Is fall falling??

When Claire goes to my mom's house in the morning, I'm leaving around 6:30am. It is so stinking dark and chilly!! Makes me super excited about fall!! I see a few orange leaves on the ground and I can't help but think about football, brunswick stew, and crisp, cool air!! Can you believe that Claire was that small (picture above) and now she is sassy, funny, and running!?! I can't believe it either! She is way too funny!

I'm smack dab in the middle of cheerleading season, but nothing is better than coming home from a long, hard day at the office/cheerleading to see my sweet girl and to get a big, fat kiss!! She is little Miss Independent and she wants to climb, run, etc on everything! For any new moms out there, enjoy every moment. I remember I would almost wish away Claire's baby time because I couldn't wait for her to hit her next milestone. Now I wish I would have made the most of every day.

Now to change the subject- I'm getting the decorating itch back! Jeff and I have talked about really doing some landscaping this fall because my yard looks crazy! Stupid weeds suck! I want to also redo my porch and to put some better porch furniture out there. So excited! Time to make a new wreath!

Until next time... :o)

SUPER MOM

Everyone has their own worries, problems, etc. So this is not my complain session, but rather one main question: How in the world do women do it? How do we- wash the clothes, pack the bags, pack the lunches, drive everywhere, work full time, make the family/hubby happy, and be good at all of it. I have this problem where my expectations for my life are unrealistic. I currently work full time as a counselor for a high school, which I absolutely love, and I'm also the Varsity Football and Varsity Competition coach. I say that I coach, but my cheer moms really do most of it. I'm thankful for them because I wouldn't be able to survive! I do have this day dream where I get to leave work at 3:45- like everyone else- and I go pick up Claire and we have a great afternoon together. After football season, I'll be able to do this! If anyone has the magical lottery numbers or happen to know how to get rich quick, it'd be much appreciated!!!

12 month Dr. Visit

Sweet Claire Bear had her 12 month check up today! Jeff and I like to guess what her height and weight is before we go in. Boy, was I totally wrong! I thought she'd be under 30" and over 23 lbs. This are the official stats:
Height: 30"
Weight: 21.5 lbs

What a skinny minnie! Part of the reason why she's not bigger is because she's a picky eater. She loves strawberries one minute, then she's throwing them at the puppy the next. She's still not talking, but she can play peek-a-boo, patty cake, and barks at the dog. She's very active and loves to run, jump, and play! So thankful for my sweet little girl!

Back to School

Going back to school is bitter sweet. Yes, I absolutely love my job and I love working with the kids; but, I really love spending time with my sweet little girl! Isn't she gorgeous! We go for her one year check up this thursday and I can't wait to see how much she's grown and developed! I love how she will hug me, kiss me, and crawl up in my lap. She loves her daddy and I even caught her petting the puppy the other day! Too cute! I know it's sad to say, but I am counting down the days until summer vacation. The positive is we have Labor day weekend in two weeks and then a full week off two weeks after that! We're going to the beach with all of our wonderful family! One whole week at a gorgeous house with a pool by the beach- can't wait!

Side note: This weekend I got to hang with my niece Era. I know that her parents know how friggin cute she is, but I never realized it until that day. She is seriously a wonderfully funny and cute baby! She would give me kisses and she kept saying, "OUT!" (from the itsy bitsy spider and how the rain washed the spider OUT!). Too cute! I love that she and Claire get to be close!

So here are the positives about school- I get to still be with my wonderful guidance gals! I have a new office that has a window! I get to be a counselor this year! I really like our new administrators and they are very efficient and wonderful! I have fun!

Claire's Birthday Party!!!

Claire's first birthday party was wonderful!! We had pink and green everywhere and yummy food! I loved spending time with my friends and family and especially the bithday girl! Here are some of the fun things Claire does now: Walk (yep, two days before her birthday), crawl, mimmick words, throwing a ball, giggling, laughing out loud, and so much more! So blessed to have such a wonderful girl!

Claire's invitation:


First birthday cupcake!


Emily Lothner is rediculously talented! Here is a pic of her cute cupcakes that were friggin' delish!


Birthday cupcake time!


Birthday girl eating her cute cupcake! She did really well- didn't really dig into it, but she would eat it if I fed it to her.

The Real Housewives of East Cobb

Yep! Bravo contacted me and they want me to be on a new Housewives show! HA! Yeah right, but don't think for one minute I would turn that offer down. As I was watching reruns of the Real Housewives of New York (my favorite housewives) today, I thought what would it be like if people could see what I really did all day? So here goes...
7:00- Roll out of bed and get baby and bottle
7:15- Play with baby and annoy her while she tries to drink her bottle
7:30- Continue to play with baby after bottle is finished and husband gets ready for work
8:00- Go downstairs and make breakfast for Claire and myself
8:30- Walking with Claire
9:30- Pull weeds out of my lawn while baby downs another bottle
10:00- Baby nap time and Mommy get ready time
11:15- Baby is up from her nap. I load up the car and baby to go to lunch with Jeff
12:00- Lunch with Jeff
1:00- Lunch done, stop by homedepot and I have to change a smelly diaper
1:30- Finally leave and I have a screaming baby in the car
2:00- Baby still screaming. My efforts to calm baby do not work so I try to distract her with a toy
2:30- Efforts to distract baby work and she is playing
3:00- Try to put baby down for a nap. After about 15 minutes of screaming/ crying/ playing in her crib, I watch as my almost 1 year old baby bonks her head on the crib sending her into histerics
3:15- I pick up baby and sing her to sleep with the 'ABC' song
3:20- Baby naps while Mommy watches Bravo
4:20- Baby wakes up histerical. No amount of holding, food, etc work. I finally get her to play with some random toy.
5:00- Desperate phone calls to Daddy start while we continue to play.
5:40- Doggie gets a little too 'playful' with baby
5:50- Feed baby pears and baby bel cheese
6:15- Daddy comes home and plays with Claire
6:30- Daddy bathes Claire, gives her a bottle, and puts her in bed while Mommy makes food.
7:00 Baby asleep, Mommy and Daddy eat and enjoy a refreshing adult beverage.

So I ask you, where are my couture costume parties and million dollar condos? Why am I not invited to some posh event in the Hamptons? Geeze, no justice in this world! But, if I had some money, I'd stay at home in a heartbeat just to do this... every day. I love every moment of it and I love seeing what new thing Claire will do next.

School is going to start soon!

Yep... school is just around the corner! The best part about my job is summer, but what comes 2nd is the fact that we get to "start over" every year. Every year we say our good byes to students who are anxious to start their post graduation plans and hello to the students who are ready to become a "teenager." One of the best things I heard from another counselor is that she never creates a "new year resolution, " but she creates a "back to school resolution." I L.O.V.E. this idea! How great! My relaxing summer gives way to a hectic, yet exciting school year and I get to start over! So what are my resolutions?
1. The top of my list is not to complain. Last year I spent most of the time upset, crying, complaining, etc over the job situation. I'm saying this now: Jesus, I'd really appreciate having another job, but I don't want to complain and have a bad year because of it. So I'm letting it go- all the stress, opinions, etc.
2. Not let really icky people get to me. I'm doing the best that I can do.
3. I will not eat cafeteria food. Nothing good comes from the cafeteria. Yes, the "government" approves it, but crapy pizza and crusty nachos are NOT going in my tummy!
4. I'm going to do more classroom guidance.
5. Stay out of other's business! When I walk around the school, people tell me things. I'm going to stay in my part of the school this year.

So what are your new school resolutions?