The little things matter the most...

I just wanted to start by saying the little things in life are what make me the happiest. A peck on my cheek in the middle of dinner from my fiance, or a hug from my son. Little things that some people don't pay attention to are what matter so much to me. Today my son brought me two daffodils that he picked. It was the first time hes ever done that and it made my day...



This was after I came out of the laundry room to find this...


He had dumped our cat food out all over the kitchen floors that I had just spent an hour steam cleaning the heck out of.... but with a face like this....




I couldn't be mad at him. Instead I laughed and hugged him as he giggled at what he had done. I admit it was funny.



My favorite things in life are the smallest ones. They are the many blessing that God has given me and which I am thankful for... So if you're ever feeling blue just stop and think about what little things bring you...

Randomness but I'm thankful

Sitting back last night I was thinking about how blessed I am. I have been reading blogs on Jonah and a few other children who are struggling through life right now and it makes me feel so blessed that I have a healthy baby boy who I do get to come home to. He isn't sitting in a hospital suffering through medical procedures and pain.

God has given me so much and I have so much to be thankful for. I feel spoiled because I have an amazing fiance who loves me very much, and I have an adorable son who lights up my days. Yes they both drive me nuts and life isn't perfect but I have it easier than a lot of people do. And if any of you are reading this, I keep you in my prayers and I think about you all the time. Its amazing how someone you don't even know can have an impact on your thoughts.

Things I could HATE.

I want to start by saying I do not hate anyone. I have strong dislikes for the behavior of people but I do not hate the person. That being said there are a few things I have come to know that I COULD hate and some things that I DO hate.

I could hate it that people try to give me advice even when its unwelcomed. But I also understand that they are usually just trying to help.

I do hate it when people are stuck on themselves or conceited. Its disgusting when someone constantly thinks so highly of themselves that they always talk about it. There is a difference between being confident and having a high self esteem level and being straight up conceited.

I hate it when someone agress to a plan and then turns around and all of a sudden has a bunch of prerequisites or terms.

I hate it that people no longer care about how they treat others. You may think you're being nice but sometimes the things you say come off really mean or snotty.

I realize this sounds very childish but there is just a lot on my mind and I needed to get it off.

One of those days...

Have you ever just had one of those days that just don't seem to work out?

Take yesterday for example...

I literally felt like I was on my deathbed but somehow managed to wake up and function like a normal adult. I came to work only to find out that my loving boss had left a weeks worth of work to do that HAD to be done in a matter of a day. I get a call reminding me to start looking for a new dress (this is a whole story in itself) And on my way home found out that I now have to look for a new Daycare provider for my son.... Because his Grandmother has a new job....

The only thing I wantedt o do was go home snuggle up and sleep. I think I deserve at least that much right? NO! The second I slip into my comfy clothes the doorbell won't stop ringing I get a gazillion text messages, and its almost time for my fiance to get home...

I should have just stayed in bed all day and let yesterday just pass by me.

But I Kinda Sorta have a WEDDING TO PLAN!

Ok... So the past few days I have been anything but hot. I have had a fever and chills and my whole body hurt. I had to leave work early Tuesday and Stayed home yesterday. Went to the doctor only to find out that what I have is going to keep me off my feet for a few (are you ready for this???) MONTHS! He told me I need to rest for the next few months just to be sure that my body heals correctly and gets over this thing completely.

My response... "Um yea about that... I Kinda sorta have a wedding to plan in about 6 months. I can't take time off now These next few months are critical!!"
Doctor says: "Right critical and STRESSFUL. Your body can't handle it. You need to not stress out. Rest is the most important thing..."
ME:"UGGGGHHHHHH"
Doctor:"Have your fiance help."
Me:"HA! He can't even decide what songs he doesn't want played let alone anything else!"

I could see there was no point in arguing with him so I just dragged my defeated sorry little self home and pouted. I thank god that my Maid of Honor is so freaking sweet because she is going to be the biggest help with this stuff.

TOTALLY TRUE!

Things that change when you have a baby
1. You finally stop to smell the roses, because your baby is in your arms.
2. Where you once believed you were fearless, you now find yourself afraid.
3. The sacrifices you thought you made to have a child no longer seem like sacrifices
.4. You respect your body ... finally.
5. You respect your parents and love them in a new way.
6. You find that your baby's pain feels much worse than your own.
7. You believe once again in the things you believed in as a child.
8. You lose touch with the people in your life whom you should have banished years ago
.9. Your heart breaks much more easily.
10. You think of someone else 234,836,178,976 times a day.
11. Every day is a surprise.
12. Bodily functions are no longer repulsive. In fact, they please you. (Hooray for poop!)
13. You look at your baby in the mirror instead of yourself.
14. You become a morning person.
15. Your love becomes limitless, a superhuman power.
16. You discover how much there is to say about one tooth.
17. You finally realize that true joy doesn't come from material wealth.
18. You'd rather buy a plastic tricycle than those shoes that you've been dying to have.
19. You realize that although sticky, lollipops have magical powers.
20. You don't mind going to bed at 9 p.m. on Friday night.
21. Silence? What's that?
22. You realize that the 15 pounds you can't seem to get rid of are totally worth having.
23. You discover an inner strength you never thought you had.
24. You no longer rely on a clock — your baby now sets your schedule.
25. You give parents with a screaming child an 'I-know-the-feeling' look instead of a 'Can't-they-shut-him-up?' one.
26. Your dog — who used to be your 'baby' — becomes just a dog.
27. You take the time for one more hug and kiss even if it means you'll be late.
28. You learn that taking a shower is a luxury.
29. You realize that you can love a complete stranger.
30. You find yourself wanting to make this world a better place.
31. If you didn’t believe in love at first sight before, now you do!
Do any of you Mom's out there have any ones that you can think of????

Sure go ahead and tell me what you think...

Have you ever noticed how many people there are that are so willing to tell you what they think you should be doing as opposed to what you are doing? I have and I have to tell you it's ANNOYING!

Ever since I became engaged and started planning our wedding (notice the italic font on our) everyone and their mother seems to think that its ok to voice their usually obnoxious and unwelcomed opinion. I usally here things like "Oh gosh! You're so young! You should wait." Or "Do you even know how to run a household?" to which I usually reply "Well you're absolutely right! Ha! What was I thinking? I mean geeze I'm only 23 years old and have a one year old, but you're right... I've never washed a single dish, done a load of laundry or paid a single bill by myself. " To which people usually say "Really?" And I at that point want to slap them and all the while I'm thinking "What the bubble? Really?? Of course I've done dishes and paid bills and don't even get me started on the freaking laundry!" I may be no Betty homemaker but I have and can run my own freaking household!

I can not stnad how every single ( and I mean the ones who aren't married) all of a sudden want to tell me how stupid it is to have a big wedding. I am normally thinking in the back of my mind that they are jealous. Or the married ones who think that I should for some ungodly reason mimic everything they did for their wedding. Sure I'd love to have my bridesmaids wear big fluffy cupcake thingys and wear bonnets they'd love that! Gag me! PLEASE! I get even more frustrated when I say "Oh I like this idea" and someone immediately says "No you don't!" Well yes, yes I do actually but thank you for telling what to think. Don't get me wrong sometimes advice is welcomed and appreciated but I'll ask for it when I need it. Until then SHUT THE BUBBLE UP! (Please ignore any and all uses of the word bubble. I am currently displacing all curse words in my vocabulary with it as my one year old is now picking up EVERYTHING we say.)

Another point is when I allow my son to have anything with sugar in it and all of a sudden some sugar nazi comes out and thinks that this is for some reason supposed to be forbidden. I was cruising through the mall with my tot in his stroller and let him have a sip of a frozen lemonade that I had, and this total stranger looks at me and says "I don't think he should have that."
I think I must have almost choked or something because she looked baffled at the shock on my face as I mustered out the words "Who the hell are you?"
She must have got the point because she apologized and then proceeded to say she would never let her kids have sugar so young. Well thank you lady I totally needed your advice to get me through this thing called parenting. RIGHT!

If I weren't such a bubbly person usually I think it would be so much easier to snap peoples heads off but it isn't that easy for me. I find it more and more difficult everyday to tell people off even when I know they totally deserve it. So from now on I am just going to smile and tilt my head and say "Sure go ahead and tell me what you think..." All the while knowing that I will have something witty to say right back.

Did I mention I have more blonde moments than Barbie?

Now I never claimed to be Albert Einstein. I don't think that I am dumb either. I do however, have more blonde moments than Barbie... I will explain.

As I was riding along with my loved ones into Washington, D.C. we passed the Jefferson Memorial. You know, the one that is standing up?? Well I look over and in all seriousness say "Hmm. I didn't realize they made Lincoln stand up." My boyfriend (at the time) with a dumbfounded expression looks at me and says "Shay... thats the Jefferson memorial, not the Lincoln." Everyone cracks up at me and all I can think of to say is "So you mean that poor man is still sitting?"

When having a serious discussion about capitals and things of that nature I make the comment... "Whats the capital of Chicago?" no one even takes the time to respond until my 8 year old cousin says... "Chicago isn't a state! And it isn't even the Capital of Illinois." Ok point taken...

I am one of the only people who will run into a chair and apologize to it. I run into Glass doors ALL the time.

Some people would be embarrassed but it makes me who I am... and what can I say? People love me.

Now where do I go from here?

The question was popped, the ring was gorgeous, and I managed to mumble out a meek "of course" I never knew the trials and tribulations that is wedding planning. i was about to find out and there was no telling how I would go from Newly engaged to newly wed in a mere 13 months.



Most little girls have their weddings planned from the time they get their first Barbie and Ken doll. Not this one. I went into wedding planning mode from the moment my fiances mother asked me what date we selected... This was ten minutes after he proposed. From that point on there was no turning back.



I quickly realized how much there was to do and how a time that once seemed so far away was no longer enough time to me. I had only 13 months to plan the perfect wedding... Or what I thought was everyone else's idea of perfect. It just didn't seem realistic.



Immediately (and I do mean immediately) I began looking for different options for wedding venues (thats another thing that threw me off but thats for a different post) We knew we didn't want your typical golf course wedding recpetion. We knew we weren't going for a hotel because we just didn't like that option(to this point I'm still not sure who didn't like it me or him??) So I set out for the right place with our date available.



Now with October 2009 being 13 months away I thought hey we have a little bit of time. Until I started calling around to different places to find out that October was apparently a popular month and everything books quicker... Ok fine then my planning process speeds up. Within 2 weeks of being engaged, I had dragged my poor fiance to what I thought was the "perfect" place. The Waterford in Springfield VA was exactly what we were looking for. It provided us a gorgeous ballroom, a top-shelf open bar, and amazing food. The price tag that came with this?? Perfect for what we were expecting to pay... We actually were blown away by the price comapred to what we had been told by other places. So we booked it... There we go got that out of the way.



Then came the dress... oh the freaking dress. First off I will warn anyone who is trying on a wedding dress for the first time... the dress sizes actually run smaller than normal sizes... Once again I repeat they run SMALLER! That means someone who normally wears a size 4 now can wear anything from a size to a size 8! I only warn you because well... I had a nervoud break down at first. I am sure the poor sales girl was ready to smack some reality into me after having to explain it to me three times that the dress was really in my size it was just a different number... Finally I calmed down long enough to try some dresses on... The first dress i tried on was one of my true favorites. It had everything I wanted but I've been told to continue looking "just in case" So after a few more gowns I still went back to the first one... I bought the dress and went home as happy as I thought I could be. One more task quickly out of the way...



All of this sounds all too easy right??? WRONG! As soon as I started thinking "Hey this wedding stuff really isn't that bad" is when someone from the wedding gods came blazing through and knocked me off my high horse. And that was the beginning of my crazy life that became wedding planning obsessed. I now find myself spending most of my time thinking about wedding things, little things that never mattered to me before are now driving me nuts, like a shade of red, the thought of my husband to be drinking the night before the wedding and coming to the ceremony hung over, and what type of candy should go into our candy buffet.



I have some how managed to tie into place everything that is necessary for the wedding such as, the florist, the dress, his ring, our cake, our photographer, our bridal party, the hotel we will be staying at. Our makeup artist. Our videographer. Our DJ and a few other odds and ends. Now my question is... Where do I go from here?