Girls Night = Craft Night!

Today after work Miss Lyla and I went to go get our nails done. I needed a fill anyway and got talked into getting a whole new set of Solar Nails...they are supposed to be stronger and last longer...blah blah blah...anyway...
Lyla wanted her nails painted too...so the lady told her to climb up in the chair and she would paint her nails pink. I immeadiately told the lady that we are far from sitting still to let them dry so I do not in any way expect perfection on that child's nails...so don't even try!

Fooled me...cause she did a pretty dang good job! The lady .... not Lyla
Lyla about drove me nuts!
She just about fell out of the rolly chair onto the ceramic tile floor while holding my Iphone...all I could do was give her the "mom" look and tell her sit down .... cause my hands were trapped getting my nails buffed at this point.

Then she announces to the whole entire nail salon that she has to poop! I forgot to mention that we had already been to the bathroom twice since we had been there...so I know for  fact she only going because she was bored. So out of complete hopelessness...I said, "Fine-Go!" and secretely praying the whole time that she doesn't fall in the toilet and get stuck while I am getting my nails done and I can't hear her so she would be stuck in a toilet for at least another 20 minutes...unless someone else had to poop!

Thank God for my cousin Brittany ...she saved my child from a mommy that was about to go insane. She showed up at the nail shop...took Lyla out to her car and let her and her daughter play for a few more mintues while my nails finished up. I don't think she will ever understand how much I love her!!

On a sappy note: She is a single mom...and in my opinion has a dang good job of taking care of her little family...I am so scared sometimes when my husband and I have our "oh my goodness I am ready to just pack my stuff and move to Egypt" fights of having to start over and doing it all on my own...but I know if I had to...that Brittany would be there for me...she would give me her tips and secrets...and more important she would be there for me to cry on. Some days...like today...I can NOT wait until Gregg gets home ...just so I can sit and breathe and not have to worry about what Lyla is thinking or doing or thinking about doing. Having to do it all on my own..like her...would take a lot of strength and patience

then.......
on the other hand.....
if you were a single mom........
you wouldn't have an extra person in the house to clean up after..................

hmmm
let's not go there

moving on

When we got home from our hellacious of a nail salon trip...I had Lyla try on her bikini. It is already swimsuit weather here in Arkansas so Lyla is learning to strut her stuff!!

America's Next Top Model?

Anytime Brittany and Alyssa come over we always have a good time!
Whether we are sitting outside watching the girls play....
driving around looking at houses we can't afford....
or
listening to old-y but good-y songs on the computer while the girls dance and we sing our hearts out like we are center stage at the Grand Ol Opry!!
Anything we do it fun!

Tonight we decided to make bows. Never made a bow before. Ever.
But tonight...I did pretty good!!
I think I will continue my quest in bow making.
Here's my first virgin bow:

I added the middle bow after I tried it on. It isn't done...cause I have to put cutesy stuff on it...but I think it is looking pretty good!! What do you think?

The Christmas Recital

Yep...this is the song I sang.
I can't believe it either.

But I did it. And I got good reviews!!!
yay!
Now I don't know if they were just being nice ... or not...but i will take them at face value and make myself feel good about it!

I know I cracked in at least one spot...but to my defense ...I can NOT breathe with this whole gall bladder thing going on!
I had to have an ultra sound done on Tuesday ...and they said that I would have the results on Monday...so I am just waiting..waiting for them to say it is my gall bladder and I have to go in for surgery to get it taken out.

I know I know..it isnt a hard surgery anymore..I have seen many horrendous scars and heard many horrible stories...but I, myself, have had ZERO surgeries...and I particulary do NOT like them!
So I try not to have surgery often...my brother on the other hand...different story! I think he enjoys them...me ...not so much!

Anyway...I did my best at Natalie Grant's song..I got NO WHERE near how she does it..She is amazing!!
But I actually enjoyed myself!
I practiced ALOT! ALOT!

Here are a few pictures of Lyla practicing with me...
sorry for the blur....it was on my phone...and of course you have to move when you sing..so i couldn't get her to stay still!

This is after practice at Taco Bell..and she was tired of pictures..she said ,
"No More"

lol

Take time to watch the leaves turn

Slow Down Sunday

This whole time change thing is rough on  my little girl!

What's been going on...

First and foremost I wanna say that ......

Second ....Halloween!

Lyla had a great time! I didn't think that she would really get the concept of trick or treating...but I must have underestimated her!!

She was a little nervous about all the ugly scary costumes...but she seen a teenager dressed up like Minnie Mouse and thought she was the real Minnie Mouse..so that made her night!

Everytime we went to a door to get candy ...when we got back to the truck she would yell to her daddy..."I GOT MORE CANDY!"

It was really cute!

She was a pirate....

I have to say though i was really disappointed in all the ADULTS that were trick or treating...WITH NO KIDS!!

I mean Come On! If you are just wanting a hand out..go to the Food Bank...This is a holiday for the kids...stop being selfish!

ok..enough of that..moving on!

Third...

I have seriously researching different things that i would like to become a consultant for. I have looked at many many many many many different companies...compared them to each other..asked a million questions...thought and thought...asked my husband and friends...and

still I am sitting here looking at so many things....thinking...

which one would be the better business deal?
which one would i have FUN doing?

I just don't know...the one that is on the top of my list is a home decor business called At Home America...is that a good choice? Will it sell?

I don't know.

Then you have to have at least $160 to $180 to purchase your kit to start.

That is alot when you dont' even know if it will work out?..

But they are having a deal where i can purchase my kit for $1 and if i sell $1000 within my first 35 days...I can keep my kit for $1...but if i don't hit my quota then they will take out $178 from my account.

Do i risk it?

Can i do it?

ugh!

Fourth:

Lyla has been yucky sick here lately...i think we are cutting teeth..well i know we are because she is old enough now to tell me that her teeth hurt...but it has completely messed up her stomach...everything just runs right through her...and her sinuses are going crazy because our weather doesn't know what it is going to do..so the poor thing...just has it bad right now..which makes me have it bad too! So I am praying that the tooth pops through..the weather gets better..and we can get some sleep!

Fifth and last:

My church is having a Fall Festival..it is our first...and i am superexcited about it..

I signed up to help...do whatever i can to make it work! So i was asked to make the signs for the game since i have a wonderful machine called a Cricut!

Except when my mom and stepdad came over to rip up carpet and put in laminate flooring...I have NO IDEA where the power cord to my Cricut went!!

I don't know if you know much about a Cricut....but

 IT WON'T WORK WITHOUT A POWER CORD!!

I have ripped my house apart...looked in places that I KNOW it can't be...

and I can not find it anywhere...

therefore i can't make signs for our fall festival...we are trying to wait as long as we can to make them hoping that God will lay the power cord in front of me sometime  before Thursday...but I hate to say that I don't see if happening..and I feel like a complete nim-ca-poop!

So...let's hope that next week is better...huh?

thanks!







I Baby my Baby

That's right...I spoil her..I baby her..she is my princess...






















This past week my husband has been on first shift...so we have the evening together with Lyla..he has been a huge help...I wish it would have lasted forever..but today started back to reality...





















While my husband was home..he put Lyla to bed a few nights...I got to where I missed rocking my baby to sleep..





















I still rock her to sleep...she will be two next month...and I sing to her...then I quietly lay her down in bed when she is off in dreamland...





















When did you all stop rocking your babies? When do you just put them to bed and have them fall asleep on thier own?





















I have to say I will completely miss the rocking and singing and cuddling when she starts to put herself to sleep...





So ...no matter what anyone else thinks...I baby my baby!

You're My Cuppy Cake..

This post used to the "About the Blog" page.
I have changed and changed my blog to try to find something that is me and what I like.
So I'm not gonna say this is IT..cause i have no clue..it might all change again.
Change is good..it keeps me on my toes!

But this is the story behind You're My Cuppy Cake...

You're My Cuppy Cake..







This brings back so many memories for me. It might not make any sense to you but here lately I have found out that (not being mean) ..I am not blogging for everyone else...I am blogging for ME!






So this title has alot to do with ME!






When my daughter was six weeks old...I had to go back to work. I worked at a preschool. She could have came with me...but working there for four years at the time I knew that she would be sick..and diaper rashes...she would have to wait to be fed. I just couldn't handle the thought of my angel not being taken care of like an angel.






Because first all you have to know that she IS my angel. Ever since I was a little girl..I never planned my wedding...I never thought of who I was going to marry...I wanted to be a momma! (and a teacher..but mainly a momma)






If you have the time..read my miscarriage story. Just knowing that I had a miscarriage lets you understand why my daugher is my angel...but when you have a miscarriage you feel like you are the only one that has ever gone through something like that and it is good to know that you aren't alone.






My mother told me to bring my daughter to her because she didn't want her to go to the preschool either while she was still little. So Thank God for my momma ..she watched my daughter until she was 10 months old. We have only had two ear infections and one virus! That is amazing!






While I was at work ..I thought about how she was doing...I hope I don't miss anything cute. I gave my mom my videocamera and told her to record EVERYTHING!






Everyday when I got off work I would call the minute I stepped out the door to tell mom that I was on my way and to see how everything went that day..what adventures had happened.






My ringtone on my mom's phone when I called was ....Your my cuppy cake, gumdrop, snookums bookums, You are the apple of my eye...


If you haven't heard that song .....it is the sweetest song ever!






Even at her young young age...my daughter figured out that when that song played on Grandma's phone...it was her momma! So if they were trying to lay down for a nap and I called....she was up! Then when she got older...and I called she started grabbing for the phone to talk to me.






It is amazing to me that even at a minute old...babies know who loves them!






So my Blog name is strictly something that is memorable to me..it is thought provoking to me...it inspires me to write about how life is like while my daughter is young.






I want this to be a record of her life. What she did...What she likes...






I want her to know that her dad and I never walked out of her room until we knew that she was fully asleep in her crib...we would stand there with our backs hunched over patting her little back to make sure that she was comfortable...






I want her to know that we sang her to sleep every night!






I want her to know that her daddy and her danced all the time and laughed until they cried.






I want her to know how big of a girl she is ..even at the age of one! She took up an interest in potty training around 18 months old.






I want her to know that there was not one night of teething or sickeness that she was alone...or that me and her daddy didn't hurt just as bad as she did trying to fix it.






I want her to know that is greatly loved.






I want her to know that above all else she is our priority..






I want her to know that me and her daddy consider ourselves blessed because of her...










I want her to be able to sit down one of these days and dive back into her childhood and see what life was like when she was just a little cuppy cake.

Dear Lyla,




Today you got to hang out with your Nanny and Pawpaw because the "thought" you were sick. Everytime you get sick at school...the next day i take you to your Nanny's house and you act just fine!

I think your faking! I hope you are...I don't like it when your sick.

I completely understand the saying now ..that when your child goes through something it almost hurts you more than it hurts them..because you want to fix everything...and you are literally my heart outside of my body and somtimes I just can't help you...sometimes I just can't fix it.

I hope you know that when you get older....I will always be here for you..to talk to ...to cry to...to vent to...but sometimes you just gotta learn things yourself and get through them yourself.

I had to..it was hard...but I am so glad things turned out the way they did. I am so happy in my life right now!

So after work I went straight up to my mom's to get you. We played. Baked cookies..I helped Uncle Colton with his homework while you and Nanny and PawPaw counted all the cows. Then you and Colton found some grasshoppers to torture..but did NOT want them anywhere near you!!! You and Colton played tents in the living room floor and finally when it was time to go because it was your bedtime...you would not leave!

You took Colton to his room..crawled up in his bed...and said you were staying and sleeping in Colton's bed.

The Queen had spoken!

So Nanny told me to let you stay...

I gave you sugars....hugs....and I love you's.....and made sure you knew that I was going home..and you couldn't have cared less!

I love that you love your Nanny, PawPaw, and Uncle Colton...and that you feel comfortable and safe enough to stay up there...and it gives me a little extra sleep time...since you like to party...then get up early!

When I got home I called about you...to make sure you were ok...and by the time I had gotten home..you had made Nanny fix you a cup...figured out that Colton doesn't have Mickey Mouse Clubhouse recorded on his TV ...left his room....went to the living room with Nanny...watched your shows..and went to sleep!



Have I ever told you how much I love you!



I love You!

Your momma!

My Personal Coffe Maker: Best Present Ever!

I always wake up a little earlier than everyone else in the morning. I get my shower in silence..start to fix my hair and make up...and usually by then Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is on the TV...and husband is asking me to turn off lights so he can sleep (he works second shift) ...








But this morning went a little different....







I woke up ..earlier than everyone else...I got my shower..fixed my hair...and was doing my make up when my little angel awoke from her dreamland...



got straight out of OUR bed that she had climbed into the night before...



and went straight to her room...







so being the inquiring mother that i am....i followed her....







she went to her kitchen...and started "cooking" something...







So I say Good Morning to her and she turns around quickly and says,







"Momma, you want some coffee?"







:)







How can you pass that up?







So of course I said yes..and we woke up dad to see if he wanted some too...he did.







We all three sat in the middle of our bedroom floor and had our morning coffee that Lyla made.







Precious, Precious times......

Day 1 of Truth and Rennovation

Day One: Something you hate about yourself.

Wow..isn't that something easy to do. I know everyone has something that they don't like about themselves....especially after having a baby...so of course i would start off with that I hate I don't have a six pack..but have come to the conslusion that I will never have one..so I have made peace with that!

I don't like that I get off work at 5 and can't go to the gym because I am ultimately responsible for Lyla since Gregg works second shift. I don't like that I get jealous of Gregg sometimes when he gets to do what he wants before work because the shift he works allows for that ..and I am continuously stuck in Momma role. I dont' like that I get in negative moods sometimes and see everything in a negative light. I don't like that I don't thoroughly enjoy cooking and baking. I don't like that it is hard for me to say no to people and I get my hand involved in alot more than I should..then I am overly exhausted! I dont' like that I am indecisive...especially when it comes to decorating. ugh! And last but not least...I don't like that I don't make time to call my friends just to say Hello or see what's goin on?  But I got a whole lot of cards that I send out to let them know that I am thinking about them!

And today ...after I clean up the house...and Gregg gets home from work....we are starting to paint in Lyla's room. woo hoo! The paint sample on the top of the paint can doesn't look like what I picked out..but it is the paint with the primer in it...so maybe after we get it on the walls it will dry the color I picked. I pray!
I will post pictures later!!


Remember to link up if you are doing 30 days of truth with me..so I can read all about your truths!!

the fastest two years of my life

This past Sunday we celebrated Lyla's 2nd Birthday!


I , like every other mother, can not believe that my baby is two years old! It seems like yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital, waiting for her belly button to fall off, excited to try out the first baby foods. Now we are singing songs, and ABC's, potty training, talking in full sentences.





Where did the time go?





Did I treasure it all?





Did I record everything I wanted to?





I have to say in two years..she is a beautiful, mature, and smart cuppy cake!

There has been hair pulling times and times where I laugh so hard my jaws hurt. Being a mom is the best thing I have done in my life. I know now why I looked forward to it all those years as a child...it is like nothing else.





It is extremely hard but greatly satisfying.





Nothing compares.





I have to admit ...it is sometimes hard on your marriage..it is stressful and you take things out on each other. It is times like these though that you gather the family together, enjoy each other's company and when the chaos is all over Gregg and I pull together and say, "Look what we have done!" and we bask in the pride and joy that we have raised and nurtured for two years.

Celebrating Lyla's Second Year of Life!!

This past Sunday we celebrated Lyla's 2nd Birthday!

I , like every other mother, can not believe that my baby is two years old! It seems like yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital, waiting for her belly button to fall off, excited to try out the first baby foods. Now we are singing songs, and ABC's, potty training, talking in full sentences.

Where did the time go?

Did I treasure it all?

Did I record everything I wanted to?

I have to say in two years..she is a beautiful, mature, and smart cuppy cake!

There has been hair pulling times and times where I laugh so hard my jaws hurt. Being a mom is the best thing I have done in my life. I know now why I looked forward to it all those years as a child...it is like nothing else.

It is extremely hard but greatly satisfying.

Nothing compares.

I have to admit ...it is sometimes hard on your marriage..it is stressful and you take things out on each other. It is times like these though that you gather the family together, enjoy each other's company and when the chaos is all over Gregg and I  pull together and say, "Look what we have done!" and we bask in the pride and joy that we have raised and nurtured for two years.

The next to last family wedding..

My sister in law got married June 19th...she is the youngest besides my brother...so we only have one more family wedding to go...that is IF my brother ever gets married....and he is only 14..so we have a ways!
But here are a few pictures that my Pastor's wife took of my baby who was the flower girl!
Then I spruced them up on Picnik a little..

any of you professional picture takers....if you have any tips....please don't hesitate to let me know!!!

But doesn't she look stinkin' cute??

Summertime is time for Birthdays!

I never realized how many birthdays there are in the summer!
Wow!
We have been to two in two days!
Wow!

But we have had a great time doing it! Lyla got to swim and play...I have had fun enjoying time with my friends!

I wish we had more time to hang out ..and just be girls!

But I had to post the presents I got them...they are so supercute!

For the first birthday...our friend was turning six! the big 6!!! Going into the First Grade!
So I made her homemade playdoh in a jar! Supercute!

don't you love it?

For the next party, which was today, I got her a funky Photo Album. She is turning Five and going into Kindergarten so i thought it would be awesome for all those Kindergarten memories..for her and for mom! I didn't make this...although I would love to try! A woman that lives near me made it and sold it to me! So here is her photo album..

isn't it just as cute!!?

I have to say...I think I am a pretty good gift giver! and if I'm not...don't tell me..it will hurt my feelings!

****Here is the good part!***
We get home...Lyla and I extend our evening out in our driveway with a parachute man that we got in the party favor and a popsicle. I had pink..she had blue ( and most of my pink)!

It started to get dark so we decided to come inside and take a shower...I jump on Facebook really quickly to tell the woman that made the super awesomely photo album that I loved it! and then off to start the water.

In between the quick message and turning on the shower ...I check on my lovely little daughter.

She is fine! Watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. What a good little angel!

Starting the shower...got us some towels...found some PJ's...called for Lyla.....no answer....

called again......no answer......uh oh?

took off down the hall to look for Lyla....and found her ..........

sitting in the middle of my dining room floor ............

covered in SPF 100 sunscreen ................

and fingerpainting with it on the floor.

*take a big freakin deep breath Nikki*

OK...at least we haven't had our shower yet...

I did just buy new floor cleaner....and a new mop head

She wasn't in good clothes...still in her swimsuit...

nothing was in her eyes or mouth.....

.............and I just kept thinking of positive things until I guided her to the shower...then couldn't help but laugh....then cry....then laugh.....

and stole a kiss!

I am so exhausted!

Have a great night!

I baby my baby...

That's right...I spoil her..I baby her..she is my princess...

This past week my husband has been on first shift...so we have the evening together with Lyla..he has been a huge help...I wish it would have lasted forever..but today started back to reality...

While my husband was home..he put Lyla to bed a few nights...I got to where I missed rocking my baby to sleep..

I still rock her to sleep...she will be two next month...and I sing to her...then I quietly lay her down in bed when she is off in dreamland...

When did you all stop rocking your babies? When do you just put them to bed and have them fall asleep on thier own?

I have to say I will completely miss the rocking and singing and cuddling when she starts to put herself to sleep...

So ...no matter what anyone else thinks...I baby my baby!

Here are a few things that I am grateful for..
43. rain
44. umbrellas
45. that my husband deals with my mood swings
46. a God that moves my spirit
47. a God that answers prayers
48. my health
49. books to read to my baby
50. cute pens that make it fun to write
51. the window in my classroom
52. an adult chair to sit in while in my preschool classroom
53. girls that i like to work with
54. girls that i still talk to who i don't work with anymore
55. my Cricut
56. crafty websites for inspiration
57. the opportunity for my husband to work overtime
58. for God keeping my mouth shut around my in laws
59. for my husband actually telling my in laws what they need to hear
60. men feeling the calling to teach God's gospel!

My Coffee Maker

I always wake up a little earlier than everyone else in the morning. I get my shower in silence..start to fix my hair and make up...and usually by then Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is on the TV...and husband is asking me to turn off lights so he can sleep (he works second shift) ...

But this morning went a little different....

I woke up ..earlier than everyone else...I got my shower..fixed my hair...and was doing my make up when my little angel awoke from her dreamland...
got straight out of OUR bed that she had climbed into the night before...
and went straight to her room...

so being the inquiring mother that i am....i followed her....

she went to her kitchen...and started "cooking" something...

So I say Good Morning to her and she turns around quickly and says,

"Momma, you want some coffee?"

:)

How can you pass that up?

So of course I said yes..and we woke up dad to see if he wanted some too...he did.

We all three sat in the middle of our bedroom floor and had our morning coffee that Lyla made.

Precious, Precious times......

My Firecracker!

Lyla at 23 months....

Lyla will be two next month.

Where has our two years gone.

They have slipped through our fingers so fast...looking at old pictures I can not believe how much my own child has changed within the past two years.
Her hair is amazingly longer...she talks like an adult....and she isn't even two yet!

Here are a few things that she is "into" at the moment:

* she loves to play baby dolls...we have to have them everywhere we go...and not just one baby doll...all seven of them! We have to sleep with them..they all have to go potty before bed. It is so cute and if she drops one she is extremly worried about that one baby doll until I lean over to pick it up and put it back on the top of the pile.

* she loves to make her daddy "go nite nite"...she covers him up and makes him lay down...then pats him to sleep...if he gets up...she says "lay down!"

* she is doing great at pottying..she goes to the potty all day at school...and at home...now if we could just get the pooping in the potty on track ..we will go to big girl panties soon..and again...she isn't even two yet~

* here lately ...this has been a new thing...when Gregg or I call for Lyla...she will answer us with a ..."What?"...and not just a regular "what?"...like her momma's sarcastic tone of voice "What?" Her daddy loves that!

* she loves going to church. I love that she loves going to church..she particularly likes the music..she says church..really good!

* at church she is starting to come out of her shell a little bit...she is usually really shy around other people and hangs really close to me or Gregg...but here lately she has been handing out hugs to a few people.

* she loves to play with her cousin Landon...she calls him "e-e" ...don't know why?

* she just went to watch her first movie in the movie theater...her and Landon watched Toy Story 3 with my  mother and father in law. So cute..they said she sat there and actually watched the movie!

* she sleeps in her bed like a big girl..and she has been doing this for a good while now...I don't know what has been happening lately but every night she will wake up and come in mine and Gregg's room to sleep with us.

* when she does come in our room...she tells her daddy to "move over" so she can have room...so funny...she is tired and cranky...but cute!

*she likes to cuddle when we get home from work and preschool...i do too!

* she knows a tremendous amount of her body parts...like her eyebrows, elbows, shoulders, ankles...she is one smart cookie.

* she absolutely loves her Uncle Colton

* and her favority thing to do....is take a shower.

I am feeling the MOJO

I don't know what has come over me...

It is something that I haven't felt in a long time...

it is M-m-m-motivation.

YES!!

Here lately on my lunch break...any extra minute here or there I slip into an antique shop..or a craft shop and just look around (well of course I buy something...that would be rude not to :) ...and I have been overwhelmed with the feeling that I can DO THAT!

Those cute little flower clips...EASY! (i think)  I can so do that!

Signs with sayings on them..I have a Cricut...I can so do those too!

with my Cricut I can make coasters, wall stickers, anything...

that Cricut gives you alot to work with! and I thank my husband greatly for getting it for me.

I am just motivated to do something.

I did learn a life lesson today though..Lyla HAS to have a nap...EVERY DAY!

Today my mother in law (Lord only knows what made her do this) call and see if she could take Lyla to watch Toy Story 3 with my nephew while Gregg and I watched a movie that we wanted to.

My in-laws always seem to migrate toward my nephew...they never really do much with Lyla...or ever think to give me and Gregg a break...so I don't know what made them do it today..but I wasn't going to pass up a chance to watch a grown up movie with my husband alone...so we went!
Gregg and I seen "Knight and Day"...awesome!

anyway..with the short notice..we all had to take showers and I had to feed everyone lunch..so we kinda missed nap time thinking that she would take a nap on the way to town...well she did but it wasn't long enough..because whew..she was something else when we were trying to eat dinner...but by 7:30pm..she was off in dreamland...which is nice..but that means early morning.

My husband wanted to sit on the couch and "relax" together...which means he is asleep right now and I am in my scrapbooking room IN THE SILENCE..feeling the mojo!!!

so ..what can I do????

anyone crafty that reads my blog? got any cute homemade ideas?
let me know..i would love to check it out!

My goal this year to make everything for Christmas presents...because that is a whole other story about my in laws...
So I need some good ideas for Christmas presents....

Have a great night!