls, a hat, and six multicolored legos surrounding me, I'm pondering my next line of attack.

Happy Halloween!

Love,
"Baby" K

All About Us

(I hope you're not terribly tired of these link-ups I keep doing. The questions have been so good lately and, well, my brain needs something that I don't have to think much about. I blame Baby A or Baby K or the fact that all my brain cells keep going to sewing cloth diapers for the former and a Halloween costume for the latter all without any proper patterns. In short, I've got problems! )

 

1. Tell us how you met your love and what attracted you most to him.

You're not going to believe this. Okay, maybe you will but we were set up. His mother and my sister worked together and I suppose simultaneously decided that we were pathetic all by ourselves so we needed each other. Kidding. But I was like...who does this? I don't NEED a guy. I don't NEED you to set me up with a stranger, much less one that is heading off to a war zone. Still, I went on this date against everything I knew and when I got home I told my mom I was going to marry him, something I certainly had never said about anyone else before. She knew I was serious. A couple days later we were on the beach. A week after that I was in Alaska, a place I said I'd never set foot, cherishing our last few weeks together before he headed off toward Iraq. The rest is history! I think I was attracted most to his outlook in life and his confidence in himself.

2. Show us the very first picture you guys ever took together.

3. Tell us some of your favorite memories that you two had together.

How bout I just show you? That's more fun...

Hiking in Tennessee over R&R

Boating in New Zealand after deployment #1

Getting married!

Hanging out in the Hot Springs at 20 Below

Out-fishing him one fine day at the Chena River in Alaska

Camping and Hiking in Denali National Park

Exploring Kona, Hawaii

Haines, AK

Roadtrippin' in California

Grand Canyon

Finding out we were pregnant with this little cutie and every seemingly mundane moment after! Our children have given us a whole new kind of adventure together and although it's much different, we're having the time of our lives.

4. Tell us your favorite qualities of this man. What makes him the one?

As I said before, I like his confidence. I like his cooking ability. I like the way he looks in uniform. I love the way he loves our sons. He is a good husband and a wonderful father to our boys. He's funny. He's my best friend, even when he's driving me crazy. I can trust him completely and that makes all the difference in the world.

5. Tell us what your date nights typically look like.

Well, as you can imagine, date nights have changed. We used to live! it! up! We would go out for an appetizer and drinks at one location, move to another for dinner, and still another for dessert. Our dates were often out of town! We'd make the 6 hour drive to Anchorage for the weekend and go snowshoeing at out favorite locations. We'd ski. We'd hit up the jazz bar. We had some great dates! Now, we're lucky to get the kid in bed in time and rent a movie on Netflix to watch together. I have faith that when we move this will all change and we'll find a reliable babysitter that can give us more time alone together. That's important to me.

Halloween Memories

It's time for a little Sunday Social! Today we're talking about all things Halloween! My favorite.

1. What was your favorite Halloween costume as a kid?

This is a tough one as I usually like every costume I wear...b/c duh, I picked it out and/or made it. But I fondly recall wearing a Roadrunner costume and running house to house yelling "mmeeep mmeeep"!

Honorable Mention: That Time I Was A California Raisin

2. If you could go back and dress up as something, what would it be?

I don't like this question because it insinuates that I can't dress up anymore and that, my friends, is depressing. I hope I always celebrate Halloween by pretending to be something/someone I'm not. I still love to play dress-up.

3. Favorite costume as an adult?

Well...hmmm. My senior year in college I dressed up as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. I liked this one because people told me how awesome it was (but, come to think of it...it might just have been guys saying that so I don't know that they are trusted to be good judges of awesome costumes). Another favorite was two years ago when I dressed up as a member of KISS. That was fun, too. I think I liked these two best because I made a lot of each of the costumes. Costumes are usually better when you make them yourself.

4. What is your favorite Halloween candy?

I like chocolate of any sort at all times of the year. Candy corn is a must at least once in October, too.

5. What is your favorite Halloween memory?

Oh, I don't know. Attempting to take a photo for our family Christmas card perhaps? ;)

Drifter and Holly are mortified.

Bumpdate: Week 34

There I am- one week ago. I'd take a 34 pic for you but I already did and it was absolutely revolting so it was immediately disposed of. Seriously, how did we survive before the digital camera? Remember when we had to wait to see if we had taken an acceptable photo? What a dark, scary place. I digress.

Baby is the size of a: large cantaloupe (5.5 lbs)

Symptoms: Fast (very uncomfortable) heart rate, lower back pain, hatefulness, tired (oh so tired), feet and hands are swollen, etc.

Cravings: ehh, nothing really. Food never sounds good until I'm devouring it.

Weight: 150 and no, I don't want to talk about it.

Sleep: I'm not sleeping very well. I typically toss and turn a lot and when I do it's rather difficult and sometimes painful. I will wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to sleep again for a few hours. It's not fun.

Movement: Oh yeah, he moves a lot.

Stretch Marks: I don't think so...but there is one odd line that I'm afraid might be one...but it could just be part of that belly button line that will disappear eventually. I sure hope so.

Sex: It's a boy!

Looking Forward To: I can't wait to be skinny again. And I just know it'll happen again (*fingers crossed, pleading toward the sky) because a little over a year ago I looked like this at Week 33 with Baby K-

and I certainly lost most of that weight before I started packing it on again with this one. I don't know what my aversion is with Week 34, but I didn't seem to get a photo last time either. Maybe this is the specific week that denial sets in.

I know Baby A needs to stay put for about 6 more weeks, but I'm very ready for that time period to elapse. At my last appointment, my heart rate was 140+ so I had to have an EKG, blood pressure monitoring, and various other tests. Not fun, but all results are normal thus far. This is about the time that I started showing signs of preeclampsia last time so I could use your prayers! 

How's Big Bro? He's great. He's running around and talking more and more although most of his jibberish is just that. Still, he's lots of fun. I think he knows that change is a'comin'. He won't let J put him down to sleep anymore and he soaks up every little minute he can cuddle with me. As for me, I'm getting so nervous about leaving him when I have to go to the hospital. I don't want to be away from him that long. I'm sure I'll be okay, though and he will, too.

Being a mom is hard, isn't it? You spend a lot of time just hoping and praying FOR! THE! LOVE! to just have a few hours to yourself yet you often spend the times you do get away thinking of your sweet kids and looking forward to being with them again. Anyway, wanna hear the latest insult I received? It'll be fun....

While walking into Walmart the other day, a guy leans out of his van and shouts-

"We need to get this girl to family planning!"

Umm. Whoa. 

Jerk.

Honestly, I cried when I got home. I mean, who says that? Now, it's just kinda funny to think about. 

The Telling

I polled my audience on Fb the other day and everyone answered in the affirmative that book reviews were the bomb diggity so I've got one for you today. If you don't like this, well then you should be on the fan page! Let me make it a little easier for you- Like Mrs. K and Captain J here. Anyway, let's get started...

The Telling: Tennessee Tinys Book 1

Author Gary E. Reavis Sr. tells the story of a down-home Christian family who has been entrusted to take care of a very unique community of people. This special responsibility has been passed down for generations and now it's Conor's turn to take over the family business of protecting the Tinys. The Tinys are a group of very small individuals who came over from Europe. When a threat is posed from an angry English businessman, something has to be done to protect the Tinys from being exposed to the rest of the world. How will young Conor handle his newly discovered responsibility? What will happen to the little community?

My Thoughts:

First let me say, I really liked the book. It's a short read. The story easily flows through a series of events that make the reader not want to put it down. It's fiction, of course, but could also be categorized under legends and mythology and/or folk tales. Over the past few years, I've begun to read more and more of this genre. I like The Telling because it transcends age- parents and children alike could enjoy this book together. It would be a great story to read as a family!

I noticed some errors that I first attributed to the author getting into the character of his writing, but then I began to wonder if they were typos. There were several in the beginning and some toward the end that were mildly distracting, however I do not think it took away from the story at all.

About the Author:

Gary E. Reavis Sr. is a retired techie turned writer. He's the big brother to two siblings who grew up relying on his creativity for entertainment. He now has a large family and enjoys regaling children with his stories.

Read more about the first book in the series here. The book is available on the book website, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble, among other places I'm sure. There's also the option of purchasing the ebook or having your actual copy signed if it's purchased through his website. My mom sent me my copy and she had it signed!

Overall- Yay or Nay?

Yay, yay, yay! I look forward to reading the next book in the adventures of the Tinys.

Linked up with:

The Hanging Jail

I've lived in Deridder for over a year now and I never knew what this place was. I drove by it, noticed the beauty and uniqueness of the building, but never researched what it was. Enter my friend, Sarah- avid researcher and pro at finding out crap she wants to know. I'm not kidding. If I needed to know something about how a process was to be done or what the latest gossip was during my four years at TTU, this was the friend to go to. She just has a way of finding stuff out. She's good, y'all. Anyway, just when I thought there was absolutely nothing to do in this town, she showed me the error in my thinking. 

We were perusing the Internet in hopes of discovering a worthwhile activity to do on a Sunday afternoon. This is no easy task in rural Louisiana. During our search, she finds The Hanging Jail. As she's reading about it, I realize- hey, I know exactly where it is! Let's go.

Here's a better photo of the old Beauregard Parish Jail-

Not My Photo

History:

The jail received its nickname due to the events of March 9, 1928. Two men were hanged in the large winding staircase that gave access to each cell. They were hanged after murdering a taxi driver that was taking them to their destination. The accused, Joe Genna and Molton Brasseaux, were not buried in Beauregard Parish. J. J. Brevelle, the taxi driver, is laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery nearby.

The jail housed over 50 prisoners and each cell had a toilet, shower, lavatory, and window! These luxuries paired with its "collegiate gothic" design were rare at the time it was built in 1914. In addition, a tunnel connected the courthouse and the jail and was used to transport prisoners to trial.

(Be warned that this video contains what I call "the t word". I hate that. Other than that, this video is good stuff.)

Current:

The building, also referred to as the Gothic Jail, closed in 1982. It is not open to the public. The pictures posted above are from my limited view through windows. I think it would make for a great tourist attraction if it could be opened up for informational tours. The location has been inspected by the paranormal experts of LA Spirits. Their personal experiences varied from viewing electromagnetic field spikes, a stationary camera that "jiggled" then fell over, smells of pipe smoke, hearing footsteps, and listening to noises that sounded like a running shower. The group opted to stay all night monitoring the building and considered it an honor.

As for me? I just thought it was a neat place. I didn't get any eerie feelings while I was there, but I really would have liked to go inside to see more. Sarah and I posed for a quick photo outside and then hopped in the car to another favorite attraction of mine- Pizza Hut.

Have you ever had a paranormal experience? I'd love to hear about it!

Social Networking- Why do we share?

Hi, I'm Mrs. K and you can find me here, here, and here. We can create "relationships" online and replace face to face interaction entirely. We can make connections and feel as if we truly know someone by what they choose to share on their social networking sites. Think about it- You must be good friends with so and so because you know what their son did this morning while she was getting ready to walk out the door. You know that after work, she stopped at the gas station to fill up and bought a diet dew. You know her hose ripped and it felt like the end of the world.

The point is- most of us share, share, share! I'm especially guilty. I write this blog, sharing details of our lives that most of you probably don't care about. I post photos on Facebook and enjoy reading through all the comments my friends post on it. I publish status updates as if you care my dog chewed up another shoe. It's interesting to me because I've never really thought about why my need to share such things is so strong. What makes me sign into Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger several times a day?

I don't know.

I think a large part of that urge is because I do stay at home. Perhaps it's a boredom thing, but I think it would be more accurate to blame it on the desperate need for connection with someone other than a one year old. Another reason may be that I live far away from most of my friends and family. I share to keep them in the loop. It's easier to throw up a photo or blog post that everyone can see rather than calling 85 million of my closest friends and family. I'm not much of a phone person.

When I think back to my college days, I can remember when Facebook was established. In fact, I remember the brief time that it was called The Facebook. My roomie was a part of it, but I didn't want to cave. I really didn't think much would come of it. It was a place online where people looked up others from their classes and to be honest- I thought, "I have enough friends." Besides, what was so different from that and Myspace? I soon thought differently, though. My classmates began meeting up outside of class and arranging it via Facebook. Within weeks, my peers were asking, "Are you on Facebook?" When I created my account, it was fun to watch my list of "friends" grow. It was an exciting community online where I could further build my real-life relationships. The best part was that you had to have a university email address to join. To risk sounding absolutely lame, it really was so cool.

It's kind of amazing what it has become. I have just under 1,000 friends on my personal page and more than that on my fan page. I regularly delete people who I don't actually know or people who never interact with me simply because I can't really believe that I can be "connected" with that many people. I just don't think I have 1,000 friends. It certainly doesn't feel like it most days.

A few days ago, Mark Zuckerberg said, "...in ten years from now, people will be sharing about one thousand times as many things as they do today." It's hard to imagine. I mean, on a daily basis I see you all sharing Instagram photos of your lunch, articles you find interesting on Twitter, and daily deals on Facebook. Our lives are on blast for the world to see- and it's all written in ink. It's not a pencil you're using when you post your latest thought. It's forever recorded in a huge complicated code on the Internet. How eye-opening is that?

I just keep thinking that I probably didn't have to share with you that time I knitted a scarf or that time I scrapbooked one afternoon. I mean, really? I'm a habitual over-sharer online. I don't know how it could get much worse from me...and I don't want to imagine it.

Instead, I want to get out and have real interactions. I want to savor the time I get with friends. I want to watch my kids play with their cousins instead of sending photos and videos back and forth. I want more life in between my social sharing. After the weekend I just had catching up with my college pal, I realize that. It was so refreshing to be able to share chocolate with a friend and talk about our past, present, and futures. It was fun to watch movies and eat pizza like old times!

I'll share more about our weekend later, of course. 'Cuz that's just what I do.

(Photo credit here)

Mom to Two Under Two

I'm at the point in this pregnancy that I'm trying not to throw away every single item of clothing I own. Nothing seems to fit and my woe-is-me attitude is just taunting me- saying "You'll never fit in that again. Get rid of it."

Oh, but I will.

It's so easy to put on weight, but eventually I'll have it gone again and I shouldn't throw away my entire closet. I know this. Yet...I just don't want to look at it. I want it out of my sight. I tried on pre-pregnancy pants the other day and after finally getting them buttoned, I worried that I'd have to cut them off. I couldn't breathe in them and they gave me the most unflattering of muffin tops. A couple weeks ago, I tried on my favorite little black dress which I can no longer zip over my chest. This is yet another unpleasant side effect to having babies. My body is expanding all over and I'm having to share it with another person. It's wonderful and terribly uncomfortable all at the same time.

Yesterday, the bassinet arrived and as I was putting it together, I realized how quickly time was running down. He's going to be here before we know it. Staring at the place where Baby A will soon slumber, my chest started getting restricted. My heart rate elevated. Whoa, I'm nervous. What will it be like to be a mother of two? Two under two years old. Let me just pinch myself really quickly to make sure this is real.

I have also officially entered into the nesting zone. I'm trying to prepare as best I can with what I have. Of course, there's no nursery to get ready as we're moving the week or so after the baby arrives. I did manage to thoroughly clean the infant car seat, though. K really really did a number on that thing as a tiny one. It was filthy and I was ashamed. I'm sure it won't be the last time, though! Now, Baby A can ride home in a tidy, non sticky chair. You're welcome, kid...

Anyway, this may be premature, but I buckled the car seat into the car to see how the leg space up front would be with two car seats in the back (It's perfect, by the way). Both seats are buckled in and each time I get in my car, I realize all over again that this is real. K is starting to sense the change, too. The first time I put him into his seat, he leaned over and stared curiously at his old seat beside him." Who is in there?" he seemed to say. After he was sure he was still the baby of the family, he sat back and relaxed. I hope he handles this transition well, but I worry about his reaction more than anything. I pray I have adequate time to show both of my babies how loved they are.

These are my thoughts on this Saturday morning.

Have a great weekend!

Currently (in my neck of the woods)

*I'm downing: a cup of coffee at 3:30pm as I write and schedule this post. Yes, it's been one of those days. I cannot wake up. Baby K is sleeping soundly and I wish I could be doing that, too. Instead I've been nesting. #cantstopwontstop

*I'm reading: The Telling by Gary E. Reavis Sr.

He's a local author (and by local I mean to my home state!). I guess I'll always be a Tennessee girl.

*I'm wondering: what I should change "Baby K" to when Baby A comes along. Many of you have pointed out that he's not so much a baby anymore as he is a walking, talking toddler! If you count his nonsense as talking. Still needs some work, in my opinion. Anyway, suggestions are welcome.

*I'm trying: not to go absolutely, freaking insane. A new dog has been added to our neighborhood albeit temporarily but STILL! He/She is a "froo froo" dog as I not-so-affectionately call them and he's tiny and LOUD. Barking at nothing. All.day.long.

*I'm excited: about the new Scentsy Scent of the Month for November. 

Honestly, I haven't smelled it yet, but I'll be placing an order soon after the new month rolls around. You can shop my Scentsy site here.

*I'm thankful: for the health of my boys. I fear that sometimes you come here, read my daily struggles, and think that I might just take how good I have it for granted. Maybe I do sometimes. But not a day goes by that I am not in prayer to God for blessing me so richly with two perfect sons and a loving husband. Life is so, so good. Even when it seems hard. I'm so blessed!

*I'm glad: for cool October evenings when I can snuggle with my honey by the fire. Check out our redneck fire pit and be jealous of our innovation.

*I'm missing: my blonde hair sometimes.

*I'm looking forward to: working toward losing weight and not putting it on! Seven(ish) more weeks to go until Baby.

Speaking of, I keep thinking: of all these things newborns require. Like burping! And swaddling! And nursing, oh my. I hope my body has muscle memory and just simply knows what to do. I mean, yeah...it hasn't even been a year since I had to do all these things, but the way I function is that I focus on the age group K is in and I deal with it. All other knowledge of what I thought I knew about him goes out the window as he changes everyday. I don't have space for remembering all those techniques for burping a tiny human right now. Do you think it'll come right back to me? Surely. Anyway, enough about burping. That word is just gross.

What's going on in your neck of the woods?

The New 2013 Dodge Dart

(Today's post is a guest post that you won't want to miss if you're in the market for a new car. As you may know, I just bought a new car recently and I just finished setting up car seat number two in preparation for baby. I can't believe it's getting so close to my due date. Hip, hip, hooray!)

Chrysler has hit it big with the 2013 Dodge Dart. It is turning heads with its new Italian-American design, amazing gas mileage, and low starting price. Chrysler has truly created a vehicle that allows drivers to sport a car that is easy on the eyes, help the environment by releasing less carbon dioxide emissions through less gasoline usage, and not break the bank in the process. The new 2013 Dodge Dart is where it's at for sports car enthusiasts with earth-friendly minds, and Lou Fusz Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealership in O'Fallon, Missouri has them ready to drive off the lot.
The Dart comes in four different models: the Dart SE, Dart SXT, Dart Rallye, and Dart Limited. Each model has something for everyone and will not disappoint you.
Dart SE
Staring at only $15,995, the SE is equipped with a 2.0-Liter I4 DOHC Engine and 6-Speed Manual Transmission. It gets an EPA estimated gas mileage of 25 miles per gallon in the city and 36 miles per gallon on the highway. It also comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels.
Dart SXT
Starting at $17,995, the SXT is also equipped with a 2.0-Liter I4 DOHC Engine and 6-Speed Manual Transmission. It also gets an EPA estimated gas mileage of 25 miles per gallon in the city and 36 miles per gallon on the highway. The SXT comes standard with 17-inch steel wheels.
Dart Rallye 
Starting at $18,995, the Rallye is also equipped with a 2.0-Liter I4 DOHC Engine and 6-Speed Manual Transmission, but it adds a 140-Amp alternator. The Rallye also gets an EPA estimated gas mileage of 25 miles per gallon in the city and 36 miles per gallon on the highway, and it comes standard with 17-inch aluminum wheels.
Dart Limited 
Starting at $19,995, the Limited is also equipped with a 2.0-Liter I4 DOHC Engine, 6-Speed Manual Transmission, and 140-Amp alternator. It also gets an EPA estimated gas mileage of 25 miles per gallon in the city and 36 miles per gallon on the highway. The Limited also comes standard with 17-inch aluminum wheels.
All four models are available in 12 different body paint colors: Blue Streak, Bright Silver, Bright White, Citrus Peel, Header Orange, Laguna Blue, Maximum Steel, Pitch Black, Redline Red 2 Coat Pearl, True Blue, Tungsten Metallic, and Winter Chill. The accents, cross-hair grille, projector headlamps, and foglamps are glossy piano black, giving the Dart an aggressive appearance. The Dart also sports dual integrated exhaust pipes with bright tips.
The Dart offers an interior spaciousness more like a midsize sedan, not a sports car. It is also at the top of its class in safety and security features. Its Uconnect 8.4-inch is a technological hub, offering AM/FM/CD/MP3 and SiriusXM Radio+, weather, gas prices, movie listings, sports, and news, that can be easily accessed through steering wheel-mounted controls and voice command. The Dart also offers the Uconnect Web+ option that creates a wireless internet connection right inside your vehicle, giving you instant access to your email and music within a 150 ft radius. The Dodge Dart Alpine sound system provides nine speakers and one subwoofer, and USB and auxiliary ports allow drivers to plug in pretty much any device than can think of to play music directly from their stereo.
The 2013 Dodge Dart is definitely the car to check out in the realm of earth-friendly cars, and Lou Fusz Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealership in O'Fallon, Missouri is the place to do just that. Call them at (877) 348-8310 for more information.

(This is a sponsored guest post.)

Giveaway!! $75 Amazon Voucher

Maybe you don't know this...but MY COLLEGE BUDDY IS COMING TO VISIT! Pumped doesn't even begin to describe my feelings on the matter. I haven't seen her since I was pregnant with Baby K so obviously it has been too long. Anyway, what I'm getting at is- don't expect me to be around too much this weekend. I will, however, have some guest blogs and giveaways for you over this fine October weekend. Today, I'm bringing you some exciting opportunities from the folks at:

Find them on Facebook here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

and/or try your chances with:

Find them on Facebook here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

That's two separate giveaways, y'all! Enter them both if you'd like. Good luck and Happy Thursday to all of you in blogland. I'm off to clean up toys again...

Let's chat soon.

Dream Homes

With our upcoming move on the brain, it's hard not to start picturing my family settled into a house that we'll (hopefully) have for years- one that we'll actually own. If there's one thing about the military lifestyle that is a constant reminder of how tough it can be, it's writing a check for rent each month. I hate seeing that money go right down the drain. Thousands of dollars each month goes toward a rental house...and then what? That money is just gone. We can't wait until we're paying for a house to keep. We can paint her walls! We can remodel if we wish. We can hang a wreath on the front door and maybe, just maybe it will feel more like our permanent home.

Where's that VA Savings Loan application? Sign us up. We're very much looking forward to being homeowners. Pinterest doesn't help either. I keep finding fabulous rooms or design ideas that keep me browsing (and daydreaming) for hours...

Source: lesapea.tumblr.com via Mrs. on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Mrs. on Pinterest

Source: ernestogarciadesign.com via Mrs. on Pinterest

I'm dreaming of deep claw foot bath tubs, colorful, elegant kitchens, and a heavenly reading nook with built in bookshelves- *swoon*

What's a must have in your dream home?

(This post is brought to you by MilitaryVALoan.com )

Sounds Like Life To Me

This morning I'm battling a bad attitude so I thought perhaps sharing some photos of our nice weekend might aid in putting me in a better mood. I'm sad because everything on my body seems to ache. I didn't sleep well last night because K Baby is sick and he was awake every 30 minutes for the first five hours he was asleep. Then, he woke up early. Dragging my big ole pregnant body out of bed constantly isn't my idea of fun. Of course, now that he's sick, I can't go to PWOC either and I really really wanted to today.

On top of it all, a blanket of stress is threatening to smother us (or something equally dramatic! ha). This weekend, Captain J is off to look for a big boy job in the real world and along with this hiring conference has come many unexpected expenses. Yesterday we had to go to the next city over for (another) shopping spree for professional attire. On the way, we were pulled over and will soon have to pay a big fat fine for speeding. Being a one income household, this puts us in a situation. We're fine, of course, but all that savings we had is gone and we're ready to start over. We were feeling good about having some money saved for "just in case" when he gets out of the Army. That security is gone now. It's just always something, isn't it?

But as Wynn Varble would say, "Sounds like life to me..."

And we've got it pretty good. Here are some photos from our day at the pumpkin patch!

Is he not the cutest thing you've ever seen? I can hardly stand to not kiss his chubby cheeks all day long. And would ya look at those wrists? And that little neck? Good grief. What a sweet family I have!

And now I'll leave you with our good family friend singing his song he wrote for Darryl Worley- Sounds Like Life To Me

Happy Tuesday!