Carsyn is One!

As in 1 year old!! Back up, didn't we just bring home that little pink bundle??

Carsyn P, you are such a joy!



Personality wise you are always laughing and smiling. You are seriously the happiest baby, Can I call you baby forever, please? You rarely cry and are content most of the time.

You typically rise in the morning with a smile on your face. You actually wake up early, early have some milk, then sleep til 9:30 or so. Not the best habit, but you seem to be happy, so we'll work on that later. You have oatmeal, a cereal bar, or a banana for breakfast in your high chair while watching your Disney channel favorites. If Mickey happens to be on you'll bob up and down for the hot dog dance. After you eat and drink a little milk from your sippy you'll sit there and let mom pick up some or play in your pack in pay, You're getting much better about playing by yourself.

If its a work day you are more than content to babble the whole way to work. Sometimes you'll take a little catnap. During the day you will play with random things-still not a lover of toys! You love to take a stack of magazines and throw in the floor. You also love to take your current favorite toy (rubber ducky) and hide it and find it. Your lunch consists of chicken nuggets and maybe some yogurt. You will almost always take a 2 hour afternoon nap. After that nap is over-somewhere between 3:30 and 4:30 you play some more. We usually work on your walking skills. Lately you will push your little shopping cart, but are terrified of letting go!

We have dinner around 6:30, usually grilled cheese, then daddy play time. This is probably your favorite time of day. Daddy gives you 100% of his attention and you'll chase each other crawling around the house. Next its bath and bed time. Sometimes we have a story. Your bedtime is usually between 8:00 and 9:00 but you're a go with the flow baby. If we're out and about sometimes you'll sit up til 10:00.



You are very long and lean, Carsyn P. We go to the ped Thursday and I think you'll weigh around 17 lbs. Your appetite has really increased lately! You are wearing 9 and 12 month clothing but can actually still wear some 6 months-At least that's friendly on momma's wallet! You are really strong and love to do chin ups on furniture-its too funny! You also love to drop things on the floor, say uh-oh, then pick them up and put them on a table, and drop them again. You love to pull a blanket over your face and pull it down to say boo!

Speaking of words, you are a chatty Cathy.. You say many words if you are repeating someone but words you say on your own are hi, bye, uh-oh, duck, dog, momma, and dada. You sometimes say poop when we change your diaper. You will holler Ro-Sie if you really want to get her attention. When mom tries to teach you to sign for more you'll say mo? Your favorite word in the world is No. No, no, no to everything.

You still love babies and kids. You throw up your hand and say hi to every kid you see-Even some adults. Just the other day auntie and uncle wobble babysat you all day and tried everything to coerce you into saying their names, After meeting their little neighbor Cole for 5 minutes you yelled "Bye Cole" as you strolled off. Stinker!

You love to be free and play in the floor but you also love to be held. You will sit in momma or daddy's lap and watch TV for a while. You still love to nap in dad or papaw's lap. You love to play with your pops! You usually spend an hour a day chasing each other around.



Carsyn, momma and daddy love you to the moon and back..please stay our little girl forever!

My darling Carsyn

Carsyn Presley, I cannot believe a year has went by with you in my life. As sappy as it sounds, your momma is a wreck at the thought of you turning one, What was my life like without you? You have become my best friend, my shopping buddy, my jogging partner, my napping sidekick, the reason I wake up with a smile on my face. No matter what I'm doing baby girl, its funner if you're there.

Exactly a year ago I lay in bed terrified at becoming your mother. How could I be responsible for a little one?? I can't even find my keys in the morning and forget to walk the dog on a daily basis. I prayed for the Lord to give me guidance and make me a good mother. To grant me patience and understanding at times needed. I wondered what you'd look like, if you'd be ok, if my heart would burst with happiness the minute I laid eyes on you, Boy, did it ever. That cry was the BEST sound I've ever heard in my life-10 fingers, 10 toes, and pure perfection. It was love at first sight. You have taught me so much and made my life complete. We definitely have tested each other at times, but those late nights and early mornings bonded us in ways I never imagined. At times sleep was my main focus I would catch myself holding you a little longer or just watching you sleep in your crib, Funny how those first few months are so hard at the time, but how they were the best months of your life in hindsight.

As always, Carsyn, your daddy and I love you more than you can imagine. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings for you, baby girl!

Love, Mommy

Drinking the Koolaid

I guess I'm a follower. I'd like to think of myself as a strong, independent leader but maybe I'm more the opposite. I'm a make no apologies about it product junkie. You know how they say when you buy a new item you should throw one out? Not in this house. I hoard my beauty products. I anticipate the InStyle best beauty buys issue way in advance and tear out the little cheat sheet for future purchases. I'm not really an expert but by now I think we all know if you've never tried Nars blush in orgasm or if you haven't had Chanel Vamp or OPI Lincoln Park After Dark on your nails at least once you might be living in a cave. You know what happens when you have a little one?? Well you kinda start living in a cave. At least I have in certain ways. So here are a few beauty products that have finally sucked me in.. And a Life Planner to boot. Have you heard about the Erin Condren Life Planner ;)






I am the last person in America to get the naked palette. Why? Because I have 18000 eye shadows. But I caved eventually. Have you tried it? It's sparkly wonderment-love!

I have watched about 800 infomercials and 500 hours of qvc talking about the Wen products. My hair is still in rough shape after the kiddo. The new growth is so frizzy and it feels drier than it was before. I've been using the Wen for about a month. People have been telling me my hair looks good but maybe that's just because I went 12 weeks without color last time-yikes. My hair does feel healthier, I'm just not sure I'm sold yet.

Lastly, the Life Planner- It's cute, tough, & fun to use. I just wish it had an address book. Then again that gives me an excuse to order another item! You need to go order one of these stat ladies! Trust me, you'll love it!

What have you recently purchased that you must share with others? Tell me so I can run out and get it!

I remember..

Do you remember where you were on 9/11? I was a newlywed pretty fresh out of college in 2001. I pulled into a place to have my oil changed and asked the young attendant how he was. He said "Ma'am I'm going to war, have you not heard about the towers?" He then explained to me what had happened and that he was going to do whatever he could to make sure it didn't happen again.

My heart is heavy when I think of the lives lost and dreams shattered that day. I've spent a lot of today listening to The Rising album, an inspiring example of Springsteen's brilliance. Into the fire is just a hauntingly beautiful song that salutes the brave souls that risk their lives every day to save others...




Sent from my iPad

Project Life & Scrap booking

I am linking up with Kelly at Kelly's Korner to talk a little bit about my project life kit. I tweeted this a while back and even mentioned it in my blog, but a few people have asked me about it so I figured I'd give you a few more details...



I was introduced to Project Life by my friend Michelle after complaining to her the hours of time scrap booking took up. I had just finished my daughter, Carsyn's first scrapbook December of last year and it took a lot of working til the wee hours of the morning..NOT so easy as a new mommy. When March of this year rolled around and I had not even started getting her 2011 pictures in order I knew something had to be done-Enter Becky Higgins. This album is already laid out for 4x6 photos. It even has cute note cards and stickys included! Becky (let's pretend we know each other on a first name basis)also includes some card stock if you want to create your own layouts. My goal is to get Carsyn's up to date before her first birthday....in 10 DAYS!! I just finished April this weekend..wish me luck.



Here are a few photos:



I have added a few decorations of my own to jazz up some of the layouts..




As you can see each layout is supposed to depict a week with a photo a day. I am not this advanced and I just use each layout for a specific occasion.

Here are a few photos of Carsyn's 2010 scrapbook..














My one recommendation is to design a place in your home just for scrap booking..My kitchen table is just not cutting in anymore and I'm working on a scrap area myself...I hope to show you some pictures soon!!



HAPPY SCRAPPING!!



ps...If you're reading this Michelle, you should share some tips..I'm sure your books are AWESOME!!

Obsession.. The T Shirt Dress

I've always had a bit of a love affair with the T-shirt dress and lately I've been seeing them a little more often.

After spying this Express dress in a lot of magazines I decided to track it down... Well actually my expert shopping sister tracked it down for me..




For scary horizontal stripes it's actually not that hip widening.. I think.

Usually I don't wear much Lilly in the fall, but this season I happened to stop in the local store. Thank goodness because this little beauty caught my eye.






Seriously, it is so flattering on. I love both of these and think they go with flats or heels equally well. I can't wait to wear them with boots and a jacket come fall!

Do you love the t dress as much as me? What are you wearing now?

A Lot of Random

Last week was my hubby's birthday (Tues) and my birthday (Wed). Due to his coal mine being shut down we did not get to do much celebrating together :( Someday I will do a post all about coal mining and what a stressful job it is and how I pray for the safety of our miners every day. Shane's workplace is really like our extended family and I'm so blessed he has a job where people care about their coworkers. But, I digress.

Given the hubby was working long hours I visited my sister on my birthday and Carsyn got to spend a little time with her favorite guy. Seriously these two together MELT MY HEART.











This weekend I went to my mom and dad's and we had a little birthday celebration there.






Maddox was more than happy to blow out Shane's candle!






After sleeping all night (thank you cousins who wore baby girl out) Carsyn woke up saying Max, Max. Cutest thing ever! I hope Maddox is ok with his nickname.

We had a very low key day Sunday and the weather was pretty gross. I ended up taking Carsyn to Lowe's to look around and find some picture hangers. Kid loves riding in the buggy so much. I'm sure people look at me crazy when I run up and down the aisles.






After tweeting a picture of my exciting scrapbooking Sunday night I got a few questions about project life. If y'all want to know anything just ask me. I made a scrapbook for Carsyn's life highlighting events from pregnancy til Christmas but it was just too time consuming, Michelle at Somerset Cottage turned me onto to project life and for now its more my pace. So far I've made it til March.






And in case that wasn't enough randomness for you how about these gorgeous roses I got at Walmart?? $10 for 18 people. They are just so beautiful I put them on my sink so I can enjoy them every morning..Go out and get you some ladies!!