QT with Nana

Dustin took a little trip to visit his twin brother in North Carolina for a few days to see him graduate. Braydon and I thought about going along for the road trip, but in the end it was decided that Braydon probably wouldn't survive the 8+ hour car ride it would take to get there. Plus he'll be back sometime Sunday morning, so it would be a lot of driving in a few short days.

My mom came over tonight to hang out with Braydon and I. My dad was working so she was alone too. We started off at dinner at Piero's (my first job!) where we had pizza, Braydon's favorite!

*These pics are from Droid.

Yes, it's just simply Droid now.

Afterwards we decided to go to the Hands On House. I guess she was happy I didn't go earlier in the week, because then she got to be there with Braydon the first time he went. The place isn't as big as I thought it would be, but there were a lot of fun things to do! 

B played with dump trucks.

There was a little farm area where you could harvest corn and ride tractors. 

There was a little machine shop area. Notice his little smock.

Here he is grocery shopping.

We went outside afterwards and played in their gardens.

Here's my mom and B in the plants.

It was a fun night. Braydon misses his Dada, but we've been finding things to do. Tomorrow I think we're going swimming at Maw-Maw's house for a little. Come home soon Dada! 

Way Back Wednesday

This week's theme is: FIRST JOB

Let me start off by saying that I've had quite a few jobs while growing up. Most of them involve working in some sort of restaurant and dealing with annoying consumers of food and alcohol. But heck, now I'm one of the annoying consumers of food and alcohol so I really feel for people who have to work with food.

I started busing tables at a Piero's, a local Italian restaurant when I was 15. The pay wasn't too bad and the place was always packed so I pretty much loved my job. I actually stayed working at Piero's until I was 21, working my way up to hostess, then server and finally bartender. I would work there on any breaks I had in college and I think even after the year I graduated. I met a lot of cool people and it was a really fun first job!

Other jobs that I've held throughout the years were working as a cashier at CVS, cleaning my High School over the summer, hostessing at Olive Garden, serving at Texas Roadhouse, bar tending at a Tiki Barn and working in my college Library processing books. Last summer was the first summer that I didn't actually work somewhere else for extra cash! 

Want to play along? Go visit Katie! 

Change of Plans

This morning we had Braydon's 18 month doctor visit. He thought everything looking fine, recommended getting rid of the nuk (duh) and thought we should possibly see a dermatologist about the 2 blemishes on his face that have been there since he was 9 months old. The blemishes look better sometimes and then look worse other days, but I definitely want to go and talk to someone about them! It's weird that they won't go away.

We had planned to go and meet my friend Erica and her two kids at the Hands On House (similar to the Please Touch Museum, but local) today, but her little son Andrew was teething and cranky. Poor guy!

No worries though! We were given some Geo Tracks by my Uncle and decided to take up some of our free time setting them up in the basement. Braydon didn't quite get them yet, but he still had fun setting them up and of course tearing them down!

My little engineer is sleeping now so it's time for Mommy to do some grad class work! Lucky me! 

If You Give A Boy A Balloon

He'll try to put sunglasses on it.

And he'll have a new best friend!

Thanks Uncle Steve! 

Getting To Know You

1. Thong or Granny Panties?
Sheesh! I little personal here, ya know? I have people from work who read this and I'm sure they just can't wait to find out...lol! I'll keep this one a little secret! 

2. If you see a guy with his fly down, do you tell him?
HECK NO! I laugh and laugh and laugh! Ok wait, I would tell him if it was my father or a friend of mine, but not some rando!

3. Spanx or no Spanx?
Spanx saved my life once. No, seriously. 

4. Do you sleep in your sheets?
Yes, what else would I sleep in?

5. What is your favorite Disney character?
Ummm, I'm not so sure. Now that I watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse like it's my job, I guess I'd have to pick Goofy. Everyone says that, don't they?

6. Dream vacation spot?
Dream vacation would be an island, anywhere. Sipping a nice cold drink while lounging by the water. Bliss. 

7. What is your dream job?
I always wanted to be a marine biologist. Working near and with the ocean and animals would be amazing.

8. Who is your hero and why?
I don't think I have a specific "hero" per say. I think any mom who can keep it together and raise amazing children is a hero. I strive to be like them! 


Wanna play? Visit Mannland and sign Mr. Linky!

18 Months

I can't believe that my big boy is seriously 18 months old! My mom and I were just talking the other day about how he's no longer a baby, but such a little boy! He's so smart and pretty much understands everything that we tell him. He knows mostly all of his body parts and can now say a ton of words (even if I'm the only one that understands them!).

He's still using his Nuk or Guk as he says, even though it was my goal to get rid of it this summer. For some reason, I just can't part with it quite yet. I also had a goal of getting him to drop his morning nap and only nap in the afternoon, but it's just not working out that way. He's still pretty tired in the mornings and still wants to nap. In fact, when I ask him if he's ready to nap he'll usually grab his blankets and go to the steps.

As for his hair, it's kind of a mess. I really want to grow it longer, but it's taking forever and then I just get frustrated when it's over his ears and looks like a mullet in the back. Dustin and I chopped it a little bit before we left for the beach. It's still kind of long on top. I'll leave you with this picture of how his crazy hair looks in the morning. (Notice the upside down guk)

Playdates, Nakey and Books!

Today I went to a work playdate at my friend Christine's house. Check her out over at Live, Laugh, Love. She's got the cutest little boy, well second cutest! ;)

It's fun to get together with other moms who have children at all different ages. You can kind of see where your child was and where they're going to get to someday. Braydon spent a lot of time playing with an older girl (he likes older ladies, what can I say?) who was about 3 or 4. She's very into her Disney princess dolls and her baby who she put to sleep with her pacifier on the sofa. Braydon really wanted to play with her princess dolls, but of course instead of playing nicely, he started making them fight together and screamed bahhh bahhh! I'm thinking that means bam bam, but anyway, I've never seen Cinderella and Bell go at it like that.

We had a really fun time, but had to leave a little early because Braydon was really ready for his afternoon nap. I took a few random pictures today just for fun!

This was after breakfast. I think his yogurt exploded.

I had to clean him up, so he spent some time flashing the neighbors.

And apparently he's becoming PopEye.

I'm about to finish 

It's pretty good! 

WayBack Wednesday

This weeks theme: SPORTS

I don't play sports. 

In fact, I'm not very coordinated. 

I did play soccer for one season in 5th grade and HATED it. I actually got knocked out by the ball once...fun.

So instead of posting pictures of my involved in real sports, here are a few pictures of my doing semi athletic things when I was really young.

Here is my swinging upside down. I live on the edge. 

Here is another one of my swinging from a branch! I'm like Tarzan or something over here!

And finally, here is one of my modeling my hot bikini. That's my idea of a sport! 

As you can see, this week's theme doesn't really apply to me, but I always have fun digging through really old pictures and making myself look like more of a total dork! (It doesn't take much!)

I've Won An Award!

...and I never win anything!

My bloggy buddy over at The Little Blonde Girl awarded me the versatile blogger award! I'm required to list 7 things about myself and then pass the award on to 3 new blogs that I've discovered!

Seriously, go check here out..she's become one of my favs! 

Ok, now 7 things about me:
1. I'm a Middle School Librarian. I love my job (most days) and I really love the people that I work with!
2. I enjoy reading books! I've set a few goals for myself. Look to your right. You'll find my reading list and I frequently post about books that I've read or am currently reading. 
3. I have a secret.
4. I got married just last September, but my son is 18 months old. You do the math. 
5. I'm absolutely loving having my summers off, but I'm starting to worry about myself. I found myself recreating a scene from Footloose today with Braydon's tractors in our Living Room. Singing and all. 
6. I have a younger brother named Brother Ben. His girlfriend is the wind beneath my wings. Story goes that's what I told her one time when I had a bit too many Malibu and Diets. Hey, I'm a lover. 
7. Steeler is my dog. We're in a love/hate relationship. 
And that's it! And now I get to nominate 3 new blogs that I've come across!
Start here with my friend Jen at Loving Life and My Little Peanut. She has the cutest little girl that has Down Syndrome. She posts a lot of pictures and loves to talk about her Peanut!
Next, head over to AllyRay. I'm a new follower as of today! I'm already hooked!
Finally, here's Steph over at A Grande Life. I'm a new follower over there too and I love all of her pictures. Her son is adorable as well!

Thanks for the award! :) 

Perfect Weekend

This weekend was spent catching up with old friends and hanging out with great family. We spent some time by the pool, Dustin and I had a date night and I got to gossip with some High School girls that I absolutely adore. It's the kind of weekend that you're very sad to see go. Heck, I guess that's every weekend, right?

Today we lounged around the house for awhile before heading over to visit my parents. I didn't have my camera on me to much this weekend, but here are a few pictures from today.

Braydon got this last year as a present and we finally opened it today!

Steeler was hot.

My mom got this tractor for him a little while ago. He wasn't too sure about it, but hopped right on today! He cruised around the garage for awhile.

Obsession: Water bottles.

Hope you had a great weekend too!

Two New Recipes!

This week I over exerted myself and tried not one, but 2 new recipes!

One was just plain old Baked Stuffed Shells. I got the recipe on the box. It was a hit with the toddlers.

Two is this recipe for Spicy Nacho Bake from Jenni over at The Foster Family!

I'll let you know how the Spicy Nacho Bake turns out, I plan on eating it tonight at a BBQ we're heading to!

Follow Me, Chickadee!

Happy Friday everyone! 

Everyone Deserves an Afternoon Like Mine

After Braydon awoke from his morning nap I took him his sitter's house for the afternoon so I could get a few things done.

One of them being grad class work.

Another was partaking in my 1 hour massage that was a gift from my wonderful husband for Mother's Day.

The last and final thing was laying by the pool, toddler free, reading my book. Ahhh...sweet bliss. I highly recommend it!

Way Back Wednesday

This weeks theme is Halloween and even though Halloween is definitely not my favorite holiday, I of course tend to get dressed up once in awhile and play along! Here are some pics from past Halloweens! 

This was college. While everyone else is practically in bathing suits, Susie and I were a Librarian and hillbilly. We rule.

This is my friend Jen and I at school. I was her cheerleader all day! I think this was 2007.

That same year when I was a summer bartender I was a "sexy" Librarian (lol). Oh My.

The next year I was pregnant so I reused my cheer leading outfit and went as a Knocked Up cheerleader. Heather and I.

Missy and I by the fire.

Dustin was Joe Dirt that year. 

Now I think I'll stick to dressing up my child. He's much cuter!