#4 Sister, Sister

My sisters! Of course, I always wanted a brother but I'm not sure I could live without either one of them. They are crazy and different in their own way. Holly is nice, caring, funnier than hell, a great friend and wants nothing more than to find the man of her dreams...and she will and it will be worth the wait! She has always been there for me, when we both were going thru bad relationship drama we supported each other. Of course, we don't always get along but sisters aren't supposed to!

Samantha, was always my little brother growing up. Loved fighting, Ninja Turtles, tae kwon do and hated dresses or anything girly. Now she is actually a girl! Make-up, short tight shirts, flirting, oh yeah the boys love her. I was gone at college during a lot of Samanthas 'growing up' so I missed a lot of the stuff that she went thru. But we get along pretty good. I try to stay out of her business b/c my mom and Holly do enough worrying for all of us!

I think they are both excited to be aunts and I'm lucky to have them around for my baby-sitting needs. I love my sisters even when they drive me crazy and I hope they know that I'm always here for them. I'm kinda glad I didn't get stuck with a brother! :)

#3 - Ma and Pa

I think I have the best parents in the world. They do everything for us girls. I hope that I can be a great mother to my kids, as my mom has been to us. Of course, she can be annoying.....I'm sure most mothers are. My dad is always more than willing to help change the oil in our cars, come over when we need help lifting something or lets us borrow his truck. When I went away to college is when I first began to appreicate my parents, I think most kids are probably like that.And now that we have Presley, Steve and I realize how lucky we are to have my parents near us. They love to watch her and are more than willing to take her for a couple hours while we sleep! She is already spoiled rotten by grandma...the way it probably should be! They do anything and everything for us and I know they will for Presley too.

Both of my sisters have moved back home during different times and my parents have welcomed them, with a little sarcasm of course, but that is expected of my family. They loan us money when needed, whether it be emergencies, a car, a laptop, education, getting married. They don't have a lot of money, but they are willing to work and make sacrifices for their kids and I hope that one day I'm able to do that for my kids. My parents have been married 30+ years. They are what a marriage should be and I congratulate them. With divorce rates the way they are it is hard to find couples married that long and I'm so thankful to have them as role models of how a marriage should and could be. Don't get me wrong, it's not all romance and happiness but they make it work! People give up too easily! My dad is a truck driver so he works weird hours, my mom has slept on the couch for years, but my dad will still bring my mom flowers on the anniversary of their first date! It can be hard, and I think people think marriage fixes all your problems. It doesn't! It's good to disagree and discuss, but remember to have fun along the way. Tease each other, flirt with one another and always make each other laugh!

Anyway, I hope everyone has an example of a good marriage in their lives! and are lucky enough to have parents as great as mine. You rock, ma and pa!

#2 - Baby Presley

Wow, how the last 10 months have flown by. We are so blessed to have an adorable, healthy baby girl. Who already has an attitude, she knows what she wants and when she wants it. This whole parenting thing is a little surreal and I think we are still getting used to it. We are very lucky to have this little girl in our lives and I know as time goes on we'll be even more blessed by her.
Our lives have changed. We can no longer sleep in. We can't go out like we used to. I don't think Steve has made is weekly trip to Home Depot since you've been here. As tough as it seems, as tired we get and as much as you scream and cry....we are very lucky parents and it is totally worth it. We love you Presley Grace!................but when will you sleep thru the night? :)

Absolutely #1...even though these are in no particular order!

Steve. What can I say? I am truly grateful to have married my best friend. Someone who makes me laugh and amazes me everyday. He is cute, funny, sweet, hard-working (if you get off work at 3:30, are you bored by 4? NO? He is! I think it's A.D.D), loyal, dedicated, opinionated, a great cook (he is the only man I know that would rather make his own pasta and grate his own chesse), stubborn, outspoken, smart (the only guy I know that can tell you everything about cooking, construction, paint, furniture, fishing, football, clothes AND shoes!), sarcastic....I love everything about him, even if he can drive me crazy at times :)

We've been thru some ups and downs, good times and bad...lucky for us the bad times are few and far between!Steve, I am very lucky to have found you and very lucky that you decided to stick with me! :) I look at our wedding pictures and realize that day was for sure, the happiest day of my life. I am so excited to be your wife for the years we have ahead of us. Our love is the kind that people take for granted, that people don't take the time to realize how lucky they are or what they have until it is too late. I want us to be this happy everyday and be thankful that we have found each other. I love you, as your wife and friend. September 22nd, 2007 :)

Happy thoughts!

yeah yeah, I know I'm negative sometimes...a lot of times.....most of the time...maybe I'm just spoiled rotten and don't realize it. Anyway, I recently came across a blog that was listing the top 10 things to be grateful for in her life, so I've decided to give it a shot too. To realize all the good things I have and stop worrying and complaining about the little things that really make no difference to how I live my life. I also came across an email forward about the Presidents approval rating and how most US citizens aren't happy with the economy..blah,blah....and then it went on to list all the reasons that we should be happy. For example, having homes, food to eat, emergency care, education...we have all these things and yet we are still unhappy with the ways our lives are. I don't want to be one of those ungrateful people, so I thought this task might help me out. Can you list 10 things that you are extremely grateful for? Now.....where do I start?

1 month

Presley is now 1 month old. We are slowing getting her to sleep in the bassinet or in the crib. I'm basically sleeping on the couch with her either in the bassinet or the bouncy seat. I feel bad if she wakes Steve up when he has to work in the morning. Boy that will change when I have to go back to work.

Our one month old....

• loves to be held and cuddled
• hates baths or being naked....even getting her diaper changed sends her into tears, but this is getting better
• is finally out of premie clothes and now into newborn clothes, 0-3 months are still a little big.
• drinks about 3 oz, every 3 hours....sometimes more, sometimes less. Once I think she is on more of a schedule, she changes it up.
• she likes the sound of running water, but is too smart to fall for the white noise, or running water from the sound machines.
• is losing her hair. This bothers me, I know it will grow back but with the hair Steve and I have I just didn't think we'd have a bald baby!
• has a nickname of Spaz. Every night around dinner our baby changes into Spaz...really she's probably a little colicky.
• has a cuter nickname of Peanut, Steve calls her this, I think it's cute.

I think we are all still adjusting to our family of 3, but we are slowly getting used to it. In another month it will seem even easier.....right?

Baby mullet!

Presley is losing her hair but only on top....see her hairline! But the back doesn'tl look too bad.