Blogger 411: about ME

I'm linking up with Becky in the Blogger 411. I don't think I have done one of these get to know me things before and I always love reading them so I thought I'd join in!

1. How long have you been blogging? And what got you started on blogging? Has your blog changed?

 I started blogging in January of 2010. 
I had been a blog stalker for years and was finally encouraged to start my own. 
I was going to wait until we had kids, but bit the bullet and blogged about our married life in Florida instead. I am so thankful I started when I did, I was able to connect with so many awesome women. I had no idea it would take us as long as it did to conceive and I was so thankful for an outlet, support, prayers and encourage from everyone- including others who were struggling. 
Of course, my blog has changed since having Adalyn....a lot.
 I used to write with some humor and these days I'm lucky if I can get my brain to form words to even write a post! 
I'm thankful to have the blog in each season of my life and I look forward to going back and reading it one day! 

2. Did you go to college? If so where, and what did you study?

I went to college for two years. And I got nothing but debt and great friends. 

I started out at the community college taking gen. eds, paying my way through and staying close to Mr. B {he was still a senior in High School}. After crying for months about having no friends and seeing all my others friends having fun, the college search was on for me and Mr. B. We decided on a small school in PA. We loved it. And then we hated it. My major was Communication Disorders. I had an awesome group of girls that I really connected with and loved. {Still love!} 

But we didn't feel the school was helping us grow spiritually and we really wanted to be surrounded by an uplifting/challenging environment. So we only lasted a semester. And said a tearful good-bye.

 We made our way down to FL. We went to Southeastern University. How can you not love a school in Florida?! {It's pretty easy actually- you live there and realize how hot it is.} We loved their chapels and it really seemed like everyone was there to learn and grow.

 My major was Elementary Education.

 At this school Mr. B connected with a good group of friends and I didn't like I did before. Some of my credits didn't transfer because I was dumb and took core classes for each major so I was about a year behind. I was always a good student, graduated HS with High honors, and got all A's and a few B's in college, but I was really just going to college for the experience and because I felt like I had to. I didn't like elementary education. I never felt the desire to be a teacher, I didn't enjoy lesson planning and hated speaking in front of the class. I only did it because I knew I wanted to work with kids. After much consideration and prayer, Mr. B and I decided that I would stop going to school and pursue my dream of being a nanny. Something I loved to do, I was gifted in doing and a way to make money rather than continue to put myself in debt.

 And that's what I did! 

I am thankful for each experience along the way! We always wonder what life would have been like had we stayed in PA the whole time- I don't think we would be where we are today.

 And I love where we are today, so that's okay!
 I do live the grass is greener life though and I seem to forget about all the bad times and only remember the good so I always wonder why we left and what we were thinking. Which is good and bad, I guess! 

But God knew.

Oh yeah and I only went away to school for one year and I still have $11,000 in debt. 

Paying the minimum doesn't get you very far.

3. Where have you traveled?

Outside of the US I've been to Canada, Mexico, Romania and the Ukraine

4. What are your 3 biggest pet peeves?

I have a lot of pet peeves, it depends on the day. 

Sometimes it could be someone breathing.

Seriously.

But if to think of my three biggest...

1. Mouth noises. 

2. Heavy breathing

3. Whistling

I know, I have problems.

5. What is your favorite movie?

I think I'll have to go with Now & Then. 

I haven't seen it in a long time, but it was always one of my favs.

I do love the Notebook, too!

And A Walk to Remember { I couldn't listen to the soundtrack for months, because it would make me cry}

And I love Wild Hogs too.

6. What is your drink of choice; wine, beer, or liquor. Or Water, Soda, Tea?

I don't drink any alcohol, but I do love me Diet Dr. Pepper or Root Beer.

It switches up every couple months between the two.

I'm currently in a Diet Dr. Pepper phase.

I also love water and I am particular about what kind.

I love smart water, but it's not always feasible.

I am fine with Poland Springs and Dasani.

Really don't like Nestle Pure Life.

Aquafina hurts my stomach.

I know, I have problems.

7. What is something you enjoy to do when you have me time?

I enjoy watching TV, blogging/reading blogs, editing pictures and various DIY projects

8. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?

I think I'd have to go with Target. I can never walk out of there with only what I went in to buy. 

They pretty much have everything I would need and I know that $10,000 would go way too quickly!!

9. Share with us an embarrassing moment of your past? Or present.

Way too many to share. 

I suppose my most current would be the amount of...ahem..gas I passed through the whole laboring process.

I'm not sure that was normal. 

I laugh about it almost every day.

I had no control.

10. What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years?

In high school I worked at a grocery store {Mr. B worked there too}. I was a cashier and sometimes bagger and I hated working on express and that is where I seemed to be the most.

I worked there for 3 years. 

Then I worked with kids- daycare, nanny, live-in nanny and  in-home daycare until I was 8 months pregnant. 

11. Show us a picture from high school or college.

"The Event" {aka Christian school prom- Senior Year}

College:

12. Show us the most current picture of you or you, or your family, or anything of meaning to you. 

{6 Month family pics that I still need to post!}

13. Where do you see your life 5 years from now?

Happily married to my best friend, living in our own home with a sibling {or two!} for Adalyn.

But I know the Lord holds our future and we can only do so much- it's in His hands! 

But these are my dreams and desires.

Million Dollar Question

Two posts in one day?! 

Woah.

So every time I try and write up a recap I completely lose my mind and confuse myself.

Seriously, every.single.time.

So the question is...

how do you post the monthly recaps??

As I was writing the "3 Month Recap" I was confused because I feel like I am writing about when she was 2 months old, but it's called her "3 Month Recap".

I am really bad at explaining my confusion in person, so I can't even imagine how it is going to sound written out but let me try and explain it.....

{And I also have to write this out every time}

She was born on November 21st.

December 21st she turned 1 month old.

Anything that happened from November 21st-December 21st is considered her 1st month, right?

Anything that happened from December 21-January 21 is in her 2nd month of life.

BUT at the time of whatever events happened she really isn't that old yet.

Example: December 21st she turns 1 month old.

Christmas was on December 25th.

On January 21 she turns 2 Months and I need to write up her recap for the month she just finished.

 December 21st-January 21st is her second month of life therefore it becomes her "2 Month Recap".

BUT during Christmas time she was 1 month old...not 2.

I get that when she turns 2 months old it's more of a completion of a month, not the start.

But I still consider it the start.

Am I making any sense??

Another example: Currently she is 4 month old and teething.

When I write that post it will be in her 5th month recap, but she's not 5 months while teething....

So I guess the question is what do you consider the first few weeks of life, I think that's what screwed up my monthly recaps. I think I need to go back and fix the titles.

I want my updates to be a recap of the month she was.

And sometimes I think I am the only one that is confused by this!

It happened with my pregnancy updates too, but this is even more confusing for me.

When the years come I am fine with understanding that- it's the whole weeks and months thing that really get me!

And in doing this I also realized I am even more behind than I thought on her updates!!

Pause Please.

The other day Adalyn fell asleep on me and she was holding on to my watch and I couldn't help but see the irony.

These past few weeks I've really been wishing I could pause time.

Pause Adalyn growing.

Just for a little.

I just need some extra time to soak everything in a little bit longer.

With vacation and the move I am feeling a little overwhelmed.

Painting, unpacking, redecorating etc is all going on at the same time my little baby is growing up.

I'm with her every day, we play and cuddle every day, but I feel like I can't fully enjoy it with everything that needs to be done.

I just want to pause her growing, finish the house and then we can carry on.

But it doesn't work like that.

So I am trying to find a balance.

I want to get back into cloth diapering.

Back to making dinners every night.

Back to keeping up with the laundry.

The fact that I never got to make a pregnancy photo book, or a 3 month update and now she's 4 months..and I haven't done that post yet either...

it's all overwhelming and flying by!! 

I just want to get caught up, but I don't know if I will because I don't want to miss out on the now while focusing on writing about the past. 

I am so so thankful for pictures and my iPhone- that part of her life is more than documented!

So I am thinking my best bet is to make a daily list of just a few projects to do each day and try and catch up that way. 

Hopefully that will work! 

Sneak Peek

The birth story will be posted next week, time is flying by and I really need to get on it before I forget everything!

{And thank you Lord for those hormones that allow you to forget everything! Whew!}

Mr. B went back to work on Wednesday and we are all adjusting very well. 

She is such a good easy-going baby which has been wonderful!

I'll post more stats on her 2 week post- I can't believe how much she changes every day!

{{P.S this is how I am blogging right now :D }}

We had her pictures taken on Sunday and our amazing photographer keeps putting up some sneak peeks and my hearts melts a little more each time. 

I have seriously been obsessed with pictures like these since I was a little girl and it is still so surreal to me that this is MY baby in these pictures! An absolute dream come true. 

I keep joking that it's like the 25 days of Christmas getting a new picture every day. It's so much fun!

I have too many favorites and there are still many more to come- I don't know how I will choose which ones to frame!

There are a couple others that she's posted that are super cute, but I am saving those for later! 

If the suspense is killing you, you can check her out on facebook- Lisa Louise Photography. 

We are so so pleased!!

Happy Weekend!