Life in the 505

Five for Friday

2012-02-10T08:00:00.001-07:00

This is my second week to do Five for Fridays; a new weekly post all about Matt and inspired by my friend Jessica. (She's living in Italy now and her blog is super cute. Check it out!)

The idea is to write five things I love about my hubby (could be inside jokes, a silly phrase or whatever.) You can check out last week's here.

Five for Friday

1. You took down that ugly tile wall. Thank you. Thank you.

2. You call your Mom to come help with Addy whenever I get sick

3. A tiny bit of you felt betrayed that I continued to watch "The Firm" after you said you hated it. I'm sorry.

4. You like to chat about your next DIY idea while getting ready for work in the morning

5. Buffalo Thunder this weekend! Woo Hoo!!!!

P.S. I love you :)

Addy is 11 Months Old!

2012-02-09T11:56:00.000-07:00

Today is Adelyne's 11 month birthday and sadly, our last monthly update. Next month she will be a year old. Crazy!

I've had thoughts about just skipping over her birthday and acting like it never happened. But I don't think that would be fair to her and we have a super cute theme picked out for her party. I guess we'll just have to go through with it.

This past month has been a fun one with Miss Addy. It seems that she is learning or doing something new everyday.

Addy is standing up on her now, but not quite adventurous enough to walk yet, although she does love to walk all over the house using the walker she got for Christmas. That will keep her entertained for hours.

She's become a bit of a bookworm. It totally melts my heart when she scoots over to my lap carrying a book. Sometimes, we'll read the same one five times or more. Her favorite are the flip books, she's always surprised to find "baby" under the blanket at the end.

It's hard to tell in this pic but she got a really big kick out of that piece of paper.

Addy loves to be around kids. Although she might not interact with them the entire time, she's always in a better mood after playgroup or being in the nursery at church. It's so cute how she now recognizes her friends like Cousin Carter and her buddy Sophia and is always excited to see them.

I'm so glad I was able to capture this final picture. It sums up everything Addy has been doing this past month. She will often stand/sit with one leg up like that, almost as if she's about to get up and walk. And lately she will have her arms reached out like this when I go to get her out of her crib. And then there's the smile. I love that smile.

Happy 11 months sweet Addy Grace! We love you!!!!

Five for Friday

2012-02-03T12:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday everyone!

I've decided to start a new weekly series here on the blog that is all about that special man in my life. A friend of mine, Jessica, over at Jessica Lynn Writes, has been doing "Five for Fridays" pretty much ever since she got married. Every Friday she lists five things she loves about her husband. It's so simple yet so sweet.

So, since February is all about love (that holiday that everyone "hates" is just around the corner), I thought this Friday would be a perfect time to get started.

Five for Friday:

1. You got up multiple times with Addy while I was out like a light with a stuffy nose, just snoring away

2. You suggested we take a break from TV to spend more quality time together.

3. When Addy hears the garage door open, she gets really excited
4. You used your new love for aromatherapy to make our house "smell less like a foot."
5. You're just as excited as I am to stay in and put a puzzle together tonight

P.S. I love you :)

A Post for Matt

2012-01-31T10:35:00.000-07:00

This post is much over due. It seems I forgot to tell you all about Matt's new job. This blogging thing is funny. Sometimes you think no one cares and then you put a little snippet about your hubby starting a new job in the new year and you get phone calls of congratulations and your best friend asks why she hadn't heard anything else about it. Sorry guys.

We had been praying for almost a year for a job to come along. A job where Matt could do what he went to school to do, a job that he would actually enjoy. Well with the new year came a new job and guess what... he loves it! What a blessing to see your husband excited to go to work in the morning, enthused about working over time and going in for a couple hours on Saturday. He is such a hard worker and I am so proud of him!

Also, have I mentioned that he's been working out 3 days a week, before work and has lost more than 25 pounds? Good grief! Someone should write a blog post about him or something. He's pretty much awesome.

Now my job has gotten a little bit harder. It's easy to be the highlight of someone's day when they don't enjoy their job. Now that he enjoys what he's doing, I want to make sure that the time he spends at home is still his favorite. Unfortunately, he married a sinner, so I have to work at it a little bit, but he is totally worth it.

Dear Matt, thank you for going to work everyday so that Addy and I can spend the day together. You are a great husband and a wonderful farther. I hope that you know how proud of you I am.

Keep Calm and Eat Mum Mums!

2012-01-25T08:20:00.000-07:00

Addy has a thing for the baby rice snacks called Mum Mums. They are pretty much the only way we are able to go out to eat or shop for any extended period of time. She LOVES them.

This afternoon Addy and I were having a late afternoon snack. I was standing at the counter and she was as happy as could be on the floor near my feet. Somehow she fell and hit her head on the corner of the cabinet. Poor thing, I knew it would be a painful one and quickly picked her up. She cried, put her head on my shoulder for like a second and then set up and took a bite of the remaining Mum Mum she was holding. Silly girl.

It made me think of those popular posters all over Pinterest.....

Keep Calm and Eat Mum Mums!

If there's not one that says that, I am going to make it!

The one below is usually what I end up doing.

How would you complete this sentence?

"Keep Calm and _____________________"

Totally Random Tuesday

2012-01-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

It's five til seven and Addy is still snoozing so I thought I would get a post in before our day begins. Be for warned though, it's going to be totally random and possibly super short. She could wake up any minute.

I read a quote on someone's blog that went something like this: "Blogging is like forgetting to return a phone call, after a while it just becomes akward." I hope that after more than a week long absence, this post isn't akward, but you have to get back into things somehow right?

Addy and I got home from a fun visit to see my parents on Friday. Since then, I just haven't been in the mood to blog. I have, however, been dying to get out my sewing machine and organzie my Pinterest account. The latter probably sounds ridiculously lame and really who cares? Well, I do and it's been seriously driving me nuts! Don't fret though, I fixed it.

In other news, Addy is teething again. But this time it is for reals. We've spotted three trying peek through on the top and she has a stuffy nose to go along with it. Poor thing. But amongst the pain of teething, she is learning to stand up on her own. It's really cute to watch because she is so proud of herself.

We've been trying to keep her up a little later at night (so she won't wake up so early in the morning), so last night the three of us ran around the house chasing each other. This is one of Addy's favorite games. Matt holds Addy and chases after me. She loves it! And if I hide behind a door, pop out and say "boo!" She'll jump a little and laugh really hard, which of course makes us laugh really hard. There was a lot of laughing going on last night. As Matt put it, "She is a joy to be around." Well said.

Well, someone is stirring so I will leave you with a few pics from our week at Grandma and Grandpa's and a video of Addy fighting to stay awake. Have a happy Tuesday friends!

This was the shirt I wore home from the hospital. We found it in a box along with some baby clothes that belonged to my brother and I.

Lunch with Addy

2012-01-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

My New Year's resolution this year was to slow down and stop trying to pack a million things into one day. So far, I am proud to say, that I've kept it up and I've actually been enjoying my days more. It's funny how you can feel more fulfilled at the end of the day when you do less.

In slowing down I've been able to give more attention to Addy. We've started having lunch together this week and I can't speak for her, but I think it's super fun.

Addy has never been a big eater. She's small for her age and we've tried several things to fatten her up. Recently, we've been giving her bottles with more kilo calories which she guzzles down but I think that's caused her not to be interested in other foods. I think. Or it could be teething, or my bad cooking, or just a plain ol' bad attitude. Who knows really.

So, I've been experimenting with finger foods. She mostly just plays with the pasta, apples and pinto beans I've made for her BUT I have noticed that she eats better when I sit down and eat my food in front of her. To see her eat anything makes this momma so happy!

We've had to make some adjustments in our schedule to accommodate our joined lunch. She's a slow eater but that's OK because I don't have anywhere to be and I look forward to lunch with Addy.

Maybe She's Teething?

2012-01-12T11:44:00.001-07:00

Our sweet little girl hasn't been so sweet lately. In fact, she's been a bit of a brat and super clingy. This sweet face has been MIA which makes me think that.....maybe she's teething?

Whenever Addy is acting extra fussy or has a bad night, we usually blame it on teething but since she only has two teeth, I think we've been wrong a few times.

Over the Christmas weekend, I was positive that she was getting her first top tooth. I saw it and felt it and thought for sure it was the reason for her sluggish, grumpy behavior. Well, it's been three weeks and that little tooth has just disappeared.

Teething is such a mystery to me. But I guess most things are when they are this little and not able to communicate.

Today the grumpiness is back but there is still no sign of the tooth. I've enjoyed the extra snuggle time but I'm hoping that little guy makes his appearance soon. I want my sweet little girl back.

Addy is 10 Months Old!

2012-01-09T15:23:00.000-07:00

Today is Miss Adelyne's 10 month Birthday!

As per our norm these days, it was pretty difficult to get a good photo of Addy and Mr. Monkey but I must say that our photo session turned out to be a funny one.

I positioned Addy, Mr. Monkey and the piece of paper just how I wanted them, then hurried to snap a photo before Addy took off. As you can see, I wasn't fast enough. She was up on both feet before I knew it.

Then she noticed the piece of paper, set back down and studied it for a while before she was off again.

Gotcha!

When I finally got her back where I wanted her, she decided to throw the paper over the edge of the sofa.

Oops

Then went Mr. Monkey,

Then went Addy.

At least she keeps us laughing.

HAPPY 10 MONTHS SILLY GIRL!!!!!

I Resolve...

2012-01-06T08:27:00.000-07:00

I'm not much for New Year's resolutions but I decided to make one this year. It's not one of the typical resolutions like work out more or read more books. Instead, I want to do less.

In 2012, I am going to slow down.

In preparation for Christmas, on top of all the fun holiday activities, I made 9 hats and 3 aprons. I loved giving handmade gifts and really enjoyed making everyone of them. But I was busy and always doing something.

I view staying home as a privilege. I always said that if I got the opportunity to be a full time Mom, I wanted to have something to show for it. So since I stopped working, I've been running around doing chores as quickly as possible so that during nap time I could make a hat and sew a dress and read a book and learn how to cook. It's amazing what I think I can fit into those 1-2 hour time spans.

The problem with trying to fit so much into one day is that you get sloppy and the little one, who is the reason I stay home, gets neglected. She doesn't go unfed and her physical needs are always met but she doesn't get as much of my attention as she deserves.

(source)

I want to have something to show for my time spent at home and I'm learning that that might not always be the best homemade outfits or the prettiest home, but maybe a child who grows up to love the Lord and a husband who loves to come home to his girls.

So what have you resolved to do this year? Do any of you Moms have trouble balancing ubber productivity and pure laziness?

Happy 2012

2012-01-05T15:02:00.001-07:00

The new year is here!
And so far, it's been great.

We enjoyed ringing in the new year with friends and games. The weather has been beautiful this week in the 505 which I think is a sign of a good year to come.

Besides celebrating Addy's first Birthday (crazy!!!) and Matt starting a new job as a big shot attorney (big answer to prayer!), we don't have a lot planned for 2012. I'm hoping it's a little more low key than 2011. Graduating from law school, passing the bar, having a baby and buying a house makes for one heck of a year. As a friend put it; we became adults this year!

2011 was a year that we were looking forward too probably ever since Matt started law school and especially since we found out our twosome would become a family of three in March of 2011. We had some pretty high expectations for 2011 and I'd say that it went above and beyond our expectations with unexpected blessings like a house and several new friendships that we are excited to see grow in 2012.

I can't wait to see what all God has planned for us in the new year!

Let's kick off the new year by taking a look back at some of my favorite memories of 2011.

33 Weeks Preggo.Brand New.Snuggles with Uncle Perry.Dad and Daughter.Nap on the Boppy.First Smiles.NM Bar Swearing In.Giggles.Two Months.Monkey PJ's.Law School Graduation.Memorial Day.Cousins.First Father's Day.Bald Spot.Cow Appreciation Day.Sweet Cousin Carter.Water Baby.Sweet Smiley Girl.Four Generations.New Set of Wheels.Photo Shoot.First Fiesta.First Halloween.First Thanksgiving.First Christmas

Happy New Year!

P.S. My apologies for an awful Christmas post. Photos that didn't come through, an extremely long and boring post. I was not on my A-game; hoping to get it back in the new year :)

Addy's First Christmas

2011-12-28T20:15:00.001-07:00

Christmas 2011 was a big one. Not only was it Addy's very first Christmas but it was also the first Christmas in our new house and our first time to host Christmas dinner!

Originally, my parents had planned on coming up Friday to spend the weekend with us, but they got snowed in! The road from Las Cruces to Albuquerque was closed and it continued to snow almost the entire day in Cruces. If you are from anywhere near New Mexico, you might know that this NEVER happens! Only a couple hundred miles north, we were enjoying one of the sunniest days we'd had in weeks and my parents were snowed in. So, instead of going to see the River of Lights, we dressed Addy in her Santa suite and went out for Indian food.... and painted our entire bedroom. (Photos to come!)

My parents were able to make it up Christmas Eve and joined us for the Christmas Eve service followed by a little get together at Matt's parent's house.

Showing off her new Jacket and hat from Grandma.

Christmas Eve at my in-laws. You can't tell in the picture but that's a ginormous, 12 foot tree that my Mother-in-law surprised us all with. Also, my shirt has a reindeer on it... cute right?

On Christmas morning we woke up and found that Santa came and left Addy with her first top tooth! Poor thing was super snuggly that morning and not quite herself the whole day.

Those cute pj's were a gift from Matt who re-created one of my family's traditions of getting new pajamas on Christmas Eve. Momma got a pair too.

Side note: In a previous post I might have referred to Matt as a wanna-be Grinch. I am going to have to retract that statement. He's not a Grinch at all.

These cute little bath animals were another gift from Grandma and the one of her favorites. She carried one in each hand all day long.

Christmas!!!!!!!!

My brother and sister-law weren't able to make it down to Albuquerque this year. They were missed but we were able to skype them for a while. Addy opened her gift and showed off her mad peek-a-boo skills.

Boo!
(I don't know why this picture won't get any bigger. I've had some technical difficulties today)

Your first Christmas is pretty stressful and even more so when you're teething. Snuggling with Grandpa makes it better.

See, all better.

I gave a lot of handmade gifts this year and everyone was such a good sport about it. My parents even said they were hoping to get one of my crocheted beanies. My Dad was pretty excited about his as you can see.

Christmas Playtime

Matt's family joined us Christmas night and Addy got to open another round of gifts. This teddy bear used to be Matt's and now it's Addy's. Such a sweet gift from Grandma Ree!

Cousin Cater came over too. Addy tried to help him open his gifts.

He's such a handsome little man.

Well, I'm pooped! It was a fun filled weekend and I haven't even told you about our Cajun Christmas dinner. You'll have to come back tomorrow for that post. :)

The Weather Outside is Frightful....

2011-12-19T13:18:00.000-07:00

It looks like a lot of New Mexicans might get a white Christmas this year!

On the Today Show this morning, they kept talking about winter storms building up in the west. If you were watching, did you notice how all those clouds were right over New Mexico? It snowed almost all morning here, big fluffy flakes. There are winter storm warnings in almost the entire state and Steve Stucker, our local weather man, suggested not going anywhere unless you have to and to stock up on food for a couple of days. Uh oh!

Why does all our winter weather come on Grocery Store Day?

Watching the snow come down

I wasn't planning on being stuck at home today and I'm finding myself fighting to be joyful, remembering that I really have no reason to be grumpy.

There's a roof over my head

I have a heater, fireplace and a space heater to keep Addy and I warm all day

My hubby doesn't have to work out in the snow and

In less than a week we will celebrate Christmas with my family and the birth of our savior

now that's really a reason to be joyful!

Joy to the World

2011-12-13T12:45:00.001-07:00

Addy has been a fan of peek-a-boo for a while now. She would giggle and giggle when her Dad and I hid behind the counter or a wall and popped out suddenly. Recently, she figured out how to play peek-a-boo on her own and it's the silliest, cutest thing ever. She will duck down behind pretty much anything, her pink car, an ottoman, the computer screen and pop back up suddenly. Most of the time, there isn't anyone on the other side to say "boo!" but it still makes her smile and keeps us laughing.

The video below might not bring joy to the world, but it brings a smile to my face every time I watch it.

On an even happier note, I've been thinking about the song Joy to the World today and I've decided I really like it. What a great reminder of the joy, the hope and the salvation we have in Christ. I've included a few of the lyrics below. Enjoy!

Joy to the Word, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare him room.
Joy to the World the savior reigns!
Nor more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness,
and wonders of his love.

Scary Ghost Stories

2011-12-12T12:37:00.001-07:00

I came up with a great idea; I'm going to use Christmas song lyrics for my post titles until the 25th. It's already proving to be a challenge. I couldn't come up with anything good for this post but I've had "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" stuck in my head and I've been wondering, who really tells scary ghost stories at Christmas?

Anyways......

It's been pretty quite around the blog this past week.

I've been busy making pretties like these:

And wrapping them in packages like these:

I've gotten all my Christmas wrapping inspiration from Pinterest. Isn't Pinterest great? It makes me feel so creative when I am really just stealing ideas from other people.

I've crossed a lot of items off my list so hopefully you will see more of me around here this week.

Happy Monday!

Addy is 9 Months Old!

2011-12-11T16:27:00.002-07:00

Miss Adelyne turned 9 months old on Friday!

Addy is more mobile than ever these days which makes our monthly photo sessions pretty challenging. Mr. Monkey and I both got a little frustrated and decided to call it quits a early this time.

So, this month, I thought we would do something a little different and show you a glimpse of what daily life is like with this smiley 9 month old.

Mornings are usually pretty relaxed for Addy. She plays in her pj's while I eat breakfast. I moved some things around in the kitchen so she could have her very own cabinet, full of tubberware and other plastics. She loves it.

A basket full of toys and what does she want to play with? An empty cardboard box.

Sometimes I let her play in our closet while I get ready in the morning. She climbed up on this box all by herself.

Mommy and Addy both love nap time. On most days, she will sleep for two hours in the afternoon, sometimes longer if we're lucky. On those days, she wakes up with rosy cheeks and some awesome bed head.

We've been experimenting with bows lately, her hair is just barely long enough.

Evenings must be her favorite time of the day. And why wouldn't it be? Dad is home and she gets attention from both of us, playing peek-a-boo (her favorite game) reading books, and getting lots of hugs and kisses.

We are so lucky to be her parents.

HAPPY 9 MONTHS ADDY GIRL!

Snow Day

2011-12-05T12:14:00.000-07:00

Sometime between 10:30 last night and 5:30 this morning, it snowed. We woke up to a pretty blanket of snow in the 505 this morning. Schools are either closed or on a delay and it's a cold 22 degrees outside.

All morning, I have been debating about whether or not we should make our weekly trip to the grocery store today. We were out of town all weekend and besides a pan of brownies, our cupboard is pretty bare. But since it's snowing as I type this, I think we might just stay put. I wouldn't mind braving the cold, icy roads and crazy New Mexican drivers by myself, but I feel irresponsible taking a kiddo with tiny hands and feet out in this weather.

Looks like the perfect day to for an extra cup of coffee and a little sewing!

What would you do with your snow day?

O Christmas Tree!

2011-12-01T10:57:00.001-07:00

If there was ever a time that I wish I had mad photography skills it's at Christmas. I really really wish I had the ability to capture the beauty of our tree and share it with you.

My favorite part about Christmas is decorating the Christmas tree. I love it! I love getting out the old ornaments and reminiscing about when and where we got them. I love the way the ornaments look with the tree lights shinning on them. I love the way the tree makes our living room so much more cozy. I just love it! And this year, I am loving the smell of our very first real tree and I'm evening enjoying watering it daily.

I haven't finished decorating yet, I want to make some stockings and add a few other things, but I thought this was appropriate for the first day of December. Even if the photos are horrible, you get the idea and I think this precious smile, makes up for the blurriness, over exposure and whatever else went wrong while taking these.

Happy 1st of December!

Christmas Tree Shopping

2011-11-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

Usually, I use this blog to write about big moments in Addy's life, like her first Halloween and her First Thanksgiving. But today, I am writing about a first for all three of us; Christmas tree shopping!

You may be surprised to hear that neither Matt or I have ever gone Christmas tree shopping (at least not that we can remember). We always had a fake tree growing up and for the past three years of our married life, we've put up a cute little tree that Matt surprised me with for our first Christmas. I never knew what I was missing out on, in fact, before this year, I would have told you fake trees are the way to go. (Depending how much of a pain the clean up process is, I might say that next year too.)

This year, we wanted a bigger tree for our new house and after shopping for a fake, pre-lit tree, we decided to try a real one. We ended up buying one from Lowes but not before shopping around at a Christmas tree lot. Can you believe, this was my first time at one of these?

It turned into quite the fun little outing. I kept saying "This is so fun, I've never done this before!" and Matt would say, "Me neither!" We took pictures, bought Addy her first pair of shoes in between tree lots and stopped by Starbucks for an Eggnog Latte and Peppermint Mocha.

This photo is from a different outing, but I had to throw it in, it's too cute.

On the way home Matt said, "And you thought I was a scrooge." Clearly, I was wrong.

In the Shop

2011-11-28T08:52:00.001-07:00

Remember Addy's pink car?

She hasn't been driving it much lately. It's been in the shop getting some work done.

Ever since she started pulling up on things, she hasn't wanted to sit in her car. She would rather stand around it. We like to say she's "working on her car."

The tag is, of course, her favorite part.

(Why is my house always in such disarray in pictures? There's a plant that goes on that stand.)

"Looks like you're due for a tune up."

That's her little grease monkey laying beside her.

Good as new!

Addy's First Thanksgiving

2011-11-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

I realize that by now, everyone is probably completely over Thanksgiving and into full Christmas mode, but for scrapbooking purposes, I thought I would share some photos of our first Thanksgiving with sweet Adelyne. But first, a little glimpse of what we were up to this week:

Exploring the living room.
This is how she likes to roll: no pants, one sock.

Helping Mom with the dishes.

On Thanksgiving morning, Addy played with the grocery bags and Mom burnt the bacon.

That afternoon, we went over to Cousin Carter's house. He had been busy fixing up a fine Thanksgiving meal.

Cousin Carter and Aunt M, our gracious host. We're so thankful for them.

How did Addy become so photogenic? She didn't get it from her Mom.

After dinner, Addy and Carter decided to browse the Black Friday ads.

So thankful for that big smile!

Hope you all had a wonderful day!

A Thanksgiving Day Guest Post from Heather

2011-11-24T09:00:00.007-07:00

Hello friends and Happy Turkey Day!

I am super excited to be doing a little Thanksgiving Day post swap with one of my favorite bloggers, Heather from Finding Beauty in the Ordinary. Heather is a treasure, she's beautiful inside and out, loves her hubby and her servant's heart just blows me away.

---------------------------

Hi Life in the 505 readers!

Happy Thanksgiving!
I'm so excited to be here today.
I just love Katie & her beautiful little family.

As today is Thanksgiving, I wanted to share about the one specific person that I am thankful for today--
my husband of 5 years, Joshua!

It's hard to find the words sometimes to express the love I feel for him.
It's humbling to know that God has given me this man to share forever with.
I'm thankful that Joshua chose me.
Despite my quirks, idiosyncrasies and flaws-- he loves me for me.
You can read more about our story, the highs & lows of the past 5 years, and read our testimony here.
We have been through job losses, moving out-of-state, money problems, death of loved ones, and so many other things together.
He has been a consistently loyal and unconditionally loving person in my life.

Today I'm thankful for the blessing of being married to my best friend.
For the opportunity to wake up next to my most favorite person in the world.
We're not perfect, and we have our flaws, but I'm so thankful to actually grow with him.
I'm thankful for the time we have to better ourselves & grow together with God's help.

Now, hope on over and check out her blog.

You can also find her here and here.

Coffee Talk: I'm Blank Because......

2011-11-23T13:07:00.000-07:00

Today's post was inspired by Little Miss Momma and Casey Wiegand. I've seen versions of this post around the blogosphere and I thought it would be perfect for today.

Happy Turkey Day Eve friends! The day before a holiday is always so chill. Back when I was working, these were usually the days when you took longer lunches and spent a lot more time chatting over your coffee in the morning. Nothing really ever got done and I don't really seeing anything productive happening around here today either. Today would be the perfect day for a coffee date.

Since becoming a Mom, most of my coffee dates happen at home since Starbucks isn't exactly kid friendly. If you were to came over to my house for coffee, you would be greeted by Addy peaking around the couch to see who was here. Depending on the hour, she might wave her hands in excitement or start crying as soon as you come near her. Try not to take it personally.

You may or may not notice the random swatches of paint on our living room walls and I would explain that we are in the middle of choosing another paint color since we don't like the current one.

I would offer you tea or coffee and if you chose coffee, I would make it in my new french press and then go on to tell you how much I love it. Why does it make coffee taste so much better?

After allowing the coffee to brew for 4 minutes (the magic number!) we'd then move to the living room where we'd sip our coffee on the floor, because that is really the best place to have coffee, while Addy shows off her skills by crawling all over me and possibly you.

We would talk about the upcoming holidays and depending on how well I know you, I might ask about your Christmas traditions or what your favorite Thanksgiving has been. And I might tell you that:

I am weird because..

I can't sleep with socks on
Clowns freak me out
I don't like pumpkin flavored things
Reba is one of my favorite shows
I love fill blank questionnaires or any kind of "get to know" you game

I am a bad friend because...
I hate talking on the phone
I tend to only answer emails and texts in my head
I am very easily distracted

I am a good friend because.....
I value friendship
I'm a good listener
Even if it's a couple of days later, I'm really good about responding to texts and emails
I'm always looking for an opportunity to help out

I am sad because...
Not all of my family will be at the same place for the holidays
Addy's growing up

I am happy because....
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and that means we get to decorate for Christmas is 2 days!
Matt has 4 days off of work
Addy is growing up
I have the best job in the world
Everyone in our house is healthy again

I am excited for....
Addy's first Thanksgiving
Christmas Trees
Playgroup
Pictures with Santa
Homemade Gifts
Holiday Cards

I might also tell you that

my parents were in town for two days and having them here put me in the holiday spirit,

Addy has been eating and sleeping so much better this week and it makes this momma so happy,

Matt and I are addicted to Breaking Bad, which was all filmed here in the 505,

I am feeling encouraged by verses like this found in the Psalms:

"You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; My God turns darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God, I can scale a wall."

Psalm 18: 28-29

But, enough about me. What's up with you?

P.S. I have an awesome guest blogger for you tomorrow!

One Holiday at a Time, Please!

2011-11-17T15:04:00.001-07:00

(found via Pinterest, of course!)

In an effort to fight my "Winter Blues," I attempted to listen to Christmas music a week and a half early, but I couldn't do it! It just felt....wrong. This may be because I created a Michael Buble Holiday Pandora station. The jury is still out on whether or not I like him. I'll give the guy a second chance on November 25th.

I try not to be legalistic but when it comes to Christmas, rules are rules and I like to follow them.

At the Danner house, Christmas decor doesn't go up until the day after Thanksgiving and we like to at least let our turkey digest before cranking up the holiday jams. But come Friday morning, you can probably find me singing along to Bing Crosby while decking the halls. That is if I can talk Matt into getting our tree that early. He likes to pretend he's a scrooge and every year he says we aren't having Christmas. But I know that deep down he's a lover of Christmas just like me. He actually surprised me with a tree for our first married Christmas. A true scrooge wouldn't do that.

This year Matt and I have decided to give homemade gifts to each other and a lot of our family members. I've already started on a few (I wouldn't consider this breaking the rules, just being really prepared). But since I have some devoted Life in the 505 readers in my family, I'll have to wait until after Christmas to share my creations. So if it seems a little quite around here for the next couple of weeks, it's because I'm busy playing Santa; making my list and checking it twice.

Happy One-More-Week-Until-Thanksgiving-Day Day!

The Winter Blues

2011-11-13T14:27:00.000-07:00

Do you ever get the winter blues?

I usually get a bad case of them in January, when the holidays are over and it's just really cold. For some reason, I've been having some symptoms a little early this year. It's barely the second week of November and I'm freezing! I realize that compared to most of the US, our winters are pretty tame and some might not even call what we are experiencing "cold," but it's still been making me a little grumpy.

What happened to Fall? I want it to come back and stay a little bit longer.

I've been thinking about this all week and I've decided that I need to be proactive in fighting these Winter Blues before they take over and ruin the holiday season.

So,
I am going to get out of my comfort zone, ask other Moms to hang out and maybe join/start a playgroup
Get out of the house, even if it is just to walk through Target

Make some of these so that when I go out, I'll stay warm while looking cute

Create an upbeat play station on Pandora
Be thankful and remember that at this time last year, all I wanted to do on gloomy days was stay home in my PJ's. I could do that now, If I wanted to.

Shop for really good deals on cruises because by the time January gets here, I am going to be ready for this:

Snuggle with Matt and Addy
Stay in the Word; scripture helps in the fight against even the worst kind of blues.
And I might even break the rules, go against everything I believe in and listen to Christmas music a couple of weeks early. Maybe.

What do you do to beat the winter blues?

Addy is 8 Months Old

2011-11-09T14:59:00.001-07:00

Miss Adelyne turned 8 months old today.

I guess I should say she is turning 8 months old today since she won't really be 8 months until 6:39 pm this evening. Anyways, tonight we might got out for ice cream to celebrate Addy's dad being employee of the month! Yeah dad!

Here are a few fun facts about our little 8 month old:

She's adventurous and wants to crawl/climb on everything

She gets tired of her toys, sounds ridiculous but when we introduce something new or a toy that hasn't been around for awhile, she gets really excited.

She's perfectly content to play with tubberware

Her hair is starting to grow over her ears

She's a snuggler, she goes and goes but when it's sleepy time, she loves to snuggle

If we'd let her, she would play with our phones all day, especially Grandpa's iPhone

She's a talker

She loves little kids

Instead of crying when I leave the room, she's figured out that she can follow me.
Currently, her two favorite toys are a rubber ducky and the laundry basket, when flipped over, it's the perfect size for her to stand up and play on.

HAPPY 8 MONTHS SWEETIE PIE!

Thoughts on Blogging

2011-11-07T09:18:00.003-07:00

Last week was one of those weeks; one of those weeks when you go to Costco and find out your debit card is expired at the check out line. And then after going home to get the new card, you get your items home and find out you bought the wrong size of trash bags; 500 of them.

The three of us took turns being sick and after waking up on the wrong side of the bed one morning, Matt lovingly suggested that I take a break from things like blogging and Pinterest and get some rest. During my much needed break (husbands can be so wise), I ignored my to-do list and moved a little bit slower. Instead of running around trying to get things done in the mornings, I set with Addy and ate breakfast as she played. It's funny how I don't usually take time to just watch her play.

I also has a lot of time to think about this little blog and I've decided a few things.
WARNING: This list has sub points

1. I like blogging, because:

A. It's a great creative outlet for someone who spends most of her day with a little girl who can't really hold a conversation

B. It's easier and less expensive than scrapbooking. I love that I can easily document big(and little) moments in our life in minutes.

C. It's a fun way for family who don't live in the 505 to a be a part of Addy's life. (That's you Mom, Dad, Uncle Perry and Aunt Nic!)

2. I really like the great friends that God has placed in our lives. The great community we are a part of is a huge answer to prayer and I don't want to take them for grant it.

3. I really really like my little family, they make my heart happy.

4. Points 2 and 3 have led me to this conclusion: I need to spend less time online.

I've had this little blog for awhile and just recently, I've really tried to grow my readership by participating in link ups and button swaps, which are all great but time consuming. And really, let's face it, there is absolutely no monetary value coming from any of it and I am totally fine with that. I want this to be something I like, not a chore.

So, as we enter the holiday season, I am going to make a conscious effort to spend less time online and more time investing in the relationships I have here in the 505, whether that means more play dates or just more time spent praying for my family. But don't worry, this blog isn't going away, I like it way to much to say goodbye. (see point 1)

These photos were taken my sweet Sister-in-law, Morgan. I really like her. (see point 2) :)

Addy's First Halloween

2011-11-02T08:00:00.002-06:00

Addy's first Halloween in photos:

A little pre-party photo session in the park

Addy and the Cow and Grandma

Addy the Cow and Grandpa

Addy the Cow and cousin Jamie

This cow can move!

Cousin Cater, the Pillsbury Dough Boy and I think that might be a Pink Octopus's finger

A very cranky cow and her little buddies

Sleeping Beauty tried to console her

We had a farmer, an orange fish, a pink octopus, a frog prince, Sleeping Beauty, another Prince, a cow, THE Pillsbury Dough Boy and a duck!

The babies

Addy and her buddy Sophia

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!

Linking up with the Paper Mama for Wordlessish Wednesday!

Partied Like a Rock Star

2011-11-01T15:04:00.001-06:00

I think this photo pretty much sums up how we're feeling around her today: tired.

Addy's first Halloween was a blast. (Pictures to come)

But today, we are feeling the aftermath of possibly partying a little too hard.

Addy woke up from a good nap yesterday at 2:30 and didn't go to sleep again until 10:30 last night. She was awake for 8 hours straight and that's like two days in baby time; way to long for this teething, stuffed up, almost 8 month old little girl. By the time I tried to put her down at 9:30 last night, she was spent; over tired and feeling the pain of that tooth. It took over an hour for her to fall asleep and she woke up several times throughout the night. Finally, at 5 O'clock this morning, I brought her to bed with me.

There's definitely a tooth in there!

Matt is at work with a cold and the lack of sleep has me feeling almost like I'm hung over which is kind of funny because after our little get together last night, my kitchen looked a lot like a frat house this morning.

Everyone has a touch of something here in the Danner household. Looks like we might have another low key couple of days ahead. Hopefully that tooth will come through soon and we can all get some sleep and kick these cold symptoms in the butt!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T09:11:00.000-06:00

Halloween has never been my favorite holiday. I don't hate it but I'm not one who plans my costume months in advance either. For the past couple of years, we haven't even dressed up. I must say, though, that having a little one has definitely added some excitement to the upcoming evening.

Yesterday, the Count scanned my groceries and checked me out at the grocery store. This morning Addy and I have the fireplace going and were laughing at Matt and Anne as Will and Kate on the Today show. We will be cleaning a little today and then later making some goodies for a little get together this evening.

We were up a lot last night, (that tooth is taking it's sweet time to come in), but I think it's going to be a good day.

Sarah Palin and John McCain, Halloween 2008

Happy Halloween everyone!

Saturday in the 505

2011-10-29T21:26:00.000-06:00

Saturday is such a fun day.

In the Danner household, each weekend is different, but you can usually expect our Saturdays to include:

A little early morning snuggling

A yummy breakfast, usually from one of our favorite local breakfast joints

A little DIYing

Football (of course)

Uninterrupted playtime with this cutie pie

Sweet, sweet smiles

Plenty of kisses

A little Daddy/Daughter time

And on this particular Saturday; swinging.

We took Addy to the park today to try the swings for the first time and, as you can see, she loved it.

There was a lot of laughing, from all three of us.

Maybe this will become another typical Saturday activity.

Happy Saturday everyone!

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

P.S. Addy's outfit was a gift from a family member. It came in the mail when she only a month old and it looked HUGE. We didn't think she would ever fit into it.

Our little girl sure has grown!

October Swap Partners... Check Out These Lovely Ladies!

2011-10-29T08:59:00.000-06:00

I have had the privilege of working with these lovely bloggers for the past month. They are so great that I thought I would give them a little shout out. Be sure to check them out and leave some love on their blog!

Meet Liz from Behind the Scenes

"My blog is a complete reflection of me, or at least that is my goal. My husband likes to say it's my way of fulfilling my need to gab constantly. I, of course, don't see what he could possibly mean by that :) I blog about my faith, my family, friends, fashion, food, & my attempt at crafting! I love to try new things which always end up providing my readers with a good laugh. I also love to spoil my loyal readers with some giveaways here & there. I'm so excited to "meet" all of you Life in the 505 readers!"

Meet Joan from Expecting the Unknown...

"Hi! I'm Joan! I'm blog over at Expecting the Unknown... I started my blog as a way for family to keep updated on my pregnancy, but it has turned into so much more than that! I have met some amazing people through blogging, and I'de love to meet you! So come on over and say hello! I blog about my family, fun things we do, I also post tutorials and how-to's pretty often as well. I also have an Etsy shop that you should definitely check out!"

Check out her shop here.

Meet Heather Boersma from Dreaming Big

"Hey everyone! I'm Heather and I blog about my life (marriage, mothering, speaking and writing ministry) from a faith perspective. My blog has a strong focus on scripture and sharing the truth of God's word in a way that is relevant and applicable to everyday life. I try to live my big dream each day and encourage others to do the same!"

Meet Heather from Finding Beauty in the Ordinary

"Hi! My name is Heather and I blog over at Finding Beauty in the Ordinary. I'm a 26 year old, happily married, adventure seeking blog lover :) My little blog is a place to share what's on my heart, what God is teaching me, and what my husband and I are up to as we have recently relocated to a new city. On my blog, you'll see transparent accounts of my day-to-day life with my hubby and our new puppy, Hartley, and some of the fun we're having along the way. I love capturing a moment by camera and simply finding beauty in the ordinary moment of life."

You can also find Heather here and here.

Meet: Dani from Me and My "new" Life

"I'm a 27 year old single momma by surprise...I say surprise because I had been happily married since 2005...My husband and I were best friends..We suffered a miscarriage in 2009, 6 months later we became pregnant again, we owned a teeny tiny condo and with the market continuing to crash and my growing belly we decided it would be in our best interest to let our home go into foreclosure. We packed up and rented a HUGE home and made it snuggly for our soon to be little girl. You see...the husband and I went though a TON of crazy life changing things. In August I delivered the sweetest little girl. Life was PERFECT. Shortly after, my husband changed he grew distant...then suddenly I moved out with my baby. Now a year later my husband and I are trying to work on things...but I'm a single momma. It's all me. It's a hard life and no where close to what I had imagined. I blog to get my feelings out, to document life...to express myself..."

There you have it! Don't forget to stop by there blogs.

If you're interested in swapping buttons for the month of November, contact me.

lifeinthefiveofive@gmail.com

The View From My Kitchen Sink

2011-10-28T08:14:00.000-06:00

The best view in our house is seen from the kitchen sink, not because you can see the Sandia's or a beautifully landscaped yard. It actually doesn't even have a window over it. It's the best view because this is what you see:

There's nothing better than looking up from watching dishes and seeing this little cutie pie smiling up at you.

Please ignore the poor quality of the photos. This is what you get when you are trying to capture the moment in a poorly lit room and while you're doing dishes :)

Also please ignore the cords in the background. We've gotten a better solution for our TV set up since this picture was taken.

A task as mundane as doing the dishes, becomes so much more fun when this is what you see.

Where's the best view in your house?

Now I Know

2011-10-27T09:43:00.000-06:00

Well, after months of drooling and a lot of "maybe she's teething" from her parents, Addy is finally getting her first tooth and let me tell you how fun it IS NOT!

I've heard that teething can be rough, but maybe I always thought other Moms were just being dramatic. Now I know. It's awful.

Guess what happens when you take a baby to the grocery store in blue pants... everyone tells you how cute he is.

The pain of pushing a new tooth through those tiny gums is enough. Do we really need to add a stuffy/runny nose to it? Poor thing. She had a pretty rough night last night. The last time she cried like that was after her 6 month shots.

On the move

The only upside to teething is the extra snuggle time, which we've had a lot of. I've been fighting off a little cold too, so yesterday, by Dr. Dad's orders, we took advantage of the cloudy weather, stayed in our PJ's extra long and took lots of naps.

Goodness Child, what is all over you pants?

Today will probably be pretty low-key too. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping Addy takes good naps, but I'm also prepared to snuggle if it comes to that. With crawling and teething, it's been a pretty big week for our little one.

Happy Thursday.

The Bosque del Apache

2011-10-26T08:00:00.005-06:00

On Sunday we celebrated my Dad's Birthday with lunch in Socorro and a drive through the Bosque del Apache.

The Bosque del Apache is a wildlife refugee about an hour and a half south of Albuquerque. According to the website, during the Fall and Winter seasons, there are thousands of birds including Sandhill Cranes, Arctic Geese and a variety of ducks. We went a little early in the season, but we were still able to see a lot of wildlife surrounded by beautiful fall colors.

Sandhill Cranes in a field of Alfapha

Geese!

Addy and the Birthday Boy!

It's funny how you can live somewhere you're whole life and never even know that something like this exists. It's definitely a New Mexican treasure.

Linking up with the Paper Mama and Wordlessish Wednesday.

This Weekend

2011-10-23T20:45:00.000-06:00

This weekend we....

Broke in our new living room furniture,

Slept in,

Walked to Breakfast,

Snuggled with our baby girl,

Enjoyed time with friends,

Lowered Addy's crib mattress

And celebrated my Dad's birthday in the Bosque del Apache.

This weekend Addy started crawling!

The look of determination!

What did you do this weekend?

It's Friday Ya Ya Ya!

2011-10-21T14:37:00.001-06:00

In high school, I had my alarm set so that the radio would go off when it was time for me to wake up. On Friday mornings the local radio station would play a song that went like this:

"It's Friday, ya ya ya. So wake up, ya ya ya......"

I always think of it on Fridays.

I might say this every week, but I love Fridays. They are so carefree.

Addy and I have done a lot of laughing today, like throw your head back (for Addy) and laugh so much your cheeks hurt (for me) kind of laughing. I'm smiling right now just thinking about it.

We went to Bounce and Boogie this morning with her buddy Sophia. While all the kiddos were on this big sheet, with the parents pulling it round in a circle, singing the wheels on the bus, Addy and Sophia were kind of thrown together and almost as if they finally figured out the other was there, they smiled, laughed and threw their hands up at each other. Her Mom and I couldn't stop laughing. It was the sweetest thing. I'm smiling thinking about that now too.

We have a lot to smile about today.

This morning, I read Mandy's blog. Her sweet little boy is very sick and fighting for his life. I'm praying that they have a better day today and that they have a reason to smile very soon.

Happy Friday all! I hope you smile a lot this weekend :)

Socks: One of my Favortie Accessories!

2011-10-20T08:12:00.000-06:00

I'm linking up again with the Inspiration Workshop from Gussy Sews.

Who doesn't love a fun pair of socks?

Socks are one of my favorite things about the colder weather seasons. It's such a fun surprise to take off your boots and find a colorful sock underneath!

I mentioned a couple of days ago, my excitement over some cute ankle socks at Target going on clearance. I went back today and they had an even bigger selection. I might have bought a pair with cute little owls on them.

So many fun colors!

My best friend and I used to bring back socks for each other as a suvenior whenever we went somewhere cool. It was a fun tradition and we had so many fun socks from lots of fun places!

So comfy! All you need is a big cup of coffee and a good book!

One year for Christmas, all the women in our family got a pair of pink socks with the little rubber things on the bottom of them. My parents have a really fun picture somewhere of us all sitting on the couch with one foot in the air, showing off our new socks. My brother, who must have been like 3 or 4, was sitting in the middle of us girls. He got a pair of blue socks.

I've been dying to try this look, exposed socks with my boots. I'm just not sure if I could pull it off and my legs are really, really white. But isn't this super cute?

What's your favorite accessory?

If You Don't Have An iPhone.....

2011-10-19T22:05:00.000-06:00

.......You can't take pictures of the silly things you see and the funny places you go.

Really the only reason I want an iPhone is so that I can take pictures of anything, anywhere and anytime ( and so I can play Words with Friends).

If I had an iPhone, I would have taken a picture of the fireplace tables we saw while furniture shopping last night. Picture a buffet with an electric fireplace in the bottom. The weird thing was that it didn't put off any heat and was really only for ambiance. The salesman said they were so popular he couldn't keep them on the floor. Weird!

But the real story in our furniture shopping adventure was in Matt's awesome negotiating skills. We went in looking for a table to go under our TV and walked out with a couch and a table for less 1000 bucks! Way to go Matt! (and Addy, I think she smiled at the salesman).

After our furniture shopping, we picked up some din din at Mac's Steak in the rough.

I stole this picture from Google.

Mac's is a drive in restaurant, much like Sonic. When you push the button to order, you hear: "Hi I'm Mac and this is Mac's Steak in the Rough." He goes on to say something about how he always has one of his homemade limeades or lemonades with his meal. Matt and I both chose the limeade and it was pretty tasty!

So there you have it, a recap of our funny little outing last night, without the use of modern technology :)

Fear of Man

2011-10-18T14:23:00.000-06:00

"Fear of man will prove to be a snare but whoever trusts in the Lord will be kept safe."

Proverbs 29:25

When I was little, I had a huge fear of Darth Vader. I used to sleep with the covers pulled over my head and would lay very still. I wouldn't dare look out from the covers because I knew if I did, Darth Vader would be there breathing very, very heavily.

I'm proud to say that I have since conquered my fear of Darth Vader but have only replaced him with other fears. When we first moved into our house, I had a hard time leaving Addy alone in her room. Our room was so far away and I was sure, someone would sneak in and take her without us knowing.

I had a Fear of Man.

I've had Proverbs 29:25 written on a homemade dry erase board next to my sink for the past couple of weeks and it has been such an encouragement to me. I've memorized it and at times, said it to myself over and over again. I don't find myself looking over my shoulder when I go in to check on Addy late at night and I've been able to apply it to other areas of my life too.

Often times, I care way to much about what other people think, about me, my house, my clothes. I'd even go as far as to say, it's been an idol in my life. I'll make us late for church, because I must look perfect and I'll start arguments with my husband over how our house looks right before we have company.

When you think about it, it all comes down to a
Fear of Man.

"Fear of man will prove to be a snare."

Snare: trap, pitfall, noose

It's a trap. Worrying to much about what people think, just leads to a trap.

"But whoever trusts in the Lord will be kept safe."

So, who cares what people think of me. My hope is not in the people of this earth, but it is in the one above.

All images from Pinterest

I Have a Problem

2011-10-17T08:53:00.000-06:00

Hello, I'm Katie and I can't complete a project.

I have a problem and I blame Pinterest.

My problem is that I can't commit and I believe that Pinterest is at fault here.

Take my growing "crochet project" board for instance. It started out so innocent, I would pin something I wanted to try, a stitch that would come in handy. Now it's out of control! I want to try it all, every pin on my board. And it's not just this board, I have other boards too.

But I can't commit.

I get a few hours to myself, like last Saturday night while Matt was hanging out with friends, Addy was asleep. What a great time to catch up on my favorite shows and do a little crocheting. (Yes, I'm boring but that's another issue.) So I sit down with my yarn and needles, head to Pinterest and scroll through the items I've pinned, but I can't pick. I can't decide what to spend my time on. Finally I settle on a simple cowl, perfect for the upcoming cold season. But now, what yarn do I use?

Well turns out I picked a difficult yarn for that pattern and, actually, that pattern is no good. Who cares that I've already spent half an hour on it. That's the great thing about crocheting, you can take it out and you haven't wasted anything. Let's pick something else!

Ooh! Another scarf pattern! Three rows and another half hour into it.... eh, I'd rather work on something else. I pull it out and hey, isn't that the great thing about crocheting? Nothing wasted!

Except my time and patience!

I can't commit!

This weekend, while in Colorado, I spent about two hours every night crocheting. It was lovely, except the only thing I have to show for it is ONE slipper. I couldn't even commit to making the second slipper. Grrr!

Seriously people, I need an intervention!

So, the first step is admitting you have a problem right?

Step one: check!

Next step: develop a plan of action.

I need a list. I'm good with lists.

I need a list where I list projects in order of importance and urgency. Things like the fall yarn wreath, I still haven't finished, will go on the top of the list along with things that need to be completed by, like, Halloween. Next will be items for Thanksgiving, Christmas etc.

And I might need to take a little break from Pinterest. Just a little one. I might actually have time to complete something if I'm not on Pinterest finding other projects.

I'm hoping this helps, if not, there's no hope for me.

Please tell me I'm not the only one who has this problem.

P.S. I'm guest posting at Behind the Scenes today. Check it out!

An Exciting Moment

2011-10-15T20:01:00.001-06:00

Addy had an exciting moment this evening. Actually, I think it was more exciting for her Mom and Dad than for her.

Matt was lying on the floor playing with Addy. She was facing him and kind of rocking back and forth trying to get closer to his face. I was at the table eating my dinner, watching them play and all of a sudden she put her hands on his chest and lifted her body up onto her legs! She might have stayed in that position longer if Matt and I weren't both screaming at her saying "Oh my goodness Addy! Look at you!"

She did it again a couple of times after that, balancing herself on Matt and her legs.

We thought she was going to start crawling a week ago but she has been working on something a little bit closer to a bear crawl. I don't know if her exciting moment was just apart of her bear crawl or if she really thinks she can just skip over that step. I hope not!

So that's our exciting moment for the weekend. We also went to the Pumpkin Patch today and guess who forgot her camera. Bummer! Hopefully our friends photos came out well.

Thanks for letting me brag about my girl a little bit. Have a great weekend!

15 Things Friday

2011-10-14T13:31:00.000-06:00

I don't really have 15 things for you today, I just couldn't come up with a number that started with an "F" that wasn't as high as 50

I don't know if it's because it's Friday or what but I'm in a funny mood, a good mood. One of those sing really loud in the car and dance along to the ipod as I wash dishes kind of mood.

I'm feeling chatty.

If my Mom we're here, I'd be talking her ear off because she's easy to talk to and a really good listener.

This 3 day week is really throwing me off. I'm not complaining, I loved getting out of town but 3 days wasn't enough for all the stuff on my to-do list this week.

After many failed attempts, I successfully made an omelet for the first time today. I immediately sent a pic to my sister-in-law whose yummy omelets I've been trying to immulate for weeks. This is not my omelet, my omelet didn't really look that good after I saw the pic on my computer. This is a "someday" omelet.

{source}

I have Foster the People's new song Pumped Up Kicks stuck in my head. Why does such a catchy tune have to be about such a sad topic. School shootings.... really?

As of last night, I've been obsessed with burlap. Matt and I are in the process of making our house more of a home and when I suggested making pillows out of burlap, he was totally on board. Burlap was never really on my radar before but when I find something we both really like, I tend to run with it. Think of the possibilities! Burlap pillows, burlap bows, burlap wreaths! Oh my!

{source}

I've been working on this yarn wreath for almost two weeks. I've completed the tedious part, wrapping the yarn but the crocheted flowers don't look as good as I thought.

Suggestions?

These fun socks were only a dollar at Target last week and when I went back they were on CLEARANCE! Woo hoo! Yeah for fall and fun socks!

Addy is doing this thing now where she lays her head on my shoulder when she is super tired and it's the sweetest thing ever! Sometimes, after I feed her at night, I stay in her room rocking with her asleep on my shoulder, savoring those precious times.

And that's all folks! If you read this far, I applaud you.

Oops! One more thing, did anyone else watch Tim Allen's new show "Last Man Standing?" Were we the only ones who thought it was almost EXACTLY like "Home Improvement?" Only, this time around, he has 3 daughters... something to think about.

Happy Friday All!

Colorado

2011-10-13T08:00:00.002-06:00

One of the best things about living in the 505 is it's proximity to great places like Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

Addy and I joined my parents for a fun road trip up to Colorful Colorado on Friday afternoon. Addy did great and slept the entire 4 hours in the car. She likes the Chief's pick up truck.

Matt was able to join us late Friday night after he got off work. He walked in to find us all in our PJ's hunched over a puzzle. We didn't do much more the whole time we were there. It was lovely!

We woke up to snow on Saturday morning; Addy's first snow!

The snow melted by mid-morning but it was still cold. I quickly learned that my energetic 7 month old does not have a lot of patience for dressing in layers but she sure did look cute in her socks and leggings.

My family likes to visit Pagosa at least once a year and we have a couple of restaurants we usually like to visit, but this time, we tried something new; a local brewery where they cook the food outside in a camping trailer. It may sound ghetto but the place was packed and they we're taking names for a waiting list.

On Sunday, we did a little shopping "downtown," which really means we went in and out of 4 stores that were all selling the same things they were last year. The shops are located across the street from the hot springs. You can't tell from the photo but it stinks!!! Those springs are popular but staaannnnkkky!

This was our 3rd time to stay in this house on the golf course right next to the lake/pond(?). We love the views, the geese flying over in the morning and the BEAutiful sunsets.

Does it get any better than this?

I came super prepared with everything Addy could possibly need including plenty of toys but what kept her the most entertained was this paper cup. I think Mr. Monkey might have felt a little neglected.

Besides a drive to Durango, we really didn't do much else. We did have some great time spent as a family though and we're hoping it was the first of many fun trips to Colorado with little Miss Addy.

Embracing the Camera in Colorado

2011-10-12T08:14:00.000-06:00

Colorado is one of the prettiest places to take pictures and on this particular night, it was just gorgeous. My camera did not do justice to this beautiful sunset.

We made it back from Colorado on Tuesday fully relaxed, revitalized and ready to take on another week (a short week for us!). An long weekend spent email, facebook and blogging fee was so refreshing! Photos coming soon.

Happy Hump Day! I hope you are having a wonderful week so far.

Linking up with the Paper Mama for Wordlessish Wednesday

Addy is 7 Months Old!

2011-10-11T20:47:00.000-06:00

Sweet Adelyne turned 7 months old on Sunday.

She celebrated her birthday in Pagosa Springs, CO, where she had many firsts; her first snow, first taste of green beans and her first time sitting in a high chair like a big girl.

Mr. Monkey, who doesn't like to miss a photo session, made the trip up to Colorado too.

Matt found this awesome pink chair at the house we were renting

Thanks for celebrating my birthday with me Grandma and Chief!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SILLY GIRL!

Packing List

2011-10-07T09:00:00.003-06:00

Complete this sentence: "I'm going on a trip and I'm taking with me......"

We're headed up to the beautiful state of Colorado today and I've been working on checking things off my packing list. It seems like since Addy came along, my packing list is like a mile long. That little lady requires of a lot of stuff! Besides the obvious essentials like wipes and diapers, some of the other must-brings on my list are:

A good book

(I'm giving this classic a try for the first time)

My Camera

Mr. Monkey for Addy's 7 month photos on Sunday

And some needles and yarn

What fun things do you put on your packing list?

All photos from Pinterest

Fall in the 505

2011-10-06T09:36:00.000-06:00

Fall has definitely come to our neck of the woods and we're loving it!

This season is different in New Mexico. While most of the country is admiring the changing leaves, we're roasting green Chile and spotting hot-air balloons.

I've said it several times this week, but Fall is really great here in the 505.

It's that wonderful time of year in between the brutally hot summer and the drab of winter.

Katie, Matt and Baby Danner - Balloon Fiesta 2010

It's a time for layering, because it's cold in the morning and hot in the afternoon.

The Danner's - Halloween 2009

It's a time of anticipation and planning for the holidays to come.

My favorite tree outside of our condo

And in the past, for my hard-working hubby, it's been a season spent in the law library, studying for tests and counting down the days till graduation. This year is different though, this year we're spending weekends as a family.

We're enjoying lazy Saturdays working on the house and watching football. We're taking adventures to the Balloon Fiesta and experiencing our first Fall as a family of three.

Balloon Fiesta 2011

What is Fall like where you're from?

Embracing the Camera at the Balloon Fiesta

2011-10-05T12:17:00.001-06:00

I hope you're not getting sick of my balloon pictures yet!

I took way too many pictures at the Balloon Fiesta on Sunday and I don't have anything to do with them except share them with you.

Enjoy!

Cousins

So excited!

And because I like to keep things random around here, below is a photo of Addy at a month old. I got to hold a new baby yesterday and I couldn't believe how small and precious he was, Addy looked so big compared to him. It's crazy to think she was once that little.

Linking Up with the Paper Mama for Wordlessish Wednesday

This Season

2011-10-04T08:26:00.000-06:00

I am absolutely loving this season.

It's not the time of year that I'm talking about, although Fall is my favorite, but that's another post for another day (Thursday! wink wink).

I am loving this season of life.

I don't know if it's because we just spent a wonderful weekend together as a family or if it really is this time of year, but lately, I feel like I am high on life.

I was visiting with a lady from our Community Group on Saturday and when I asked how she was doing, she said: "Really well, this is a really good season for me." Praise God! She had a lot of health problems not too long ago and it was so great to hear her say those words after coming though a really rough season. It stuck with me for some reason.

I know that, just like fall will turn into winter, this season will change. Addy will get older, our family of three might grow (someday) and we'll go through busy seasons and trying seasons, seasons of growth and seasons of sadness. But I am sure, because God is good, that we will go through many more seasons just like this one.

Seasons change. Fall turns to winter, winter to spring, spring to summer and then we're back where we started. I think it's the same with life. My dad always says: "This too shall pass." And it's so true.

I want to really enjoy this time and remember that it won't last, but I want to have that same attitude when things aren't that great. I want to remember that it's only a season, it too shall pass and only God knows what blessings are waiting around the corner.

Linking up with Jami

Addy and Cousin Carter's First Balloon Fiesta!

2011-10-03T10:10:00.000-06:00

We woke up at 5:30 am yesterday morning and for once, we were the ones waking Addy up. After feeding Addy and making sure she was snug as a bug in her stroller we headed out to the Balloon Fiesta.

Up and ready to go before the sun!

We live about three miles from the Balloon Park so instead of sitting in traffic for what would probably be close to an hour, we decided to get there on foot. It only took us 40 minutes and it was actually really enjoyable. I had thought Addy would sleep on the way there but she was wide awake the whole time.

We got to the park just in time for the Mass Assention.

Addy was THRILLED to get out of her stroller and wouldn't stay still. She talked and giggled the entire time. I think she liked all the people more than the balloons.

I'm not too sure Cousin Carter was as excited to be up that early, but he sure did look cute! Have you ever seen a cuter raccoon?

"Carter, there's a raccoon on your head!"

With so many things to look at, Addy didn't stop moving. It made taking a family photo a little challenging.

The Danner's, Balloon Fiesta 2011

All that energy Addy had only lasted about half and hour and then both her Carter crashed.

Those sleepin' babies missed all the special shape balloons. That's OK though, we really only went for the fun pictures. They'll enjoy it more next year and some day, we'll tell them how much fun us adults had at their first Balloon Fiesta.

Happy October!

2011-10-01T17:12:00.000-06:00

Today is the first day of October and the first day of the Balloon Fiesta.

This is also the first October in 3 years that Matt won't have to spend the weekends studying. We are so excited for this fall.

Addy woke us up early this morning and we watched the balloons come up over our neighbor's house. Then, we walked to breakfast and to a sweet little boy's first Birthday party. I think we walked a total of three miles today.

This was the view on our walk this morning. I live in the coolest place!

We're taking Addy and cousin Carter to see the balloons tomorrow and we're super excited for their first Fiesta together. What fun times!

Happy October

Happy Balloon Fiesta Week

Happy Fall!

Balloon Fiesta Eve

2011-09-30T14:40:00.000-06:00

Ah Friday! Friday is such a cheery day. Wouldn't you agree?

This Friday seems a little bit more cheery than usual around these parts.

Tomorrow morning is the first day of the Balloon Fiesta and everyone is acting like it's the night before Christmas. I think it's great. I love seeing status updates on Facebook about seeing balloons in the air, finding good breakfast burrito recipes and little kiddos saying "balloon" for the first time. It's a fantastic time of year!

Balloon Fiesta 2010

We live within walking distance from the Balloon Park so we will have a front row seat all week long. You might be seeing a lot of balloon photos from me this week, just a heads up.

Speaking of photos, Addy and I had a little photo session in the park yesterday and I've decided that I have the happiest baby in the world. Her nose has been all stuffed up for four days straight but you wouldn't be able to tell by looking at her.

I'm so lucky to be her momma.

Happy Friday Friends! I hope that you have a fantastic weekend!

DIY T-Shirt Flowers

2011-09-29T08:56:00.000-06:00

I heard one of those super-organized people on HGTV or TLC say once that every time you buy an article of clothing, you should get rid of one, that way your closet won't look like an episode of Hoarders. I've been pretty good about getting rid of clothing I don't wear anymore because it no longer fits or I just don't like, but I always wish I had the time or the creativity to do something fun with them instead of throwing them out.

Back when I was a working woman, Matt and I would set aside clothing we no longer wore with the intentions of me turning them into something really cool and really useful but since I never had the time, the pile of clothes would sit in the closest until we cleaned again and then they would be sent to Good-Will.

Well, now that I am home full-time and with the help of the wonderful site that is Pinterest, I've found a new use for my old t-shirts and the time to put it all together. I turned my old t-shirts into flowers!

Using this turtorial from A Bit of Sunshine, I gathered my old t-shirts and got my DIY on.

I cut the shirts into flower shapes, using a stencil I made out of cardstock paper. I traced along the flower stencil using a black maker. If you are going to do this project, I would recommend using a pencil or something lighter. I had to cover up places where the maker showed later.

After folding the cut-outs four times, I glued them onto a circular piece of felt.

To finish the flowers, I hot-glued buttons and pearls to the center.

Aren't they fun?

For this flower, I used a shirt that had some sort of funny saying on the front and I really like how it gave it a different look.

I loved how easy and inexpensive this project was. The only supplies I had to purchase were the buttons and piece of felt. Cutting out the flowers was a little time-consuming but definitely worth it.

The only problem with a craft like this is that now, I keep scanning my closest to see what else I can turn into flowers. No piece of clothing is safe!

Linking up with Gussy!

From My Phone

2011-09-28T07:48:00.000-06:00

The other day I tried to take a picture with my phone but I couldn't because my memory was full. I went through my usual routine of deleting messages and a couple of bad pictures to make room for a new one and then decided that it was time to clean out my photo album. I try to do this every once in a while but there are some that I have a hard time deleting, even though they are kind of blurry and not really worth saving. So, before I clean out my phone and delete a lot of pictures for good, I'll share them with you so that I won't really have to say goodbye, they will be kept safe and sound somewhere in the blogesphere.

Addy loves to go to Flying Star

Shopping Like a Big Girl

Addy thinks She's a big girl, watching TV with her buddies

Carrots.... Ugh!

Feeling better after her first cold

New Outfit

George is such a good snuggler

Happy Cow Appreciation Day!

Hi Grandma!

Such a big girl!

Hanging Out

Oh!

Silly Girl!

I wish she still fit on my lap like this

This was during her old man hair phase

This is the wallpaper on my phone. I love it!

First Giggles

Easter Sunday

Finally home.... she looks so small in her own crib

Crashed on Dad

Daddy's Girl

First Family Photo

Brand New

Linking up with the The Paper Mama for Wordlessish Wednesday

Drawing a Blank....

2011-09-27T08:00:00.011-06:00

Source: asortoffairytalegirl.blogspot.com via Mary on Pinterest

You know that scene in You've Got Mail where Kathleen is writing an email to Joe Fox and she demonstrates how her mind goes blank by drawing a blank in the air with her hand? (Probably not unless you've seen the movie a million times and have every line memorized, so just go with me here.)

I've been doing that a lot lately... drawing a blank. I have several blog posts in draft that I can't seem to finish. There are so many thoughts and ideas floating around in my head that I can't bring it all together to make a coherent sentence, post or anything really.

I'm going through an awesome Bible Study and I would love to communicate some of the great things I am learning but, I'm drawing a blank.

I'm hoping to get my act together in the next couple of days so until then, I'll leave you with a quote from my all-time favorite movie.

"The odd thing about this form of communication is that you're more likely to talk about nothing than something. But I just want to say that all this nothing has meant more to me than so many somethings."

FREE Sponsorhip Opportunity!

2011-09-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

If you don't have a button, send me an email and I'll try to help you out. :)

6 Month Check Up

2011-09-23T13:56:00.000-06:00

9.21.11

24.25 inches

13lbs. 10oz.

For Addy's 6 month check up, we saw a new pediatrician, who I loved! She spent a lot of time with us and I was able to ask all the questions I wanted without feeling like she had one foot out the door.

When we left, they gave us a cute little sticker with all her stats and she got sparkly band aids for her shots! It's like a whole new world in baby doctors!

This was Addy's 3rd time getting shots and was by far the worst. I've never heard her cry like that before. It took a couple of days to recover, but now she is back to her cheery self.

Happy Friday All!

The Family Room of My Dreams

2011-09-22T08:56:00.000-06:00

Someday, when we win the lottery (which will probably never happen since we don't play, but I still have my fingers crossed) and we build the house of our dreams, I think it would be fun to have a separate family room; a room dedicated to family and fun.

A room for watching movies

A room where toys can be left out for days

A room for playing games and building tents

A room for making memories.

Source: lonnymag.com via Katie on Pinterest

This special room would need a large couch with tons of pillows to get lost in, a special corner full of games and books and maybe even a popcorn machine.

Source: None via Katie on Pinterest

And wouldn't some bunk beds be fun?

Source: zoeclaudia.tumblr.com via Katie on Pinterest

This last picture is my favorite. I can just see Addy and all her little buddies laying on these comfy bean bag chairs, dressed in those super cute footed pj's, feet up in the air with their hands in a bowl of popcorn.

Ah.... someday :)

Four Generations Embracing the Camera

2011-09-21T12:20:00.001-06:00

While at my parents house last week, we played around with the photo booth on my computer. My Mamaw was just amazed by it. "That thing just took our picture?!?"

Isn't modern technology great sometimes? I love how it can capture an ordinary, yet priceless, moment between four generations.

Happy Monday!

2011-09-19T09:06:00.001-06:00

We made it home from Las Cruces safe and sound last night. Addy did not do well on the drive home so I had to sit in the back with her, leaving Matt upfront all by his lonesome.

She was a tired little and slept for NINE HOURS last night, which totally makes up for the rough car ride.

I forgot my computer charger at my parent's house and my computer is dead, dead. My Mom made an extra trip to the post office to overnight (she's pretty great like that) it to me, but you might not hear from me in a couple days because blogging from the iPad is hard!

Happy Monday!

What We've Been Up To

2011-09-18T16:04:00.000-06:00

Addy and Mawmaw

We've been in Las Cruces since Wednesday visiting my parents.

We've had a great time shopping, eating delicious Mexican Food and seeing old friends.

This evening, we head back to the 505, but before we do, I thought I'd share some random photos from our trip. Enjoy!

Good Morning!

Sportin' a new outfit from Grandma

Grandma and Addy reading

Addy's favorite new place to take a nap is on this gigantic beach towel. She slept for 2 hours!

Sittin' with the Chief, they're finally friends again.

Such a sleepy head


Pretty new pink outfit for church

In the LC

2011-09-15T16:49:00.000-06:00

Addy and I made it to Las Cruces safe and sound last night thanks to a friend who we were able to bum a ride with.We drove through some pretty intense rain, which must have followed us into town. It poured here last night! These southern New Mexico roofs aren't used to so much water and my parents discovered a few leaks.

Addy has been making quite the impression on her Grandparents, sitting up and scooting. Scooting! Apparently, she does that now.

We've had a busy day; lunch with the ladies at St. Clair's Winery where we tasted their new Green Chile Wine (only in New Mexico) followed by a little shopping for miss Adelyne and then we came home to a snake in the garage. It's never dull around these parts.

We're having a great time but already missing Matt and counting down the days till he gets here.

New Set of Wheels

2011-09-14T11:30:00.000-06:00

Matt came home with a little surprise for Addy the other night.

This awesome pink car belonged to the daughter of a lady Matt works with. She outgrew it and passed it along to Addy. Wasn't that sweet of her?

Speaking of wheels, Addy and I are hitting the road today, headed to Grandma and the Chief's house. Our first adventure without Dad, we'll be glad when he joins us on Saturday.

We're off to the 575! But because I'm obsessed with sleeping babies, I'll leave you with this sweet pic of Cousin Carter. He joined us for nap time yesterday. Two babies off in dreamland at the same time, so sweet :)

103 Days

2011-09-13T08:18:00.000-06:00

There are only 103 days left until Christmas.

Does that make anyone else feel a little panicky?

That means Halloween is only 49 days away and Thanksgiving is a mere 73 days away.

I have dreams of giving quite a few homemade gifts this year and I have a growing Pinterest Board of decorations I would like to make for each holiday but I'm already starting to feel like there's a time crunch.

Source: designeditor.typepad.com via Katie on Pinterest

Oh, and the Balloon Fiesta, which is pretty much like a holiday here in the 505, starts in 18 days! I wanted to crochet a beanie for Addy's first Fiesta and Matt has mentioned wanting a hat of his own and then there are like 10 different scarfs I would like to make for myself. Ah!

So much to do. Too bad I picked a hobby that takes forever.

Guess I better stop lolly gagging around in the blogesphere and get to work!

Random Weekend Stuff

2011-09-12T09:56:00.001-06:00

We got our first taste of fall here in the 505 this weekend. Friday and Saturday were rather gloomy days but a welcome change from the heat we had been experiencing. I think it got everyone pretty excited for fall. I wore a new jacket I got for my Birthday all day Saturday, just because I could.

We're about to enter that awkward time of year where it's cold in the morning and hot in the afternoon and you never how to dress. And because it's New Mexico, we'll have a couple of really warm days right after I put away my summer clothes. Maybe I should hold off on that for a little while.

Little Cat Nap Before Church

Yesterday was Baby Dedication Sunday at church. I've always loved seeing all the cute babies up front and this Sunday, ours was one of them. Addy did great, but I guess getting dedicated is a little exhausting, she crashed as soon as we got home.

After church, we enjoyed lunch with the Fam and then came home to get our DIY on. Matt finished a project he'd been working on using branches from a random bush in our backyard (the photo I took doesn't do it justice, so I won't share it) and I finished crocheting a sweater for Addy.

It's a little too small for her to wear buttoned up and she for sure won't fit in it by the time it's cold enough to wear, but I think it turned out pretty well considering it was my first time crocheting an article of clothing.

That's what we were up to this weekend. What did you do?

Addy is 6 Months Old!

2011-09-10T10:52:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was sweet Adelyne's 6 month Birthday.

Six months

Yikes!

This month's photos weren't my favorites. It was a gloomy (yet beautiful) day here in the 505, as is today and my half-a-year-old baby doesn't like to sit still for very long. So, we ended up with a lot of dark blurry photos.

Addy is such a busy little girl. She's growing, rolling, talking, laughing and sitting up! But as you can see by the photos below, not quite long enough for me to snap a photo that's not blurry.

At 6 months, Addy is taking two and a half a naps a day. Just this week, I was feeling a little frustrated that her third nap wasn't lasting as long and then I read in Babywise II that at this age, most Babywise babies will take two naps and a cat nap later in the afternoon. No way! Addy actually did something by the book! It went on to say that they should also be sleeping 10 to 12 hours through the night. Ya right!

"Dude, what's up with your hair? It's cwazy!"

To be honest, I really don't mind the late night feedings. It's kind of a sweet time. She eats quickly and falls asleep on my shoulder as I burp her. There isn't anything much sweeter than a baby sleeping on your shoulder.

Addy is such a joy.
She loves her toys, (especially Mr. Monkey) snuggling with Dad, laughing with Mom and playing with her friends. It's so fun to see how her and her little buddies interact now. What a blessing to be surrounded with so many little ones for her to grow up with.

This is a such a fun stage with our sweet little girl, as each stage has been.

HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY ADDY GRACE!

We love you.

Inspiring Reads

2011-09-08T07:00:00.000-06:00

It's time again for the Inspiration Workshop over at Gussy Sews!

Currently, I am reading 3 books: The Brethren by John Grisham, Babywise II and Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron. One for pure entertainment and the other two because I am clueless when it comes to feeding and raising my baby. Although they are good reads, (actually Super Baby Food is really boring but very informational) I wouldn't call them inspiring.

I actually don't think I've read an inspiring book in awhile. I had intentions of writing about the Help by Kathryn Stockett. I loved the book and movie and called it "inspiring" while talking about it with a friend but I'm not sure what it inspired me to do.

Lately, a lot of my inspirational reading has been in the blogosphere. I love reading what you all have to say about mommyhood, marriage and life in general. I often find myself nodding along in agreement, oohing and aahing over sweet photos and thinking "ah, that's just what I needed to hear today."

Some of my favorite posts have come from these lovely bloggers:

Chelsea Joy with Name Your Joy

Heather with Finding Beauty in the Ordinary

Casey Wiegand, author of the Wiegand's

Paige Knudsen who writes Simple Thoughts

Stephanie with the Honey Pot

And lastly, my friend Mandy has a blog called Everything Beautiful. She has been an inspiration to many people this last month.

I get excited when posts from these blogs show up in my Google reader and I always click on their updates first. So, if you're looking for some inspirational reading, check them out. Maybe you will find a new favorite :)

Where do you go for inspirational reading?

Addy's Room Reveal

2011-09-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

Back when I was pregnant and Addy was in the tum tum,

Back when we didn't know she was a she,

Back when we called her Carlos,

We picked out a theme for Baby Danner's nursery and I loved it!

Inspired by a piece of scrapbook paper I had, we choose to go with forest animals. I pictured cute little owls, baby deer and birds with reds, greens, browns and yellow; very gender neutral. My Mom and I made a crib skirt and Matt and I spent an evening painting a tree on the wall as we watched the Fox and the Hound. We were renting at the time and not supposed to do any painting, but we thought we could bend the rules a little to prepare for the arrival of our first child.

And then Miss Addy came into our lives. She's sweet and dainty and she doesn't really belong in the forest. So, when we moved into our new house, we decided to give her a totally new, super girly room.

Here is the grand reveal of Addy's room.
The photos aren't great, I don't own a fancy smanchy camera or any photography skills.

Can you see Addy in there?
I sewed new fabric over the crib skirt I had made with my Mom. There are no close up photos because I put it together really quickly and there are a lot of mistakes.

This chandelier was in the dinning room when we purchased the house. It's not really our style so we spray painted it pink and stuck it in Addy's room.

I crocheted this bunting using a pattern I found on Pinterest

Addy's grandpa made this changing table and I had fun putting together a little collage to go above it.

Here we have Addy's collage featuring her announcement, crocheted flowers, her hospital bracelet and some old family photos.

The pink and white frames were from the Target dollar spot.

The larger white frames were actually in Matt's nursery. I made this with some inspiration from Pinterest.

This is Matt as a baby, Addy looks just like him.

And her room wouldn't be complete without her best friends, Mr. Monkey, George and Mr. Lady Bug.

We're glad to finally have a room completed in the house and we're hoping Addy can grow into it because I don't think either of us are in a big hurry to change it.

Beauty Unveiled Winner!

2011-09-06T09:01:00.000-06:00

Good Morning friends! Happy Tuesday-that-feels-like-a-Monday!

It's back to the grind, Addy and I have a full day planned with laundry, cleaning, a trip to the grocery store and possible blood work. Ugh, I don't like needles.

I'm sure we're not the only ones wishing the long weekend didn't have to end. At least for one lucky reader, the fun doesn't have to stop!

Janelle with Simplistic Beauty, you are the winner of the Beauty of Unveiled Giveaway! Congrats!

And a HUGE thank you to Miss Erica for contributing one of her lovely items. Even though, the giveaway is over, you can still check out her shop here.

Have a great day!

Happy Labor Day!

2011-09-05T08:00:00.000-06:00

Today we are celebrating this handsome man and all he does for our family.

It's not easy going to work everyday, especially when there is a cute little girl at home tempting you to call in sick and play with her all day long. We're glad he does it though because we really enjoy eating.

He deserves a day off and we're excited to spend it with him.

HAPPY LABOR DAY MATT!

We're so thankful for you - Love, Katie and Addy

Vintage Photos

2011-09-01T09:44:00.000-06:00

I'm linking up again with Gussy over at Gussy Sews.

The Inspiration Work Shop this week is "Vintage."

I'm not a huge "vintage" fan. I wouldn't really choose vintage items for my house or wardrobe but I do love old photos, especially old family photos.

I'm currently working on a little picture project for my parents and I thought I would share some of the treasures I came across.

My Grandparents and I, doesn't my Grandma look pretty?

My parents and I when I was first born.

Perry, my handsome little brother. He always dreamed of being a cowboy.

Brother and sister, we were buddies.

My Mamaw and Pappa on their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Fifty years.... amazing!

My parents on a vacation in Mexico. (Please don't be mad at me for sharing this)

And finally, my very favorite: Cousin Jamie and I playing on Grandpa's lap.

Do you have any fun family memories captured on film?

Have you entered the giveaway?

This pretty headband could be yours! Enter here

Happy Last Day of August!

2011-08-31T13:20:00.000-06:00

Happy last day of August!

We're excited to say goodbye to this August heat and hello to the cooler fall weather. The fall is probably the best time of year here in the 505 and we can't wait for all the fun fall activities to begin.

Addy and I had the privilege of meeting this handsome man yesterday. His mom's sweet and joyful spirit during this rough time blew me away. Check out her blog here. She recently posted a video of baby Jude opening his eyes and it's the sweetest thing I've ever seen. He is a very loved little boy.

Linking up with Paper Momma's Wordlessish Wednesday.

Sleeping Babies

2011-08-30T08:14:00.001-06:00

Addy's new favorite thing is to fall asleep without her swaddler.

And my new favorite thing is to take pictures of her falling asleep without her swaddler and show them to Matt when he gets home. I'm sure he sits in anticipation at work, wondering what position she fell asleep in this time. Ha!

I don't know what it is but, I can't get enough of this sleeping baby. I sneak into her room during her naps multiple times during the day and I find myself telling others how she fell asleep on her stomach and how cute it was. I've even invited others into her room to get a glimpse of her sleeping.

I know I'm not the only one who does this. I've read numerous blog posts about Mom's sneaking in to peek at their little ones off in dream land.

Why do we do this? After how hard we work sometimes to get them to fall asleep, why do we risk the chance of them waking up again just to get a glimpse at their sweet angelic faces?

Maybe it's the sense of accomplishment we feel after getting a hyper baby to calm down and fall asleep. Or maybe we just missed them that much during the 15 minutes they were asleep?

I think it's because time seems to stand still when they're sleeping. Even though sleep actually helps her grow, it seems that during that brief spans of time that is her nap, Addy stops growing. She's frozen in time as an almost 6 month old baby and I can't help but steal little peeks to soak it all in and maybe snap a photo sometimes too.

Miscellaneous Monday

2011-08-29T10:03:00.001-06:00

Happy Monday Morning!

A few miscellaneous things to start the week:

1. I am hosting my first giveaway! Enter here
2. Matt found my ipod this weekend! It's a million years old, white with the little turn dial thing and doesn't hold a charge but I love it! All the music on it is super old too but at one point I spent a lot of money buying those songs and when I thought I had lost it forever, it made me sad.
3. Addy and I listened to my "Morning Worship Music(upbeat)" play list while eating breakfast. I made that play list when I was in school and I had to walk a long ways to class every morning.
4. I miss those good ol' school days sometimes
5. Today begins my new lifestyle. I'm joining Matt on the Paleo diet. Goodbye sweet cookie stash and handfuls of potatoes chips for lunch, hello tuna for breakfast.
6. Tuna for breakfast? Yuck!
7. As a part of my new lifestyle, I am also trying to fit some exercise into my daily routine. Thankfully, it's starting to get a little cooler here so Addy and I can go on a walk and not have to get up at the crack of dawn to beat the heat.
8. I am hoping that the changes in my eating habits and the little bit of exercise will give me more energy and maybe help me fit into my winter clothes.
9. Don't forget to enter the Beauty Unveiled Giveaway!

Beauty Unveiled GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

2011-08-25T22:04:00.002-06:00

Today is a special day in the 505 because today I am hosting my very first giveaway!

In an effort to grow the gifts God has given her, my sweet friend, Erica, recently opened an Etsy shop called Beauty Unveiled.

Here's what Erica told me about her shop:

"My Pastor recently gave me a book called "The Creative Call" by Janice Elshiemer and I had no idea that it would be wrecking in the best way possible. It made me realize that I was an artist. Not just any old artist, but Jesus' very own artist. And that when I create something it's not me thinking and creating, it's the Holy Spirit through me. Sometimes I think I can do things on my own, you know? Sometimes I think that I'm the creative one but when I truly sit and ask Jesus to create through me- I get thrust into a deeper communion with the Ultimate Creator and get to co-create with the Guy who created it all. Creativity exploded in me and I just had all this stuff that I had made... just sitting there. So to continue this journey of knowing God's heart more deeply, I started my Etsy store, Beauty Unveiled, so I could boldly share Jesus' creativity in the most "me" way I could."

If you click on over to her shop, you can see she has talent and a sophisticated, classic taste. She also loves to co-create! She was one of my favorite crafting buddies when we lived in the same town and today she has generously agreed to give this pretty black and white floral headband to one of YOU! Isn't that nice of her?

So to enter this giveaway,

Make sure you are follower of my blog,

Visit Erica's shop,

And leave a comment telling me which item is your favorite.

You will have until Monday September 5th to enter. I'll announce the winner on Tuesday.

Be sure to visit her Facebook page and leave her some love.

Good luck!

I'm Dreaming of a PINK Christmas!

2011-08-25T08:11:00.000-06:00

Linking up again with Gussy Sews. Each week she sends out an inspirational prompt to build a blog post around and then link back to her site. It's a great way to get the creative juices flowing and meet other bloggers. This week's prompt was "Your Favorite Color." Can you guess what my favorite color is?

I realize it's only August and we have months to go before we should even start thinking about Christmas (I have a strict no-Christmas-music-before-Thanksgiving rule), but I couldn't help but get a little excited while we were at Hobby Lobby the other day picking up some last minute items for Addy's room. They had the cutest ornaments for mini trees and I have decided that Addy will need her own pink Christmas tree this year. And if Matt would let me, I would totally do an all pink Christmas, but since there's no way that will happen let's have fun dreaming shall we?

First things first, we will need a tree,

Source: pinkplusorange.blogspot.com via Emily on Pinterest

Or maybe two or three.

Source: google.com via Lizz on Pinterest

And some stockings hung by the chimney with glee

Source: nabefabric.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

Or maybe some boots instead, either is fine with me.

Source: google.com via Katie on Pinterest

A wreath for the front door

Source: goodhousekeeping.com via Katie on Pinterest

And presents galore!

Source: mialinnman.blogspot.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

Oh, and I forgot my favorite thing....

Source: purlbee.com via Katie on Pinterest

The ornaments sparkling...

Source: flickr.com via Katie on Pinterest

Hidden among the tree.

Source: weheartit.com via Katie on Pinterest

If you could decorate your tree in any color, what would it be?

Twenty Six

2011-08-24T10:48:00.001-06:00

Today is my 26th Birthday and although it's only ten o'clock, I have a feeling it's going to be a good one.

I haven't been a big fan of Birthdays in the past but I think it's time to change my thinking on them. It seems like such a shame to take for grant it the gift of life I have received.

My twenty-sixth year was a good one, filled with more blessings than I deserve. I received the best gift in a 6 pound, 12 ounce package six months ago and the presents have just kept coming after that.

This morning, I was able to take time to reflect on the past year, it's highs and lows. The highs have out numbered the lows. God is good and in the years to come, I want this to be the theme of my Birthdays. Instead of focusing on the number of phone calls, text messages and Facebook posts I receive, I want to spend the day in thanksgiving, not forgetting all the gifts I have received throughout the year.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Light."

James 1:17

So today I am thankful for a beautiful baby girl, a loving husband, supportive family (both blood and by law), sweet friends and a new house, among many other things.

A year ago today, 25 years old and 12 weeks pregnant.

I can't wait to see what God has planned for my 27th year.

Don't Try This At Home

2011-08-22T09:00:00.000-06:00

I am all about finding fun, money saving projects online and love to get tips from other bloggers, so here's a tip on a project to avoid. Seriously, don't try this at home.

Source: grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

I found this tutorial on how to turn an old bath towel into a bath mat and I thought "hey, I could do that!" I had two old bath towels and only needed the matting, which cost like two bucks. What a cheap, easy, resourceful project! Super excited to get my DIY on, I told almost everyone about it and what a great idea I thought it was. I could just hear the compliments from my house guests, telling me how happy their feet were to get out of the shower and step onto a soft, fluffy rug. "And you made that?" They would say in awe.

Well, about twenty minutes into this project, with little pieces of my dark blue towel all over the floor and only a corner of the rug completed, I decided I didn't really care about how happy the feet of my house guests were.

This project was taking up way to much of my precious nap time and I wasn't that happy with the results. The towel was really hard to cut into and it turned out to be a super messy project. So now, I have one and half old blue bath towels and a whole lot of gridded matting. Is it bad if I just throw it all away? At least I tried right?

Good thing I wasn't entering one of those Pinterest Challenges, because I would have seriously failed.

Praying for the Pelton's

2011-08-19T14:01:00.000-06:00

A sweet family we knew in school has been up in the 505 for the past couple of weeks anticipating the arrival of their sweet baby boy, whom they knew would be born with disabilities. They knew that with his birth, their life would drastically change but they chose to embrace this change and prepare to welcome their sweet baby into the world.

When Jude Matthew was born on Monday morning, they learned that he would face even more challenges than they had anticipated. They received bad news on top of bad news. He would need open heart surgery, but before that, surgery on his little brain because he had undergone a stroke. They had to move hospitals, functioning on very little sleep and all the while, Mandy, Jude's sweet Mom, was recovering from an emergency C-section.

Several times they have been given the option to take him off life support and make him "as comfortable as possible" or continue to fight for his life. They have continually chosen to give him a chance at life.

I've been following Mandy's blog this week, which she has been diligent about updating amongst all the chaos, and I have been blown away by her faith in this tough, tough situation. Her and her family are hurting but each post is filled with so much praise.

We spent some time in the NICU when our baby girl was born and although our situation was totally different, we understand how hard it can be. We were so thankful for the many encouraging emails, texts and facebook posts we received. Knowing that people were praying for our baby to get better was such an encouragement and I know the Pelton's have felt the same way. In her most recent post this morning, Mandy said that she was going to read all the comments filled with prayer and scripture to Baby Jude. Isn't that sweet?

So, if you have a minute, visit Mandy's blog. It will inspire you. And pray for baby Jude, Mandy, her husband Brandon and their (almost) 5 year old son, Caleb. Send some encouraging words their way, I know they appreciate it.

Hunkering Down

2011-08-17T09:00:00.018-06:00

It's a gloomy day here in the 505 and Miss Addy's little nose is stuffy. I called the pediatrician's office this morning and the nurse said it sounded like she was getting a cold (her first cold!) and that we might have a rough few days ahead of us.

We'll be hunkering down for the rest of the week to try to kick this cold before it gets nasty.

Happy Hump Day Friends! Only 3 more days till the weekend!

Addy's Letters

2011-08-16T16:31:00.005-06:00

Dear Grandma: Thanks for playing with me and feeding me. My cereal tastes much better when you give it to me. Why did you have to leave so soon?
Dear Chief Chief (a.k.a Grandpa): I only scream when you touch me so the others don't know that you're my favorite. We'll just keep that between you and me.

Dear Cousin Carter: I haven't seen you in awhile, ask your Mom if you can come over and play. P.S. I think you look handsome with your new haircut

Dear Grandma Ree: Thanks for my new toy, I LOVE it! I screamed when you put me it because I was just THAT excited.
Dear Dad: Only four more days till Saturday morning

Dear Mom: Mom, MoOmmm, Hey Mom! MOM!...... Oh hi :)

Love,

Addy

Crocheted Paci Holder

2011-08-15T07:00:00.024-06:00

Addy is a pacifier baby, which I am totally fine with. It helps to soothe her and although it's one more thing we will eventually have to wean her from, it's got to be easier than the thumb. During her week stint in the NICU, they gave her the Soothie brand paci and she hasn't liked any others since. We've tried to give her others that look a little better and are more proportionate to her face, but she doesn't like them. The problem with the Soothie is that I couldn't attached a paci clip/holder, so we were constantly chasing after it... until I saw this:

Source: rebekahgough.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

A crocheted paci holder!

Perfect.

I used this tutorial to create my own and since it just requires a slip knot (I think that's what it is), it could be used on the Soothie paci too!

The best part was that it required absolutely no gluing. I hate using glue, it's so messy.

I was so pleased with the way it turned out that I was hesitant to give it to Addy. I didn't want her to mess it up! I may have to end up gluing the button on just to ensure it stays there.

If you are new to crocheting, I would totally recommend this as an easy beginners project. It's also very useful!

My Dream Garden

2011-08-11T07:00:00.004-06:00

Linking up again with Gussy Sews!

Since our backyard is currently a giant sand box and the closest thing I have to a garden are two house plants that I can barely keep alive, I thought I would share some photos via Pinterest of what my dream garden would look like.

My dream garden would resemble the garden my Grandma had growing up

Source: tumblr.com via Katie on Pinterest

There would be a creek running through it and since this is in my dreams, the temperature would be a nice 80 degrees instead of the ice cold water at my Grandparents.

Source: weheartit.com via Lindsay on Pinterest

And there would have to be a swing.

Source: i1.2photo.ru via Katie on Pinterest

My dream garden would have rows and rows of my favorite flower: Sunflowers.

Source: weheartit.com via Katie on Pinterest

I would host fun tea parties in my dream garden

Source: sfgirlbybay.com via Sofie on Pinterest

My dream garden would be perfect for fancy outdoor dinner parties

Source: stylemepretty.com via Courtney on Pinterest

And Movie Night

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Katie on Pinterest

What would be in your dream garden?

Happy Hump Day!

2011-08-10T13:59:00.000-06:00

Happy Hump Day Friends!

Besides venturing out to the mail box and our usual evening strolls, this is our second day of not leaving the house and we wouldn't have it any other way. We're such homebodies.

Hope you are having a great week.

Addy is 5 Months Old!

2011-08-09T10:37:00.001-06:00

Today is Addy's 5 month Birthday!

We celebrated last night with a little rice cereal.

I wouldn't really call it a success since most of it ended up on her chin, but she didn't seem to hate it. It may take a little while for her to figure out how to eat off a spoon.

In other Addy news; her hair continues to get lighter and lighter. We might have a little blondie on our hands.

I had to get a little bit more creative with this month's photos session, because although she's not mobile yet, she is a huge wiggle worm and never sits still.

"I just love your hair, what kind of shampoo do you use?"

She would roll all over the living room if we would let her. We have no idea where she gets her endless amounts of energy from since she is still waking up at least twice at night.

Even though we're not getting a lot of sleep, we've never had more fun with her. She is such a joy and we are so thankful for this giggly little girl everyday.

HAPPY 5 MONTHS ADDY GRACE!