*5 Months*

Marissa is 5 months old today!  I can't believe it (go ahead and get used to me saying this as each month passes).  She is getting so big!  We had a little photo shoot this morning in bed and she was sitting up all by herself.  It was nice and cooshy for when she toppled over and went TIMBER!  I've been trying to snap photos off and on all day.  Do you have any idea how hard it is to take pictures of a 5 month old who won't sit still, look at the camera and won't remove her fingers or toes from her mouth?

Sitting up like a big girl!

 You talkin' to mee??

"Mornin' Momma, I'm 5 months old today!"

 I haz a flower on my head

 Mmm...this blankie tastes so good...now if only I could figure out how to get my foot in here...

 What happened to my little baby?

Is she not the cutest thing you've ever seen?

A Day of Pictures

Just want to share some cuteness with the blogger world!

That is all!

Date Night

My parents came to visit us yesterday and we decided it would be the perfect opportunity to have a date night.  Danny and I haven't gone out much since having Marissa but we figured since she would be at home safe and sound in her own crib, we would have a night out on the town.

We headed out around 6:00 and went to the Fredericksburg Pub for a few drinks.  They have a ton of beer on tap and a great variety of mixed drinks and wine.  I started off with a glass of Merlot and Danny had an IPA.  The bar is really nice, great service and everyone wears kilts!  One of the bartenders who served us was actually from Scotland and had a very strong accent.

After a few drinks we walked over to the movie theater and watched The Black Swan.  What an intense movie!  It was pretty good, Danny said it reminds him a little bit of the movie Fight Club.  After finishing a large popcorn, we decided to refill and buy more tickets for another movie.  It's not too often you get a free baby sitter, so we figured we might as well take full advantage.  Since I picked The Black Swan, Danny picked out True Grit.  It was a western type movie and I have to say it was actually really good.  I only called three times to check on Marissa while we were gone.  I'd say that was pretty successful!

It was so nice to have a husband and wife night.  We laughed, had good conversation and Danny even opened the car door for me when we left the theater.  It felt like our old dating days again.  :)  He still knows how to melt my heart!

Just Me and My Cab Sav

Danny is working late tonight, he's on his way home from Baltimore.  Marissa was in bed around 7:00 so I started some home made jambalaya in the slow cooker for dinner tomorrow night and I am now enjoying a glass of cabernet sauvignon (red wine). I have music playing, the monitor is on for Marissa and I'm just enjoying the peace and quiet.

I miss my hubby, but I guess it's good to have a little quality "me" time.

Mom and dad are coming tomorrow morning to visit.  I think after Marissa goes to bed we are going to head out to a movie and have a husband and wife date night!  We haven't really had any since we've had Marissa so it is much needed.  Marissa will be in her comfort zone in her on home, in her cozy, warm crib so hopefully she will sleep while we are out and not give mom and dad too much trouble.  Though I'm sure they wouldn't mind even if she was up the whole time.

I've decided that I need some friends who drink red wine....because this glass is tasting too good and I really, really don't need to finish this whole bottle.  :)  Plus, it would be nice to sit and chat over a glass of wine, I guess what I really need to find is some other mommy friends who won't be bored talking about bebehs!  I feel like I don't relate to many of my friends anymore, but on a side note...I know 4 people who are pregnant and expecting this year!  Very exciting and I am so happy for all of them!

Dear Mom

Dear Mom:

I wanted to say I’m sorry.  I’m sorry for not checking in when I said I would, for sneaking out and for not being where I said I would be.  I’m sorry for being a typical teenager and pushing your buttons just to see you squirm.  I’m sorry for making your heart skip a beat when you would see me flying in the air on the sidelines at football games and cheerleading competitions.  I’m sorry you had to see me with my first heart break, broken bones and a trip to the ER in an ambulance.

I want to say thank you for bailing me out on my senior beach trip, for teaching me to love and being patient with me when I needed to figure things out in my life.  For always lending an ear to listen and dealing with my excessive need for perfection and order.  Thank you for complimenting my attributes and for telling me when I’m wrong. 

I know that over the years I will learn tenfold the trouble that I put you through.  I know my heart will skip a beat the first time I see Marissa take her first steps, I will cry when she gets her heart broken for the first time and I will be furious when I catch her skipping school.  I will probably cringe at a few choice boyfriends and do a happy dance when she finds the perfect man she will marry.

I now know what it is like to be a mother.  To feel emotions so different than anything you’ve ever felt before.  Emotions that you don’t even feel for your own mother, your husband, your brothers or sisters or even your best friend.  A mother’s love is so different than anything you can explain and someone who has never been a mother can never put themselves in your shoes or even begin to comprehend this nature of love. 

Thank you for showing me what it’s like to be a great mother; for paving the way down this bumpy path with hills and slopes and fender benders that happen along the way.  For always having my back and being the best mom you could be!

I hope that one day Marissa sits and contemplates over her childhood and sees me just as I see you.  I know she won’t see me as perfect and there will be times she wishes I would disappear (I can hear her now, "buuut mooooommmmm, you're embarrassing me!"), but I hope she realizes that I love her and I always have her well being in mind. 

Thanks for being you, mom. 

Love you!

Hello There, Little Blog!

It has been hard to give my blog the attention that I want.  Between working, being a full time mom, school, being a wife, keeping a semi-orderly home and having a bit of "me" and "husband/wife" time, I don't get to blog as much as I would like.

We had a great visit with Robby and Katie this past weekend.  We lounged around the house, passed around babies, ate yummy food, did a little shopping and to top it off, I got to stay in my pj's most of the visit!  How can you not enjoy a visit that consists of pj's, coffee and babies?

 "Bobby Knox"

 Look at those big blue eyes!  Who's eyes do you think she has? Mine or Danny's?  I can't tell!

 Can I say adorable!?  Marissa grabbed Knox's hand, it was so cute!

We got home late Monday morning, around 1 am.  It was nice to be home and settle back into our routine here.  Danny and I took off of work on Monday.  I caught up on laundry, put all of our stuff away from our trip and tried to relax as much as one can with so many chores to catch up on.

Marissa has been doing really well.  She's not really rolling over much, but if you lay her on a blanket she will turn around like clock work.  Her head will be facing one direction and the next time you look over she's flipped all the way around.  This week Marissa is trying out sweet potatoes and so far, she seems to really like them.  She loves, loves, loves bananas.  She's not a huge fan of avocado but she will eat some of it.  She still likes her carrots but she seems to be liking the sweet potatoes more.

She has the cutest laugh I've ever heard, a smile that can make the gloomiest day brighter and her curiosity for life just has me falling in love with her more and more every day!  Danny and I can't seem to get enough of her.  Sometimes it's hard to share. :)

Mom and dad are coming to visit this weekend, they haven't seen Marissa since Christmas.  I think they'll be surprised at how big she has gotten.  She is growing so fast.  Holding Knox over the weekend reminded me of how little Marissa used to be.  I kept thinking to myself, was she ever this little?  It is amazing how fast these little people grow.  In just 4.5 months she has changed so much.  Before I know it I'm going to be planning for her first birthday party!  How in the world do I have an almost 5 month old?  It feels like just yesterday I was wobbling around, with swollen hands, feet and ankles, looking like I was smuggling a watermelon under my shirt.  Now I have this beautiful little girl who I can't imagine my life without.

New Additions

This weekend we are spending some time with Danny's brother, Robby, and his wife, Katie, in Bristol.  We finally got to meet the newest addition of their family, Robert Knox.  He is adorable!  I think he looks just like his momma.  Knox and Marissa are a little under 4 months apart, so they should have a lot of fun together as they get older.

Speaking of new additions, I got my 35mm f/1.8 lens for my camera.  I've been playing around with it a little bit and certainly have a lot of homework to do.  Here are a few photos from my first time using it...

 Baby Knox

 Eli was being a good puppy model for my new camera lens

I'm having a lot of fun with my camera.  Still have a lot of studying to do but hopefully I'll learn more as I play with it. 

Speaking of learning...I'm signed up for a course this Spring semester and it is my LAST CLASS to get my degree.  I don't know if I will continue on with my education or not but it will be nice to check this off of my to~do list.  It's been a long time coming, that's for sure.  I just hope that with working full time, being a wife and a full time mom, I can keep up with my studies and all of my other duties without totally overwhelming myself.  People do it all the time, right?  It's all about time management, I suppose.

Check out the "newest addition" to my recipes tab for this yummy (and easy) recipe!