2011

2011

It was quite the year...

full of ups,

and downs. 

...

A few highlights...

Jan - Frank and I finally got engaged after over 3 years of dating and 1 baby later. We set a date July wedding date. And Frank turned the big 3-0.

Feb - We moved into our new apartment. Hello dishwasher and washer and dryer!

Mar - I turned 24.

April - Learned a big lesson in not taking anything or anyone for granted when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.

July - We got married! And our little man turned the big 1! 

Aug - Our little guy started walking. Life has never been the same.

Sept - I started a new job.

Nov - I hosted a holiday at our house for the first time. This was also my first experience cooking a turkey!

Bye Bye 2011. Hello 2012.

xoxo,

Ashley

thoughts on c-section

Do you ever read something that just resonates with you so much you feel the need to share it? This blog post did just that for me. It's about the right to a "natural" child birth, in essence, being taken away from you when your only option becomes a c-section delivery.

Unfortunately, I will never be able to have that birth experience. Sure, I could try for a VBAC, but to me, the risks are not worth it. I've accepted the fact that our next little one will be born via c-section, but I'd be lying if I said that here, 17 months later, I didn't still feel "robbed" from that experience I had always envisioned childbirth to be.

Below she explains so perfectly what I've never been able to put into words:

"Having a c-section is everything I did not want in this birth.  Its not about having a scar and its not even about being scared to go through a surgery, although I'm not too excited about that either.
It is about my right as a woman.
I was made for this.  My body was made for this.  I have always imagined the moment of bringing my sweet babies in to the world as the end result of laboring and working so hard to get their little bodies out of me.  I imagined being sweaty and being cheered on with my husband by my side and showing the world that I am a warrior woman who can do anything.  It is about years of dreaming of that moment only now to have it changed.  It is about using my body exactly the way my Heavenly Father intended for it to be used.
Now, that choice is not mine and I am sad."

-Rachel @ Tunes and Spoons

I love this picture of me holding my sweet angel for the first time, but that is not how I wanted it to be. I didn't want it to be 3 hours after he was born and in the middle of the hallway. That's not how it's meant to be.

There is a sort of mourning process that many women go through that have unplanned c-sections, and ya know what? Some days I think I'm still going through it. And I don't think that's a bad thing or that uncommon, really.

xoxo,

Ashley

Our Christmas Weekend

This Christmas was one of the best I've had in awhile because,

There's nothing like having your own kids to bring back some of that magic to Christmas that we lose as the years go by.

This year we started some of our own traditions, decided to nix some and learned that you sometimes have to let go of the idea of everything being perfect. 

We had such a special Christmas weekend this year.

An imperfectly, perfect Christmas it was!

...

Thursday we went to visit Santa and then, after supper went down to Lakeside park to check out the Christmas light show.

The Santa at the mall wasn't as good as last year's but, his lack of enthusiasm coupled with Morgan's "don't touch me attitude" made for a funny picture. {Lesson # 1 in letting go of the idea of "perfect"}

The light show was great and Morgan loved the music. This was our first year seeing it, but it definitely won't be our last!

...

Friday we went to a Christmas get together for my dad's side of the family. I think I snapped two pictures the whole time and I didn't make it in any of them (and I was all made up with my hair done - Murphy's law). Oh well. {Lesson 2}

...

Saturday. Christmas Eve. 

Morgan and I spent the day playing with his new toys from Fri night.

When Daddy got home we opened up our stockings and enjoyed 

a homemade Chinese dinner with  rice pudding for dessert. 

Next, year we'll order the Chinese in - for sure. {Lesson 3}

Once again, I didn't make it into any of the pics. Boo. 

I also had to go to work Christmas Eve night 11:15pm until 7:15am Christmas morning...Frank worked 6am-2pm Christmas day.

...

Sunday. Christmas morning.

I get off work and rush over to my parents to wish my little man a Merry Christmas! I was dead tired. Oh well. {Lesson 4}. 

My dad got forced overtime and didn't get home until the afternoon when he had to go to bed shortly there after. So it goes {Lesson 5}.

I forgot my camera at home. Damn it. Oh well {Lesson 6}. 

We laid around all day. Snacked on Cinnamon Rolls and pretzel M&M's.  Heck yes. And enjoyed the company of Uncle Brian and Grandma. 

I was too tired and lazy to ever shower and change out of my scrubs, so the pics I did get in today were not at all flattering. Who cares {Lesson 7}.

When Frank got off (and brought my camera!) we opened presents (really fast because we were starving! haha) and stuffed our faces with a delicious dinner my mom slaved away at all day long. 

Afterwards, we all laid around lounging and playing with new toys as Uncle Brian and Frank watched silly youtube videos on the ipad.

Ahh, yes indeed, it was a perfect Christmas weekend. 

xoxo,

Ashley

{photo: Capture Life Moments}

xoxo,

Ashley

christmas randomness

Remember the Christmas book Advent calendar? 

Well, there are 5 days left until Christmas

and all of our books have been unwrapped.

Yep, our little man really, really enjoyed the 

book advent calendar it seems. 

And it's also given him lots of gift unwrapping practice 

for the big day :)

...

Our little guy lost his cute winter hat with ear flaps at Walmart the other day,

so we had to get him a new one.

Have to keep our favorite little reindeer warm!

...

Some of my favorite ornaments that deck our tree.

xoxo,

Ashley

Gift Wrapping Ideas - Part 2

Gift bags.

What you use when you...

a. have an odd sized gift to wrap

or

b. are too lazy to futz with wrapping paper and tape

The latter usually applies to me.

I found these gift bags 2 for $1 at Dollar Tree.

The little ornaments also are from there. 

And the twine is once again, from The Twinery.

xoxo,

Ashley

my happy

1. A job where I feel appreciated for the work I do.  2. This conversation: Us: "Morgan how old are you?" {Morgan holds up one finger} Us: "Are you one?" Morgan: "Yea". That kid is so stinkin' smart and never ceases to amaze me.  3. Morgan perched on my lap last night as I ate my salad for dinner, and he helped himself to it too.  4. Even better? His face when he popped a salty greek olive in his mouth from that salad. Priceless.  5. My new iPad. I'm in love with it.  6. Surprising my hubby with a "just because" mushy card on the seat of his car this morning. I hope he loved it and knows how much I love and appreciate every thing he does for us.  7. Morgan playing with my phone last night and managing to call Grandpa. Then, proceeding to walk around chatting with him for about 15 minutes. That was an interesting conversation filled with lots of "Hewwwo's", "Yeah's", and "Buh's".  8. Finding the perfect gift for someone on my list.  9. The huge smile I get when I come in the door from work in the morning.  10. Sleeping for 9 hours straight last night. At night. Ahhh. Heaven. 

xoxo,

Ashley

Gift Wrapping Ideas - Part 1

You know what that best part of gift giving and receiving is for me?

Fun packaging! 

It doesn't matter what the gift is as long as it's thoughtful

and comes wrapped up in beautiful packaging.

So I bring to you my first idea for fun, beautiful Christmas wrapping.

{Disclaimer - Inspiration was obviously drawn from many different sources, and most likely the result of endless hours searching Pinterest}

...

I buy the brown Kraft paper at the Dollar Tree for $1 a roll! {obviously} Wrap the gift in this and then glue on the white paper doilies which I purchased at a discount party store, but you can find them at most craft stores too. My twine was purchased at this lovely store: The Twinery And my gift tags are hand stamped shipping tags distressed with distress ink.

Happy Wrapping!

xoxo,

Ashley

.embracing the camera.

These pictures turned out kind of blurry because I had a rambunctious little guy in my lap and the lighting sucks, 

but I still love them.

xoxo,

Ashley

Deck the Halls

I thought I'd jump on the "come see my Christmas decor" bandwagon.

So, welcome to my home...

If you knocked on my apartment door you'd see 

this wreath that I made.

I'm still not sure if I'm happy with the way it turned out, 

but it's growing on me.

{Inspiration here}

You'd see my completely disproportionate  "fantel" 

hanging above my TV.

And if you're lucky, you might find my boys admiring the tree.

And our stockings hung by the chimney with care.

You'd find my 1st attempt at paper snowflakes since elementary school hanging over the table.

My table centerpiece

And see my book paper chain garland.

....my book shelf topped with our Christmas countdown.

And our Christmas cards hanging from 

ribbon wrapped cabinets in the kitchen.

{That's ours on the top left!}

Now, sit down and stay awhile, I'll brew you a hot cup of cocoa or coffee, whichever you prefer :)

xoxo,

Ashley