Flashback Friday

This was the halloween right before I got pregnant with Jonathan. It was a "costume party" and my cousin was the cowardly lion. She tried at least. Not the best picture of us but it was good times.

11:11

Do you ever have moments that it just hits you how unbelievably important every second of your life is? Every little smile, hug, kiss, hello, goodbye, tantrum, and laugh is sooo important. Do you ever sit back and think "Hmm I am so glad that I got to experience that?"

I read a lot of blogs. I find myself glued to the ones where someone has gone through something I can not and do not ever want to imagine, and that person still has faith.

I am not sure what made me want to write about this today but I know that I can honestly say that I am so thankful for every thing that happens in my life. There are good times, bad times, ok times, and times that just seem unbearable. But I would not trade it in for anything. I know I complain about stress and irritation, but in reality I am thankful that I am here to experience it.

There is so much in life that we take for granted. We never know when our last breath, kiss, hug, smile, "I love you", or just a simple gesture is. At any given moment it can all be taken from us...

As I sit here and stare at my clock it says 11:11. Time to make a wish. All I wish for is one more second to spend with the ones I love. If I get that, then I have nothing to be unsatisfied about.

9 Weekends left...

WooHoo! Another weekend down... 9 more to go! Yep thats right... NINE more weekends until I said "I do" to the man I love.

Truly I can't wait. I know I complain a lot about the wedding planning but that's because I always wanted something small. His family would have none of that of course but I know that it will be so worth it in the end. I can't wait to walk down the aisle to him and see his smiling face... I get butterflies thinking about it.

Speaking of walking... I got my shoes this weekend and I must say I LUFF them! I mean they are the OH MY GAWD kind of cuteness I needed to give me a pick me up... and the crazy thing?? They were only $20! I am so serious! the lady bought them for her wedding but they were too tall for her short little hubby so she had them still in the wrapping plastic and box. I thought I was going to pass out when I saw them and she told me the price... I will post a pic once I get home!

We still have a TON left to do but ya know what... It is Oh So worth it! I mean I get to marry this guy...

Lol that happens to be one of our engagement pictures by my lovely Aunt... yep he was tossing me in the river... But seriously he loves me. I promise!

When I told him we were 10 weeks away the look on his face was priceless. I have seen many men act so nervous about their weddings. But nope not my love, he was all smiles and excitement. I could tell he truly is happy. There are no doubts, reservations, confusion, or second thoughts. I am so ready to be married!

Ok enough sappy stuff... My little man and I recently had our first run in with Chipotle. Brandon has been raving about this place for umm yea well forever. I never liked it after the first time I went a long time ago... I think I ate a PIECE of rice and hated it... So I tried it again this weekend and this is Jonathan's reaction :

then we wen to the pool and he apparently had to pee:

And this is why I thank God everyday that I wakeup and get to spend it with the ones I love.

MY wedding dress.

Here is my wedding dress. This is actually my second dress as my first one was destroyed by my cat... When I tried my first gown on no one cried but I loved it. When I went shopping for this one... My mom cried. Like a baby. I did too. This is the day that I picked it up and I was looking at the train as my friend was taking the picture...

Flashback Friday

This was my senior prom picture with my ex S you know the one I posted about here. Needless to say this was at the better time in our relationship... this was in 2004.

Potty time

Why does potty training have to be so difficult?

Seriously. Jonathan has been telling us lately when he has to go pee. We take him to the potty and he goes no problem. He started this himself we didn't try to do it... But now he takes his diaper off. He has done it several times in the past week. Last week he made a horrible mess of it and I was too dumbfounded to even think about what to do. Brandon just found him taking his diaper off again.

I need tips on what to do at this stage? I mean he can't talk very well yet so we don't have that communication but he does show us when he has to go... I just feel a little lost.

Ok thats! It is absolutely ridiculous the crap the you go through planning a wedding! On top of school and work, and potty training. Actually Jonathan started on his own. He woke us up because he wanted to go in the middle of the night and has done so a few more nights this week.





But anyways...





My bridesmaids are driving me nuts! Seriously! First they couldn't choose any dresses then when they finally did my sister wouldn't get her butt on board and order her dress. Now the color THEY picked out... THEY don't like! It is driving me nuts... Seriously!!!!! Oh and I found a new product I L~O~V~E


YUP! I am totally ADDICTED to this stuff. Seriously. It makes my eyelashes absolutely GORGEOUS!

Sometimes its a kick in the face.

Ya know those nosey people that always have something smart to say to you? And I don't mean smart as in intelligent but like sarcastic? Or those people that always have some kind of opinion that they think is right? Well I got to deal with on of those recently.

I was talking to a group of people, not necessarily my friends so much as people I know. I was telling one girl about Jonathan's dedication at my church when another loud mouthed snot decided it was time to chime in saying "Don't you think you should leave that option to your son to decide when he gets older?"

Well No actually I don't. I think that it was MY decision to make about whether or not I wanted to dedicate my son to the lord and to raise him believing in God. It was MY decision to dedicate him and make my promise to do my best in providing him with a community that loves him and cares for him and wants what's best for him and has the same beliefs as me. It IS my decision whether or not I want to teach my child or children about God and if you don't like it then thats your choice but I am doing what I know is right.

Now I understand there are people that don't believe in God, that don't practice my religion, and who do have different beliefs and I am not saying that those people are wrong. Its just not what I believe. My fiance was one of those people when we met. Until I introduced him to my Pastor he had a hard time developing a relationship with the Lord. Mostly because he didn't understand the word of God and no one took the time to show him. He wasn't given a choice growing up about what he wanted to believe. So know that he is older he is finding that religion is necessarily complicated. I am proud to be able to introduce to him a different relationship with God that he wouldn't have necessarily found on his own. I am simply offering my son the same.

There are people that think it should be each persons own decision to do so. Fine. When Jonathan is older he can and will decide for himself what he believes. Until then he will have my influence. I won't apologize for praising my Lord and savior to him. I won't apologize for believing that he is my heavenly father. I won't apologize for my religion.

It irks me that people think that their opinion of religion should count to everyone. It doesn't. If you don't choose to practice religion, or you just don't believe in my God, or you have whatever beliefs you have... What makes you any more right or wrong than me? Who are you to judge me? My mother had me baptised when I was 6 weeks old. I am thankful she did because when I was teenager I was baptised again 2 months before I was in a near fatal accident that almost took my own life. I know that God was there for me. He was doing his work in my life. Just like he does to other people. I do not go around forcing my beliefs on anyone. I am entitled to believe what I want. So little miss lady with the mouthy opinion... Next time you think you want to tell me how to raise my child, maybe you should think about how you would raise yours.

OH. MY. GAWD! *I say Gawd because I can't use the lords name that way... just cant do it*

Anyways... I have 85 days until I say I do... 85 DAYS!

I am excited so please do not take this the wrong way. I just feel, well, I feel unprepared! Here is everything I have to do... Ok or what I remember at least *don't judge me*

1. Take Dress for alterations... ASAP

2. Take Invitations to Post Office to get postage amount

3. Mail out invitations

4. Get shoes

5. Get passport *Im really slipping on this one*

6. Get the materials for the programs for Brandon's mom

7. Get the stuff for our escort cards

8. Get the materials for the candy buffet

9. Order Jonathans tuxedo

10. Order the flower girls gifts.

11. Pay the florist!

12. Make final payment to the wedding venue

13. Pay the DJ

14. Talk to Becky about photography and what Pics I want

15. Make a playlist and DO NOT play list

16. Make a must have photography list.

17. Order Sid's tux

18. Buy wedding day lingerie

19. Set up nail appointment for the day before the wedding

20. Find makeup artist or figure out how to do it myself

21. Finalize babysitter info for Jonathan for the week of honeymoon...

22. Get Brandons passport taken care of

23. Get marriage license

24. finish premarital counseling.

25. Buy ring bearer pillow

26. Finalize proof for Unity candle bought here!

27. Talk to pastor about the ceremony times.

28. get the little lights for the centerpieces

29. Finalize the menu

30. Finalize rehearsal dinner situation

31. finalize hotel rooms for guests

32. Find containers or bags for candy buffet.

33. Get Jonathans shoes.

34. Get the rehearsal dinner dress.

35. Bridal shower

36. Bachelorette party/ Bachelor party

37. Get the butterfly pin for Shan's bouquet.

And about a thousand other things... How does anyone survive this?? Seriously? But it helps that I have this guy to support me:

My lovely randomness

O.M.G Someone has gotten me hooked on ETSY!!!

I have recently purchased this unity candle set:

In red and silver.

I am also seriously considering buying our programs and escort cards from there as well as our ring pillow!!

I am in love! Seriously... Anyways... I can't wait to go home and play with this little guy:

ABC's

A-Age: 23
B-Birth date: November, 29, 1985
C-Chore you hate: Laundry!
D-Dog's name: Well we don't have one but we are going to get one and name it ranger.
E-Enter or Exit: Enter..and make everyone's heads turn
F-Favorite color: Pink
G-Gold or silver: White Gold
H-Hair color: Brunette
I-Instrument: mmm guitar
J-Job Title: Administrative Specialist
K-Kids: Have One and want more
L-Living arrangements: With the loves of my life my fiance and my son
M-Monkey or Moose: Moose..
N-Nicknames: Shay, momma, Princess, snuggs
O-Odd thing about you: I can't stand to have someone standing behind me on stairs... It freaks me out!
P-Pet Peeve: People who lie, backstab, and theres a few others
Q-Quote from a movie: "Alright that'll DO! I made a mistake coming here with you! I have heard of people faking orgasms but I have never actually witnessed it and it very deeply disturbed me." From forgetting Sarah Marshall
R-Right/Left Handed: Right handed
S-Siblings: a younger sister and a younger brother
T-Time you wake up? I get up at 5 am
U-Underwear: mmhmm I wear em
V-Veggie you dislike: PEAS!!! I can not stand them! Oh and Celery YUCK!
W-What makes you run late: My son
X-X-Rays: My hip, my knee, my foot and my wrist...
Y-Yummy food you make: Baked Spaghetti, stuffed shells, tacos, chicken
Z-Zoo Animal: Koalas!

Yep that pretty much explains it.

I recently ran across a blogger that posted about being a southerner at heart. I couldn't help but add to her post you can find hers here,

Here are my reasons I am a southerner at heart:

I love, love, love Sweet sweet iced tea. I prefer it over any other drink.

I hate snow. Ok I don't hate it but I prefer that it only sticks around for a short time.

I love southern values. In the south family is most important and old fashioned values are basically how I was raised.

I don't mind the heat. Now at night time I love me some A.C. but during the day I love being outside in the sun.

I say y'all. ALL. THE. FREAKIN. TIME.

I think that southern hospitality and the manners most southerners possess are absolutely perfect!

I absolutely adore! the charming southern places. Especially South Carolina and Georgia!

I love down home foods like collard greens and fried chicken. I don't care if fried chicken is bad for you. Give me some thick gravy to go with it! MMMMMM!!

I know Virginia is kind of on the fence but the way I was brought up was nothing above being southern.