Always be joyful...

WHOA! It has literally almost been a year since I last posted. And I seriously haven't thought about blogging in a LONG time. But I have been thinking about it over the last few weeks. So here goes...

Don't have much to write on today...besides being stuck in the house ALL week potty training little miss. I have had to get very creative with how we spend out day. I looked at the clock this morning and swore it was lunch time...but it was only 9:30am. We have sort of been playing in stations. She will want to color and cut for a little bit in the kitchen on the floor...then she will have to go potty and will then get distracted after and go to her room and want to read books in her house...then she will go get a book from the living room and play in her kitchen for a little bit. Then she will be the markers and "cutters" in the kitchen and will want to do that again. And around and around it went this morning. It was fun. Luckily she will do the same thing over and over again and love it still the same, she just wants a lot of attention so I am the only person she has been getting it from all week. I was just thinking that I need to do something productive this week...

I have been feeling a little cramped in our house lately. It is small. I am not complaining, just stating the truth. And I realized things had gotten a bit out of control. The hall closet was a DISASTER. The shelves around the entertainment center were cluttered, our closet was a mess, and the half of a shelf which houses Alyssa's dishes, cups, and such was completely unorganized. I have slowly been working though the "messes" that are driving me crazy. I no longer open up the hall closet and have a mini panic attack. I can find Alyssa's cups, and I enjoy looking at the TV again. I guess I just needed this time to focus on what was stressing me out. 

I also realized that I really want to work on my blog. I do so many different little projects, crafts, cooking and want to share but I am not usually organized enough to do that. So I hope I can work on that. I didn't really set any resolutions this year because I want to be motivated by myself to do the things I want to do, not the fact that I haven't lived up to a goal I set. And I am working on focusing on what God wants for me and our family, not that I want to lose weight, blog more, or whatever. 

I know that I need God, and he will help me to live a life that I am happy with. I decided to have a "year verse." A piece of scripture that will help guide me through the year and years to come:

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Days 5 & 6: Happy baby

I love my daughter. I fell in love with her the moment I found out I was pregnant. I never thought I would be able to love her anymore then I did at that very moment. But since that day I think my heart has grown a little each day in order to fit a little bit more love. Still today, I will look at her and just think how lucky I am. Not only do I have the most supportive, loving, caring, understanding, hardworking husband, I also have the MOST precious daughter. My favorite part of the day is sitting on the living room floor and watching her play. She will walk around and play with different toys, move things around, come up to my and sit on my lap, walk by me and pucker her lips and lean towards me when she wants a kiss, burry her head in my lap to cuddle, and giggle at just about everything. Her smile gives me chills. It reminds me how great life is. It makes me want to wake up every morning and work as hard as I can for her and our family. It reminds me how good people are. It brings me joy and makes everything negative seems so insignificant. It reminds me to love others and always look for the good, because it is there...


Bath time is one of the few times that Joe gets to spend time with Alyssa during the week since he works 5 AM-5 PM. Sometimes though I hang out in the bathroom with them because she is so stinking cute (and I don't get to see my husband a lot during he week). I realized that we hadn't taken any pictures of her in the bath since she has been in the big girl bath. She enjoys bath time so much more now that she can move around. She LOVES it! Can't you tell? 

Day 5

This is from one of my favorite times of the day. This was todays after lunch right before her nap. Usually she is ready for her nap right after lunch of close to it. But today she just wanted to play. Usually when I ask her is she is ready to take a nap she will give Mack and kiss and then walk to her room. Today though, when I asked if she was ready for a nap she shook her head no and kept playing. So I let her. She was having quite the fun time. First she found Joe's wallet and put it in the trunk of her car. Then she out my scarf on. This picture was taken after she took the scarf off of her face, which is how she usually wears them. We aren't sure why, but she will find pretty much anything lying around, especially my scarves, and put them over her head and face and walk around and giggle and play. She will run into things (and the dog) and she just laughs. It is a rather good time for us as we watch. BEfore bed time today she was doing the same thing with my scarf. Then she found one of her hoodies and covered her face with it. That was a little more dangerous because she couldn't see anything at all and it was hard for her to take it off. I am sure she will grow out of this eventually, but we are enjoying it will it lasts :) 

Day 6

Days 3 & 4

I realized earlier today that I never finished my upload yesterday. OUr internet has been very slow lately. I started uploading to my blog yesterday and then decided to do the dishes while I waited. I forgot about it and just went to bed. So here is day 3 and 4. 

Alyssa LOVES the stampers she got in her Christmas stocking. She will sit next to that poster board and just stamp it over and over again. Yesterday she was stamping then got her legos out and starting playing with them. She kept putting them on her head and trying to get them to stay there (I do that with her sometimes and she thinks it is hilarious) It is amazing how she is already repeating SO many things that she sees us do. The other day Joe said she pick up my hair straightener (which was unplugged) and put it up to her head like she was straightening her hair :) My favorite thing by far that she goes though is call for the dog. At first I realized that she started doing a kissing sound to call for him and patting her leg. I realized that is how I call for Mack. She will go to the back door and kiss and part her leg if he is outside. Recently She started standing at the back down stomping her foot, kissing, and patting her leg. I realized that when I want Mack to come in the house, but he won't, I tap my foot on the ground which usually gets him to come in the house. The pace at which she is learning is amazing! We have one SMART cookie on our hands :) 

Day 3

One thing we have been trying to "teach" Alyssa lately is cleaning up her toys. It doesn't always turn out successfully, but I know it is a lifelong lesson she needs to learn. We don't always remember to have her clean them up at the end of the night, life kind of gets in the way. But I try to always remember to do it. Daddy usually cleans up the most, which I tell him he needs to slow down and let her do more, but she is helping so I know she understands. She might put some toys away then take a few out, but it is the process and idea of cleaning that she is learning. 

Day 4

Nothing else too exciting here with us. But watching Alyssa grow and learn is WAY more exciting then anything I could imagine. I have realized that with all the exciting of everyday life I may not post everyday, but I will take pictures everyday and hopefully post at least every other day. I am happy that I am capturing our every day lives and taking time to reflect on them- that is already seeming to be more beneficial then I imagined. 

Couch to 5K- Mermaid Run: Day 2

My husband, Joe, is pretty much a super hero :) Last March he started running. His goal was to run a half-marathon with his dad in November (His dad started running a few years ago but Joe little sister, Cierra runs, and is pretty fast!!) Joe started and really got in to it. He ended up being ready to run a half-marathon in June. He did ok, I was super proud of him! He knew he wanted to do better and did another one in August. He did MUCH better in August. By November he decided he wanted to run the marathon instead of the half-marathon. He did SO well! I was (and still am) SO incredibly proud of him. He looked and felt better after the marathon then he did after his first half. It has been amazing to watch him get into it, enjoy it, and feel better. I decided that I wanted to start running a few months ago. I did it for a while, I got this app, Couch to 5K. I really enjoyed it...but then Alyssa's first birthday began taking up ALL of my extra time. Then it was the holidays. I know...excuses excuses, but when you are making ALL gifts and have SO much to do, running didn't come first. 

I finally decided to start it again today. It felt good. I knew I wanted my photo of the day to have something to do with running, so here are my running shoes. I love my shoes. Not only are they pretty cute ;) but they are super comfy. I have never had the best luck with buying shoes...my feet have always been a little wide, but after Alyssa I couldn't fit in regular shoes anymore. One day while shopping I went into Lady Footlocker and told the lady my problem and she had me try these on. They are magical! They fit great and I don't have certain pains I was having wearing my old shoes. 

I knew I wanted to start running (jogging) again but didn't want it to be a new years resolution because I want to be a role model for Alyssa. I want to he healthy and happy for her. I want it to be something I enjoy doing and doesn't feel like a chore or something I have to do. I do have a goal though...Mermaid Run 5K!!! I can't wait for it! I know it is a ways away, so my goal is to run the 5K, but maybe I will be ready for the 10K by then. But I want it to be something I enjoy, so I will be perfectly happy with the 5K. 

I hope I can be someone Alyssa looks up to in ALL aspects of my life. I love her and want to be around for her and Joe for AS long as I can! 

Happy New Year/Photo of the Day: Day 1

We were so blessed in 2012! I can't even imagine what we can expect in 2013! I do know that I am happy I have the most precious little toddler and most amazing husband to share the year with! 

A little while ago I was browsing pinterest and found a pin for a blog's post called "Project 365 in 2013". I checked it out and have decided I will be doing it! I got my Canon DSLR last year for Christmas and used it SO much when Alyssa was smaller...I took pictures of EVERYTHING she did! But after reading this blog I realized I hadn't been using my camera very much on a regular basis. I mean, I used it for special events, but not on a regular basis to take pictures of Alyssa just being Alyssa. So this year I will take and post a picture of Alyssa on here EVERY day, along with anything else I feel like sharing for the day! 

Day 1: January 1, 2013

Happy New YEAR :)

I wanted to get a good picture of her with the hat on to send to our parents as a Happy New Year Picture, she was NOT having the hat...as soon as I put it on she started to cry. I couldn't help but to take a picture. She is pretty stinking CUTE :) 

I love her. Hopefully I will take more everyday type of pictures after today...this was just too cute to pass up. 

In other news...I saw this really cute pin on pinterest about a lady who planned a day a month for her and her husband. She gave them to him for Christmas or his birthday in an envelope for each  month. I thought this was the best idea ever!! The lady in the post pre-paid for all the dates and had them planned out pretty well. I decided not to pre-pay for them...that would be expensive (Joe doesn't like expensive). So I just picked 12 different dates, put them on card, put them in envelopes and mixed them up and then wrote a month on each. We will open each months envelope on the first of the month. This month we opened....Nightlife at the California Academy of Sciences. It's from 6-10 at night every Thursday. It looks like it will be ALOT of fun! We have always wanted to go. I think we decided to go next Thursday...so hopefully Grandma can babysit! Can't wait to post all about it next week!!

So...until our photo of the day tomorrow....

Alyssa's Very Hungry Caterpillar First Birthday

After two months I have finally found time and decided to spend it updating my blog! I have been wanting to post about Alyssa's first birthday, which happened over 2 months ago. So here goes...

My little princess turning one was a very excited and long anticipated and planned for event! I knew as soon as I started thinking about her first birthday (which was as soon as she was born) that I wanted her to have a "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" party! We threw quite the party, my parents are divorced so are Joe's so there were quite a lot of people there. I told Joe from the start of the planning (which he thought was all a little much) that her first birthday will be the one and only where I invited EVERYONE. It was fun and exciting, but I am now certain it will be the only BIG one! 

I got, as many people do nowadays, got A LOT of my ideas from Pinterest! Here is a link to my Pinterest board for her birthday...Alyssa's First Birthday Board. There is a bunch of Hungry Caterpillar ideas as well as some Minnie Mouse ones too (we went to Disneyland on her actual birthday so I wanted to do a little Minnie Mouse "party" there).

Before I share the party with you I want to thank my father and step-mother for opening their house to use and all the support and help they provided through the planning and party! 

Alyssa with my step-mom, Kathy and dad, Jim. 

Of course I had to make her a special PARTY dress. I found the fabric on amazon, just search hungry caterpillar fabric. I bought it through fabric.com through amazon. I don't have a good picture of her in her dress, but here is the best...

Alyssa and her cousin, Kayla, best picture I have of her dress :)

Ok...on to the PARTY!!!

I knew I wanted to make pretty much all of the decorations and everything for the party, I am not so big or interested in generic "character" stuff. There are some decorations/plates/napkins on line for The Hungry Caterpillar, but I didn't want them. So I knew I was going to need Photoshop, which I used in college and knew how to use, but didn't have. I searched and found out the font used in the book is Bodoni and then I found a free download for for it here.  So Joe got it for me for me for my Birthday this year! I searched Pinterest and Etsy for ideas for the invitation and here is what I came up with...

Invitation

The invitation was a fold over 5x7 card, the picture was on the front (the banner hanging in the back says "You're Invited") and the text was on the inside. I took her picture at my dad's house, which is where we had the party. I made the tutu, the party hat, and the banner. I took about 2 hundred pictures and was so happy with the results. This one was my favorite, but here are a few others I put up and her party...

I decided to really keep to the theme and only serve food from the book...incase you have forgotten what he ate, here is a poster I made from the text of the book and displayed at the party...

The birthday girl and I before the party :)

One of Alyssa's aunties, Mariah, BIG shout out to her for being our wonderful photographer!! 

I made sure to serve at least one of each item the caterpillar eats. Here is what we served: sliced apples, pears, oranges, plums, and strawberries, the cake I made for the guests was chocolate cake, Joe made mini ice cream cone cake pops, individual scoops of ice cream, pickles, assorted cheese, salami, and crackers, the party favors were lollipops, my stepmom made mini cherry pies, sausages and hot dogs with buns, cupcakes, watermelon wedges, and lastly oriental chicken salad and taco salad (for the leaf, hey, lettuce is a leaf). Hopefully I didn't leave anything out :) Oh...and I made Alyssa a mini cake in the shape of an apple (which you can find the recipe here). We served lemonade, iced tea, water, and "spiked" lemonade for the adults. Here are some pictures of the food...

I had many ideas for what I wanted for the cake...changes my mind many times, but am very happy with the result. The bottom cake is just homemade chocolate cake frosted in this buttercream (which is delicious--I will only eat this frosting now!!!), and the top cake I found the recipe and tutorial on Pottery Barn Kids, here. I was a little intimated to ensure it was apple shaped, but I think it turned out well. The bubble gum was a last minute idea, but made the cake!!! 

Now on to decorations...

My dad and step-mom made the posters

I found these buckets in the dollar section at Target!!!

Found the lanterns at Oriental Trading

Saw the paper circle banner a long time ago in a Martha Stewart, but have also seen it on Pinterest, I just got a bunch of paper circles out using my 1" paper cutter and sewed them together leaving a little gap in between each.

Had a few pieces of the fabric leftover from her dress draped over the couches inside. 

These are Alyssa's footprints, we gave it to my dad for Father's Day this year, added perfectly to the decor and theme. 

Got this idea from the Pottery Barn link above and here. I got the lanterns here for cheap, great service!!!

I knew I wanted a general party favor for everyone, adults and kids, and separate party favors for the toddlers and older kids. Everyone got a lollipop with a personalized Thank you sticker...

Got them on amazon, made the stickers in work using address labels folded around the stick

Green homemade edible finger paint for the toddlers in mini 4 oz. mason jars. 

Top of the playdough for older kids

Homemade play dough caterpillars

We also played a few games at the party. It was such nice weather, which was surprising, I prayed for weeks, for the middle of October. We were either going to have great weather or horrible! We have GREAT!!! Look how sunny it was! We did bobbing for apples, I made a bunch of clothespin caterpillars and hid them outside, and we had the piñata. Only one person was able to get an apple, but all the boys had fun trying!!! I had a few prizes, Hungry Caterpillar socks and writing pads from Target dollar section and a halloween cookie plate I made with a package of Oreos, and a Halloween cup. 

My girlfriend's son, Dominic, tried so hard (and got soaking wet) trying to get an apple. I think this was the first time any of the kids had done this...

Looking for caterpillars!!!

The birthday girl and her "1" piñata Auntie lisa got!!! 

SUGAR?!?!?!? For those of you who know me, you know Alyssa had NEVER had sugar (other then naturally occuring sugar in fruits and such). So her birthday cake was a big deal to me. I was a little worried once it was cake time, because it was also time for her second nap, it didn't start out to well, she wasn't really having it. But once she really got a taste of it she went to town. I took the cake away after a while, she started getting slow and seemed just to be eating because it was there, not because she wanted it or was enjoying it at all. But it was a success and it was quite fun!!! Loved that the frosting was red, you could totally see it all over her face and hands!!!

Mom, what is this nonsense? 

That was good :)

There were quite a few kiddos and adults, we had around 15 kids and 40 adults, so my step-mom and I made sure we created plenty of space for people to visit and enjoy themselves. The have a great brick "wall" around the background which we put mats on for seating and put an area rug in the corner with toys for the babies. It was the perfect center for people to gather, talk, eat, play, and have fun! Kids were able to play without too much worry because they were in a "corner." 

Kiddos playing inside

Outside "play area" created with an area rug in the corner of the yard. 

Table for the bigger kids to eat.

What I didn't get a picture of were the tables and where everyone sat. I didn't do much decorating there, the paper lantern caterpillar was hanging there, but o the tables I just spread out a bunch of pictures of Alyssa's first year. I made sure to have a bunch of pictures every where, made for great decorations, since the party was all about HER!!! 

Alyssa and her cousin Oli playing at the Water table, I was concerned about having with babies, but Alyssa loved it (and got soaked!!!)

I also had a copy of the book on the gift table with a sign asking people to sign the book with a pieace of advice or note to Alyssa. I didn't get a picture of it, but I am SO glad I did it because it is so cute and fun to read all the notes people wrote. Can't wait until she is old enough to read them!! 

SO...thanks to many wonderful people our precious little angel's first birthday was quite a success. I want to again thank everyone who attended and especially everyone who helped! Again, my dad and step-mom for opening their house to us and helping in so many countless ways with the party, my mom and mother-in-law for helping with the food, Joes sister and brother-in-law for manning the BBQ, and more then ever....JOE! For being the most amazing husband and father anyone could ask for. He was quite hesitant with the whole BIG party, but I think he was happy in the end. I am so grateful for all the time, money, support, and love he provided the past year. I love him. Hopefully I didn't forget to thank anyone, but if I did...THANKS :)

Enjoying her party, she is the cutest little butterfly EVER :)