Day 56

hmmm...2:41 AM. So I technically once again missed a day. However, it was completely worth it. Huddy is staying the weekend at my parents, and I had great time visiting with them and my grandparents tonight. I love my brother so much, despite the fact he is 17, he can be pretty child-like at times...in a GOOD way. I am the serious sibling and he is definitely the funny one.

As we entered the restaurant for dinner, he quickly deposited a couple of quarters into a toy machine. I assumed maybe he was buying Hud something, I was wrong. He was purchasing perhaps the best laughter in a small plastic container I have seen in a while.

The series of pictures from tonight are more than enough to show what a great guy he is, he had us all laughing and cracking up. So please...enjoy my silly, wonderful family :)

And yes, he is sporting a fake mustache and sideburns.

We then realized that his fake mustache was the exact color of my Granny's hair.

 She laughed so hard when he put it on her face. It was nice to see her laugh.

And don't fear, my mom got in on the fun as well. However, we opted to transform the

sideburns into an amazing set of bushy eyebrows. The silly face was her own doing.

It felt great to share a round of laughs with family. I don't think we do that nearly enough anymore.

Day 55

Love this baby sooooo much!

Day 54

We had such a wonderful time last night. Spencer was given two tickets to the Alabama/Auburn basketball game. We debated whether to take Huddy or not, but finally decided to go. It was very last minute, so we had to park pretty far from the coliseum. However, Huddy LOVED the bus ride. We arrived to the game after it had started, so instead of fighting our way to the middle of a row, we just chose to sit at the very top, very empty row. Huddy needs his space at sporting events. My sweet baby clapped and cheered (for both teams) and he giggled and laughed at the music. Overall, it was a lot of fun. He became quite restless, so we didn't make it the entire game.

This was the fun part. I love campus during big games, it is empty, almost feels deserted. It is a entirely different atmosphere, hence the reason I love UA during summertime.

So yes I did miss day 54, but it was a great night. After the game we went to Buffalo Wild Wings and then came home and built block towers for what felt like hours.

Climbing out of the "rut"

Just thought I would share my most recent project

and quite possibly new favorite logo.



I have felt like I was in a design "rut" for quite sometime now. I discussed this quite a bit with a past coworker who encouraged me to reconnect with my designs. I think a lot of artists of different mediums get lost in the creative struggle between artist and client. It can be a rough spot to be in and when you love something, it can be extremely hard to let your idea go.

As a designer, I think I am back to where I need to be. My creative spirit is meant to be free and I can see the designer in me coming back out into the world. Spencer can more than tell you how much I have doubted my work, for probably a year now. I went through a patch of time where I felt like an outsider in a world that I loved so much. I didn't feel like my work was worthy of posting or sharing. I wanted to hide away in my little office, behind the comfy code of a web developer. However, my true passion has always been design. Don't get me wrong, I love the difficulty of coding and typing out what looks like trash to most people and seeing a beautiful design come to life. It is intriguing to me and I will not be leaving that adventure behind, but perhaps it is time for it evolve as well. 

Here I am, picking the brush (mouse in my case) back up and sharing my creative talents with others. I am ready to be confident in my work again. 

Also, please go check out the non-profit organization that this little logo will the face of, quite soon I hope.

Wyatt's Warmth from the Heart

Day 53

This is for my mom. She is in love with this little app on my new phone. Pair that with pictures of Huddy, makes her one happy NannyJ.

You would think we never give our child any water to drink! He loves to drink his bath water, which is so gross and I constantly fight him over. Huddy and I have finally agreed that he can have a sip, but only from the fresh water, not the tub water.

Day 52

I apologize, Day 52, I completely forgot about you. I must admit making it this many days before missing one is quite an accomplishment in my book. Yesterday was busy. Actually very busy, I made three other blog posts but forgot this one. I actually only made one picture all day yesterday, which is not like me at all.


Spencer bought me a beautiful bowl, and I love it. It is going to be the inspiration to finally decorate the dining room in this house.

Design from the Heart

I have recently been pondering my place in the design world, where I want to be as a designer, the type of clients I enjoy working with, and etc. I think it is important as a person to take our skills and use them for good in any given situation. I have been blessed with the ability to bring attention to just about anything through my design work. I think there is a special place in my heart for non-profit organizations. While at UnlocktheWeb I was given the opportunity to work on a few of these, and I must admit they are still some of my favorite websites.

Facebook is an amazing networking tool. A friend of mine shared a story that touched my heart a couple of months ago. A story about a little baby boy with a heart condition. Unfortunately his little heart didn't make it through his second procedure, but his short time here on earth has obviously made an impact on many. His parents have decided to honor him through helping other children. I think this is wonderful, inspirational, and a true blessing for other children suffering from this heart condition.

As I followed the story, I was left with the overwhelming desire to provide my support to this cause. I honestly feel that even though my skills as a graphic designer help provide an income to my family, I can use them in much better ways. I have offered to provide a logo and advertising materials to the non-profit organization honoring baby Wyatt. Please say a prayer for me as I design these items for this organization.

If you would like to help, please visit Wyatt's Warmth from the Heart on facebook for more information.

Yummy Deal!

National Pancake Day is quickly approaching and my favorite quick stop for pancakes is definitely honoring the day with FREE pancakes. IHOP will have free pancakes on March 1st. The best part? While they aren't requiring this, they are offering you to not only enjoy your sweet pancakes (trust me, mine would be covered in strawberry syrup) but also donate to a great charity. The donations made on National Pancake Day will go to the Children's Miracle Network. Free pancakes + donation to a good charity = great day!

Thank you Penny Pinchin Mom for the head's up on this one!

Day 51

So I must admit, going to the gym was on my brain today. I completely forgot to charge the rebel. Before Spencer bought me the Canon Rebel, I loved my little point and shoot. I thought it was amazing. However, since being able to work with a DSLR for the past couple of years, a point and shoot is just a letdown to me. Who cares that is has auto features, I want manual. I want to be able to determine the outcome of my photos, not the camera. I tend to think all the pictures that come from this camera now look washed out. Anyways, here is a super cute, would have been better on my rebel, picture of Huddy for Day 51.

Day 50

I had great things planned for today's picture and it just never happened. I cleaned ALL day and my camera battery is dead. One thing I love about being a mom, watching my sweet Huddy have such a great time making a mess of the living room. This type of mess takes around 5 minutes and he giggles the entire time. Of course, all toys can be picked back up before bed, so why not let him have his fun.

Day 49

Boyd is getting older and it is becoming more evident when we give him a bone. In his younger days he would search the house for the best hiding places. It would then take him hours to properly hide it. Tonight Spencer gave him a bone, 10 minutes later we find that he has "hidden" his bone and is now resting. Also, this picture is evidence that microsuede and toddlers do not mix. The stains are milk, water, drool, and who knows what else. I clean it weekly, but in no time it looks like this again. I can promise you this chair will soon be featured on the side of the road, and replaced with a toddler-friendly fabric!

Put down the basket of laundry

I joined a website for moms a while back, actually shortly after Hudson was born. The ladies there are amazing for support and most of the time the stories they share remind me that I have a wonderful life. I wake up each day to the sweet cuddles of my baby boy, who always seems to sneak into bed with his mommy in the mornings. Ok let's be honest, he doesn't really sneak, but Spencer knows how much I love to cuddle with him, so he usually brings him to me before he leaves for work. The rest of my day is then filled with sticky hands, stubbed toes on toy cars, Boyd being fed one too many pretzels, and the echo of Mickey Mouse singing. The moms on the site have a variety of issues, most of which are more than I could handle on any given day.

Yesterday, one post particularly caught my attention. I opened it with hesitance because the title hinted towards graphic images. The mom was discussing how in one certain picture of her son, her home was a wreck. It actually made me cringe, oh the mess she had going on. If anyone knows me, I am bit over the top regarding organization in my home. There are quite a few moms on the site with my same sentiments, your home should be neat and tidy, especially in pictures. I continued to read the caption with the photo discussing how she chose on that day to not clean her home. She instead spent the day loving on her baby boy and enjoying time with her sister and young niece. Once again, I was thinking, you still could have picked up that pile of clothing that has obviously been growing for quite sometime. Then she moved on to talk about how this specific picture was the last good picture she had of her son. She then posted the next picture, it was of perhaps the tiniest casket I have ever seen. Her baby passed away that night, the cause SIDS. She encouraged each of us to put down that basket of laundry and spend time with our children. She continued to note that yes she could have cleaned her home that day but she was thankful that she had unknowingly opted to enjoy the last day with her son instead.

Her post has been on my mind all day. I think we all forget to slow down in life at times. I know I am guilty of this action. I get so carried away in the world around me that I lose focus on the amazing world that I am blessed with each and every day. Her story touched my heart and leaves me with the feeling to encourage others to not get so worked up in the little things that don't really matter, but instead to enjoy the things that rank highest in your heart. The other things will fall into place in due time, but until then just enjoy the small moments.

Day 48

I was so excited when the UPS man dropped off a box today. Spencer and I actually took a different route in purchasing our anniversary gift to each other this year. We kept our promise and bought a couple of new items for our Fiesta collection. This little pitcher has had my eye since day one. I had lemongrass in my mind, but at the last minute decided to make this a true collection and open up to other colors. The small casserole dish was just a last minute add on to our order. However, I am in love with it. It will be great for single servings when Spencer is at work and Hudson and I just need a small dinner.

Day 47

We LOVE cooking on the grill! However, our old grill did not make the move recently. We had already decided that it was definitely time for a new one, something bigger and nicer. Spencer made the final decision on this one, and I have to admit he did a great job. Unlike our last grill, we opted for a charcoal version this time around. Spencer promises the flavor will be much better and the amount of things he can cook will increase. Either way, I love when my husband cooks on the grill!

Day 46

I love the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk. It has been through several different stages of my life. This was my choice place to walk a very young Boyd puppy. It then became a frequent spot for frozen yogurt on dates with Spencer. Now it is a very fun spot to take Hudson. He loves to look at the water. Today, he was amazed by the Bama Belle.

Day 45

Happy Valentine's Day! I am such a lucky girl, I had two very sweet dates for Valentine's Day. We kept the night pretty simple, because we have learned in the past, the wait for dinner on Valentine's in this town is just too long. I baked my guys their favorite dinner (spaghetti) and followed it up with cake and peanut butter truffles for dessert.

Toys "R" Us Deal!

I love this deal, however Hudson is not in need of anything new in the toy department. Actually, we are quickly approaching the time to sort and donate. However, if you know anyone expecting or if you have a little one yourself, this is a great deal.

Toys "R" Us is offering a great deal right now on Fisher Price infant toys. Any toy that is $25 and up allows you to receive another Fisher Price toy valued up to $24.99 for FREE! This deal is available online and in-stores.

Visit www.toysrus.com for more details!

Day 44

Day 43

This is my Benjamin Boyd. I love this dog more than I love most people. He is my best friend and my first real love. I can't express the joy he brings me each day and the special place he holds in my heart. My sweet puppy is really starting to show his age and be an old man. He spends most of his days snoozing on the top of the chair or relaxing in the sunny part of my office floor.

Day 42

I made a post about Hudson's love of this beach ball last week. Unfortunately, the beach ball has suffered an injury. I hate to break the news to Huddy, as this is his favorite toy.

Day 41

We finally have real snow, the fluffy stuff, the fun stuff, the way too cold for me to really like stuff. I am not going to lie, as an avid enemy of snow, I was actually looking forward to a few inches from this most recent storm. Huddy has never had a chance to play in real snow, so I was excited...until I glanced out the window. Several of our neighbors had lawns full of white, pretty fluffiness, yet we were left with a not so pleasant mix of snow and leaves. It was like fall and winter all bundled up into one big yard of play. Spencer and I decided that despite our obvious lack of pretty snow, Hudson still needed some playtime outdoors today. He really enjoyed it too, however he enjoys any occasion that offers a chance to wear his boots. Spencer being the great daddy he is tried to teach Hudson how to throw a snowball at his mommy today, however my sweet baby opted away from this and ate it instead.

While the above picture is the "picture of the day",

I decided I must share the following two as well.

I love this sweet smirk, it brings smiles to my days and giggles to my heart.

I LOVE how these two always seem to take the same exact steps.

I love IKEA!

Spencer has two days off in a row this week, so we decided a day trip was needed. We have been so eager to return to Ikea after our first visit a few months ago. We knew at the time of the first trip we would be relocating very soon, so we actually didn't really purchase anything (other than some amazing dish towels). This was definitely a wonderful trip. We bought several great and much needed items for our house. We love our little rental, but it is definitely in need of some TLC. Our style has changed since Huddy joined the family, I am now all about functionality. Little fingers and breakables just do not mix around this house. Here are our great finds from today, in no particular order. I will update later when we have had a chance to add each to the house.

One

Lack Wall Shelf



Photo courtesy of Ikea.com



I spotted this shelf months ago in the Ikea catalog and fell in love. I love the clean lines and how the mounting package allows the shelf to actually become part of the wall.

Two

LATT

Children's Table and 2 chairs

Photo courtesy of Ikea.com

I think this is absolutely adorable. Hudson has his own space in our livingroom. It is a corner and it is his space for his toys. Lately he has been trying to sit on anything he can and also use the entertainment center as a track for playing with his cars. I decided a couple of weeks ago, it was past time for a table and chair set. I actually found this on Amazon.com but the price was more than double what I paid at Ikea today. I honestly love the clean, sleek style, but most of all I love the color. I am all about Hudson having a space in our livingroom, but this does not mean it doesn't need to go with the flow of things. Most children's tables I found were bright primary colors, I love the simplicity of this set. I am sure the wonderful drawings he produces while sitting at this table with bring plenty of color to our lives. 

Three

KROKEN

ceiling-mounted utensil rack

Photo courtesy of Ikea.com

I must say, my husband has amazing taste. While I was browsing through the selection of spice racks, he found this beauty. He immediately had my attention. We love our kitchen in this house, the cabinets are great, the tile work is beautiful and I love the countertops. However, it is lacking in storage. While we love the style/color of the cabinets, we are very limited on them. I have incorporated my childhood dresser into our kitchen space, it sounds crazy, but it actually works quite well. Our love of kitchen equipment quickly filled up all the storage. Spencer pointed out that this piece will look amazing hanging above the black dresser. It will also provide another space for pots and pans, and open up some storage for food. 

Four

KASSETT

DVD box with lid

Photo courtesy of Ikea.com

I love these little boxes! So simple, yet so needed in our home. We have three gaming systems and a collection of dvds. I love our collection, but I do not necessarily want to display them. These little boxes are the answer. The bright green will look great on my new shelf, yet all of the games/dvds will be neatly (most definitely alphabetically, if you know me well this shouldn't surprise you) stored in the containers.

And many more great items...

There were definitely several more great items purchased on this trip. I purchased several additions for my home office including a new chair, a work lamp, and a magazine rack. Other favorite items for me were three simple small vases, a small picture frame, and a spring form pan. I can't wait to bring all of these items into our home, trust me you will be seeing pictures.



Day 40

I love this picture! We took a wonderful day trip to Ikea today. It takes almost three hours from our house now, so needless to say I spent the entire time searching for interesting apps on my new phone. Usually, when it comes to photography apps, I am just not that impressed. I am fully capable of editing my own photos in photoshop, so why bother. I was proven wrong today. This little app is called Retro Camera and it is quite amazing. It provides the user with four separate cameras, each with a very different style. I was eager to try this one out, so I snapped a picture going 70mph down I20. I wasn't expecting anything that great, but wow was I shocked.

The Best Freebie



Image by La-Z-Boy

I love this type of freebie! It is a freebie that you don't actually receive, but send instead. Go “Like”  La-Z-Boy’s Facebook page to donate a Comfort Bear for free to your local Ronald McDonald House. Click on the RMHC tab for further directions. Once you enter your zip code, you will be able to select the Ronald McDonald House of your choice.

After completing this freebie, you can remove the application from your facebook by following these simple steps provided by Freebies 4 Mom. Go to “Account” at the top right of your Facebook page then click on “Privacy Settings”. Look at the bottom left for “Edit your settings’ under Applications and Websites. You can then view all applications you’ve allowed and delete any that you wish by clicking on the “x” on the far right for each application listed.

Thank you Freebies 4 Mom!

Day 39

Today's picture is my all-time favorite cookie recipe. It is simple, but delicious. My mom taught me this easy little recipe many years ago and I always go back to it. It is a quick solution to a sweet craving, without having to dig through the pantry for ingredients.

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Peanut Butter (I prefer extra crunchy)
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 1 Egg

Directions

Mix all ingredients together and then form into 1 inch balls. Use a fork to create a criss cross pattern. Bake in an oven pre-heated to 325 degrees. Remove from oven just as the edges start to turn golden brown.

Day 38

"Then Horton stopped walking. The speck-voice was talking!"

I love this book! It is a collection of Dr. Suess stories and an amazingly cute book that Spencer picked out for Huddy a few months ago. The colors are so bright and of course the classic Dr. Suess tells are great too. Tonight, I read Horton Hears a Who to Huddy. He giggled at the pictures and begged to turn the pages himself.

Day 37

Happy One Year Anniversary to us! I can't believe it has already been a year, but at the same time it feels so much longer. I am so happy and grateful that I am going to spend the rest of my life with such an amazing man. I am blessed beyond measure to have him in my life. Our celebration was low key this year. Dinner at Outback with Hudson, followed with dessert at Yogurt Mountain. The night was perfect.

Our Relationship...in pictures

A year ago today, I married my best friend. We have been through so many things together, that honestly one year just seems like a brief snapshot of the milestones we have celebrated already.

November 12, 2005 - This was our very first picture together. We met the day before on the longest trip to the Galleria and a promise of Bottomfeeder's hushpuppies.



December 31, 2005 or January 01, 2006 - The night we officially became a couple. Spencer tells everyone that I threw out a DTR (define the relationship) around midnight.



January 01, 2007 - Celebrating One Year of dating.



January 1, 2008 - Happy Two Years of dating.



I do not have a picture of our third anniversary of dating. On Thanksgiving Day 2008, we realized we were expecting a baby and life changed. Our focus on where we were going and what we were doing changed completely. The next several pictures are from my pregnancy. We grew so much as a couple during this time, I would not have wanted to go through this process with any other man. Spencer was an amazing Daddy from day one.







July 27, 2009 - Without a doubt, this was and is the best day of both of our lives. I can't begin to express in words just how wonderful the moment is when you meet your child for the very first time.

First Family Picture. There were so many cameras, we were all looking different directions.


This little grin confirmed just how much our lives were about to change. Hudson is truly a blessing from God and has changed our lives forever. I would not change the circumstances of how he came into our lives or change the timing. God knew what he was doing when he sent Hudson our way.



Things changed after this day. The focus shifted from a couple to a family.

Day 36

This boy loves his daddy so much. While Spencer was playing Xbox, Huddy just had to climb up in his lap and tell him ALL about this extension cord box.

My biggest fearwill be the rescue of me

 This is my all-time favorite song. Incubus grounds me when my life is stressful or I am just in need of a mellow moment. This specific song has been there for me through wonderful times, hard times, and sad times. It speaks differently to me at different times, but yet it is always soothing and reassuring.

Incubus Echo

There's something about the look in your eyes
Something I noticed when the light was just right
It reminded me twice that I was alive
And it reminded me that you're so worth the fight

My biggest fear will be the rescue of me
Strange how it turns out that way, yeah
Could you show me dear?
Something I've not seen.
Something infinitely interesting
Could you show me dear?
Something I've not seen.
Something infinitely interesting

There's something about the way you move
I see your mouth in slow motion when you sing
More subtle than something someone contrives
Your movements echo that I've seen the real thing.

Your biggest fear will be the rescue of you
Strange how it turns out that way, yeah
Could you show me dear?
Something I've not seen.
Something infinitely interesting
Could you show me dear?
Something I've not seen.
Something infinitely interesting

Day 35

Today was a great day! Spencer and I decided it was finally time to invest in a new computer. I am now working from home, and my poor laptop just can't keep up. This time around I decided to go with a desktop, instead of a laptop. My main concern was a great monitor and a computer with a wonderful graphics card. I found both of these quality at a great price. I am sure I am going to love my new 21.5 inch 1080 HD monitor! No more scrolling to see an entire design, it will all be there on one screen, in brilliant colors.

My office still has a great way to go to be the creative space I am craving and actually needing. I have great plans for my little space in the house.

Happier Days

I always have a hard time looking through Hudson's really young baby pictures. It brings tears to my eyes every time, I miss him being so tiny, but I also love the sweet toddler he is today. When I took this picture I did not realize just how dear it would be to me. I am sharing it as a means of smiling, remembering happier days and wonderful moments. It is hard to look at right now and I can not lie it has left tears stinging my face. I love the place Hudson holds in my PawPaw's heart. Most people know he has never been a baby person, but for whatever reason things were just different with Hudson. My PawPaw adores him and it breaks my heart every day to know that he isn't able to see his Huddy each week. It kills me inside knowing that each time Hudson visits his PawPaw, there is a good chance my PawPaw will no longer remember his sweet face. I know I am not the only person in my family hurting so terribly as we each endure this process. We each handle it differently and I think from this point on I am going to choose to focus on happier days and the moments that I cherish with this man.

This picture was the first time they met. Hudson was approximately 10 days old.

Day 34

I love this baby boy and the funny things he does. Lately, the beach ball is like his bestfriend, his go to toy at all points during the day. The poor ball has been kicked, thrown, shoved in the entertainment center drawer, probably licked, taken a bath in milk, taken a bathtub bath, and now it has turned into a chair for Hudson. I laughed when I saw this and immediately grabbed the camera. He soon shifted his weight and rolled himself out onto the floor, giggled and ran off.

I am dreaming of Fiesta!

I love my Fiesta dinnerware. After a couple of years of mismatched dishes leftover from college, Spencer and I decided to bump up our food presentation. A previous trip to Mobile left my heart longing for Fiesta in my life. I actually envy this woman's kitchen. It is truly amazing. She is the mom of one our very good friends, and her Fiesta collection dates back many years. I also happen to love her antique buffet that has been transformed into a kitchen island, but that is another blog all of its own.

A couple of days after our wedding, we found ourselves with a handful of gift cards to Dillard's. As I rounded the corner to the home department, the colors caught my eye. My heart fluttered and I immediately knew what we would be leaving with that day.

Below is our current beginnings toward a collection.

The best part of our purchase of Fiestaware was our promise to each other. We agreed that instead of just randomly purchasing additional pieces for our collection, we would make it much more special than that. As our 1st Anniversary of being married is quickly approaching, I am going increasingly anxious about our promise to purchase one piece each year as an anniversary gift to each other. I am not into surprises, so I have no plans of Spencer just surprising me with a gift. I am looking forward to going to the store and falling in love with an addition to our collection, together. We both adore all things kitchen, so I can't wait!

These beautiful pieces are at the top of my list for this year.



Day 33

The quality of this picture is horrible, actually just sad. However, this was a great moment and worthy of a blog post. Hudson's horrible scab fell off today, the mark it left behind was amazing. It is barely noticeable and worth celebrating! I feel confident that the spot we were originally terrified over, is going to really fade over time. We have many days of sunscreen and moisturizer ahead of us, but what a blessing we found when that little scab fell away.

Over $35 in Savings!

I was extremely excited to fill out this form. This little book offers savings on your favorite brands, organization ideas and the best part decorating tips that are simple.  I love to decorate my home, but with an 18month old running around, the key to our home right now is just that, simple.

Ready to sign up? Go here!.



Hot Dog, Hot Dog, Hot Diggity Dog

Best part of my day? Dancing with Huddy to this song. We have it dvr'd and anytime we are just needing to dance we turn it on. Huddy is onto something, this is his favorite song and it is quickly moving up on my list too.

Day 32

I do not like rainy days. It makes me want to nap the day away, and today is just one of those days that it is not an option. Coach is scared of the rain, so he has to be inside ALL day today...which means he is camped out in the laundry room. He usually spends some time in the backyard stretching his legs, but when it rains he tends to put a hole in the fence and escape. Doing laundry with him in the laundry room is just not worth it, he tries to help a little too much.

Hudson is always missing his outside time. We try to play outside for a little bit every day. He keeps going to the door, going to the windows and is very upset that I won't let him go play in the rain/mud. Yes mud, our entire yard is mud. The people who lived here before us never raked so the grass apparently died, I raked a couple of weeks ago and now all we have is mud for a yard.

However, the best part of the rain..super cute rainy day pictures.



No worries, the blue marks on the wall are not crayon.
Huddy tends to knock his bead sorter into the wall and it leaves blue marks.