Resolutuions???

Since today is New Years Eve, I was thinking about resolutions. I'm not a resolution type of person, but I do like the idea of setting goals for the New Year. Maybe even saying a hopeful prayer for the year ahead. Maybe both. Goals are good. Prayers are good.

Goals:

-lose the last 20 pregnancy pounds. Yes, I have 20 extra pounds left from being pregnant 3 years ago! Sad, I know. I did gain 10 or so pounds prior to actually being pregnant because of medication I had to take. I'm going to start Weight Watchers again next week. It's tough and I STARVE the first week or two, but I lost 12 pounds last year when I did it. Jules, over at Pancakes and French Fries, wrote an excellent post yesterday about starting Weight Watchers again and I was super encouraged.

- spend more quality time with Chase. I work a full time job so life is pretty hectic in the evenings. Weekends are normally packed with errands, cleaning, play dates, ect. so Chase and I don't get as much quality time together as I would like. I don't work because I want to - I work because I have to. If it were up to me, I would quit today. I have to work to provide food, a home and clothing for my son. That's all my job is - a means to provide for my family. Unfortunately, it takes up most of my week.

- find a new job.

- enjoy the next 12 months as a family of 3. I hope to be pregnant next year (God willing) and I want to make sure that I soak up every second of the next year with Rob and Chase.

- pray more.

- shop less and save more!!

- start a bible study and a daily devotional.

- be a better friend. I don't think I'm a bad friend, but I want to be a better friend. My friendships are very important to me and as I get older good friends are few and far between.

- get a new camera and take a photography class. (this may not go with shopping less)

There are a million other goals I could set for myself, but I think this is a good starting point.

Although times are tough, I thank God everyday for my family and friends. I thank Him for my home and food on my table. Bills may get paid late, but atleast we have the means to eventually pay them. Rob works two jobs, but I am thankful that the darn papers can be delivered in the morning before his "real" job.

Thank you Lord for this boy! He's my love....

On a side note, see the bandaid on Chase's arm? There isn't a boo boo there. He wears them as stickers and calls them bug bites. Strange.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!

New Bag...

After months of searching, I have finally found a new bag. My friend asked me yesterday if buying a new bag was really a "lunch time" decision - I said I had been thinking about and looking at bags for months, therefore it was not a "lunch time" decision. At first, I thought it was a little too big, but the more I use it, the more I like it. In fact, I love it!

B. Mackowsky London Crossbody Satchel

Christmas Morning Continued....

My boy and me... I look tired!! :) We pushed all of his "old" toys away from the tree so they wouldn't be mixed in with his gifts... What a mess!


Chase and his daddy... This is the "after" picture. Again, what a mess!!


Later that morning Chase and I were watching his new Diego video and I laughed when I realized that we were watching Diego while he was wearing his new Rescue Pack. He wore it everywhere for a good 4 hours. It was the only gift he asked Santa for. He was pretty excited when he opened it.

Christmas Morning

{My favorite picture!}

Christmas morning was awesome!! I was so worried Chase wasn't getting enough gifts, but I was totally wrong. He said many times "I got so many presents"! He was so excited! Can you tell? Look at that face...

My Second Favorite Boy in the Entire World...

Look how adorable this boy is! I love him soooooo much! I wish he lived closer so I could see him more often. I miss him. Even if they live 1000 miles away from eachother, I know Chase and Gabe are going to be BCF (Best Cousins Forever)!

Merry Christmas - From The Trautner Family

I have been waiting to blog my Christmas cards because I wanted to wait until everyone had received them. It's been hard because I love them SO, SO, SO much! Amber, at Amber's Announcing You etsy shop did such an amazing job on the design. Her shop has so much to offer and it took me a while to finally decide on the design I loved. Amber was great to work with and I plan to use her for years to come! Thanks Amber!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Without further adieu.....

SNOW!!!!!

The snow is crazy!! I took these after we got back from the grocery store (which was a zoo!!). We will play more tomorrow when the wind and snow stop. Until then, we are just hanging out together inside. It's kinda nice. :)

Something in the Mail...

My BFF Danielle and her husband sent Chase a package that arrived yesterday. He was so excited to open it...
Thanks Danielle and Ryan for thinking of Chase at Christmas. We love and miss you both very much. Hopefully we will see you in the spring.

{"a dirt bike Mommy!!!!!"}

He was very excited when he found the dirt bike in the box.

He has this "thing" with looking at the back of toy packages. Is that odd? Do all 2 year olds do that?

Wasn't quite as interested in the shirts as I was! He is wearing one of them today.

The vest is awesome!!! It's a little cold these days to only wear the vest, but it will be used quite alot on warmer winter days and in the early spring.

Thanks again Danielle and Ryan!!

Trimming the Tree

Look at that concentration!

Thank you SJP...

for finally putting pants on your son that are the appropriate length.

PS - LOVE your outfit too. :)

Geared Up

My boy has the Christmas Tree Hunting Essentials.

-coat: check

-gloves: check

-hat: check

-Diego: check

-Diego jeep: check

-juice box (pouch): check

-BB: check

I was looking at this picture and laughing because this is how Chase looked on the way to get our Christmas tree Saturday night. Everything in the picture is very "Chase". He loves his BB (his blanket). I'm not sure where the name BB came from but it's what he has called it for atleast a year and a half. He is addicted to it. Honestly, I don't care. Partly because I like him having a safety blanket and also because I still sleep with my blanket (shhhhhhh). He loves Diego and keeps telling me Santa is going to bring him a Rescue Pack like Diego's. I hope he does! He just started drinking juice. He always asks for "milky" or water - never juice. He has a cold, so I let him drink a little more juice than normal this weekend.

Broken?

Yesterday I got a call from my mother in law informing that Chase was limping and not walking correctly on his left foot. I told her I would just look at it when I got home - I honestly didn't think anything was wrong. An hour later she called me back saying it had gotten worse and he said it hurt. I called the doctor and left work an hour later. The doctor didn't see anything wrong with it, but his limp was very obvious. We went for x rays - this time I honestly thought it was broken and felt bad for blowing it off earlier in the day. It is not broken - Thank GOD! He has to rest it for a few days and may have to see a specialist if it's not better by Monday. My question is: How do you make a 2.5 year old rest?! It's nearly impossible. I guess he will be watching alot of TV this weekend. To top everything off, he has a cold and a cough.... again! This kid can't win for loosing.

What Rob Found in the Garage...

I can only imagine what you guys were thinking when I mentioned in my last post that Rob had made the discovery of the YEAR in our garage. Money? I wish! Jewelry? Nope!
He found............................................................. a vintage Little People Sesame Street Townhouse!! It was a MESS, but I cleaned it up and it's good as new. Along with the townhouse, there were a number of vintage Little People as well as the accessories that go with the townhouse. I was sooooo excited! Chase was pretty excited too. I love vintage Little People. They are so much better than the new ones. Chase plays with them at his MiMom's house all the time.
When I asked Rob where he found it and he said the garage, I then asked if he knew it was in there.... He said YES!! I was too excited to be mad, but d@mn Rob if you knew it was in there years ago, why did you just decide to bring it out now? Also, it was HIS when he was little. All the more reason to LOVE it!

Am I crazy to be this excited about a toy? Maybe so, but I don't care. What is the best item you have EVER found in your house? Was it a vintage toy, an old letter (remember that episode of 90210 where Brenda found the letter from the 60's?), vintage appliances or magazines? Do tell.

Leaves

I forgot to blog these last week. My boy is so cute!! He loved the leaves. This weekend he asked where they all went.
The same day we were raking Rob made the discovery of the YEAR. In our garage. Let's just say, it was the BEST item we have found in that dirty old garage since we moved in. This weekend he found squirrels that he thought were huge mice. Whoa... The other discovery is much better. Pics to follow.... :)

Gabe's First Santa Picture

I think his belly may be bigger than Santa's! :) I love this picture of him... I can't believe how clear my SIL's iphone pics are - I really need one. Chase had breakfast with Santa Saturday at my father in law's union hall. He came home with his face painted like Batman - pics to follow. He saw Santa there and went right to him. They are supposed to send a picture to us. We are going to take him to a small photo studio for his Santa pictures this week. There is no line and the Santa is the best in town. He has never cried on Santa's lap which is good, BUT I would love one of those "kid freaking out on Santa's lap" pictures. They crack me up. Is that wrong?

Vintage Christmas...

I ran across this vintage Egg Nog set on Etsy today via thevintagethread. I need them! I don't even like egg nog, but I would make an exception to get these beauties.

She's Crafty.... And She's Just My Style

Advent Calendar:

Isn't this such a cute idea!?!?! Check out the entire post on This Happy Home.

*On a side note, I forgot to start Chase's advent calendar yesterday! Oops. I guess we will do two tonight.

Too Big

My baby boy is getting too big!
Lastnight Rob and I we were making his bed and discussing how I want to redo his room in the spring. He still sleeps in his crib and it made me really sad thinking that it will be over soon. My baby will be a big boy, in a big boy bed (and hopefully going on the potty).


He looks like he's having a good conversation with Woody. I wonder what they are talking about. Maybe Buzz.



I love this picture! I think it's a great shot of him and his toys... This kid LOVES his toys! I also like how the light is coming through the curtains.
Speaking of light - Chase's Sunday School teacher told us that he is "a ray of sunlight"! He always participates in the activity and genuinely loves to be there. Talk about making a mom happy! Last week he told Rob and I that his best friend is God. Melt my heart....

Busy Busy

I have been so busy since we got home from VA - thus the lack of posts. I plan to post the rest of the VA pics this week. Here are a few more taken with my brother Polaroid iphone app. I LOVE it. I need an iphone.

It's funny - When I look through the pics from VA (especially the one above of Chase), it looks like my grandparents home is straight out of 1974. Wait, it is! :) It wouldn't feel like their house if they changed it though.


I miss you sweet Gabe. I hope we get to see each other again soon. Maybe in the spring.

Papa loves babies. He says every home should have atleast one baby at all times. It probably has to do with him being 1 of 10 children!