She's just a KID

I think some people don't have it in them to be a stay at home parent, like my husband thinks it's easy, but when it comes down to it, he can even admit that he wouldn't be able to do it for more than a day. It takes so much love and patience. Not saying my husband doesn't love our Angel. But, you have to have that nurture in you (what most women have). You have patience, because of how much you love your child.

Like today... I fed Angeline at her high chair, made sure she ate as I was making myself grilled cheese. (I haven't ate all day) She finishes, and I place her on the ground, and get my grilled cheese on a plate, take my nice Grape Fanta and go sit on the couch. She starts whinning like she wants my food, I simply tell her "no". Grape Fanta in one hand, the plate on my lap. She grabs my plate, I yank it back so it doesn't fall to the ground, and then my drink falls right on top of the plate (UPSIDE DOWN). All in my lap, wet... cold. I jump up immediately, because our couch is only one month old, I didn't want a drop of it to get on the couch.. But oh well, it did. I look at her, and I have to breathe for a second, remind myself that my child is only one... She doesn't know any better, and if she did, it'd have been an accident because no way would she want to dump my drink on me because I didn't want to give her a bite of my sandwhich... Righhhht? So I clean it up, scrub the couch. I had ONE more slice of cheese in the fridge (G-O-D looking out for me) and made myself another sandwich. She didn't even mess with me after that, and luckily the couch didn't stain. But I know for sure I just got tested on patience of motherhood and I passed.

I don't want to be that parent who is always saying "no", "stop", "what are you doing", "you can't do that".... I mean I am raising my child into a well civilan, don't worry! And she won't be at the store hollering and getting away with it. But, I also feel like a kid is a kid. I want her to get dirty, I can see the joy in her pulling out all the stuff in the cabinets, and me having to put it back in for her to only pull it right back out. I can see the giggles as she drops food on the floor from her high chair as I just mopped. And I can't get mad, she's too happy. I think my husband has realized that stuff can't always stay as clean as he wants it. I have seen parents getting so mad at their child, and I understand. I'm not going to say it's not always frustrating, or you're tired but you have to understand they don't know much but their happy and my daughter gets really upset when she sees that I'm upset.

So if you're reading this and today you feel like you're at your wits end with cleaning up a mess. Just don't. Today is a free pass, let them be a kid. You have tomorrow to clean :)

Oh, and I hope I'm saying this when I have 2 kids on my hands... But for now it's only one child's mess!

It was messy, but I am blessed for her full tummy!

She got in her Graduates Puffs and it was EVERYWHERE!

Why I don't want my daughter believing in Prince Charming...

Growing up, you get told fairy tales, you watch all the Disney movies,.. Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Cinderella... At a young age, we already know the love we want, the type of man to sweep us off our feet. We have a fairy tale that we want to come true, but who really gets that? The man you'll get will work, he will come home tired and hungry. The only real movie I saw was Shrek, he wasn't the nicest man on the planet, he was annoying, and their are times y'all are going to fight because quite frankly he's an idiot. But you love him, deep down he has a wonderful heart and all he needs is love. He may have saved you from a tower, but you saved him from a life of misery and loneliness. In other fairy tales, it shows the man saving the woman, not the other way around.... And in reality, once they got in a fight he'd bring up how he saved you by kissing you or else your little butt would still be sleeping.

I want Angeline to have a really good man. Someone who appreciates her in every way. But I want her to also know every day is not a walk in the park. You will get on his nerves, just like he will get on yours. You will make mistakes, and so will he. If you both never fight, then you will be the first couple that has every accomplished that. There isn't a fairy tale prince charming out there, we all have flaws, and none of us are perfect.

Valentines Day is Special

Source: Pinterest

As a kid, you'd get valentines card for your class, and a pack of sweethearts (in my opinion, are disgusting), you'd have a huge classroom party, and I never heard once that this is so stupid. We loved it. Once, you get to middle school/ high school, you have a crush, you exchange teddy bears and chocolates... You were happy to get loved at school. Now people complain every year on Valentines Day... "Why is it such a big deal?" "Every day should be Valentines Day". But the reality of it, or at least in my life, it can't be every single day. Yes, my husband and I love each other very much, but we don't have the ability to be able to dress up, get a babysitter and go out on a date. Now, I'm not saying you have to go out to have a good time, but since we don't get to do it very often since we have a one year old, I get very excited for Valentines! We always go see a movie, which for this year we will be seeing Fifty Shades of Grey (every woman's dreams, or maybe not) and we go to a very expensive steakhouse (since not every day, you can spend $100 on one meal). We make another memory for the book and really get to spend time with each other.

Source: Pinterest
Cute little idea for your loved one to put sticky notes on the mirror in the bathroom of why you love him/ her. 

Source: Pinterest
I think my husband would love this, and a wonderful keepsake.

My mom loves holidays, each and every one of them, she made sure to make it special for my siblings and I, and that's how I know I got my love for holidays also because of her. Every Valentines Day, she'd make us a small gift basket, so who cares if you did or didn't have a crush give you anything, my good ol' Mom never left us feeling unloved on this "special day". So for this year, my daughter will only be a year (13 months to be exact) so, I will make her something small with goodies, and toys from the dollar store. She won't remember, but I will, and one day she will have the same love for holidays. 

Source: PinterestI saw this cute craft idea on Pinterest, that I think I'll do with Angeline, and then frame it! 

Source: Pinterest
I think I'll take pictures of Angeline with a back drop like this for Valentines Day, and her holding a sign saying 10 cents for kisses

My Letter to ANGELine (HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY)

YOU ARE NOW ONE! My healthy Angel. I miss the nights where the only way you'd sleep is right under my chin and so close to my beating heart. Now, you are growing more independent and as long as the binkie is in your mouth, you will go to sleep. I love the way your eyes squint as you smile. I love your little laugh even when it's fake. I love the mean mugs/ face expressions you make (FYI: it won't be cute when you're 15) You are a beautiful Angel truly. Not only by looks... You are heavenly inside and out. I get exhausted, not every day is a walk in the park for a stay at home mama. I don't get to sleep in. I can't go out whenever I want, without having the responsibility of a mom and getting anxiety because you're not in arms reach. Oh & eating my food with you around is not possible. But I love waking up early seeing you with the biggest smile in your crib waiting for me. I love spending my Saturday night watching you play and grow. I love sharing my food with you as we watch TV together. You make life meaningful. I can't even imagine my life without you. One day, you will be going to school, eventually putting on makeup... Liking boys, dating boys.... (Don't worry, we will warm up daddy on that)... Graduating and starting your own life. My wish for you is that you cherish and experience life, it's not perfect... And you will make mistakes, you will go through things that you don't think you can get past, but you can! Put GOD first in everything you do, and I promise you can get through everything. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight (PROVERBS 3:5) And I am always here for you, even when I'm no longer physically beside you. But for now you are my little baby and I WILL cherish this/ these moments. You got/ get me through my worst days, and I'm so grateful and blessed God gave me you! I love you, Angel. HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY!

On the 8th of January, I woke her up to balloons!

IHOP for breakfast!

I didn't take a picture of the set up, but I framed this and had hot chocolate with toppings for the guests!

Favors I made, Hot Cocoa in Gerber jars! Spray paint lids.

We are proud parents to a ONE YEAR OLD!

High School Friend, Kylie!

My high school friend Liz Le!

Cupcake smash? Sort of.

Emma (her aunt/ BFF) wrote this for Angeline

Emma!

Uncle Joey and Emma!

I made this by hand, her first year old poster!

Thankful for everyone who came, and all the love ANGELINE has!

What I want ANGELine to know

Keep your dreams up high, don't let anyone tell you differently of what you desire.

Love - I met your daddy when I was 14... I immediately assumed he was the one for me. I honestly felt like I needed him to breathe. He's everything. People would ask me "do you really think y'all are going to get married" and without a doubt it was always "yes" and people would think I was dumb. I was in the 8th grade! I will try my best when you are so young, to believe your love for some other boy. I will try to understand that I was you once and being young in love is very possible! 

Be your age. At 12, I started wishing I could hurry up and grow up. I didn't want rules tied down to me. It was stupid, I thought. I wanted to be grown. At 12, people would think I was 16 by the way I looked. I did stuff, I shouldn't have. That I may tell you one day or may not. Now 20, I wished I was younger. There's no reason to rush life, you will be the age in no time. Believe me with becoming an adult, you can't be so carefree. You will have responsibilities, bills, priorities. It's not what it's cracked up to be. You will be an adult faster than you think and I wished I listened to the countless adults that once told me that but I didn't believe them. 

Friends, it's okay to have friends. Have lots of them. After high school, you will learn it's much more more difficult to have real friendships. It's also okay to have male friends, don't let a guy tell you otherwise. And your boyfriend can also have lady friends, Grandma Angela told me that. Sometimes we become so possessive, so jealous. But believe me, if someone can't be faithful by being with the other sex- then y'all just weren't written in the stars. 

Stay honest. I am not telling you to not have a filter. Definitely be mature and have manners like your daddy and I taught you, but don't lie if you know that's the best outcome. Staying faithful is major, and a very big deal in this world. If you did something wrong... We all make mistakes, it IS okay to own up to it and take the consequences that come with it. And remember it is a lesson learned. Grow from anything and everything. Don't let it break you. Be strong.

Open your heart. It's too big to not. Be selfless. It's nice to be a taker when you are in need, but being a giver will give you the biggest joy you ever experience. Make it an ALWAYS thing. Give someone a hug, you never know who's praying to God hoping to get just a little bit of love. And you're so lovable, you can shine up a room just by smiling. 

Have fun, It's okay to play in the dirt, to have messy hair. Don't be afraid to play. To have fun, and not be so serious all the time. Be confident. You're beautiful, don't be shy.

You do not need a boy. You do not need a man. You are yourself and you are strong. Work hard for what you want, and you will receive all by yourself with the help of GOD. You will see people "hooking up", other girls "in love". Don't feel pressured. You will think you need someone because everyone else has a boyfriend but like I said, "have fun". You don't know others situations. There is no rush. You are young, stand out from the crowd.

Sex isn't everything. Girls you know, will start doing it and maybe start making fun of you, but just ignore it. You are in control of when you decide to do it. I can't stop you, daddy can't, and God allows you to make your own decisions, but believe me, waiting for the one will be worth it. If you give it up the first chance you get, you will most likely not be happy when he's not the one you'll share your life with forever. 

When all else fails, trust the man above.