Is it really almost 2012?

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So long 2011! Here's to 2012 and the new memories it brings along. Y'all have a wonderful and memorable day ringing in the new year with friends and loved ones.

A year ago...

We had our family pictures done on Monday and I can't help but look back of what our family was like a year ago. Below is a picture from our session last year. A lot has changed since then but one thing that remains the same is how thankful I am for having for having these two people in my life!

Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all! I hope that the holiday season is spent with loved ones all around you.

Starlight Snowflakes Christmas Card

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Cartoons & Football

Kayla loves cartoons. It's a great distraction when I'm getting ready in the morning and when I want to stay in bed a little longer. We also watch a lot of football on the weekends and I might have said "it's football Sunday" a number of times.

Here's how two convos went yesterday and today.

Scene: I'm getting ready. J's still in bed 'cause he's off. Kayla was in her room reading a book.
M: Kayla, come in here. Daddy's watching cartoons.
K: No, he's watching football Sunday.

Scene: K climbed in bed with us before we all got up to get ready for work. J turned on the tv and 3rd and Bird was on.
M: I don't like 3rd and Bird.
K: You don't like it, mommy?
M: No.
K: You like football Sunday?

Yup, we start them young with football. Ha!

Fall, where are you?

I am ready for cooler temps, a warm pumpkin spice latte, sweaters, jeans & Ugg boots. There is just no way that I can sit there and sip on a warm cup of latte while my hair is out to here due to humidity! I know the fall is coming soon but I want it NOW!

Source: terragalleria.com via Karissa on Pinterest

Source: re-nest.com via Karissa on Pinterest

Source: southerntots.com via Karissa on Pinterest

First day of school anxiety

My insomnia is at an all time high tonight. I'm off tomorrow due to a very long work-week so I'm not quite sure if my brain is playing tricks on me to stay up since it's a non-work night. I'm not even watching tv and I feel like I've played on the Internet enough.

Kayla's move to the next classroom tomorrow is giving me major anxiety and staying up longer is not helping me! I hate that I'm feeling this way. Somehow, I feel like I'm transferring my anxiety towards her and that's the last thing I want!

I know Kayla will do great! She always has. She can make friends with a quickness and has always adapted well. Yes, she's shy in the beginning but she breaks out of her shell later on. This will be her 3rd classroom move and two of her friends in her previous class will be with her. She will be with children who are a bit older than her. She will learn more and make new friends. I consider tomorrow her first day of school. 

I know she'll be just fine but the mommy in me still worries. A lot. I know this feeling will never go away even if it's her first day in kindergarten, high school and even college. So tomorrow, be thinking about my girl (and me!), that we make it through the day just fine. 

And yes, you better believe I'm scooping her up early right after nap time.

Sickies, boat & a breakfast date

Kayla is not picky when it comes to food especially when it comes to anything sweet. When she turned down M&M's on Saturday after dinner, I knew something was up. She felt a little warm and had a low grade temp. She didn't eat well all day on Sunday but her fever finally broke this morning so I took her out for a bit.

We drove over to Dunkin' Donuts for and iced coffee, a donut for her and a breakfast sandwich for me. I knew she was starting to feel a little better since she couldn't stop eating the breakfast sandwich. We drove over downtown so she can go see the big boat and finish her breakfast.









We might run out again later. Carter's is having a huge sale and baby girl needs school clothes that don't break the bank.

1 year being in a new city anniversary!

Yup, that's right! We have been here 1 full year. Today marks the year anniversary of when we made that one and a half hour trek down 64 East. We left everything behind - our family & what we have known our whole lives (for J at least. Not in my case. I was born and raised 'til I was 16 in a totally different country) to start something new and different.

A year later, I am still discovering new things and finding my way around town. I know where to go for my basic needs of grocery store, Starbucks, Target, shopping and restaurants. I am at a job that I love in a city that I am able to tolerate and hopefully love one day.

Do I miss Richmond? Absolutely!

Do I regret moving? Not one bit.
Will I do it again? More than likely, yes, but maybe to a different city.