TRUELY AUTHENTIC MOM!

Ok well I got tagged to make a blog about why I am a TAM (or truly authentic mom)so...here goes!
My 5 things that make me a TAM....

1. I am actually nursing Kyleigh as I type this. It's like I've gained a appendage. I cant think of much I havent done while nursing.

2. I think I enjoy baby snacks MORE than Kyleigh!! But hey!! Have you tried a cheddar crunchie?? Delish!

3. My favorite activity before having a kid? Going bowling, a movie, or the mall! My favorite activity as a mom? Going to the park! Rolling a ball to Kyleigh! Dancing like a mad woman trying to get Kyleigh to giggle!

4.I seem to find green hairy sippy cups under the couch from time to time...oh the joy of cleaning that puppy! Not for the faint of heart.

5. And lastly i am a TAM because I am a totally different person than I was before I had Kyleigh. I am a MUCH more understanding, caring person. And I have Mommyhood to thank for that!

im tagging...

LIZ REED!
BRIGETTA SCHWAIGER!
JILL ALLISON!
COURTNEY MORRISON!

Kyleighs First Birthday!

Oh what fun we had! You know what they say, a picture is worth a thousand words....so check these out!

My first solo photoshoot!

I had fun! I have to admit, I was super nervous to be going by myself! But everything went well! I was a little worried that she wasnt going to show, because she was 20 minutes late! but no biggie! Well anyways...i was pretty excited about the pictures that i got. take a look!

how was your thanksgiving??

Mine was so much fun! We had a blast in Reno! We had a lovely spread! Turkey, stuffing, corn pudding (sounds weird, but OOOOMMMMGGGGG it was yummy), cranberry salad, homemade rolls, green bean casserole (my fav), cheesecake, pecan pie, and mississippi mud pie!! im so thankful for my family! Especially my daughter and husband! i dont know what i would do without them! Kyleigh has brought my life so much joy! I dont know how i lived without her before! so i have a list of shout outs i would like to give....

Nathaniel- i cant even list all the things im thankful for that you do for me....im so proud of you for working so hard in school, and being such a wonderful father! I love you!

Kyleigh- Your life has made mine better, your smiles make my day, even whn your screaming at the top of your lungs because i wouldnt let you chew on the surge protector, i cant help but smile thinking of how much i love you. you are my reason for living. I love you with all my heart.

Darryl and Naomi - I feel like I have gotten so close to you in the past few months! I love having family so close! It's wonderful to have grandparents so close to Kyleigh as well! I look forward to more time together with both of you! Love you two so much!

Christina and Paul- You have been so helpful to me and Nathaniel the past few months and I dont know how to thank you! You have always been there when we needed you, and that means so much! Love you both with all my heart!

Lanie- you are one of the coolest funniest people I know! I love hanging out with you! It never gets old! I Love you!

Liz (and munchkins)- I loved when we both lived in newton! We got along so well! I miss having you so close! Your so much fun to be around! And I love your kiddos so much! Being around Nathan and Matthew really was a lot of the reason I wanted to start my own family...seeing how happy you and Devin are, gives me hope that i can handle more than one kid! Love you girl!

Ruth (and munchkins)- I never really had time to get to know you that well until this past trip to Texas...and you are SOOOOO much fun! We have a lot of similar interests! I think if we lived closer, we would be great friends! I loved meeting you (for real this time) and cant wait to get to know you better!

Maddy- Oh my god...i dont know how i would survive without you! You are my support system! You are my sister. I love you so much! You always support me, even when no one else does! And that means the world to me.

Grandma- even though I Know you wont read this (computer challenged) I HAVE to give you a shout out! You are one the most important people in my life. I love you so much. You made me who I am today, and i could never thank you enough. You loved me through all of my trials...you weren't always there but you always loved me. and thats all i ever needed. I love you.

Close Friends (you know who you are)- I have so many good friends now that i couldnt possibly write a paragraph for each of you! You are all so wonderful, and easy to talk to! Im truly grateful (and lucky!) to have such good friends! I love you all!

Everyone else- I love all the people in my life. Im so blessed to have such caring people in my life. I love my life, and everyone I know has played a part in it. Thank you all so much!


What are you grateful for??

falling for fall

I love Autumn. So does Kyleigh.

these are...

these pictures that blogger wouldnt let me upload last time :) DONT FORGET TO LOOK AT MY LAST BLOG FOR AN UPDATE!!!

UPDATE!!

Wow, I've been gone for quite sometime now....I actually have quite a bit to talk about!

Ok, I'll start with Nathaniel. He took his DLPT (Defense Language Proficiency Test) on Tuesday and Wednesday. He was really nervous about his reading test. On Thursday I went to the base to have lunch with him and his class (they had a pizza party). Nathaniel was supposed to find out his scores at 1:00...we were on pins and needles the whole time we were waiting! Well 1:00 came and went and STILL no scores! Well come to find out, some General came to the school that day and the guy that was supposed to deliver the scores had to escort the General around the base. So Nathaniel had to wait until 2:30 to get his scores! I know this doesn't sound like a very long time, but trust me it felt like an eternity!! So He finally got his scores and he got a 3/3/2!!!!!!! That is a GREAT score! He got the highest score in his class, along with one other girl! His final GPA was 3.9. I'm so proud of him for working so hard! He does his best to support our family and I'm sooo grateful! Wat this means for us is...since Nathaniel got such a high score, he will more than likely get another language immediately after his Farsi graduation. He will be learning a dialect of Farsi, called Dari. It's a 16 week course. After he finishes Dari, he will be going to a 6 month long tech school in Good Fellow, Texas. While he is there Me and Kyleigh will be staying with Christina and I will be returning to work for a while. Once Nathaniel is done with His Texas Tech School, we are moving to Georgia! And talk of another baby is in the works :). We will be living there for quite a while ( a few years).


Ok Now for Kyleigh...She is doing GREAT! She had a bit of a scary doctors appt. recently though. I went for her 9 month check up and the doctor said that her head was measuring to large, her iron was low, and she had a high temp. I had to take her to the lab so they could take stool samples to check for any bacteria. All the cultures came back negative! She has been taking vitamins for her iron. And the doctor said that is her head was still measuring large at her 1 year appt. that she would get it checked out. She told me not to worry (but is wanted me not to worry she shouldn't have told me!!!) She is feeding herself, which is GREAT! I love being able to just hand her food and she puts it in her mouth (along with anything else she finds on the floor). She also FINALLY got her two bottom teeth!! I love her little toothy grin! I'm still nursing her so I'm praying she doesn't bite me!! She's been standing by herself, with no support for quite sometime, so I think she may try to walk in the next month! I'm in for it! I love her SOOOO much! I'm having a hard time deciding what I'm going to dress her as for Halloween...I'm thinking a flower. http://www.partycity.com/product/costumes+%26+accessories/infant+and+baby/new+for+2009/baby+blossom+costume+deluxe+baby.do?sortby=bestSellers&page=2 but I also may dress her as a lion. http://www.partycity.com/product/costumes+%26+accessories/infant+and+baby/new+for+2009/lil+lion+costume+deluxe+baby.do?sortby=bestSellers it has a bow on the tail so maybe people wont ask if shes a girl!! ANY IDEAS ARE WELCOME!!

And Finally and update on me...I'm doing FANTASTIC! I'm loving life! I'm still doing photography with my friend Margaret, and she's really helped me get better! I'm slowly learning how to be a better house wife. It's hard working out a schedule for cleaning, but I'm getting better! Kyleigh keeps me busy! I'm constantly chasing her, pulling things out of her mouth. I don't know how she hasn't choked on something yet! she finds the oddest things!

For some reason blogger isn't letting me post pictures...if you want to see pics, just visit my facebook...it isn't private!

my first wedding shoot!

i have to say i had a absolute BLAST!! I was super lucky to have this experience! I just made a new friend who is an AMAZING photographer, and she has been teaching me how to use my camera!! Well she let me tag along to a wedding to get some practice! and some of my shots turned out pretty good!

take a gander....

GOD made wipeys

I've learned that it's not a good idea to give your child Oreos right before bed....and here is why.







BUT thank the Lord for these little heaven sends!!!





all better!

Looking back at my pregnancy....

As miserable as I was...I miss it more than I can say. I miss feeling the first little nudge, the first hiccup, the first rib breaking kick. I miss seeing her little foot move across my belly, and knowing that she was safe inside of me. I miss spending hours listening to her heart beat, I miss daydreaming about who she would look like, I even miss folding, then unfolding, then refolding all her baby clothes, just so I can see them all again! I miss Nathaniel talking to her inside my belly, I miss practicing lullabys with her, I miss the anticiapation of going to my doctor, only to hear "No progress this week."

I want another baby so bad right now...but thats the thing RIGHT NOW...when I really think about it I know I'm not ready for another baby. I think I want to wait until Kyleigh is a LEAST one year before we start trying to conceive...but I can't wait! The idea of another baby makes me excited!


ANYYYYYWHO....pictures from my pregnancy...

Mommy Time!!!

gotta love mommy time!!