{happy halloween}

Lil' FrankenIan

Ian is still kinda little for this whole celebration. He did not understand what was going on and was confused and somewhat freaked out I think. His faces are priceless.

baby loves him some....{playgrounds}

my baby loves him some.....{plagrounds}

Ian loves going to parks. I think we have been to at least 10 between Villa Rica, Marietta, and Duluth. He is always so happy, and for some reason just cracks up the whole time he swings! I love it! He is getting brave and taking off the down the slides. Mama has elbow burn to prove it!

Go play today!!!

WIWW- 4th Edition

What I Wore Wednesday 4th Edition

Let me start by saying that my outfits are slim this week. Only 2. At the school where I teach it was Drug Free Red Ribbon Week, and to celebrate we have a crazy dress theme for everyday. I am sure you don't want to see me in stripped socks up my knees over jeans, or my skinnies with a XXXL jersey, ect. I have been posting on What I Wore for a few weeks now, and so I feel it's time you know a little bit about me.
(Thanks to Michele @ http://imperfectlywonderfulworld.blogspot.com/ for the idea)

I'm a wife to man who thinks the world of me, and laughs at me and with me everyday, a mom to the cutest little man in the whole world who is full of energy and curiosity and will be 1 in two weeks and a teacher to class of 26 rumbustious, and eager to learn 3rd graders. I am originally from NY, but have came to love the south and live in small town in metro Atlanta. I love my crazy, busy, life and wouldn't have it any other way...well maybe a little less of a work commute!

Told you Slim pickings this week:

Day 1

Shirt: Little Black Dress (local shop)Cardigan: Gap Outlet

Pants: Express

Flats: Never Enough (local shop)

Gray Bracelet: NY & Co.

Day 2 (I hate the way I look in this outfit, a bit THICK)

Shirt: Ann Taylor Loft

Belt: NY & Co.

Pants: Target

Flats: Never Enough (local shop)

Join in the Fun and link up with Lindsey's What I Wore Wednesday at the..

Retiring-the-Pump

Even from before the moment I knew we had conceived, I knew I wanted to breastfeed my child. I had heard the horror stories, and the stories of pure joy. For me it was knowing that I was providing the most nutritious source of vitamins, minerals, and nourishment for my child.

The first few weeks were pure hell, and I didn't think I would nurse past 4 weeks. That was my first goal. With the support and encouragement from my dad and husband the first 2 weeks, I keep going, and week after week it became easier, or maybe it was just more intuitive, natural, lovable, beautiful, joyous, just an unspoken language between Ian and I.

When Ian was 9 months old, he slowly started self weening himself from momma. At first it was from the daytime nursing, then the morning nursing to finally by 10 months, his bedtime nursing. This tore me up. I think because I didn't realize what a special time, and bond that was had between the two of us during these nursings. Slowly I excepted it, and just kept on expressing milk for him.

Now at 11 months 2 weeks, I am retiring the pump. I have enough stored in the freezer to last the remaining 2 weeks until Ian is 1 year old. So I have a retiring speech, list or remembrance:

• Giving the son the best nutrition possible.


• Burning 500 extra calories everyday.


• No extra luggage on trips.


• Feeling special because I am giving him something no one else can.


• Soothing him without any toys or pacifiers.


• Take no time to prepare for mealtime.


• Mandatory snuggling throughout the day.


• Pride in my husband's eyes.


• Trust in my son's eyes.


• Contended baby smiles when he is happy and full.


• Mommy-Baby closeness.


• Lots of love.


• Coming home from work and reconnecting.


• Watching Ian grow and know it was all coming from me.


• Knowing that the cure for anything that ailed my son was available and accessible 24 hours a day.


• The nice bonus of diapers that don't stink to high heaven.

Goodbye Sweet In Style...until next time

WIWW- 3rd Edition

Linking up again with Lindsay again @ The Pleated Poppy!!!!

Join in!

Day 1:

Tank: Target

Dress: Target

Cardigan: Gap

Necklace: Target

Jeans: NY & Co.

Shoes: Target

Day 2

Dress: NY & Co.

Jewlery: Local

Sandles: NY & Co.

Day 3:

Tank: Old Navy

Shirt: Target

Pants: Express

Scarf: NY & Co.

Shoes: Target $3.24 This Weekend!

Day 4

Shirt: Target

Jean Jacket: Express

Pants: Express

Silk Rose Belt: Gap Outlet (4 years ago)

Shoes: Local

Little Boy: My Tummy, But his cute new hat: Target

No Cries, No tears, All Blood

In the past week Ian has had his first 2 accidents. I feel like a horrible Momma. First as I was cooking dinner and Dan was washing up dishes, Ian was playing with Mr. Riggs (our kitty), well Ian decided he could pull the kitty's tail....BAD IDEA......Mr. Riggs claws go out the cut his little finger...blood everywhere, you would of thought his whole finger was cut off...no cries, no cries, from my brave boy. Then this morning as were getting ready to leave Ian trips over his new shoes......err......It was recomended to us not to put showes on Ian until he started walking, so this weekend it was time, got the new shoes...It's like learning to walk all over again. I should of known better, but I put them on anyhow. Two step later, BooM, baby down. Round 2: blood all over the place, but no cries, no tears. I can't describe how I felt seeing all that blood. But I do have one tough, brave little man!!!!

Over the weekend I also won the horible wife award......I accidentily washed Dan's cell phone in his pants. And he wasn't upset about the phone, he was upset that his first pictures of took of Ian were on that phone. So horrible Mom, and Wife award all in a weekends time.

On a happier note...Monday is over, and my baby loves him some applesauce!!!

brave love {giveaway}

Lisa Leonard -it's the little things- is one o fmy favorite blogs to read. Lisa is very inspiring, fashionable, and designs amazing pieces of jewlery. Lisa is currenlty going through a tough time where she has to brave. Her son, David, will have heart surgery at the end of the month. She designed a new necklace that she calls, "brave love".

She is currently giving away 5 of these necklaces. Five! 5!

If you know anyone with a brave heart, or you have one yourslef, this is perfect!

http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/blog/

I promise you will find something you love in Lisa's Store. A few of her items are on my Christmas wish List!

11 months {Hold Up..What?!}

I can't believe in one month, Ian will be one! He is at such an exhausting fun age right now where he is always on the move and always getting into something! He is one busy, busy boy, and we love it! He is pure sweetness and has such a great personality, if I could sum it up in 3 words I would say he is Fun, Curious, and Determined. No matter what life throws our way, he is there to make us smile! Love, Love, Love him!

At 11 months old, Ian:

• Walks everywhere, crawling is pretty much a thing of the past!
• Weighs 24 pounds.
• Drinks four 7 ounce bottles a day.
• He is eating more and more real people food everyday, but mushed because......
• He still has no teeth!
• Will crawl up the stairs all day long if let him!
• Favorite toys are cell phones, laptops, and remotes.
• Has added, "Tank you", and "Apple" to his vocabulary.
• Says, "Bob", all the time. Not sure who Bob is maybe an imaginary friend, but its so funny!
• Is such a joy to be around, we are truly blessed!

No Pay...Let's Play!

Today was a Furlough day...which does not make me happy, but at the same time I got to spend a full day with Ian and his friends! We hosted a play date at our house! We got juice boxes, candy corn, harvest cakes, and materials for a fun craft! Ian's friends, Avery, Hayden, Caleb, Ryan, Hailey, and Leela all got to come over. They played very hard: basketball, tugboats, read books, kitchen, and more! We made each guest a pumpkin hand print with their own hand put them in cute frames we picked up from the dollar store! Ian can't wait for Momma to have a Furlough day again! He thinks Furlough days are fun...even if Momma isn't getting paid.

It's a Beautiful Day...

Fall is in the air. Clean, Crisp, and Cold! J.Crew catalogs are filling my mailbox with must haves, Starbucks is serving up Pumpkin Spice Lattes, so I knew it was time, time for Ian's first Hike!!! We went to Sweetwater State Park, and enjoyed every moment of it, Dan and I taking in the peace, and actually getting to have meaningful conversation, Ian was awed by the trees, water, animal sounds, and other people hiking. I am not sure he stopped babbling the entire time! YaY, he is his mothers son loving the outdoors! What a Beautiful Day!

WIWW 2nd Edition

Happy Wednesday!

This is my 2nd edition of What I Wore Wednesday. I am linking up with Lyndsay @..........

I used the website picnik.com to create the work for today, and I edit a lot of my photos here! It's alot of fun!

Enjoy & Join in!

Chop, Chop

I kept starring at Ian, and thinking he is starting to sport a baby mullet, and I
can not will not have this. Perfect timing that Ian's Grandma, who is also a hair stylist was coming to visit. So chop, chop E-man's first hair cut!!!! We ventured over to Uncle Shawn & Aunt Jen's where Grandma was staying with Ian's cousins for the weekend. He did very well, but at the end he looks a little confused like, "What just happened?" I think he looks handsome!

Grandma with Ryan, Hailey, and Ian!