*Our Good Luck Cutie*

Much to her dismay, last year my mom bought Marissa an adorable Redskins Cheerleader outfit.  She would prefer her to be in blue and silver for the Cowboys...but it's just not going to happen.  Sorry ma!

Anyway, our game day cutie must have brought us some luck because we were looking pretty good at our opening game on Sunday against the Giants!

Marissa got lots of practice doing "touchdown" and she got lots of attention when we went shopping in town before the game.  I wish we could have gotten a family photo, but these still turned out cute.

Already acting like a cheerleader, waving at "fans" at Burger King. :)

Marissa and Daddy

Is she not the cutest little cheerleader you ever did see?!

T-O-U-C-H-D-O-W-N!

Mommy and Marissa

TGFV!

Thank God for Vacation...

Apparently this is what we're missing back home:

We leave early tomorrow morning and I'm already dreading the traffic we are bound to hit.  I just hope our basement isn't flooded and we have access to roads to get home!  It's funny that rain has been in the forecast the entire week we've been on vacation, but we've only gotten a night shower once or twice.  Not that I'm complaining.  

I'm looking forward to being home, I should have a few "fluff" packages waiting for me.  =)  

~*OBX*~

We've been vacationing in Corolla, North Carolina for the past week.  Tomorrow is our last full day, we'll be heading home Saturday.  We've had a nice time.  Marissa has been feeling a bit under the weather the past two days, I think it's due to her vaccines that she received at her 1 year check up.  Overall, she's enjoyed the pool, the beach, shopping, strolling and playing her little heart out.  I hope she gets back to normal soon and starts feeling better.

This week has been pretty low key and relaxing.  We've enjoyed our stay and are thankful that a hurricane hasn't ruined our vacation.  It's been sunny skies and warm weather most of the week, though the water has been pretty rough with another storm brewing.

It's been three weeks since we found out we're having a baby boy and we have yet to pick a name.  You would think that a week's worth of vacation would give us enough time to think of something...nope.  I guess we've got about 16.5 weeks to figure it out.  Give or take a few!

Danny, Marissa and I took a stroll to the nearest lighthouse the other day.  It was nice to get out as a family and see a little bit of the land.  We spotted a few ducks while we were out and we stopped for Marissa to wave to them.

 My fisherman

 Marissa 2011 

Bobby Knox at the Beach! 

 Daddy and Marissa

 Mommy and Marissa

 Duck-ducks we saw on our walk

Watching the ducks, Marissa was feeling a bit crabby on our walk...notice her lip poking out!?

 The lighthouse from afar

 Currituck Lighthouse

 Yes, I had to sneak this 23 week belly picture in.  I've been slacking compared to my belly pictures with Marissa.  Still rocking the bikini, apparently I have no shame.  :o)  If I keep up with these summer pregnancies I suppose I should get a maternity swimsuit. 

I haven't had a chance to take many photos.  We've been doing lots of relaxing and I didn't want to have a camera shoved in my face all week.  

Big Girl, One Year Stats!

Marissa had her one year well baby visit today!  Not that she's really considered a "baby" anymore. :(

Anyway...here's her current stats:

Weight - 19.3 pounds = 19th percentile (our little petite girl)

Length - 30 inches = 29th percentile (probably won't last forever, she's doomed to be a shorty)

Head Circumference - 17.5 inches = 32nd percentile

::Sniff, sniff:  Our little girl is growing up!

I'm hoping that she doesn't have much pain and discomfort from the vaccines she received today.  We leave for vacation tomorrow morning and it could make for a very long car ride!

Time to Buckle Down

Danny and I have been discussing our life with Two Under Two (2U2).  It seems like life right now is on constant fast forward.  I drop Marissa off in the morning, work 8 hours, pick her up and head home.  I scramble around to get dinner on the table (when Danny is home, otherwise I fend for myself), get ready for the next day, bath time, dinner, all that jazz and before I know it 7:00 pm rolls around and Marissa is off to bed and I've spent close to zero quality time with her, or my husband for that matter.  Not to mention there's still laundry to do, dishes to wash, lunches to pack..you get the point.  So once again we've been discussing me cutting back on my hours at work and/or becoming a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM). 

No plans will be put into action until after our (still unnamed) baby boy arrives, but we do need to start budgeting and figuring out how we will make this work.  I feel like we've talked about it off and on since Marissa was born, but we never followed through with any of these tentative plans.  If you know me, you know I'm a planner and I don't just "wing" things.  Life is already in fast forward and I can't imagine what it's going to be like with 2U2, a toddler and a newborn!  I know I will never get this time back with my kids and if cutting back my hours makes our family life better, then I think the financial sacrifices are worth it.  It will be a transition period for both Danny and myself, but I think in the long run it will be the best thing for our family.

I fully plan on making and sticking to a budget, but there are some things the new baby will need.  This pregnancy is going by so fast and I'm already almost 23 weeks along.  That means that the nursery needs to start pulling together sooner rather than later.  Overall, I'm feeling pretty good about what we have prepared for him and I think the remaining items should be our priority right now.  Number one on that priority list is nursery furniture.  We can do without a double stroller, but we can't do without a second crib.  He can use pink bath towels if he has to, but he needs a bed to sleep in.  At this point in time, if we can get a new crib and dresser for Marissa's room, I think we will be ready for our little boy to arrive.  Like I've stated in my previous posts, I plan on DIYing a lot of the decorations for the new nursery.  So I'm hoping to cut some corners and costs in that department. 

I've also been trying to get sale items and consignment items when possible.  Over the weekend I was able to get a new bouncy seat for $18.00 (so I will be returning the brand new one we bought for $35.00), about 5 outfits for each of the kids, including Marissa's Halloween costume for $5.00 and a brand new Christmas dress (with tags still on) for $7.00.  I missed out on a great Craigslist steal yesterday.  Someone was selling a gently used Fisher Price Space Saver High Chair for $20.00 (normally they sell for about $50.00).  So I'm going to keep my eagle eye out for another good deal!  I'm hoping that every little bit helps.  It appears that I do have some of my dad's tightwad genes.

With that said, I am *officially* putting myself on the "cloth diaper wagon."  Yes, you heard that right.  Cloth diapers have become my weakness, I see a cute print and I immediately find myself clicking the green "buy now" button.  I have a few diapers on the way but I'm feeling pretty comfortable with our "stash" and I think it will suffice for 2U2.  I've actually sold a few diapers that we weren't actively using in the rotation and I am promising myself that I will not buy anymore unless I sell off more.  That seems like a fair deal, right?  I think this will be the hardest part for me...who knew that poop catchers could be so much fun!? :o)

I think that this will be good for our family.  We will get more quality time together as husband and wife and more quality time with our children.  I almost forgot how much I enjoyed being home with Marissa on maternity leave.  You get sucked into your daily routine and you begin to forget what is most important.  Sometimes I fear the unknown but I think this is something worth diving into!

Wish us luck!

...and so it begins!

I just have to say that Marissa is one special little girl.  She had phone calls, voice mail messages and emails sent yesterday wishing her a happy birthday (and hugs and kisses, too)!  I thought we had a few more years until she starts gabbing on the phone, but I guess I was wrong. ;-)  She had a special email all the way from South Korea and someone called and sang her happy birthday on our home voice mail.  It makes my heart happy that she has so many wonderful people to shower her with love!

My Sweet Girl is One!

Today marks one year of life for sweet Marissa.  One year of sleepless nights that I wouldn't trade for the world, one year of ups and downs, laughter and tears and more joy than I ever thought imaginable.  From the innocent little angel they laid in my arms to the walking, talking and bubbly little girl she is today.  In the past year Marissa has grown and learned so much; each day she amazes me.  She has made my heart grow a hundred times over.  She's taught me that being a mother is what I was meant to do.  That you can truly love someone more than anything else God can put in front of you.  She's someone I would trade my life for to keep her safe.  She melts her daddy's heart with the way she says "dada."  She is everything I imagined she would be and more.  While I can't wait to see who she will become; I just want to cherish these days of cuddles and kisses.

Marissa Iris, I love you so much!  I'm so thankful for you.  You are absolutely the best gift I've ever been given and you brighten the world with your smile.

Love,

Mommy

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Today we took Marissa to the zoo.  She had a great time!  We really enjoyed spending the day as a family.  More pics to come soon, but here's a sneak peek of our trip.  Off to bed!