{Sweet Baby McGill}

Saturday January 15th, my sister-in-law Anna, Jenn's best friend Arielle, and I hosted a baby shower for my sister-in-law Jenn who is having a baby in March. Since we don't know the sex of the baby, I thought it would be so much fun to have a lime green and black shower. As you can see, the mother to be was glowing. I wanted to make every detail perfect. We hosted the shower at our church New Covenant, which is now renamed to Grace Community. The church was the perfect place to host the shower. We were allowed to use tables, chairs, china, and their kitchen for free! It was so nice to have everything that we needed all in one place. We had tea and punch for the ladies and decorated each table with lime green napkins, favor bags for the guests, and then we had the guests put their gifts on the center of each table. Everyones gifts were so beautifully wrapped so we thought they we make pretty centerpieces. My sister-in-law Anna and I had such a great time making the cupcakes and putting the favor bags together late into the night. Its so fun to be able to hang out with her and chat in our jammies, giggle, and watch trash tv. Here is a photo of the baby shower cake. I tried to order one, but the snow up north stopped that from happening last minute. I was so bummed, but I made a cake and cupcakes so everything turned out great. I really need to take cake decorating classes. I make so many different cakes and cupcakes, it would be nice to learn a few tricks and different design ideas. I'd also like to save some money and make Lily's birthday cakes every year. Our friend Lexi had a challenge in front of her....I asked her to get lime green flowers for us.....she pulled it off, they were so pretty. I also asked for her to make corsages for the mother of the mom to be and the mom to be. The pins were made from a design off of the Jones Design Company [www.jonesdesigncompany.com} tutorial page. They were so adorable and so easy to make! I want to make some hair bows for Lily with them soon. Anna was awesome at putting the food together. Everything was so good and it looked so pretty. She really put in a lot of work making every detail nice. I'm not a fan of baby shower games so Arielle came up with an amazing idea. All of the guests at the baby shower decorated onesies with fabric markers. There were so many cute designs.

I even dressed Lily to match the shower, lime green with these adorable little overalls. Our baby is such a happy girl and so excited to meet her little cousin!

Life....

As you can tell. I did not get to the organization challenge. Life happened. Teething baby, go do this and that, grocery shopping. I did manage to get my house clean and laundry done so I consider it a small success. So once again. I'm starting the organize your life in 21 days challenge. Get it together Nikki. Once the challenge is over it will be cake and I have have a much smoother running household. I can be super mom.....I think.

{Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma}

Last night Lily was yelling ma ma ma ma ma! I thought she was just making noises and then she reached for me, smiled and said ma ma ma ma ma! I was so happy that her 2nd word was ma ma :) We won't discuss what her first word was......da da. :)

{The List Maker}

Most of you who know me know that I love to make lists. I enjoy crossing items off as I complete them. I make a list for everything. I recently just updated my weekly and weekend cleaning checklist and I thought I'd share it with you. It really helps me remember what needs to be done every week and also keeps me on track. I typically print it out and set it on the counter as a reminder to get moving. Its better to print the list on a thicker card stock paper so it lasts the entire week. I also use a highlighter to cross tasks off the list as I complete them. Obviously this list is for my home, but you get the idea.

{weekly & weekend cleaning checklist}
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B4rPjs058ltyYTY1NWQ2YjEtOTgzYy00YjNjLWFmOGUtZDNhMmJiYTM3NmE1&hl=en&authkey=COGfmt4E

{master grocery list}

I also have a list for groceries that I need to buy. I got tired of making a list every time I went to the store. So I found a master grocery list on http://www.freeprintable.net/ that I print off, post on my fridge, and then cross items off as I need. (go to their website and then type in master grocery list in the search box) I found that not only do I get everything in one trip that I need, I also can find coupons in advance, and save a lot more money. You can go to their site and post off a ton of different lists. This one I saved to my computer and edited it to match what kind of foods we buy. Check it out. Its super helpful and a timesaver.

I was worried about posting my lists because you all would know what a cleaning Nazi I am....but oh well. That's just me :)

8 months

How did 8 months fly by? That went way too quick. Here are my favorite pictures of my little Lily this month. You've already seen Lily's Christmas pictures, so I'll share a few that you haven't seen.

Our friends the Gaeta's have been helping us out and watching Lily on Mondays since I have had to go back to a 4/10 schedule. Luke is awesome with Lily and she loves playing over at their house with Abby, Jackson, and their giant dog Duke. Lily and Abby in matching pjs. Abby is so sweet to her. Wants to help hold her and bring her toys. Reminds me of when I was a big sister taking care of Laura.

Lily is always so wide eyed and smiley. I love that no matter how long my day is, this is the face I come home to. She's why I work so hard to be such a good mommy.
We're in trouble. Right when she turned 7 months she started to stand up on things. She pulls herself up everywhere and tries to walk around. Not quite there yet, but she's almost there!
Lily loves eating snacks. Here Lily is eating Gerber Lil Crunchies. She loves how they crunch in her mouth and she is chewing so well!

Lily turned 8 months on this day.....she was sound asleep with her hand in her pants.....just like her father. He He He.
Brad and I are exhausted from a busy work week, but Lily is happy hanging out with her daddy watching football. She loves her daddy.

Goals for 2011

I've decided not to make a New Years Resolution instead I am going to list a few goals I would like to accomplish and try my hardest to meet those goals.

So here they are in no particular order:

• Go to the Space Needle I have lived here for almost 15 years and I have still never been to the Space Needle. I know its expensive, but I want to get all dressed up and do it at least once.
• Take more walks on the beach with my husband When Brad and I first met we use to take walks on the beach all the time. Life has been busier, weather hasn't been the best to take walks, when it was warmer I was pregnant and on bed rest.....so nothing will stop me this year. We live in such a beautiful area and I want to take advantage of our beach
• Learn how to sew I know how to use a needle and thread, but I have no idea how to use a sewing machine, follow a pattern, and create amazing crafts. I just love crafts and I want to create a bunch of things. I've also been following this blog that I'm in love with. Its on this page under my favorite links. She is a mom who makes the most beautiful crafts and shares her ideas that are fun, easy, and beautiful. I have a few of her projects printed out, now I just need to sit down and do it.
• Scrapbook Lily's baby book I've been so busy this year that I haven't made time to do her baby book. I have been putting everything in a box so that when I sit down to do it I will have everything that I need. Its just finding the time to sit down and do it. Maybe I'll have some girls over and we can all scrapbook. I can get a few pages done here and there and visit with friends at the same time.
• Cut myself a little slack Since I've had Lily I have had this desire to be perfect wife, perfect mom, perfect homemaker, perfect everything. My house is clean, things are organized, husband and baby are happy, I work full time, but I am exhausted. This year I will cut myself some slack and do things for me. Find more efficient ways to get everything done and still have time to do everything else that I want to do.
• Pay off some debt This year I plan on making sacrifices on things that I want and only buy things that I need. Paying off our existing debt to lower payments and reach the goal of being debt free, well other then our house. I would love to put some money in savings for those just in case occurrences. Its a lot of work and it won't be easy, but I will strive to get as far as I can.
• Go to Europe Brad and I are pretty lucky that we'll have our best friends living in another country. Not lucky that they are going to be so far away, but lucky so we can visit them! My best friend Becky lives in Germany with her husband and Brad's best friend Daniel will be moving to Italy this summer with the army. How many opportunities are we going to have to visit Europe and stay for free with our friends! I'd like to do it this year especially since Lily will be under the age of 2 and she can fly for free!
• Lose the rest of my baby weight I have never had a problem losing weight, but with having a baby my body has completely changed. Something I am still getting use to, but not something that I want to get use to. I have 15 pounds to go to be at the weight I was before I had Lily. I love going to the gym, but I haven't made time for myself to go. My goal is to work out at least 4 days a week. I'm not sure how I'll make time to do it, but I'm just going to have to make time. I eat pretty healthy so that's not a big deal, its just working out and being active. Here's a picture of what I looked like right before I was crowned Rock Girl in 2009. Yes I'm wearing a bikini and chaps. I needed an inspiration photo and its my blog so I can do whatever I want to in it. Now if I only had the guts to post a photo of my stomach now. I might get the nerve to do it as I get closer to my goal. I loved that I was confident, I felt pretty....I would love to feel that again.
  Well that's enough goals for now. If I meet these goals I'll blog about them and make a new list of more things to do. Check back and make sure I do it. I need your help and support to push me in this positive direction.

My Little Froggy

Today was Lily's first swimming lesson at the local pool here in Oak Harbor. She loves bath time so I just knew that she would love to play in the water. Classes are available starting at 6 months, so I enrolled her in Aqua Tots. It was so affordable too! $33 for 8 classes! She wore a itsy bitsy teenie weeny bikini that we bought for her when I was pregnant. She looked so adorable in it especially with her baby belly sticking out and her little fat rolls on her legs. During the class we splashed the water and moved it around with our hands, learned how to kick, go underwater, put ears in the water, play with toys, and sing songs. It was so much fun o be able to do an activity with her and play. I absolutely love spending mommy and baby time together.

I'll post pictures soon :)

Happy New Year 2011

New Years was so different this year. We hired a babysitter which was very difficult for me. I had never successfully been able to leave Lily with a babysitter without having to leave where I was to come home and stop her from crying and put her down. So it was so nice to know that I could do that. We went to the Golf and Country Club with our friends the Gaeta's, Courtney and Luke. We have become great friends with them, so when they asked us to go to dinner with them and get all dolled up, I couldn't refuse. I haven't dressed up and been on a date with Brad in forever so I was pretty excited to wear a sparkly dress and have a double date. I wanted to go out, not too far away, but not to a bar....that is easier said than done in Oak Harbor. To celebrate New Years, you either have to go to the bar or stay home. I wanted to dress up so this was perfect. The night started with laughter since we were the youngest table by 30 years. We had dinner, played trivia and did awful (our team name was the kids table.....awesome), then the boyes played craps while Courtney and I hit the dance floor with ladies who were in the 80s. So fun.

Luke and Courtney and Baby Wyatt at 30 weeksMy Husband and I...we look fancy :)My kiss at midnight.....perfect.

Christmas Afternoon

Christmas Day we went to my folks house. The morning started with homemade cinnamon buns, opening our stockings, and opening a ton of Christmas presents. My parents were so generous. Lily got a bunch of fun toys, new food and snacks in her stocking, and new comfy jammies. I got a bunch of stuff for our kitchen and the best gift ever.....a clairasonic. Its the same brush that they use to clean your face when you get a facial at a spa. Its amazing! Brad was spoiled rotten. He got Seahawks gear and best of all a set of golf clubs that he has been eye balling forever now. I love spending Christmas day with my family...I wish my sister was here to spend it with us, but she said she'll be here for Lily's first birthday and I can't wait! My parents also told us that they are going to come to our house next year and celebrate Christmas Day at our home and then she'll teach me how to make her famous Prime Rib. Yummy. I have such amazing parents. Love you mom and dad.

Santa Baby Grandma playing with LilyFeeding Lily her ba ba

Opening her stocking Lily's special Christmas jammiesReindeer Baby

Lily's First Christmas Morning

Waking up Christmas morning 2010 was more exciting than being a little girl and running down the stairs to see what Santa brought. I can't describe the feeling of watching my baby girl look up at our tree , try to touch the lights, and crawl toward her presents. She was so adorable to watch. She would crawl over to the package rip it open and then play with the paper :) We opened gifts at our home that morning and then we were off to Grandma and Poppy's house!