2012 - date with my man #1

Fact: Jason and I haven't been on many dates since the birth of Blaykleigh. 

Reality: 2012 is a NEW YEAR and that MUST change! 

So ......

Here is our first "baby-less" date of the new year. 

Like 99.9% of any outing, it started off with a Starbucks run!!! 

Order's please -

one iced venti extra shot carmel macchiato

and

one venti extra shot white chocolate mocha  

... from Starbucks we made our way to Austin! 

Had the best intentions to stop at a fun, out-of-the-box place for lunch but we were running short on time; therefore, Jimmy John's subs to-go it was. 

A "picnic" perhaps?!

Nothing like the romantic lighting of a parking garage to spice things up!

THEN, 

the reason we drove three long hours...

to see WICKED of course.

It was fabulous and our seats were perfect!

PERFECT.

All the while, Blaykleigh was nestled safely in the arms of her Great Nana!

She had such a blast spending the day with her Great Aunt Jill and Great Nana.

Thanks again to you both!!!

After the show it was back on the road.

 Starbucks run numero dos!

Addicts much?!

Nah. No such thing in my book. 

Pitstop in San Antonio for dinner. 

Canyon Cafe. 

oooo my goodness, they have the BEST chip basket ever! 

and a pretty nifty atmosphere. 

he is fake 'cheesin'.

but nevertheless is still:

my man.

my love.

8 months old

Here we are another month has come and gone, just like that. You have grown up so much this past month little girl! It is so fun watching you discover the world around you. You're so full of curiosity, that is without a doubt. Easily amused by the simplest of things, a dvd box can keep you entertained for more time then one would find possible. And dare I mention your love for the 'jump-a-roo'? I'll just put it this way, if there was some way we could take all that energy from your repetitive bouncing up and down we could produce enough electricity to sustain our entire neighborhood that I am sure of. Your once footed sleep and plays are proof; I say "once footed" because you are known to wear holes through the feet of them with all that bouncing you do. But you love it, nothing but squeals of joy come from you while you bounce to your hearts content. You are such a joy Blaykleigh and the light of my life!!! Your daddy and I are so very blessed to have you as our daughter. 

At 8 months old, Blaykleigh ...

• weighs 18-ish pounds and is roughly 25 inches in length 
• is officially a crawler! She still rolls from time to time but since discovering the speed of crawling vs. rolling, she definitely prefers crawling. 
• has added "doe" to her list of words, so we have: "da-da", "ma-ma", "na-na" and "doe-doe"
• waves "hello" and "bye-bye" ... to herself that is! cutest. thing. ever.
• still only has her two bottom teeth but there are a few tooth buds working their way in.
• (as stated above) is in love with her 'jump-a-roo'.
•  loves sharing. Anytime she wakes up, she takes her paci out of her mouth and tries to give it to you. Or after slobbering all over a puff snack she wants you to taste it. Super sweet little girl that one is!
• has not yet gotten the hang of an official bedtime or naptime for that matter. But we will continue working with her on that one!
• gets a little temper when you tell her "no" or take something away from her. 
• sits up in the bath these days. I swear that girl would live in the bath if we let her. 
• has by far the loudest squeal humanly possible. My ears constantly ring. 

This week for dinner...

(borrowed)

Monday

French Chicken Broccoli Supreme

(Didn't get around to making this yesterday. It was one of those days where even all the coffee in the world couldn't give me enough energy to get in the kitchen and cook; it took all I had just to do a few hours of homework. Sooo it was a "fend-for-yourself" kind of night.)

(recipe found here)

Tuesday

Monday night leftovers: see above. 

Wednesday

I am thinking the pizza that we were supposed to have last Friday sounds good! 

Thursday

Turkey Lettuce Wrap Tacos

(recipe found here)

Friday

Taco Salads!

Saturday

Baked Spicy Chicken Wings 

(recipe found here)

Sunday

Baked Chicken Pesto served with Couscous 

(recipe found here)

Insta-Friday

Lots of pictures of Miss Blaykleigh this week, plus a few random ones of the cats and a cake I made for my Great Aunt Martha's birthday! I can't help it, her precious little face is all I seem to capture on my phone....

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

Pinterest Project

I found this project on pinterest awhile back and thought it was the cutest idea for the expecting Mommy (Jackie)! Filled with all of the personal essentials (well most of them anyways) for a stay in the Labor & Delivery ward. 

The goodies:

snacks

gum

face cleansing cloths

hair bands

hand sanitizer 

hair brush

lip balm 

lotion 

I got the awesome template for the bag (here).

And so now you can make one for someone in need too! It doesn't have to be specifically for a friend going into labor, I think anyone who is in the hospital for whatever reason would greatly enjoy something as simple as a care kit.

This week for dinner...

One of my resolutions was to become better organized in 2012! With night school in full force it leaves me very little time to think about dinner and even less time to actually get in the kitchen and whip up a meal. So each Monday I am going to sit down and plan out our meals for the week and Tuesday make the big weekly grocery shop.

(borrowed)

Here we go --

Monday 

Sunday night leftovers: Baked Chicken and Spinach Pasta

(recipe found here)

Tuesday

Bacon (turkey bacon that is) and Egg Toast cups

(recipe found here)

 Wednesday 

Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili 

(recipe found here)

Thursday

Wednesday night leftovers

Friday 

Pizza night! The husband loves his pizzzza. 

RED BARON ... best frozen pizza choice by far. 

Saturday 

We will be in Austin for the day, so knowing Jason it will be a Chipotle kind of night.

Sunday 

French Chicken Broccoli Supreme 

(recipe found here)

Insta-Friday

It's been awhile since I last did an Insta-Friday (almost a month to be exact) ... so here ya go! What we've been up to around here over the last few weeks. 

Have you heard of Banana Grams? Well I got Banana Grams DOUBLE (oh yea!) in my stocking from the husband! Therefore, there has been many games played since Christmas. 

My handmade "thank-you's" sent to our loved ones for all those wonderful gifts we got spoiled with.

Milk drunk. 

Jason's cousin Megan came for a long weekend. After we picked her up from the airport we went and walked around the boardwalk -- the weather was perfect. 

Meg and B!

Megan and I spend almost all of Sunday making Blaykleigh some new headbands ... she was in desperate need of a few new ones. Aren't they cute?! 

Goodbye kisses. Tear. 

Snoozing on mommy -- L.O.V.E. those moments!

Blaykleigh went to her first birthday party! 

Brighton (the birthday girl) and B.

i ((heart)) fresh flowers. 

I helped throw a baby shower for a good friend.

Baby Scarlett is expected to arrive on the 29th of February (a leap year baby)! Hurry up little girl, we're all so anxious to meet you!!! 

ooooooo baby butt!!! 

This girl knows how to get her splash on!!!

Peek-a-BOO!

"You ain't got nothing on this hat Lady Gaga!"

My little lovebug. 

Sweet dreams little one.