yocklaw

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T11:39:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day to the loves of my life. I am the luckiest girl in the world and about to get even luckier with our new little lovebug joining us soon. Go kiss your sweeties :)

36 down 4 to go!

2012-02-03T12:22:00.000-05:00

36 weeks today and still no name for this sweet little boy. We had an ultrasound on Tuesday and they estimate he is currently around 5.5 pounds. On the small side, but Jamie was 6 lbs 15 oz when he was born. So, if this one keeps growing at the estimated .5 pound per week and we make it to 40 weeks, he will be 7.5 pounds when he is born. We took a couple pictures last night and then compared them with ones from when I was pregnant with Jamie and I think my belly looks bigger now at 36 weeks than it did with Jamie at 38 weeks. Maybe?

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T00:39:00.003-05:00

Reflecting on a blessed and happy year, here is a quick top 5 in 2011 for the Yocklaws:

1. Week long trip to Pensacola
2. Jamie starting preschool
3. Finding out we are having a baby BOY and little brother for Jamie
4. Buying/building and moving into our new home
5. Celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary

Looking forward to 2012 and all that it brings. We can hardly wait to meet our newest baby boy in March, and welcome my little brother home from Afghanistan in June and continue to get settled into our new home.

Wishing you and yours, happiness, health and all good things in 2012!

Uvu-what?

2011-11-14T12:10:00.000-05:00

Jamie discovered his uvula. He was really excited about the "hanging thing" in his throat. I told him it is called his uvula. So for the last few days he has been clearing his throat and coughing and talking about his "UPS" bothering him. :D

Where did this dog come from?

2011-11-07T11:55:00.003-05:00

Halloween 1, 2, 3, 4

2011-11-03T23:07:00.000-04:00

Jamie has had some pretty awesome Halloween looks over the last few years, as I was organizing my photos I made a little collage of his costumes. I can't believe how big he is getting. I tell him all the time that like Clifford the Big Red Dog, I want him to stop growing, he is just right :)

Super J Bumblebee-Cowboy

Frenchman And this year a Cowboy and a Rockstar :)

Whatchu' Got In That Bag?

2011-10-31T07:00:00.005-04:00

Ho-kay, so I haven't ever done one of these link up parties, but I am super nosey. I want to know what other people have in their bags, and I want a chance to win a new purse. Also, it is just fun. So, here is what I have in my bag. Minus the gum wrappers and twelve grocery lists. From the top left:

1. UGA scarf from GA/FL weekend. Georgia won for like the first time since 2007 (which I know cause my man gets all worked up about them DAWGS)

2. First ultrasound picture of baby bean 2, hidden away in the zipper pocket :)

3. Two blank DVDs cause I am cotton-headed-ninnymuggins and forgot to bring one to our "is it a boy or girl?" ultrasound. The ultrasound tech told me I could bring one next time and she would record it for us. Even though that appointment might be in another month, this time I will not forget.

4. Brushpicks for the teefeses (I hate when food gets stuck in there)

5. Lots of tissues, I just got over a terrible sinus infection and ya know...

6. Costco coup, BB&B coup and Joann's coup

7. Pens from our builder, and appointment and business cards for the OB and the Melting Pot (why I kept the MP one I dunno)

8. Two pairs of sunnies. We live in the Sunshine State

9. Funniest Costume ribbon from Friday, I win!

10. A 'worry stone' I got in Ireland on my R&R. I guess you are supposed to hold it and worry that instead of your problems?

11. Phone, keys, flip camera

12. Dog collar ZAPPER... Dutch has to wear a "training collar" we are working on not running out the front door or jumping up in the front window when mama leaves the house. If he does, he gets a warning "beep BEEP BEEEP" and if that doesn't do it, a ZAP.

13. Comb, hair ties, bobby pins

14. Emergency chocolate and crackers

15. Wallet

16. Bandaids

17. VS lip gloss in strawberry fizz, Bigelow lip gloss in mint, blistex, chapstick, LILAC AVE chapstick fruit punch flavor, MAC lipglass in purrr, and ELF lipstick in posh.

That is my bag, baby.

If you wannu join in too, head over to Nice Girl Notes...

Kiddie Kuddlers and Halloween Parties

2011-10-29T18:20:00.001-04:00

Last night, Jamie attended his last MyGym shindig and class. He went as a Billy Idol/David Bowie wannabe. Definitely the coolest 3 year old there... complete with fishnet shirt, red fauhawk, studded belt and black nails :) He won best costume! (which means, I did. I WIN!)

Happy Halloween!

And a Big Thank You to Sarah at Kiddie Kuddlers for Jamie's custom toddler sized pillow :) We came home from running errands today and it was waiting on our doorstep. It worked its magic through nap-time and coordinates with his room perfectly!

Parades, Pumpkin Decorating and Granite

2011-10-22T21:04:00.000-04:00

Jamie's school had a kid parade last week. All the kids dressed up in their Halloween costumes and paraded around the courtyard. It was ridiculous.

Today we headed over to our new neighborhood to check out the house and to decorate pumpkins and eat lunch. Jamie had fun decorating his pumpkins and the house is looking gooooood :)

2011-10-21T22:14:00.003-04:00

I have been sick with a terrible head cold/sinus infection for about two weeks now. We have a box of tissues in the living room and it has little cartoon pictures of germs on it. Jamie asked what they are and I told him they were nasty cold germs that make you sick. He thought about it for a minute and told me, "cold germs are bad, but warm germs are good."

It's a Boy! And a couple other things :)

2011-10-15T11:35:00.000-04:00

So, the ultrasound tech was wrong, and we are in fact having another little BOY!

Jamie is well into the swing of preschool and our house is coming along nicely.. We should be moved into the new house by Thanksgiving! Cannot wait! :)

Dutch continues to run out the front door and around the neighborhood until Brandon catches him and brings him home, and has now killed his 2nd squirrel. He brought it into the house this morning and left it on the kitchen floor for me.

Looks like a real killer doesn't he? Don't be fooled, we had the bodies of two unfortunately slow squirrels to prove it.

Brandon and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary last night :)

Little Beaver

2011-09-29T00:07:00.000-04:00

Jamie had to miss school on Tues because he was running a slight fever. This morning at breakfast he didn't eat much and I asked if he was done. He said, "I'm done, I just have a little beaver" Say what? "I just still don't feel very good, I have a beaver."

Some other little gems of late:

While riding in the car with Brandon, talking about sounds... Jamie: "Some sounds are scary in the dark, when we hear a sound in the dark, we say 'what the hell was that??' "

Eating dinner the other night... Jamie: "I am having chicken nuggets and taco tots and buddy fruit"

'taco tots' = 'tater tots'

Getting ready for school, when I took his temp and he was running at 99.3 degrees... Jamie: "When kids get sick, do they go to the kid's bent?"

'bent' = 'vet'

Little Fishy

2011-08-11T16:06:00.000-04:00

Swim lessons are going swimmingly and Jamie has turned into a little fishy. He is jumping in by himself, going to the bottom to pick up diving toys and going down the BIG slide all by himself. I am SO proud of him :o)

Baby oh Baby!

2011-08-09T21:57:00.000-04:00

Went to the doc this morning and had an ultrasound... they think that our little bean is a girl! We shall see. In a few more weeks we can go to the 4D ultrasound place and find out for sure. I don't want to take it as fact in case she is wrong, but how fun would it be to have one of each?!

Jamie's Bedtime Convo with Brandon

2011-06-02T23:50:00.001-04:00

Jake and Brittany's Partay Wedding Weekend

2011-06-02T23:29:00.000-04:00

America's Next Top Model(s)

Jake and his sissies

Bride and Groom and the 'Rents

The ladies

So so so so sweet

I just love how much is going on in this one

The men

Kate "crazy eyes" with the truck ensured real smiles from not only Jamie but EVERYONE in the pictures. Thanks Auntie Kate!

SO pretty together

There is more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking.

Lawson men

Grandpa Ralph and Eric enjoying a custom cigar

Jamie attempting the Tango with Sophia (Britt's little cousin)

Brittany and her Daddy, Ralph

Jake and Mom, so cute

They are next :)

Love my Mom and Dad, so sweet

Auntie Kelli and Jamie (don't mind me, why do I look so bored?)

Molly is bustin' out her best moves (getting in on Jake and Britts grindin') and her boyfriend Rich, yawns with boredom. Love it.

Mama and Aunta Bocky

Recreating "the face" from Erin's bachelorette in Dec (I needed more martinis, didn't quite get it)

Lawson's and the little Yockel ;)

Love Britt's face in this one, soo cute!

Nonna and the magic "stuff"

I love him <3

Serious cake eating. VERY serious.

Joann and Eli

Get it gurl

Come to me

Ethan the air drummer and Jamie

Dad, Eli and Uncle Bob

Grampy Red and Jake

After-party people, we were creeping from upstairs. That's how you roll with a 3 year old asleep in your room.

My Mother's Day Week :)

2011-05-18T15:48:00.000-04:00

Brandon took me to Pensacola for Mother's Day :) Well, he had to work there all week so we came along. It was amazingly relaxing and beautiful.

We went to the beach

Took family photos

Went to the beach again

To the Naval Air Museum

To the beach

We ate, and ate, and ATE

And to the beach

To the Naval Air Museum and the IMAX theater, again

Slept

And ate some more. I can't wait to go back someday. Thanks for the memories Pensacola and Happy Mother's Week to me :)

Easter Egg Hunt

2011-05-06T22:24:00.000-04:00

Getting Ready!

This year, he knows what is up. Ready to get those eggs.

First egg!

Checking out the loot.

Now to burn some energy with daddy!

Wait for me Daddy!

Pile driver!!!!!!!

The best Daddy, just look at that little face.

Throwback

2011-04-28T00:16:00.000-04:00

Jamie, 3 days old. My sweet little baby has grown into a little boy. Today he told me I was a "poop mommy". Precious. Does anyone else out there have an almost-three-year-old obsessed with poop?

Clean and Cut

2011-04-16T18:03:00.000-04:00

Boring week of odds and ends. Got our guest room cleaned out F-I-N-A-L-L-Y. We bit the bullet and got a storage closet for our baby stuff, Christmas decorations and all the extras. I was a paper terrorist. Cleaned out ALL the paper hoarding stashes. Old tax returns? Shredded! Old Army paperwork? SHREDDED! All necessary papers are now neatly stored in labeled folders, in a filing cabinet. The irreplaceables safely stored in a fire/waterproof box. AHHHHHH spring cleaning, done! Took us four years to go through everything and be ruthless. It is heavenly. I feel a tangible weight lifted off my shoulders. Goodwill hit the jackpot with all the clothing and house stuff we handed over. Now our cute little bungalow is cute, not stupid and cramped.

Oh and I got my hair cut and colored. I am still not sure I like it. Much, MUCH darker than I expected. But change is good sometimes. However, I made an appointment for the end of May to go light again, just before my little brother Jake's wedding.

Before

After

Nanny Tracy came for the weekend with her little dog Belle. Dutch has not been able to leave her alone! We went to the beach today though and I think he finally burned enough energy to be manageable tonight when Eric and Daisy come! HA!

Dutch bothering Belle, exhibit A

Dutch bothering Belle, exhibit B

Dutch bothering Belle, exhibit C

And a sneak attack picture of Brandon in Barnes and Noble last night, haha

Dutch looking all like, "I am regal" But really he is all, "I has goo for bwains"

Yay! A real family picture! Not a selfie!

Beach cuties

Best one I could get. Notice Dutch choking himself to get to Belle? And Belle looking like she was ready to leave about an hour ago? And Jamie started to get sunscreen in his eyes?

Family pic with Nanny. Dutch was up the beach behind us greeting a young couple riding bikes. They were so happy he was following them. So happy. After this, I ran down the beach to call him back and then ran the opposite direction when he started tearing ass down the beach after me. I needed the exercise anyway.

Naples and Dog Camp

2011-04-06T23:28:00.000-04:00

In Napoli for a week while Dutchie chills at Dog Camp. I called to check on him this morning. The report was that Dutch's spirit's are up and that he LOVED play time. Alas, he was 'NOT fond of pool play time.'

Guess he won't be joining the swim team this winter. I had high hopes for his swimming and Jamie's soccer. Cest la vie. Can't be good at everything. He is great at dripping water on the floor, wiping it on my legs and arms and couch and he is an AMAZING sock eater. Can't have everything though.

MyGym Spring Break Camp and the Beach... again?

2011-04-04T22:55:00.000-04:00

Wild Wild West Round Up Day! My little cowboy :o)

Cowboy Cutie

Super Jamie!

Little Sweetie

Building

And destroying

Wet dog

Family Portrait

Super-model documentary hour

see Daddy and Dutch over his shoulder?

cheese!

Mean - Muggin'

baby beach feet

Dutch and Brandon working hard on leash walking- sans halter... not so good when he sees mama and his boy...

hee heeeee heeeeeeeee

so tired

trying to behave so he can get some fro yo

Papa and Grampa Yockels Visit, Dutch Graduates, and Another Beach Day... A Roundup Post

2011-03-28T22:01:00.000-04:00

Papa Marc came to visit

So did Great-Grandpa Bill and Bob

Only has eyes for Papa

A rare picture of just the two of us taken by someone other than me

Very excited to fish with his new pole

super-moon

Teaching him the basics. He was a natural.

Catching a fireball, no big deal

Papa Marc

Great-Grandpa Bill

Dutch GRADUATES puppy kindergarten, that is!

Beach Day

2011-03-22T14:43:00.001-04:00

Yesterday morning we all felt pretty crummy, coughing and boogery. So, I threw some towels, shovels and sunscreen in a bag and we headed to the beach. It was worth it and we all felt better for going. Jamie is still coughing today, but getting better. It was the best day in a while and Dutch's first trip to the beach. I feel a ritual coming on.

Yes, yes I did eat sand. It was delicious.

Uhhh, who's dat down der, mom?

Let's go back in the water!

Ok, but only if you smile and pose for 100 pictures first baby.

Here comes trouble!

Annnnd there it goes again.

Dutch looking beaten down, but he did start it with a drive-by-biting. They are like brothers with all the bickering, biting and slapping.

KrAzY eyes!

Handsome

Goofy

Lately

2011-03-15T11:25:00.000-04:00

Lately, we have been hanging out. Going to the gym and Jamie's MyGym. Taking impromptu photo shoots. Going to the playground. Going to the park and playing fetch with Dutch. Low key and relaxing. Adjusting to the time change. Living life.

XOXO :)

Typical Dutch

2011-03-01T13:02:00.001-05:00

Dutch is in rare form today. This morning I was eating my bowl of Cheerios and had a wadded up paper towel sitting next to my cup of coffee. That little ninja stole it and then refused to "drop it" or "leave it" and there was not a squirt bottle in sight. He shredded some of it, but swallowed the rest.

I got to talking to the daycare girl at my gym this morning and we decided we might start working out together some times. She gave me her email and phone number. I was going to email her after I put Jamie down for a nap to see if she wants to meet tomorrow. But, when I sat down to write to her, I saw the paper she wrote her address on on the floor. Shredded. Only shredded enough to leave only the @aol.com part and half her phone number. Leave it to Dutch to eat the important parts. Like the crotch of your underwear or the toes of your socks, or the beginning part of an email address.

Lucky for him, he knows how to grovel.

Happy Birthday

2011-02-23T21:42:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Grandmama. We miss you everyday and love you so much.

Great Weekend

2011-02-21T21:18:00.001-05:00

Had so much fun this weekend with family and friends. Puppy obedience class was cancelled, but I wasn't too bummed because: a) I got my Friday night back with my boys. I really wish it was on a week night. And b) because Dutch is the craziest kid in class and it is kind of embarrassing and exhausting.

No, really, he is wild and crazy

Saturday we went to the beach, next time we are going to bring Dutch, he will love it. But he isn't allowed in the water till his naughty bits heal up. Next week, can't wait to watch him go nuts in the sand.

Love the composition of this one with Jamie and the surfer, it turned out so neat.

I squatted down forgetting about Brandon's poor MCL. Oops, sorry babe!

Saturday night Eric and Kelli came over for dinner and Brandon lit up the fire pit out back. The weather was so perfect, so was the company. :D

Cuties

Other cuties

Sunday we met Jess and Gordon and her family at the zoo and stopped for lunch afterwards. It was great as always to see them and watch our boys together. They are too funny.

Gordon: That's water

Jamie: That's a drain

Oh how times have changed, we used to party at the clubs, now we party at the zoo.

Manual Mode

2011-02-19T00:11:00.001-05:00

Soo, I have been practicing in manual mode and using Pioneer Woman's tutorials. Here are the most recent pics :o) Oh, and like my new look? I just redid my header and background. Get comfy. I am not changing it again for a while :)

I love me some soccer toes

Seemingly intense, yet vacant

My Fishy, My Fishy, wherever I go, he goes, My Fishy and meeeeeeeee!

Spring has arrived

such a man

well hello photo shop!

true love

my sweet

Americana

Poor fingers, Dutch took him out in the vet's parking lot :o(

Damn dog, Damn me, poor, poor slippers

The caretaker

Told him to never let it get below a half-tank, but does he listen?

Beloved 2.0

Portrait of the recently immasculated

Marge in Charge

My Little Valentine

2011-02-16T11:38:00.001-05:00

We took Dutch to get the snip yesterday. He did really well and is resting a lot today. All day Jamie asked about Dutch, "Where's Dutchie? Oh, he's at the bent (vet) having surgee (surgery)." We missed him, even his sock eating.

Last night, Dutch had the shakes from the anesthesia. I told Jamie he wasn't feeling well and was cold. Jamie went and got his prized boo banket and wrapped up Dutch. Sometimes Jamie is so sweet it makes me want to cry. Then he hit him in the head, nothing like that to keep you from being too sappy ;)

Silly Dutch

2011-02-10T16:13:00.003-05:00

"I wuv you"

2011-02-10T16:10:00.007-05:00

I was listening to Jamie talking in his bed after I put him down for a nap. He was very emotionally professing his love to Fishy. He said over and over and over, "I WUV YOU" "I WUV YOU" "I WUV YOU." So sweet. Who is Fishy you ask? Fishy is a large, stuffed, rainbow trout that was my brother Eric's in college, and gifted to Jamie over the new year. Now Fishy goes everywhere with us. Jamie always has a favorite that has to go everywhere with us and it changes. But the average is about 2-3 months. We panic when we think we have lost the current favorite as Jamie will cry for his favorite at bedtime etc.

The last few favorites were: Mike Wizowski, Buzz Lightyear, and Kitty.

Sock Obsession

2011-02-08T12:12:00.001-05:00

Dutch has an unhealthy obsession with socks. Particularly Jamie's socks. He threw up 4 four socks in the last 24 hours. Brandon told me that while I was sick in bed yesterday Dutch hurled up a record number of three, yes, three of Jamie's socks in one sitting. Then at about four A.M. Dutch started that horrific sound of dog puke in his crate. He was successful again in throwing up one more sock.

Operation baby gate is in full effect until further notice. *I do not take this lightly* We are careful about the sock situation and Dutch has been locked out of Jamie's "wing" of the house for the last month and we haven't had any problems. But we had a huge pile of laundry the other day and he must have gotten to it at one point or another. Now, he will be gated off from Brandon's and my room except when he is crated indefinitely! We may even have to move his crate to the living room to avoid the situation all together! Oy, the last thing we need is for him to have a blockage! What is the deal with him eating socks and underwear!!??

Superbowl Barf a Rama

2011-02-08T01:17:00.000-05:00

Got my flu shot on Friday. Threw up all last night, slept all day today. Don't think the shot worked. Thanks for staying home and letting me sleep today babe :o)

Morry

2011-02-08T01:06:00.000-05:00

Thanks for coming up for the weekend Molly :) We had fun letting you watch Jamie while we looked at model houses. Just kidding, we like having you here so I can do your laundry. Just kidding, you did your own! Thanks for coming up, it was a nice surprise for Eric on his birthday and I love having my sis around. Thanks for kicking my butt working out and Brandon's and my butt's at catch phrase :)

Be Mine

2011-02-08T01:01:00.000-05:00

Can we ever have enough pictures of Jamie? No, no we can't. We baked Valentine's cookies last week. Well, I baked and Jamie and I smeared them with sugar and frosting when they were cool. We also ate ALL of them pretty much as soon as we decorated. It was a good day.

This is the cheese face, I don't know why, but that is what we get when we say,"Smile!"

A little for you, a little for me... straight from the can, thank you. And yes, that is how we roll, from scratch sugar cookies, but canned frosting.

Clean-up crew eating the sugar sprinkles

Showing off his hard work

He had a ball, and has wanted to make more cookies again every day since.

Pics and Such

2011-02-08T00:39:00.001-05:00

So we went to the park a mile from where Gramma Liz and Grampa Ralph lived when they lived in Jacksonville, intending to take family pics. I wanted to use my new tripod Brandon got me for Christmas and get some of that nice sunset golden light. We even brought Dutch thinking how fun it would be to get a family pic or two of all of us. We got there, and the park was CROWDED, Dutch went nuts and had to be put back in the car before he strangled himself on the leash and we left the tripod sitting by the front door. Typical. We got some good shots anyway, just not of all of us in one picture. After the park we decided to hit up Outback and use our gift card, (thanks Aunt Becky!) That was our weekend last weekend. More to follow :o)

Picking clovers

GQ at two

love him

"It's a football manatee Mommy!"

Somebody's Tired

2011-01-30T14:17:00.000-05:00

Jamie was in the bath, Brandon was with him. I was cleaning up the kitchen. I turned around and Dutch was on the table licking a plate. I yelled. Brandon came out of the bathroom and told me that when I yelled, Jamie said, "somebody's tired. MOMMY's tired." Wonder where he heard that one?

Ideas or IDs?

2011-01-28T07:29:00.003-05:00

We drove Brandon to work this morning (his car is in the shop). On our way, Jamie started saying that he had ideas in his hands. Brandon and I thought wow, he is so philosophical for his age! Then I realized, he meant he had IDs, as in ID cards to get on base, in his hands. Not so philosophical after all.

When I Was a Yittle Girl

2011-01-23T15:32:00.000-05:00

I must tell Jamie about things that I did when I was a "little girl" a lot. At the playground yesterday Jamie was climbing the jungle gym, stopped, smiled and told me he liked it when he was a "yittle girl."

2011-01-23T11:15:00.000-05:00

More Projects from 2010

2011-01-23T11:00:00.002-05:00

Here are some more of my projects from 2010...

Did you know you can buy these wine crates from Total Wine? For like five dollars! I bought three, two smaller ones and a longer one. Pulled out the staples from the top, sanded the rough spots, usted out some wood stain and used a spray poly to make it smooth and a little shiny. I prefer the paint on poly, but this was faster and easier for the inside of the crate. Super cool vintage looking storage on the cheap.

Got the inside info here at Decormama.

My old Army foot locker toy box circa 1984... nasty in 2010, and nice after some new foam, paint and fabric :o) New, nice place for all Jamie's stuff.

Found the pictures from the reveal of the Hawaii TV stand. Jamie is the best model isn't he?

Crummy angle, but here is the ruffled shower curtain... had to make it because the shower curtain needed to be 95 inches tall. I may add more ruffles later, but it was a lot of ironing and I was impatient as usual and wanted to slap it up there. Plus my mother-in-law was coming and I just wanted something there to make it look homier :o)

Got the idea here:

Adventures in Dressmaking

Diaper boxes to storage bins. Why not? I needed some organization and didn't have any money to buy more baskets from Ikea, so I used what we did have. Boxes from diapers! I had some fabric and a glue gun, and just bout some scrap paper and voila, a few hours of work and we had some storage. Not bad for free!

I love all the topiaries I'm seeing everywhere, but I couldn't find any that were affordable. Most were over 50 for these little guys. So I bought some terracotta pots for like a buck a piece at home depot, and some moss and foam balls from the dollar store. Added some paint I had, used sticks from the yard and ribbon from my stash and topiaries for 4 dollars!

Homemade silhouettes, take a profile angle picture of your cutie, print, trace onto scrapbook paper, glue and frame. Great Christmas presents for the grandmas and grandpas :o)

My best project

Anthro inspired mirror. I used Bev's tutorial here. I love it, I used fabric I had leftover from my cornices in the dining room and front living room.

"Ficy"

2011-01-20T20:18:00.001-05:00

When Jamie doesn't want to do something lately, usually, but not limited to eating something, he claims it is too "ficy" or spicy. We tried to have him eat what we were eating tonight. Pizza. It was too 'ficy'.

'ficy face'

In other news, Jamie didn't have any accidents today, at all!! We were even out of the house for 3 hours, came home, DRY PANTS! woot woot!

Target

2011-01-19T09:45:00.000-05:00

At a trip to Target the other day Jamie was in the big part of the cart and kept standing up. So I said to him, "Jamie, that is dangerous, how 'bout you sit down?" He looked at me and said dead serious, "How 'bout no?"

Where does he get this from? Certainly not me. Stinker.

Crafting Fool!

2011-01-19T00:22:00.000-05:00

Here are a couple of the projects I have been working on the last few months (some are from the summer too)

Goodwill frames spray painted white to create our family photo wall

J. Crew tissue flutter tee from a clearance Target nightgown

tutorial at Adventures in Dressmaking

Anthro Knockoff Narcissus Necklace from Flamingo Toes

My own makeup bag creation

Anthropologie Set Ashore knockoff found at Flamingo Toes (I love Beverly!)

Anthro Paisley Rebirth Necklace (FT again!)

Bev's Semi-Scary Wreath

My own ruffly tee creation from a hideous tee I forbid Brandon to wear :o)

Craigslist Armoire transformation, love those quatrefoils!

Jewelry box redo with red acrylic paint and old tray rebirth with a coat of black paint and a quatrefoil stencil again

Oh, and this little guy, who is growing leaps and bounds DAILY, here he was about 6 pounds and now he weighs in at about 33 pounds!

TV stand from Hawaii redo for Eric and Kelli. I can't find the finished product pics :( But it has, *GASP* red and white quatrefoils on the inside of the doors.

Coffee Filter Valentine's Wreath

Anthro Trimmed Necklace from Bev... AGAIN!

My own creation of ruffly pillows, I am feeling very Valentines-ish and making ruffles every chance I get. I also trimmed out some towels like the shabby chic ones at Target right now for the bathroom. LOVE them

Target Shabby Chic Ruffle Towel

And my Ruffly Table Runner

Target Dollar Spot Dishtowel to Toddler Skirt at the Project Corner

for a friend's little girl, so cute right!?

And finally, I am trying my hand at building furniture thanks to Ana White. That girl is A M A Z I N G! Ch-ch-check her out if you haven't already!

This is her Easiest Modern Rustic Console Table Plan

And this little stinker continues to give me a run for my money EVERY minute of EVERY day! Oy, potty training in earnest now, good days and some really BAD ones. Keeps it interesting!

More pics of my projects to come!

Ruffled Shower Curtain

Anthro Inspired Mirror

Ruffly Apron

Ruffle Hand Towels

and more Ana White building project for sure

2010 The Year in Review

2011-01-17T14:19:00.000-05:00

We are back to blogging and settled in our new home in Jacksonville. Sorry for the lack of posts fam, but you all know what we are up to for the most part anyway. Here are the highlights of our year...

January 2010

February

March

April

May

   June

July

August

   September

October

November

December

This year we have had many ups and downs and tons of changes. Brandon came home after a 14 month deployment in April. We lost my Grandmother, Elizabeth, on December 9th. We miss her dearly. I remember her and think about her every time I sew, cook or create something and hope I do her proud in all I do. I try to embrace life, travel, family and change with the zest she had for life, everyday. We moved twice since April and are now settled in Jacksonville. We added a Weimaraner puppy, Dutch to our family in October. We are enjoying being together again as a family should be. After so many separations, we are enjoying the small things in our life together. FAMILY, LOVE, LAUGHTER, HOME.

Looking forward to a beautiful 2011 with all of our family. Looking forward to a visit from Mom, Dad and Grandpapa Ralph in the coming months. Looking forward to Jamie being potty trained! Looking forward to going back to work. Looking forward to Dutch not terrorizing Jamie and vice versa! Looking forward to life this year.

We're HOME!

2010-10-07T23:11:00.000-04:00

Oh, joyful day! We have finally moved in! We are getting settled in and have about a million boxes out back full of stuff tagged and ready for our yard sale on Sunday. Can't wait to get it all sold and get the rest of the house set up and cleaned out and streamlined in our new cute little house. Woo Hoo for Jacksonville! Pictures to come once we get our act together :o)

Cozy Kittens

2010-08-10T08:41:00.000-04:00

So we are all settled in McDonough for two months anyway...

While waiting on Brandon's CAD packet, he got a call on Friday and was offered a GS-12 position in Jacksonville! We talked and talked and talked about it and decided with all the changes we have had in the last two years that all we really want is to be together. So, he said YES!

We are moving to Jacksonville!!

Woot Woot!

We headed to J-ville this weekend and stayed with Eric and Kelli, who just got there about a week ago (for Eric to start law school next week). We love it there! So very excited. We spent a lot of time checking out the area and are in contact with a realtor. The base is beautiful and the beaches are too. There are so many choices for places to live, but the main thing we want is for B to have a short commute. Driving an hour each way was killer on us when we were in Suwanee.

We move around the 1st of October :o)

Here are some pics of Jamie and his new favorite game... cozy kitten... it consists of laying on the couch with the furry blanket and pillows snuggling.

Cozy Kitten watching Elmo... usually I have to be with him to play cozy kitten

Playing with his train set

and his trucks

Art time!

Snugglin' with Auntie Beth

Packing Up

2010-07-26T00:10:00.001-04:00

We are mostly packed and ready to move back to the ATL. Decided last second to get a Uhaul and take ALL of our stuff up to McD's. So we are driving up on Tuesday instead of Monday now. Here is a phot recap from the last few weeks...

Busy, Busy Bees

2010-07-22T22:43:00.000-04:00

My goodness, we have had a couple of weeks... we went to Georgia for a week long visit and then back to Florida. Found out when we were in Gainesville that Brandon got a assignment in Griffin, GA. Packed up B who moved to McDonough, GA for a 3 month assignment to the 48th. My parents, sister, Jamie, and I went to Connecticut for a week to visit my grand-parentals last week. Monday, Jamie and I are moving to Georgia to join B. My mom and dad are driving up with us to finish getting us settled. Though, I don't know what else will be needing done since Brandon has done such a stellar job. I am excited to move without really doing the work for once :o)

Come October, who knows what is next? Still waiting on the regular Army to tell us where we are moving. Can't wait to see what we are up to next!

He's a Dapper Dan Man

2010-06-28T09:24:00.000-04:00

Boden Bag Knockoff

2010-06-17T18:58:00.000-04:00

Found this super easy and fun to make bag over at Flamingo Toes and Bev provided the step-by-step instructions with photos to make your own. Ch-ch-check her out here: Flamingo Toes Summer Flower Tote.

This is my creation, took me a day 10 AM til 3 PM. I plan on making some more for family and maybe even the LovelyGator. The hardest part for me was doing the math and cutting the strips for the ruffle. Ugh, why math must you always torment me?

Gettin' Crafty

2010-06-15T11:26:00.003-04:00

Hey all 5 of you who read this blog! I have really been getting crafty lately, scouring all the crafty blogs that I had no idea existed. It is SO much fun and inexpensive too! I have so much over-flow from all the stuff I have been making that my cousin Kate and I have opened an etsy shop. It is called the LovelyGator *sigh* she is a UF alumn ;o) So check us out and check out some of the cute things I have been crafting up!

Click on the Ich Liebe ETSY button to get to our store!

Ribbon flower tee (from Flamingo Toes, her button is on the right side of my page -->)

J. Crew inspired necklace from Ruffles and Stuff her button is up there too

I have a pair of earrings like this that my mom gave me and she likes them so much that I made a similar pair for her

Organza flower making overflow

Bird of Peace Necklace

Molly Necklace (much like the J. Crew Necklace)

More organza flower overflow

And MORE! ;o)

Sesame Street Birthday Extravaganza

2010-06-07T09:08:00.000-04:00

Hey There! I'm 2!

Jamie turned two on Friday. Tucking him into bed after his beautiful birthday, I got all choked up. I am so thankful for my little boy. I forget to enjoy all the day to day things with him sometimes. In between the meltdowns and two year old struggles there are snuggles and "luv ya mamas" and those make me melt. We are so blessed to have our smart, energetic, sweet, strong willed little person. Thanks little buddy for changing my life in such a wonderful way. We all love you more than you will ever know.

Happy Birthday James William!

Nice shoes

Molly came home on Thursday from school for Jamie's birthday weekend. On his birthday, Molly took Jamie to the water park and he had a blast. Thanks Auntie Morry!

Who's excited to go swimming? ME!

Elmo's tickle hands from Auntie Molly

Birthday cupcake!

Favorite new game, tuck me in/peek-a-boo/hide and seek

Where's Elmo?

There he is!

and my masterpiece, haha

Opening his t-ball set from mama and daddy

Going to try it out :o)

Try it righty

Now try it lefty

It's a hit! Good gift choice Daddy!

Balloon City

Big Bird foot prints to the party

Opening his bath toys from Papa Marc and Darlene

Think he likes the bath tub fishing set, but not sure how it works exactly

That is what I would do with Buzz Lightyear and my bath boat too :o)

Cake and ice cream time

I can't believe he is 2

Getting ready to dig into that cake... had to work to keep his fingers out of the icing

Sneaky, sneaky

Not so sneaky

Thanks Uncle Eric and Kelli for coming down! Jamie LOVES his tunnel, he keeps dragging it out of his room chanting: tunnah, tunnah, tunnah!

New Lawson in Town!

2010-06-01T09:09:00.000-04:00

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Lawson!

Jake and Brittany were married in Dothan, AL on May 27th with their friends (who introduced them!) Luke and Danielle Leininger as their witness. They spent their honeymoon weekend in New Orleans :o)

They are planning the big family wedding when Jake gets to FT Hood and finds out the deployment schedule. Mom, Brittany's mom and sis and I are planning a bridal shower for mid June and a family get together in Tampa. We are so thrilled to have Brittany join our family! We love you guys!

Escapee Jays to the Rescue!

2010-05-31T10:04:00.001-04:00

So we found Jamie a few nights ago in his crib... pant less! The next morning, I was greeted again with a pant less Jamie, but it was also much worse... Escapee Jays were ordered immediately. Here they are! No more naked Jamie!

Beachy Weekend

2010-05-24T09:11:00.000-04:00

We pretty much spent the weekend at the beach. It was the perfect weather, and the water was gorgeous. My mom had an epiphany, if we bring Jamie's pool, he will like the beach. It worked. He played the whole time in his pool with his beach toys. I floated in the ocean with my parents and grandparents and Brandon read his book next to Jamie. It was lovely. Much needed relaxation after the morning of the spilled nail polish...

Being the idiot that I was after a few glasses of wine on Friday night, I left out my nail polish in the living room. Saturday morning when I was still in bed and Brandon was thoughtfully making everyone breakfast, Jamie polished his toes and feet and my mom's oriental rug. With the entire bottle of "Electric Pink." The rug is now with the rug experts at Azar Rug Galleries being worked on. Beach was much needed for all parties.

Parenting.com Baby Model Search, for the heck of it :o)

2010-05-23T16:55:00.001-04:00

Vote for me in this contest!

Contest details

Catch-Up

2010-05-21T23:17:00.004-04:00

Last week Jamie and I had a mommy and me evening... can't remember why, but he ended up eating dinner with me and only me while everyone was out. Then he had a bath in the BIG kitchen sink.

Later this week, I took Jamie to the library for "toddler time" stories and songs for a half hour and he seemed to really enjoy it. I am going to sign us up for summer session. Once a week on Thurs. mornings. We met another mama with two littles and she lived in Hawaii! I noticed her Great Aloha Run t-shirt and had to ask. She is going to sign her 2 yo up for summer session too :o)

Playing in the fountain at the library after toddler time

Playground after the library :o)

B and me went on a sunset cruise last Friday with some peeps from his school. It was nice and nice to have an evening out with grown-ups :o)

Did a practice run on cupcakes for the cake I am making for Jamie's upcoming 2nd BIRTHDAY!! Woo Woo! I think Elmo came out pretty good!

Telemundo Elmo

Jamie demolishing an Elmo cake (he had 2 and a half samples)

Reading Goodnight Moon and Tree Hugs to "Hot mama and Cool Dada"

Jamie is quite the magpie stringing words together like nobodies' business this week. I LOVE it!

Getting My Photoshop Elements On

2010-05-12T12:16:00.003-04:00

Playing around with Photoshop Elements finally. Trying to improve my editing skills. I brightened and added blue to Jamie's eyes and removed a little eye crusty thing in this picture. Below is the 'before' picture.

8 May

2010-05-08T16:48:00.003-04:00

Tried to get organized this week because Auntie Molly was coming home and we needed to get some of our stuff packed up and put away anyway. So we made a run to Target and got Jamie this super-cool new toy organizer and pulled out his roadmap rug from under his crib. He seems to like that he can find all his toys now and he has figured out that it is fun to drive your trucks on the road-rug.

Pantless Cowboy TV snatcher

Molly got home on Tuesday and Wednesday she had an appointment to get her haircut for Locks of Love.

Before.

After. 11 inches of platinum gorgeous hair!

And some guy in the salon called us the doublemint twins when we were leaving... made my day to be a twin with my ten-years-younger-than-me sister :o)

Home Sweet Home - Vacay from the Vacay

2010-05-02T14:24:00.000-04:00

We got up on Saturday and went to Vineyards park to let Jamie run around like a wild man. I'd say he has mastered the little kid's slide...

And the mini-rock climbing wall

After he got all hot and sweaty he got changed for the splash pad. He tried to spray me with the water, and he did... Brandon got it all on camera.

We went to dinner with Grammy and Grampy and watched the Kentucky Derby while we waited to eat and when we were leaving, we saw the sunsetting and jetted down to Vanderbilt to catch it.

Great recovery day