I miss you all!

Hi Friends!

I have been MIA forever.  I'm so so sorry!  Life has been crazy wonderful and I just haven't made blogging at priority.at.all.

Here's a little catch up on where our lives have been lately.

Jaxson just turned 10 months old!  Can you believe it?  I absolutely can not.  He is the most precious little man in the whole entire world.  He is WALKING!  He started about three weeks ago.  It's just amazing to watch him learn and grow. He is the best thing hubby and I have ever done!  He says mamma and dada and ba for Bandit, our dog.  They play so well together and have become fast friends.

I've been at my new job for 6 months now, and it is super stressful.  I'm getting a little better at it, but it is HARD.  This type of sales does not come naturally to me, but I'm getting better each week, I think.

We are seriously considering buying a new house.  Building one, that is.  I am praying that it is the right thing because it scares me to death.  Selling our home and a bigger house payment scare me to death!  Any advice from those of you that have done this?

I finally got Jeff to Alabama!  My Emommy has been very sick, and we thought we were going to lose her last month.  Thankfully, we did not, but Jaxson, Jeff and I hopped on a plane the next day and headed to Alabama.  Jaxson did great.  Traveling with him in an airport was a little stressful, but he was a champ.  I'm so proud of him.  And, he got to meet my Edaddy, and it was perfect!  Just like I knew it would be!

We even took a day trip to Nashville.  I loved it there!  Such a fun place.  I would love to go for a grown up weekend trip :)

Right now I'm planning Jaxson's first birthday, and it's a jungle theme!  SO fun!  So, between doing that and all the house stuff, and stressing about work, our plates are pretty full!

I miss my blog friends!  What is going on with all of you?

Casey Athony Video

I was on maternity leave when the Casey Anthony trial was in full swing.  I was up every 3 hours feeding my new little man, and the only thing on all night long besides infomercials was the coverage of the trial on HLN.  I watched and watched and watched as this young lady's life unfolded, and as the lies unfolded one by one.  I watched her parents, wondering how it would feel to think that your daughter killed your precious granddaughter.  I watched the beautiful pictures and videos of adorable little Caylee, wondering just what happened to that little sweetie.

I wondered what Casey was thinking, feeling.  Was she just tangled in lies that she couldn't get out of?  Did she really hurt her little girl on purpose?  Was she grieving for her silently?  Or was she just upset that she got caught?  I had no idea.  But sitting there all hours of the night, in our guest room bed, cradling and feeding my new son, I couldn't imagine any of the scenarios being okay.  I cried a lot watching them, partly because I was beyond hormonal, and partly because it was just so terribly tragic and sad for everyone involved.  I was shocked when she was acquitted.  Shocked.

Now, she has released a YouTube video.  She talks about how she got a dog that she loves very much.  She says, "It's surreal how many things have changed and how many haven't".  I have no idea what it would feel like to lose my child, but I'm pretty sure I would have different things to say than that.  Especially if it was by a tragic accident.  For some reason, it makes me feel ill to watch her in this.  I pray that she gets better - whatever better is.

What do you think about this video?  Thoughts?  I know I'm too invested in her story.  Am I the only one?

Thanksgiving!

I love Thanksgiving!  There are so many things about it that make me happy.

For one, it is an excuse to spend time with family, and get everyone together.  This makes me beyond happy.

Secondly, it kicks off Christmas!  Time to put up the tree, wrap presents, make bows, and plan plan plan!

We spent Christmas in Dallas at my parent's house this year.

My sweet Pappa came to spend the weekend with us.

I'm so thankful for this little man.  God sure did know what he was doing when he gave him to us!

I'm thankful for these smiles.  They melt my heart.

Look who is ALMOST crawling!  So so close!

My Mom made me this garland for Christmas.  Isn't it amazing?  I keep telling her that she needs to sell her stuff.  She is so talented.

And...my Thanksgiving wreath that she made me!  Love!  I hang it inside because I want to see it!  Isn't that silly?  She is making me another one to hang on my front door too :)

Love.

I'm beyond thankful for my precious husband.  He is such a wonderful father and partner.  I love "doing life" with him! 

Jaxson loves his Pappa!

And his Gigi

We went to the original Neimen Marcus in Dallas the day after Thanksgiving for pictures with Santa.  Jaxson loved it!  He loved Santa, the trees, and mostly Zaney the Zebra, which we rode for quite some time in the toy department.

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving too!

Christmas Picture Time!

Last month, my sweet and talented friend Kelly took our Christmas pictures.  I'm so happy with how they turned out!  They are all wonderful, but I wanted to share a few of my favorites :)

We had so much fun!  Thank you Kelly for the pictures, they are beyond amazing!!!

It's the busiest time of the year...

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

And I feel swamped.  I have completed almost none of my Christmas shopping.  None, I tell you!  Our neighborhood Christmas party is Saturday.  My house isn't clean, my tree still needs a little work...the presents I do have wrapped don't have bows on them yet...and oh yeah, I don't even know what foods and drinks we will be serving!  UGH!

I usually start prepping for Christmas after my birthday, which is early October.  I think the stress of a new job where I am trying so hard to prove myself (unsuccessfully thus far, mind you), spending quality time with my sweet little one, making sure my Husband knows I adore him, keeping our home clean, grocery shopping, and oh yeah, loving on our sweet Bandit...I just ran out of time!

Am I the ONLY one in this state?  I feel a tiny bit panicked when I think of everything that has to be done!  And, this is a busy, busy week!  Check it out -

Monday - Buy all presents that need to be shipped during my lunch break.  Upload Christmas pictures to Walgreens and pick them up to complete these presents.  Wrap said presents tonight, complete with bows :)  Do laundry and cook chicken for chicken and dumplings.  Send out the remainder of the Christmas cards from the missing addresses pile.

Tuesday - Work through lunch on a call blitz.  Go to the FedEx store to ship presents for out of town family and friends.  Go to the store and buy stuff for "Get Well Soon" basket for BIL, and make him Chicken and Dumplings.  Put basket together. (He is having surgery Tuesday morning).

Wednesday - Birthday lunch for my work friend.  After work - my hair appointment!  I missed the last one, so I am ashamed to say it has been 9 WEEKS since I have had my hair cut or highlighted - yikes!  I am thinking of going darker...what do you think?

Thursday - Work through lunch on a call blitz.  That night - take basket and Chicken and Dumplings to BIL and SIL house.  Clean the kitchen properly - mop floors, clean out fridge, etc.  Get guest room ready for MIL to spend the night Friday night.  Clean guest room bathroom.

Friday - Work lunch.  Hubby's Christmas party that night.

Saturday - Go to Costco and get food and drinks for our party.  Clean the rest of the house and set up for the party.  Get Jaxson's stuff together to go to MIL's house and take him there.  Cook for party, and the party starts at 5PM - time for the fun!

And, sometime during the week, I have to find the recipies for the foods we are going to make for the party - haha!  I also have to finish Christmas shopping...I'm not sure when that is going to be...haha!

Please don't get me wrong - I'm not complaining at all.  I feel more blessed than I ever have this year.  I am in awe of the blessings that God has provided my family each and every day.  I wouldn't change a thing about my life - not one itty bitty thing! 

I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO CATCH UP ON CHRISTMAS!

Please tell me I'm not the only one.  Please?

Jaxson is Crawling!

My baby is crawling!!!

Walking in a winter wonderland...

Well, my blog is anyway!  It was in the 80's here in Houston today! 

My sweet friend Kelly did another fabo design on my blog this weekend, isn't it fun!!??  This is the third one she has done for me, and it just might be my favorite so far!  She is such a sweetheart, and so fun to work with.  I can't say enough great things about her.  Thank you Kelly!!!

She has graciously offered a design discount to Wifey In Training readers!  She is beyond reasonable, and, with a discount it's a no brainer if you are like me and a blogger dummy, or if you are looking for something new, fun and creative! 

You can head on over to her design site and see some of her work.  She has tons of great things to choose from, and will find the perfect thing just for you!

Halloween Decor

I think Halloween is so fun, but I don't have a ton of decorations like I do for other events.  But, I'm working on building them up a little at a time :)  I like to blog about what my home looks like during holidays...because I think it's fun to look back to years past and see how its changed!  I know...I'm a weirdo.

Jaxson loved these pumpkins.  He grabbed at them several times each day.  I spray painted that ornament hanger.  It was the first time I ever spray painted anything!

I saw this at Hobby Lobby last year, and waiting until it was too late and they were all out of "E"s.  I was so happy when my Mother In Law showed up with this one for us this year!

My little pumpkins above the sink.  I bought these at 70% off at CVS last year!

My glittered BEWARE! 

Okay, so as I look at this picture I feel like I have to explain the VERY curvy wooden statue!!  My father in law gave it to us last Christmas when I was pregnant. If you can't tell, it is two very curvy people holding a little baby.  He researched for a long time and found an original statue carved by a man in Africa.  He was so proud to give it to us, and it was the most thoughtful gift ever!  It makes us giggle every time we look at it - haha!

Do you like my wreath?  I actually made it!  It was so easy!

Of course I have to have glitter in the yard!

Our entry way table.

And...we have entered the stage of our lives where we have yard art.  Yep, it's here.  I always said that I would NEVER have yard art.  Well, when we went to the pumpkin patch, something came over me.  I NEEDED a peanuts cut out.  I wanted the one of Charlie Brown, you know, the one with the ghost costume with all of those eye holes...and the one of Lucy...oh goodness.  I've turned into a 30 something suburban Mom!  Not that it is a bad thing, it's just different for me - haha!  Long story short, I adore our Great Pumpkin!  And maybe, just maybe, I'll add something else next year.  I already decided that we need some ghosts in our trees...I think I've created a monster!!!