Baltimore...

Wow... It's been a while since I've been on here. Its been almost 2 weeks... Sorry. Been a little busy...

A little update...
We're in Baltimore now. Living with Chris' sister. Still living out of boxes though. Its a slow process with us I guess haha! Her basement is a mess... Basically our whole house (minus our bedroom and the nursery) is all in her basement. Its crazy. A little sad at the same time. A whole 2 years of our life is packed away in boxes and I have no idea when I'll actually see it all out of boxes again. I miss my kitchen stuff... And my house. I miss my own home where I could have all of my things out. Don't get me wrong, I'm veryyy grateful for everything that his sister is doing for us. Giving us a place to live for free until we get back on our feet... Which won't be hard once our house gets rented out. (That will take a huge burden off our shoulders). I guess it just sucks. For the past 2 years I've learned to be on my own with Chris and now Jr, and not need to depend on anyone, and now I have to depend on a lot of people.

I've started my job at Sam's Club up here... Needless to say, I hate it. I don't feel welcome and people aren't very kind... But its to be expected since we are in Baltimore. HA! I'm looking other places for a job.
I really don't want to stay there if I don't have to.... Hopefully I can get out soon. Plus I'm not getting enough hours there (which means not enough money).

Jr has 2 teeth now, and his top 2 are in the process of coming through. He's pretty adorable with his little teeth haha! And he eats like a pig. He loves all of the baby food. Apples, pears, green beans, squash, sweet potatoes, everything. I'm going to start making his food homemade though. I just have to find some time haha. Oh and he lovessss pizza crust too!

Zoey and Ace (Stephs pit) get along great! They are too funny together. Especially since she's so small and he's huge, but she holds her own! And Alex (the cat) chases Zoey all around... I think he thinks that she's really a cat ahah. And Aspen (the other cat) just ignores her most of the time. He's not as playful. But they are all pretty cute together.

Oooo Chris made us all dinner tonight... He made bbq chicken tacos =) They were deliciousssssss!!!!!

Well I guess its off to bed I go. I have to work every darn day this week... Next day off.... SUNDAY! Yuck!! Shoot me now!!

I have a few pictures to put up. But haven't had the time. Later this week.... Maybe Thursday... I'm off that morning. Night y'all!

Saying goodbye...

Last night what Chris' going away party for work. We had it at O'Charleys (yummmm!!). A good amount of people came which was nice. Tim Rowe and his wife Holly, put together an amazing plaque for Chris! I love it! He was a little worried that he wouldn't get one that was nice, because he didn't think anyone cared like he had always cared for the people whose plaques he did. So I was very happy when I saw how nice the one they made was.

After dinner I dropped the boys off to the bar to meet up with everyone else, while Jr and I came home to hang out until they were ready to be picked up. I know Chris had a lot of fun.

Chris wasn't supposed to have to go into work this morning, but they called and told him he needed to. I don't know why still... Chris ended up going in and going to medical because of the other night. (May not have told what happened but Chris and Ryan were wrestling and he slammed his chest into Ryan's knee and he's been complaining about it since then). Well medical has apparently told him that he has a broken rib. I guess this means I'll have a cripple complaining on the way to Baltimore tonight. Haha its ok though. I'll be in my car and he'll be in his.... Oh wait, rephrase that..... He'll be in my car and I'll be in his. He just called and said he can't drive his so I need to (his is a manual sports car). Bleh this sucks!

I went over the house and did the last walk through and it made me a little sad to say good-bye to our first home. Its sad. I'm going to miss my house and my spaces.

I still need to run back past my neighborhood and check my mail one last time and then say good-bye to Heather and the boys.

Oh I just want to get to Baltimore already. So I can just be there and have all of my stuff and see everyone.

Pictures from yesterday and today:

He's pretty darn cute sometimes...

Daddy hog-tied him with his blankie

Jr was giving his musical lion kisses this morning.

Just another Sunday...

Well its another Sunday around here... Except today we have plenty to get done. We're planning to heading over to our house shortly. We still need to finish packing up the last few things, like candles, cleaning products, and bath stuff. Then we need to do a quick clean up around and then vacuum. I don't plan on doing a super deep clean since the rental company is having people come in to do a clean behind us anyways. Everything needs to be done and out by Tuesday and packed into my car that night. We are heading to Baltimore on Wednesday. I'm getting so excited!!!

Jrs other tooth is almost through. I can even see a little white spot of it. I can't wait until I gets out, then maybe he'll stop being so cranky all the time. =) He's going to look too cute with 2 little bottom teeth. I wonder if he's going to start getting them all in back to back now that he has one and a 2nd almost out?! I hope not... If so, poor me! HAHA! He's too funny right now, whenever his mouth starts hurting he chews on anything and everything. Its especially funny when he grabs his nin and chews on the side of it. And when he gets so aggrivated about it and wants to really chew on something. He does when we call his war cry and grabs either his blankie or nin or just uses his fist and yells at them and shoves them in his mouth and chews hard! Haha! Its the cutest thing ever.

Chris tried last night to get him to crawl. We had him laying on the floor and had toys down there with him. Well Chris decided to put the toys just out of Jrs reach. And Jr was getting so mad and pulling his knees up close to him and then trying to push away, but he wasn't getting very far with it.

Pictures of the Day:

At 6 a.m. he decided he wasn't ready to go back to sleep yet....

So we stayed up until 730-8 and then went back to sleep.

"Hey Ma! My shirts stuck on my head."

Fairly lazy day...

Well today was a bit of a lazy day, even though I had a bunch that I wanted to get done... I did at least go back to the house and get a few more odds and ends packed up and a little more cleaning done. And Chris got the walls patched and holes filled. And Kate (Ryans Fiancee) even replaced the screen in the back door for us. =)

We went on to Lejeune to see Kung Fu Panda 2 and then the new Harry Potter (they are doing an early viewing for free on base). Well when we got there the line was wrapped around the whole building and people were in tents like they had camped out there over night... It was RIDICULOUS! So we went home haha! So Jr and I took a nap on the couch and Chris went out with Ryan(Chris' best friend) and Chad (Ryans brother).

Then Ry made bbq chicken tacos... Yumm!!! And now its going to be a night spent playing the Wii and maybe a card game of some type... We'll see. I want to play Uno or Phase 10, but who knows.

Jr ate apples for the first time tonight! He loved them!! He ate a half jar and still wanted more! But didn't give it to him because he's a lush and will eat till he pukes haha!

Pictures of the Day:

Playing on Facebook with Momma

Watching Daddy and Ryan play the Wii

Jrs progress as of today

As of today, Jr is 4 months and 3 weeks old... He has done a lot of new things lately...

On June 30th, he ate baby food for the first time... We fed him carrots. He wasn't too sure about them at first, but then he liked them a lot. It took him a few bites to get the concept that if he wanted another bite he'd have to open his mouth for it. He only ate about a tablespoon full that night... But a few days later he ate the rest of that container which was about 5 tablespoons full. He loves them!!

Then when we were out to dinner one night I gave him real sweet potatoes... Ones that weren't baby food. He loved them too!! Maybe this means that I won't have a picky eater...WISHFULL THINKING!

Jr is so funny... He loves to watch Little Einsteins... I put it on the netbook for him to watch a lot. He loves it. He'll usually sit through almost a whole episode... But sometimes he looses interest but then goes back to it. It atleast helps me a little bit to get some things done haha!

Jr also sits in his highchair now... Before he wasn't really able to because he couldn't sit up very well... Were still working on getting him to hold his own bottle... He's getting better with it, but only if its a smaller bottle. Its pretty cute.

Long time, no post...

Well its been a while since my last post I just noticed. I suppose a lot has happened since then.

For 4th of July weekend we went home to Baltimore.While we went up we took Zoey with us, and left her there so she wouldn't be at our house for the packing and moving. We had a good time while we were up there.

On Wednesday... I BOUGHT A NEW CAR!!! I got a 2011 Ford Escape XLT! Its Slate Gray with black grill and black rims that have a chrome outline. Sport package with moon and tune premium sound package. And black leather interior with heated seats... LOVEEEEE MY NEW CAR!!!!! I'll have to post a picture of it later. Its amazing! I love how much room I have in it. I offically can fit Jr into the backseat easily and can have room in the seat in front of him so that my knees or Chris' knees aren't touching the dashboard. And I love my heated seats... I've even used them already.... I know crazy right.. Its summer and I'm using heated seats. But like I turn the air on its lowest setting and get cold but if I turn it off I get too hot, so if I have on both its perfect. Oh and we got an amazing deal on it! With the amazing financing rate of 1.9%!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!



Yesterday the moving company came and packed our whole house up! I was soo nervous about the whole thing. And once they were there it wasn't too bad, but dang we had a tonnnnnnnn of shit in our house! Like I totally forgot about some of the things that we had put up in our attic until we pulled them down for them to take and it made me wish we had pulled them out like a week or 2 before... Then I could have gone through and purged. It was nuts!! After the movers left we moved our bags into our friend Ryans and now were staying with him until the 13th which is when we leave.

Today though.... Was great!! I found Jrs first tooth... Well I mean we knew it was coming in soon, but its actually through now and its not just under the gums. And he has a 2nd one coming in right next to it! Its so exciting!!

Still nothing

As of today, the house has been up for rent for 10 days and we still haven't had any potential renters come to look at it. I'm a little worried about it but nothing like I would be if it were like 30 days. I'm really hoping it goes soon! I mean its a cute house perfect for a couple or 2 roommates. 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, screened in back patio with large storage closet... Its perfect. And it was perfect for us too... But now that were moving it just needs to go.

And now time for me to be excited....
TRUE BLOOD COMES BACK ON TONIGHT!!!
I feel like its been foreverrrrr since I last saw a new episode. I've been having withdrawl. HAHA!
I hope its a good episode.

Only 11 more days before they come to pack up our stuff. I'm so excited! It means that were just getting closer to moving back home. At the same time I'm not excited though. I'm going to miss everyone (well almost everyone) here so damn much! But at the same time I'll be back home with the besties. Thankfully... I miss them!

Family Night

Well tonight was Chris' units Family Bowling Night on base. Free food and free bowling... Sounds great to me. Means I don't have to cook dinner tonight and we won't be sitting at home just watching tv. HA! Chris whooped my ass all 3 games we played. And the 3rd we didn't even finished. He just all around killed me on it. Glad we went tongiht though because I really had nothing planned for dinner nor any idea of what I felt like making. So it saved me in a way.

Yet again it was another day off of work for me and I didn't get much of anything done. Never do for some reason. I at least got Jrs bottles cleaned and the dishes done. I'll probably get more done tomorrow though because I have to work in the morning, so I usually get home with a bunch of energy to get stuff done. That is as long as Jr cooperates and will sit in his high chair, swing or play on his blanket with his toys.

I'm still trying to figure out a side job to do... My options were:
-Back to Mary Kay
-Pampered Chef
-Scentsy

I love Pampered Chef, the products are great and I love cooking/baking... But at the same time they are a pretty much one time sell. Where as with MK and Scentsy, you need to replace/replenish your stock regularly, which means constant returning customers... I mean you still have returning customers with PC but not as much. MK gives a 50% commission, but Scentsy only does like a 20-30% depending on the sales--- But Scentsy sells to all different ages and genders, where as I felt like I could only gear my MK sales to the older crowd. Yes, I am younger and wear MK but thats because I sold it and I love the products better then stuff in the stores. But its hard for me to sell that to someone else my age I've noticed. They see it as an older brand, when its really not. I don't know. I'm so stuck... Its not like I want to make this my main job, I just want to be able to make some side income.

Well, I'm tired and Jrs been asleep in his room since 2230, so I guess its time for me to hit the sack too. 615 will come quick.

Forest Fires

Ugh today is a nasty day out... I guess some trees were struck by lightening last night and it started a forest fire of some type. It is so smokey out today. They even posted an air warning that people shouldn't be out for too long because of the smoke in the air. I went to Wal-Mart and by the time I got home I felt like I had smoked a pack or two of cigarettes.

Jrs now passed out in his swing, and probably will be about another half hour. And then I'm going to wake him up and feed him before I drop him off to Heather and go to work.

So I'm starting to getting a little discouraged... We haven't hadasingle person into look at the house yet. I've been busting my ass keeping it spotless waiting for them to bring people by to look and see if they want to rent it... And a week later... Nothing. Nobody has yet to come in. I'm really hoping that it truly does go fast so its one last thing that we need to worry about once we get to Baltimore.

Its only 3 weeks until we move back to Baltimore and only 2 weeks and 1 day until the movers come to pack up our house. I'm getting so excited! Theres still plenty left for me to do before they come to pack though. I need to video and take pictures of the furnature in the house so I have any previous damage noted. I also have to write down the make, model, and seriel numbers off the electronics and small appliances. And once the house is empty we are having people come in to clean the carpets and then we are going to spot paint different places. Oh moving can be such a pain. But this move is soo exciting because we are going home.

Still pondering if I would rather go with Mary Kay or Pampered Chef, or maybe some other company. Chris says I can do multiple companies, but I don't see that being a good idea. I feel like that would be pulling me at all ends and me not benefiting the most that I could if I were just placing myself fully into one company. But which do I go for... Mary Kay and sell makeup, although its geared more towards an older crowd, and may make it hard for me to sell, but when I do I get 50% profit or Pampered Chef, which is easy as hell to sell but only gets a 20-30% profit. But also sells at a faster rate then Mary Kay does. I guess I still need to keep thinking before I make a decision.

Picture of the Day:

Jr decided to help mommy do some laundry today.

Thrush

Dear Thrush,

I am sick of you invading my sons mouth and making him have to take more medicines.

Yours hatefully,
Ashley


Yup- thats right... Jr has thrush for his 3rd time! Cause? Unknown, just some kids get it multiple times. So he's back on medicine to get rid of it again. Thankfully its a medicine that only has to be given once a day, and it was caught early so it shouldn't take too long to get rid of it. Thank goodness! But my poor baby... I feel bad for him. So I guess tonight I'll be digging all of the paci's so I can boil them along with his teething toys. Hopefully it'll only take a week and a half to kick this things booty fully!

Running on E

I got like 4 hours of sleep last night. I couldn't sleep very good last night with Jr in his bedroom and not ours. And I don't know if its that he was sleeping in his room or that I could hear his music still on over the monitor. But I finally slept once he got up and ate and came into our bedroom.

So now with plenty to get done today, I'm running on E basically. I have to take Jr to the drs at 130 for his mouth. He looks like his lips are peeling on the inside... Possibly thrush again? I'm not sure...And I sure hope not. We'll see.

I'm making one of my hubbys favorites for dinner tonight. Its like a non-spicy version of a mexican chicken. I haven't made it in FOREVERRR so I thought it would be good tonight to make something different. I'll post up the recipe later for it under Mexican Chicken. And I may try something different with it tonight when I make it.

Well I guess its time to get this day going and get dressed and Jr down for a nap and then fed before his doctors appointment. And then its off to get his 4 month booster shots after the doctors office.

Wish us luck!

Picture of the day:

Jr this morning

4 months and 3 days old =)

Bedtime Blues

I'm feeling a little blue tonight.

I decided that tonight would be the 1st night that Jr sleeps in his own bedroom. He has been sleeping in ours in his pack 'n' play. But I feel like he's ready for his own bed. So I'm trying it tonight. I guess you could say I was "buttering him up" for it tonight. Him and I took a warm bath together and played in there with his Winnie The Pooh squirt toys for a little, then fed him his nightly bottle of formula and cereal, and let him hang out with us in the living room for a little. And I just went and layed him down and put on some music for him. And now I'm sitting back in the living room listening to him cry over the monitor. I feel like a mean mommy but it has to happen sooner or later. I suppose I'll let him cry it out for a little and then go in to check on him, but its sad. I don't know how I'm going to sleep tonight knowing he's not right next to my bed. But I am leaving the pack 'n' play up that way if it really doesn't work out I can bring him in there and get him to bed. That or I'll end up going in there to check on him all the time.

Its just hard to let him grow up and know that he's growing up because he's sleeping in his own room like a "big boy". HAHA!

On to today's events... A WHOLE LOT OF NOTHING! I really didn't get anything accomplished other then doing dishes and cleaning bottles... Oh and making dinner of course. I wanted to get some laundry done, but I guess that can just wait until tomorrow. I used to be so good about getting things done on my days off of work, but anymore I just want to spend the whole day playing with Jr or snuggling with him on the couch for a little nap time or while he sleeps I watch a tv show or movie.

And I've been thinking a little lately, of ways for some extra income... I was thinking about going back to doing Mary Kay once we move back to MD. And I said something to my Aunt Jen about it, and she mentioned maybe I'd like to do Pampered Chef, since I like to cook/bake and love their products. I guess its food for thought for me, and I'll have a lot of thinking to do before I make any decisions.

Night ya'll... I'll update tomorrow on how it goes with Jr sleeping his room.... So far so good, I don't hear a peep over the monitor, I think I'll go check on him in a few just to make sure he's ok.

Baked Beefy Mac n Cheese

So I tried something new today, and it was semi- hamburger helper inspired...

I used the Kraft baked mac n cheese stuff and added 1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained. Mixed them both together in a 2.5 qt cassarole dish, added about a 1/2 c milk across the whole thing and mixed it up (just to give it extra moisture) and then added cheddar cheese on top to taste and bacon crumbles on top to taste. Then baked it for 10 minutes at 425. It was delicious!!!! I loved it!

It was one of those things that I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out. But it turned out perfect. And Chris even liked it. Not that he will usually complain aloud to me about anything I make. haha!

10 Hands

There are some days when I really wish that I just had 10 hands. Or copies of myself. That way I could just get everything I want done on that day, actually done. Instead of just started. Or only half of them done. Just like I wish I had another me to fold the laundry and put the laundry away too. Do the dishes while they are at it. And its not that I can't do it myself, but on the days that I work, I just want to be able to spend the rest of the day taking care of my son and playing with him. I love spending all my time with him. Especially as he's growing up so quickly.

I woke up to him singing to me today. It was the greatest. I loved listening to him.

I totally realized this morning that Sunday is Fathers Day and I haven't picked up something for Chris from Jr. I guess I need to go do that tomorrow morning. I have no idea what to get him though.

Great news!

Well everything last night went amazingly! ABA Rentals came over and they did a walk through and loved the house! They also took pictures of the place so that they could post them on their website so potential renters can see it there first. We signed a contract and posted the For Rent sign out front and now we are now officially playing the waiting game. They said that they don't think it will take it long to get rented out, since we are an end unit and the appliances are all up to date and the house is in such good condition. Its basically perfect for a couple with no children, or a single person, or a couple with one child. And because we are listing it as pet friendly that will help too! (We are only doing that because we have a dog as it is, so it wouldn't be much different) I'm hoping it goes quick though so it will be 3 less payments for us to worry about after we leave (mortgage/insurance, water, and electric).

It was so adorable last night. Chris and I were laying in bed, and we were just laying there listening to Jr sing in his pack 'n' play while we laughed about it. It was the cutest thing ever. He went on for a good 15 minutes with it. Finally I got him asleep, but it took forever.

This morning I found out that Des (my sister-in-law), who is almost 16 is coming to stay with us for a few days when we go home to visit for the 4th of July. She's been having a hard time up at home, so Chris thought it would be a good idea to bring her down here for a little while to get her away from things. I'm kind of excited to have her here though. I think it'll be good for her.

Well I have to go get Jr and I ready, so he can go to Heathers while I go to work.

Wednesday June 15th 2011

Today is a big day for us in our steps to moving back to Baltimore. The company we selected to be our rental company is coming to look around the house, take pictures, put up a yard sign and sign contracts. We've decided it isn't worth it right now for us to try and sell our home, so instead we are renting it out. Were hoping to get it rented ASAP so thats one less bill that we will have to pay once we get to Maryland.

We've been working so hard the past few days trying to get the house looking perfect! And it's finally done and the big day is here!! I'm soo excited to hear what they have to say about our house and if they think it will go quick or not.

On another note... Jr is getting so big. I realized how much he has grown this morning, and it made me so sad. I went to put a sleeper on him this morning because he was a little cold, and then one that I went to put on him was too small.. Sad part wasn't that it was too small in general, but that it was too small today, when it just fit about a week ago. Oh and he's found his feet. If he's laying on his back he LOVES to grab his feet and play with his toes. Its adorable! It makes me so sad that my baby boy is growing up so fast. I want him to stay little forever! HA!

I just realized that I only have about 2 more weeks of work left. And I'm pretty excited about it, but also sad. I love the people I work with, and I don't want to leave them, because I'm afraid that at my new job there won't be people there that are as funny and as awesome as the people I have now.

Oh and I've decided I want to start couponing... So if anyone wants to teach me the ways of couponing, please let me know! I'm not sure how some of these people do it so that they are only coming out of the store paying nothing or only a few dollars for hundreds of dollars worth of food and health products... Especially with diapers and formula!!