September Goals

I've slacked off on my goals big time this summer.  I thought September would be a good time to get back on board.  We've got so much to do over the next few months and I need to get busy if I'm going to get them all done.  

Decorate for Fall! I bought a new fall scent for my scentsy warmer and it has me itching to put out the pumpkins.  Fall is my favorite time of year.  I usually do it Labor Day weekend and this year will be no different.  I also need to start planning our annual Halloween Trick-or-Treat hayride.    Clean out Barrett's Closet.  We'll find out what the baby is this month so I need to organizing the clothes he's outgrown and move them to the other closet or out them away.  I'm not ready to get rid of them just yet. :)  I also need to start making a list of the things we're going to need.   Move Furniture for Barrett's new Big Boy Room.  We're moving our old furniture into Barrett's room and his furniture into the nursery.  I want to go ahead and get this done so I can focus on organizing both spaces.  We're going to move him to a twin bed we thought sooner rather than later but he slept all night last night so I'm not as eager to move him now.  We will see.  I'd like to do this before Christmas so he has plenty of time to adjust before the baby comes.   Watch Football!  We're so excited for the return of college football.  I'm planning our food for the weekend and I don't plan to move from the couch all day Saturday.  I'm sure a certain toddler won't allow it but we're going to try.  He's enjoyed preseason NFL so hopefully he's excited to watch with us.   Work! Work! Work!  Most of the above will fall to the end of the month because we are busy busy at work the first two weeks of this month.  I'm excited for all the work.  And I'll be even more excited when we finish!   Find out what the BABY is!  We can't wait to find out what this sweet baby is!  I think I'll really be itching to get busy and get things done once we know!

Friday Favorites

Is it to late for a Friday Favorites post?  I think not.  I want to start posting more than once a week...I don't think it's going to happen but a girl can dream...

These new booties are an absolute favorite this week.  I got them last Sunday and I've worn them 4 days this week.  They are so comfortable and I feel like they go with everything.  (I ordered them from Amazon but they are Jessica Simpson).

I ordered this knock-off  Zara blanket scarf and I can't wait until it gets here.  It's been warm here this week but I can't wait to wear it all winter.  

This time next week I'll be here!!! I'm taking a little 30th birthday girls trip.  I'm so excited for some fun in the sun.  I'm excited to sleep late 4 days in a row.  I'm really nervous about leaving Barrett but Patrick has taken off work and they are going to get to spend so much time together, it'll be fun!  This is the longest I've ever left him and the first time I've left them both overnight.  

Plus flying internationally right now is a bit nerve racking with all the talk of ebola.  I know we're going to have a blast but I'm sure I'll be ready to see my boys Tuesday!!

We went to the Fall Carnival tonight to support the elementary school.  I made several signs for the event.  Unfortunately the weather was yucky.  We didn't stay long since it started lightning.

TGIF!!! We're ready for the weekend!

October Goals

I can't believe it's October.  It's always a fun month and this year will be no different.  I've got a few October goals. First lets review my September goals...1) Make a budget, I did sit down and write out my budget for the month.  I've struggled to stick to it though.  I don't know why it is so hard for me but it is.  2)  Cook 5 nights a week.  This did not happen but we did eat out less that the previous month.  I tried to cook things that we could eat more than one night and that worked for us.  3) Go to the gym.  This did not happen.  I wonder if it will ever happen again.  4)  Start planning for the Holidays.  I did get my Christmas shopping list made out.  I got most of Barrett's birthday playdate planned.  I worked on the menu for our Halloween party.  I'm pleased with this goal.  5)  Clean out guest room.  I'm proud to say I got this mostly done.  I've still got a few things in there that don't belong in there.  But overall it's a thousand times better.  6)  Decorate for FALL!!! I finally got this done this week.  I added a few pictures but it doesn't look much different than every other year.  I feel like I usually have more but this was all I could find.

These pictures are terrible.  I put some pumpkins on the mantle in my glass jars.  Added some fall flowers and my scarecrows.  I also added a picture of Barrett from Halloween in the little frame. I just added a fall candle and some pictures from last Fall in the frames. My wittle baby from the pumpkin patch last year.  
Now on to October's goals.  I purposely made these a little easier and fun for the season! 1) Go to the Pumpkin Patch! I loved taking Barrett (and Patrick) to the pumpkin patch last year.  I can't wait to go this year because I know Barrett is going to enjoy it so much. 2) Take a Girls Trip! I kinda cheated on this one because I've been planning this girls trip for months.  I'm so excited! 3) Start Christmas Shopping. I've already bought a few things but I'd like to be done by the end of November.   4)  Host 2nd Annual Trick or Treating at our house.  Last year we had a few friends over to eat chili and trick or treat and we had so much fun.  We're planning on doing it again this year.   5)  Exercise!!! Clearly I'm not getting to the gym as much as I'd like to so I'd be happy to just get out and walk the neighborhood.  We get out most nights but I don't move as much as I should.

I LOVE Fall!!!

I love Fall!  I big, fat puffy heart it.  I suppose I've always loved it but as a kid it was more or less the gateway to all things Christmas.  As an adult I feel like I can appreciate Fall for its beauty both literally and figuratively.  The trees have been breathtaking around here for the last week or so and the weather has been perfect.  Yesterday while Barrett napped (in the car) Patrick and I just drove around looking at all the beautiful foliage.  I feel like fall can sometimes become overwhelming with activities and commitments so it was nice to just take some time really taking in the beauty of the season.  

The view from my parking spot at work.
November is always the time of year I start to reflect on previous months.  It's like the prequeal to the holiday season.  It's that calm before the storm that really makes you want to soak it in.  You know this has been a big year for us, so many times in the past few months I've been so overwhelmed that we are this blessed.  We have a beautiful, healthy son who is so laid back and easy going that I'm scared to have another child.  We have enjoyed watching him grow and learn this year.  I have loved this year so much I don't want it to end.  I'm going to enjoy these last few weeks of 2013.  We have a fairly laid back November this year and I'm going to really live it. I'm going to cuddle my "baby" while I give him his last couple of months worth of bottles.  I'm going to carry him around before he starts walking and wanting to do everything himself.  December is going to be busy and I'm excited for the hustle and bustle but I need a few weeks to be still and really live life, ya know.
I took some pictures of Barrett in the leaves one afternoon after work.  I love how they turned out.    

This profile looks just like the one we saw on the ultrasound a year ago.

He wanted to eat the leaves.

He also wouldn't look at me.

I love that sweet little face so much.

While we are relaxing and enjoying the season, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't already planning things for the Holiday season.  Since it's Barrett's first Holiday season we want to do some special things as a family.  I realize he's not going to know or remember but I want the family time for us.  Nothing crazy, simple things like looking at Christmas lights and taking Barrett to see Santa.  But those things can wait because November has 3 weeks left and that turkey on Thanksgiving isn't going to eat itself.

Weekend Review

The weather turned way cool at the end of the week and weekend so Barrett got to wear is cute elephant hat to work Friday.  I thought he looked so cute.  

Last week was Patrick's last week on 2nd shift and we were very excited.  We can't wait to have him home in the evenings.  I told Barrett to smile so we could send Daddy a picture and he did.

Saturday I left Barrett at home and headed to Tuscaloosa with my parents for the Alabama Tennessee game.  I was so nervous to leave him.  I knew he was in great hands and we needed the time away from each other but it was the longest we'd been apart. In other news, I was having a really good hair day.  I think it was the time I let my hair rest between blowing dry and curling mixed with the 0% humidity.
Stephanie and Lauren stopped by on their way to the game.  I enjoyed catching up with them.
Sweet baby brother.
Sister, sister.
Celebratory cigar after rolling over Tennessee. Funny story, before we left for the game I asked if I was going to need a jacket, everyone said yes so I grabbed my sweater wrap. Then my cousin Mark asked me why I was taking my "snuggie" to the game.  Ha.
Back at the apartment with the brother again.
This little booger wanted to drag all the toys out again after I put them away.
It was a fun weekend.  Not nearly long enough though.  I'm not ready to go back to work yet.  We have a fun week ahead with Barrett's first Halloween!  

The Great Pumpkin Patch

Another thing on the list of things I couldn't wait to do with my kids got checked off this week.  Patrick and I took Barrett to The Great Pumpkin Patch.  We went on Thursday morning and we got there at just right time.  We were before the school groups and we got a private hay ride out to the patch.

Barrett was unsure of the adventure at this point.

We walked and walked and finally found our perfect pumpkin.

and Barrett thinks I'm hilarious.

Waiting for our ride back to the barn.  He was checking out our choice.  I'm not sure he approved.

Oh my word he's so cute.

This is my new favorite family photo.

 

We didn't stay long but its been one of my favorite fall days so far.  The weather here as finally cooled off and it really feels like fall.  In the last few weeks I've felt so overwhelmingly blessed that it literally brings me to tears.  Never in my life did I know how much I would grow, learn and love this season of life.  God is good.

Photo Catch-up

It was brought to my attention this week that I haven't blogged in nearly two weeks and even though my parents live 10 minutes away from us they need pictures of the grandson on the blog  ;)  .  We've had an unexpected busy couple of weeks at work, that combined with Patrick's shift change leaves me exhausted and crawling into bed around 8:30 every night.  I don't really think that's normal but it is what it is.  So here is our last couple of weeks in pictures from the iphone.

At Barrett's 9 month check up, Dr. Farr gave us the okay to start table food.  I'm pretty sure a chocolate chip cookie was not what he had in mind.  We can thank Grampy Steven for that.

This is what Patrick comes home to most nights.  Ally curled up, with her head on his pillow and body all cozy under the covers.

This little booger was supposed to be taking a nap the other day and when I looked on the monitor he was sitting up.  He'd never sat himself up before.  He only did it in his crib for a while but now he does it all the time.

We've had some beautiful weather around here lately.  We sit out on the deck in the afternoons and Barrett loves it.  He hasn't had much interaction with our big dogs, (which makes me incredibly sad because Gracie was so good with my niece Ava, I know she'd love him.)  Ally did not like them being so close to the baby.  She growled and barked at them.  Barrett just laughed!

So cute!

Another day on the deck.

He will wave (to himself mostly) but not on command.

We've started sharing our lunch with him and he thinks he is big stuff.  It's pretty cute.  This day Chloe was there and she has two little brothers so she knows all about babies dropping food.

I bought this hat before I even knew if Barrett was a boy or girl.  (It has the cutest little detachable bow if we ever have a girl).  I put it on him and almost died from the cuteness!

He hasn't been crazy about table food, he mostly just holds it in his hands.  We had Chinese one night and gave him a piece of the sweet and sour chicken without the red sauce and he gobbled it up. (Although now that I look at this picture I think was of the doughnut he had for breakfast. We eat really healthy around here.)

I was in the kitchen one afternoon and I didn't hear him, when I went to check on him he had not only found his toy box but dumped everything out of it.

He was so proud.

Then he pulled the blinds away from the window. I guess he needed to see outside.

The next day he found Ally's toy box.

He didn't nap at all one day.  So here he is at 6:30pm.  I love those sweet lips.

Friday we wore our pumpkin outfit and it is adorable.  (And I still love love love that dresser, I love the fact that it was my great grandmother's even more)

This is what one load of garbage looks like from a busy week of sign making.  It is probably the least "green" process ever.  This was maybe half of the garbage one the floor of my office.

I think that covers the last two weeks.  Hopefully I'll be back to regular posting this week.  We've got a trip to the pumpkin patch planned for this week and it's Patrick's last week on 2nd shift this rotation. WooHoo!