Birthday Girl

Well. . . .we made it. One YEAR! There were some days I wasn't sure either one of us would make it through the day alive.
In the past year I have laughed AND cried for joy more times that I can count. I know every parent says " I can't imagine life without my child" but it's not a cliche. I have such a hard time remembering what life was like without Mia.

One year ago today at 4:52 pm Saylor and I became a family because that is when this wonderful little girl entered our lives. Little did we know what the next year held for us. Good times and bad. Easy times and hard. And lots and lots of happiness. She makes us laugh everyday and there is no better gift that she could give us than that. Can't wait to see what the next year holds in store for our little family.

Happy Birthday Mia! I love you.

Leaves. . .

I have so many Christmas pictures to share but in the meantime here are some I took yesterday of Mia playing in the leaves. It was a beautiful day! Warm enough for shorts. In December! I love the way these turned out!

Too tired to eat

Poor Mia. She just couldn't handle it anymore. She was so tired she couldn't even finish her dinner. When I went to pick her up to take her to bed she grabbed another piece of chicken nugget and put it in her mouth without even opening her eyes. She just sat there with it in her mouth and didn't even chew. It was so funny! Can't wait to show this picture to her boyfriends. I'll tell them not to bore her on the date or she will fall asleep during dinner. Ha ha ha!

How to make Christmas candy

Step 1: Roll the candy into balls
Step 2: Taste test to make sure you mixed them right
Step 3: Melt the chocolate
Step 4: Dip Candy in the chocolate

The finished product

Don't forget the final step. . . .

Lick the spoon!!!

Just had to share this picture

Isn't that sweet! I am so excited for it to finally be Mia's first Christmas. Today I bought wrapping paper and wrapped presents while she took a nap. I wrapped her gift in the paper I bought just for her. Green with white snowmen. When she got up she went right for that present. She didn't bother any of the other ones, but she can't keep her hands off of the snowmen. She gets really excited when I plug the lights in on the tree also. I am so glad Mia loves Christmas as much as I do.

We finally got our tree. . . .

So we went to Wal-mart Sat. night after our Christmas party to get our tree. . . .finally! They were locking the outside gates just as we got there. This is the one we all loved! Mia was really tired and not too interested in the tree. Since the outside gates were closed Saylor had to carry the tree through the store to the front to check out. What a funny picture.

The tree spent the night in the garage and we put it up on Sunday night.

Mia loved the orange stuff the tree was wrapped in.....and the lights.


And here is the finished product.

Merry Christmas!!!!

Also I took some maternity pictures for some friends and added some of them to my portfolio. Go check them out. I'm really happy with the way they turned out.

Go take a look. . .

At my new website cindymillsphotos.tripod.com

I have decided what I want to be when I grow up. A photographer. Well, for now at least. A few of my friends, my husband included, have talked me into it. I really enjoy taking photos so. . .why not? So tell everyone you know and even some you don't. I have a student loan to pay off . . .someday.
This was my first try at building a website. It doesn't look exactly as I had imagined, but it will do for now.

In other news. . .it is cold. VERY COLD. For Texas anyway. Mia and I went grocery shopping today and she looked like the Michelin man in her new parka. You know that kid in "A Christmas Story" that falls down in the snow and can't get up. Kinda like that. She has trouble walking with her coat on. I think it makes her top heavy. Maybe tomorrow I will video it. I have to have something to torment her with when she's a teenager.

I worked on a scrapbook page with Mia's Santa picture on it. I tried 8 1/2 X 11 for the first time. Kinda like it. I used a snowflake stamp and A LOT of glitter. Not sure how it's going to turn out, but I had fun working on it. I have been inspired by Ali Edward's Christmas Art journal. She is so amazing. I wish I was that talented. I suggest looking at her blog and you just might be inspired too.

Meeting the big guy. . .

Mia got to meet Santa Claus last night. He came to our bible class Christmas party. She didn't take her eyes off him from the moment he walked in the door until she got to sit in his lap. She was one of the few little ones that didn't cry. What a big girl. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the picture of her looking up at Santa. What a sweet picture. I have to get that one enlarged. I hope she told Santa what she wants for Christmas. Can't wait til he visits us again.

Creative Clutter

I have been working on several projects in the last week. Here is the mess left behind. I plan on cleaning it up today. I don't mind a creative mess. It usually means I have been accomplishing something. In the past week I have:

• made a birthday crown for Mia to wear on her birthday
• finished a baby album for my friend Lindsey
• made a Christmas ornament for a ornament exchange I am going to tonight
• embellished Christmas decorations for my living room
• made a mini-album for 2005 Christmas pictures. It's done and ready for the photos and journaling.

Sounds like I've been busy huh? Well. . . .see the photo above and you be the judge.

Visions of SugarPlums dance in her head

Mia fell asleep in my lap (which she NEVER does). She usually doesn't sit still long enough. Also here is a sneak peek at some of my decorations.

The PERFECT coffee maker. . .

I said I would research for a coffee maker and here it is. . . . . . . . .The Westbend 3-in-1 Coffee Center. It's makes coffee, it makes cappuccinos, lattes and mochas. It's $49.76 at Wal-mart. I know my mom thinks her $2.00 coffee maker is the best one in the world but can she make foam? NO!!!! If I was to buy my coffee at Starbucks I could get 14 of them for the price of this machine. I know Starbucks is overpriced, but they do have the best flavored coffee, which is what I love. I know the link above is hard to read just click on it and you will be whisked away to the wal-mart website to further inspect what I want for Christmas. Happy Shopping.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. . . .

We don't have a tree yet, but I put up the other decorations today. Garland, wrapped with lights and wreaths above the mantel and stockings. I got new decorations this year. All from IKEA. Love that store. Can't get enough of it. I got ornaments and stockings and lights. Browse for yourself and see what I got.

• Stockings
• ornaments
• lights

Our color theme is red and silver. It looks great. Can't wait to get the tree. I will post pictures when we have it all up.

Just Hangin' Out

Mia likes to play under my computer table when I am working on the computer. Sometimes she gets stuck. She doesn't seem too upset. . . yet!

Quote

Saw this on someone else's blog and JUST HAD TO SHARE IT!

When you get in a tightplace and everything goes against you till it seems you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.
~Harriet Beecher Stowe

Got to remember this one.

Top 5. . .

Since I am hosting Christmas for my side of the family this year I have been thinking about it a lot this week. I fully intend to start decorating the day after Thanksgiving. . .or as soon as Saylor says it's o.k. Who are we kidding. The day after Thanksgiving. I thought today would be good for a top 5 list.

Sooooooooo.....

My top 5 favorite memories from Christmas as a child:

1. Getting to open 1 present before leaving for Granny and Grandpa's house.
2. Homemade Chocolate Christmas candy
3. My grandmother's tamales on Christmas Eve.
4. Helping my Grandpa hand out the presents
5. Spending time with my cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

I am looking forward to having my family here in my home for my daughter's first Christmas. I hope she has as many good memories when she grows up as I do now.

Introducing the beautiful Lila. . .

As a baby shower gift I took some photos of the baby of a friend of mine. Here are my favorites. I took 93 pictures and ended up with about 25 good ones after editing. A lot of them were different color variartions on the original. I am VERY happy with how they turned out! I really had no idea I was able to do this. Maybe this is something I could do in the future. I enjoyed every second of it, from taking the pictures to editing to printing and framing them. I even enjoyed wrapping the present. I hope I can do this again for someone else!

So the stress of the holidays begins soon. What to buy, What to buy? I have a list of everyone's name that I need to buy for. So far Mia has the most items listed. That's o.k. it's her first Christmas. I have an idea for my niece and nephew but when it comes to the adults. . . .CLUELESS. So if you are reading this send in your wishes. If you don't then you will be getting just whatever I run across that I "think" you might like but probably won't. You could also send in your list of don'ts. For example. . . Don't get me anything edible or don't get me anything that I won't actually use. I'll do my best, but I can't guarantee anything. As for me for some reason I can't think of anything that anyone else would be able to get me. For example, I would like some curtains for my living room and bedroom, but please don't get those I want to pick them out myself! I want to paint my bedroom and front hallway, but want to pick that too. I have also been thinking I might need a coffee maker. My parents will definitly agree with that after 3 mornings with none. The problem there is I want one that is easy to clean, but also makes foam or something. Maybe a cappuccino machine, but a small one. I'll have to find one I like. I'll be the only one using it so I want a small one. Also I would love some flavored coffee and stuff to put in it. . .you know syrup, creamer etc. I might also need a coffee recipe book to go along with it. It could be the cold weather that makes me want coffee. Tomorrow I may not want it, but sounds good right now. And of course I could always use more scrapbook supplies, but I DEFINITLY don't want anyone else picking that for me. Sounds like gift cards for Cindy. In case you want to know. . . .IKEA, Wal-Mart, Scrapbook Warehouse (Lewisville) or the Scrap Bucket. Of course, Target and Kohl's are always popular with me too. So now I am sure you have no idea what to get me still!

Anyway can't wait to decorate for Christmas.

Oh. . .and my Thanksgiving resolution is to update my blog more often.

Can Mia come out and play?

Mia loves her new toy from my mom and dad. She has barely touched any of her other toys since she got this. I'm going to have to teach her to put on a robe before she answers the door though. Her new favorite thing besides this is visiting our dog Kasha in the backyard. She throws a fit when we come back inside. She is getting so much better at walking, but is still a little wobbly. Mia is getting better at telling me what she wants too. On Tues. she pushed her car over to me and grabbed my hand and put it on the seat. Then she crawled on and I pushed her around the living room. She grinned so big as if to say "finally you are catching on, Mom!"
Two weeks to Thanksgiving. We'll see how my diet holds up through the holidays. I had my meeting this morning. Lost .4lbs. Not bad considering what I ate this weekend. Also, considering I had a steak for dinner last night. Kindof a heavy meal for the night before a weigh-in. That makes my total minus 2.2 lbs. in 8 weeks. I'm going to try taking some vitamins and see if that helps before going to see a Dr.
This week has gone so fast. I'm looking forward to a restful weekend.

My little sweetie. . .

Mia in her costume. She left it on only long enough for pictures. Oh well! At least I got some pictures. That's all I could hope for her first Halloween. Here are some pictures of Saylor and I from our costume party. Love that mullet Saylor!!!



Happy Halloween Everyone!!!

My aching thighs

I have been working out like a crazy person recently. I got a new DVD and it is great! It came with a resistance band (like a big rubberband) and my poor body is so sore I can barely stand it, but at least I know I am doing it right. I had my WW weigh-in this morning and lost .2 lbs. .2 . . . .what the heck!!! That is like the difference in taking a deep breath before I weighed or letting it all out. .2 could be the weight of the hair I've grown since last week. .2 could have been the face powder I put on this morning. I have worked my butt off this past week trying to lose at least a pound and. . . .2 Next time I'll make sure I clean the wax out of my ears and trim my finger nails and take off my toe polish and maybe I'll lose .4!!!! My total loss is 2.4 lbs. in 4 weeks. Not too good but it's a new week and this week I'll do it!

Dr. Appointment this morning. .

Mia had her 9 month check-up this morning (even though she is almost 10 months). She weighed 18lbs. 3.5 ozs. and is 28 1/4 inches long. She didn't get any shots but got an anemia test and her levels are normal. The doctor was amazed again that she is already trying to walk. She says Mia is way ahead on her developmental schedule. I don't know where this Dr. went to school, but I have met lots of people who walked around 9 or 10 months so I don't think we have a budding Einstein on ours hands. Now if you want to talk about her ability to dance and stay in rhythm that's another matter. She swivels her hips and bounces her head back in forth in perfect rhythm to the music. Anyway, all is normal and she doesn't have another appointment until her 1 year birthday.

Finally...

This morning I was digging in Mia's mouth fishing out some paper (I do this several times a day) and I felt something sharp. "Oh, my gosh!! What is that Mia?" It is a TOOTH!! You can barely see it (on the bottom in the middle) but you can definitely feel it. I thought she would never get any teeth.

Also. . . .
On Thursday night I was putting some stuff in the laundry room and when I came out Mia was standing in the living room (we've gotten used to her standing on her own. . .she's been doing it a whole week) and suddenly she took a step with one foot and then the other and started to take a third and fell. Saylor was in the living room and we both yelled "Hey, did you see that???" I was so excited!!! What are the chances we were both watching her when she took her first steps? She has tried it a few times since, but hasn't had as much luck as that first try. It won't be long now!!!

Mia also has a new favorite thing to do. We put a comforter in the living room floor and she likes to stand next to it and do belly flops onto the comforter. Then she rolls off onto the floor and does it again giggling the whole time. It's the funniest thing I've ever seen!!! What a character.

The State Fair Report . . .

The State Fair was great!!! We saw the auto show and drooled over the new cars (even though we LOVE ours) and we saw the butter sculpture which in my opinion is not that impressive this year. It was Elvis and didn't really look that much like him. We went to the Natural History museum (see the photo of the day for a picture of Mia on a HUGE piece of Quartz) and the Aquarium where we saw sharks, and stingrays and seahorses and my favorite jelly fish. We ate turkey legs and french fries and a funnel cake and I still managed to stay on my diet. Mia loved the funnel cake. And we walked, and walked and walked and walked some more. I think we walked off the funnel cake.
Saylor's favorite thing was the Aquarium, mine was just getting to be together and Mia's was the Fisher Price playground. They had all of the new toys for kids to try out and she loved it.
I couldn't resist a picture with the giant stacking rings.

And here Mia is with what I think could be at the top of her Christmas list. She opened and closed and crawled through that door I don't know how many times.

We had a great time at the State Fair!!!!

Slacking

I have been lazy about taking pictures recently. I wanted to have a photo every day, but some days it is just hard to find something new to take a photo of. I am trying not to feel guilty about this, but it's not working. I feel guilty. We are planning on going to the State Fair on Monday so I should have plenty of pictures to share from that trip. I still haven't moved the pumpkins outside yet so when I do I will have a photo opportuity there. I haven't felt good for the past two days. My eye is swollen. Not sure what is wrong with it. Allergies I think.

Swollen eye=bad pictures.

So I am NOT going to feel bad about missing a few days of the photo of the day. I'll get back on track soon!

I told you

See I told you I could feel fall on it's way! I hope it sticks around! I get to get a brand-new sweatshirt this weekend (or so I've been told) and I can't wait to pick one out. I think this year I may go with the Old Navy sweatshirt. I haven't decided yet. We're going to get one for Mia too. Her first sweatshirt. AAWWW!!!!
In other news I had my first weigh-in today after starting Weight Watchers (again). Last time was pre-married, pre-baby and I did very well. This time it is a little more difficult but I lost 1.2 lbs. this week. Not too bad. I didn't have to try that hard and I only got really hungry once and managed not to go too overboard. I didn't exercise at all so when I start doing that (week 3) then I am sure I will do even better. I am happy with it. Mostly I am happy that I made it through and didn't cheat and most of all didn't feel cheated! Tune in next Thursday for the WW update.

Enjoy the fall weather. We are going pumpkin shopping on Sat. Can't wait.

There's something different about today. . .

Something feels different about today for me. Suddenly today I feel like something new is in the air. I think it could be Autumn coming. So in honor of that I will now type in only lovely autumn colors. . .I know that it is still over 95 degrees in Texas, but for some reason this morning I opened the blinds in my scrap room and lit a candle and started working and I just felt it. It is hard to describe. Of course it could just be the new hazelnut scented candle, but I think that it's something else. I love fall. It means I can finally start wearing my worn out and well loved sweatshirts I've had since college. Everyone seems to think of Spring as a time of new beginnings, but I tend to think of fall as that time. When the old way is dying and the new is lying in wait for the perfect time to make it's appearance. My other favorites about this time of year are. . . (this calls for a list)
1. pumpkins
2. halloween
3. leaves changing colors
4. crisp, cool morning air
5. snuggling weather
6. Thanksgiving
7. Thanksgiving
8. sweatshirts and jeans
9. football
10. the state fair

One more week of September left!!! Then out come the Halloween decorations. I can't wait.

Anniversary flowers

Beautiful flowers from my wonderful husband!!! I love flowers. No. . .I mean I LOVE flowers! Just in case you were wondering he loved the Motley Crue T-shirt I got him. Don't ask just be happy that he liked it. Have a great Thursday.

On this day. . .

three years ago I married Saylor Mills. Boy has it been some three years too. We have been through things that some people will never face in 50 years of marriage and I think we are closer for it. Hard times always seem horrible when it is happening but you always (or usually) see it as a blessing later on. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband!!! Isn't he cute? He even got me flowers for our anniversary!

New pet peeve

I have just discovered that on my photo of the day blog (which you can find by clicking of the link to the right) that people have been leaving comments. The problem is they are not really leaving comments they are leaving COMMERCIALS!! They say "I really love your blog check out mine" and when you get there it is just an ad for something. HOW RUDE!!! I can't believe people would go to the trouble to do that. I am thinking about turning the comment feature off. Just thought I would share.

Lot of updating to do. . .

I have gotten so behind on my photo of the day so rather than trying to go back and update I think I will pick up posting pictures starting with today. Some of the pictures are from last week when we visited Mom and Dad. Mia loved the okra!

We had a long weekend. Saylor got home from Mississippi about 2:30am on Friday morning and we spent all day Friday just hanging out at home. Then I went to a cropping party at church that night. It was a lot of fun!! Saturday we attempted going to the Trade Days at McKinney but only stayed for about 45 mins. Mia couldn't take the heat. Her poor little face was all red and she seemed a little weak so we decided to go shopping at the outlet mall instead. I couldn't find any clothes that fit (as always) so we went home. Sunday was church and lunch and grocery shopping and I started feeling sick while at the store. By the time we got home I felt awful and had a fever and felt achy all day. Actually, I had a bit of a fever still this morning. We think it may have been the Taco Salad I had for lunch. Mia is super grouchy this morning and can't decide whether she wants to be held or wants to play on the floor. I hope Tues. will be a better day. Well, I'm off to post a photo of the day.

Hip Hop girl

Mia has discovered rythmn. And boy does she have it. The problem is that she seems to groove the most to RAP music. Did they switch my child at birth? There were some hip hop dance kids this morning on The View and she was just bouncing and giggling away. She was even swiveling her hips. I swear! I couldn't believe it either. I know alot of babies discover music at this age, but at what age do they develop their TASTE in music? She needs a little guidance because I can't listen to hip hop for the next 17 years. Maybe we'll try a little Kenny Chesney after lunch.

I think we may have trouble on our hands. . .

and she is eight months old. You can just tell when something is going to be trouble. You know what I mean. . .the funny sound your car has been making, the dark storm clouds on the horizon, the look of mischief in her eyes when you tell her "NO!". Like I said I think we may have trouble on our hands. We have been trying to teach Mia to leave things alone (like magazines, specifically, and the trash) and she will not do it. We start by saying her name to get her attention and then tell her "NO" in a firm voice and she just smiles and sometimes even giggles. She thinks it is even more humorous when her Dad does it (if he was telling me NO I would definitely stop!!!). How on earth are we going to get this kid to behave without beating her? Recently her two favorite toys are magazines (to eat) and the trash in the kitchen trash can (also to eat). The other thing is the animal crackers. Mia gets them as a snack and she gets the cookie goo EVERYWHERE! I know I should just put her in her highchair, but I don't like to fight with her (remember she is only 8 months old, how could I win?). So the cookie goo is everywhere and she is tearing up all the magazines in the house and eating paper out of the trash, see I told you TROUBLE. There are some of you out there that told me "oh, as she gets older it will just get easier" you forgot to mention that the age you were talking about was 21! Despite the mess and wads of chewed paper I keep confiscating I have to admit that Mia is very entertaining. I can already tell that this one has got a PERSONALITY. She "dances" at the coffee table and so far her favorite music is RAP (great). PERSONALITY. Her favorite toy (besides the above mentioned) is a RCA cable. PERSONALITY. She clicks her tongue on the roof of her mouth while she plays. PERSONALITY. She screams bloody murder when she sees my hair dryer. PERSONALITY. She puts her pacifier in her mouth UPSIDE down. PERSONALITY. She smiles and "poses" when she sees the camera pointed at her. What a personality. I can't wait to see what she does next, but not until after my nap!

Playing with photoshop

I have been playing with photoshop today using some info I got from my "new to me" photography magazines. A friend of the family passed them along and they are helping me learn already. I took this picture of Mia in her swing in our backyard. It is cropped from the original, but only slightly. The color adjustments were made in photoshop and I am so excited about the HUGE difference it made. Now my good phots will be AWESOME photos. How did I live before a digital camera? We have only had it for 10 months and have almost 800 pictures in our collection already! Just wait until she starts doing really interesting things. In the meantime enjoy gazing into these beautiful blue eyes. . . . .


Before Photoshop


After Photoshop

If this moment could keep

I got my page entry from the Go West Studios design team contest back yesterday. I didn't win. Only 4 people entered and the winning entry was a picture of a pregnant woman with her two little girls kissing her pregnant belly. How could I compete with that? It was a very good page so I don't feel so bad. I am proud of this page anyway. The quote around the big picture says "life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." Mia's babyhood is flying by and I am so happy I was able to capture this precious moment on film. Happy September 1st to everyone.

Thanks for the comment Mom. Love you!

Comments anyone?

It came to my attention this weekend that there are more people than just my parents that are keeping up with "The Mills" by reading my blog. I am glad that you are out there "checking up on me" but I didn't even know it so that leads to my request for today. If you will look at the bottom of this post there is a line that says "tell me what you think (0 comments)" Why does it always say ZERO comments? I know that the people that are reading this are for the most part people with opinions and things to say so why don't you leave me a comment and let me know that you've been here? Thank you.

Now on to the important stuff. We have finally, officially moved EVERYTHING that we own under one roof! Although the last of the stuff should probably go directly into the trash it will not because there could be something in one of those boxes that I might need someday. There could be!!! I am just hoping that we left all of the mice in the previous storage area. Our house is currently mouse, roach, bug and ant free and I would like to keep it that way. We do however recently have a family of salamanders residing in our bathroom. I do not like them (even if they are kindof cute) because they scurry! I can't stand any animal that scurries or moves so fast that it could possibly run up my leg, arm or back. That's all for today. . .Don't forget to leave a comment.

Splendor in the grass

Taken this morning in our front yard. Followed by a scrub bath and hydrocortizone cream (last time she was in the grass she had a rash for 2 days). I hope she doesn't breakout this time, but it was worth the risk for some great pictures. These will be her official 7 month old pictures. Mia will be 8 months on the 29th, but I try to take her monthly photo at the end of the month.

5 random things . . .

Someone started a blog challenge today and it was to post 5 random things about yourself that most people don't know so here goes:

1. I only like certain kinds of ice. I HATE the kind that comes out of most refrigerators (the moon shaped kind) because it always freezes back together in one clump and then while you are drinking it ALL comes sliding out and hits me in the nose and gets stuff all over my shirt. I LOVE Sonic ice (or rabbit pellet ice as my friend Rachel calls it) and my favorite is the kind that is really flaky and comes out of the ice machine in thin sheets. It is almost like a slush. That along with a good Dr. Pepper will always make my day!

2. I can rarely make it through a meal without some of the meal landing on my shirt. It is actually my best talent. No matter how I am dressed or where or what kind of food it is some piece of it will land on my shirt. EVERY TIME.

3. I can only sleep to my husband's left. You know how most people sleep with the man closest to the bedroom door. . .we tried that when we moved into our new house. I can't sleep on his right. I didn't sleep for 3 nights until we switched. Talk about neurotic!

4. I can not throw away a magazine. It doesn't matter how many pictures are already cut out of it or if it is practically falling apart. I might need it!

5. I don't like eating off paper plates. Especially if the food is saucy (like spaghetti) or cheesy. You can never get that last little bit of cheese off of a paper plate like you can a ceramic one.

Now you know 5 things about me you probably never wanted to know. It's your turn to share.

Finished a page!!

These pictures were just screaming to be scrapped! This was such a fun page to make. I love the colors and fun papers and the hibiscus stamp. The blue accent on the picture of the 2 girls says "girlfriends" Isn't that adorable. I used a tag that I had cut out of my bathing suit and added a few words so it says "super cute swimwear" (lower left corner of the center picture). Fun, Fun, Fun layout to make. I couldn't help but share it here. I hope you enjoyed seeing it.

Her teeth are killing us. . .

Mia is teething. It has to be her teeth or some evil spirit has possessed my sweet little girl. She is so hard to deal with right now I am about to pull my hair out. This past weekend was definitely the worst it has ever been since the first night we came home from the hospital. Saturday night it took Saylor and I both holding her down just to get her diaper changed and then she screamed and babbled (like she was cussing us out) for about 20 mins. Then I remembered the Ibupropen. What a change. Needless to say we have kept her on it since and she is like a different child. I am ready for that tooth to come in already! Saylor took off work yesterday and I got the whole afternoon to go do whatever I wanted all-by-myself. I feel great today. I even worked out!

Do I have too?

I was watching the movie "Parenthood" today and there is a line that never really affected me before. . . . Steve Martin says "My whole life is have too." Boy do I feel like that recently. I have to change the diaper. I have to feed the baby. I have to get up at the crack of dawn because Mia is ready to get up. I have to vacuum the living room. I have to clean the kitchen. I have to pay the bills. I have to work-out. I have to take out the trash. I have to mow the lawn. . .No wait Saylor does that one. Isn't it ironic that when you're a kid and have the time to do anything you want your parents won't let you and when you're an adult and are allowed to do anything you want you don't have the time. Right now if I could have anything I want it would be a vacation. Just me and my husband and NO HAVE TO's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On that note, tonight I GET to go out to dinner. That will keep me going through the next week of have to's.

Jumping on board. . .

Some of the Garden Girls from 2peas have started a photo a day challenge. I love this idea! I can't wait to compile all the photos into an album with a simple caption under each picture. A visual record of our year. What a great idea! I have set up a separate blog for my pictures that can be accessed directly or through a link on this page (top right). I am excited to see what I choose as my photo inspiration each day. In the meantime check out these photo of the day sites:
Ali Edwards
Tracy Miller
Tara Whitney-Amazing photographer

Keep checking back to see our life in pictures. I'm sure our life is so exciting you can't wait!

Trapped. . .

Last night while Saylor was on the computer. . .




Then she got upset because she couldn't get out. Very funny, but I had to rescue her. I hope she isn't traumatized because I laughed so hard watching her try to get out.

AND. . . . . . .
I went on a delivery with Saylor this weekend to Laredo. It is a loooooooooooong way! For all my hard work (sitting in the passenger seat) I got rewarded with these super cool iron pumpkins. I can't wait for fall so I can put them out. I haven't decided where to put them yet, but I know on Halloween they go out in the yard with orange and black candles. Can't wait. I love fall.