Mommy Graduated... Now what???

Well, I finished student teaching and I finally got my first 4.0 in college, to bad it was my last semester. I have not been able to find a job right now, I check on the internet everyday to see if there are any openings in the area and no such luck. So for now I am staying at Big Whiskey's, bartending and filling in as a manager when they need it. There are talks of another store going in on the south side of Springfield and I will be moving there if that happens. It has been a tough semster but college is finally over. I really could not hav gotten through it without Gabe. He really stepped up and helped me through my hardest semester yet. It is great to see a father so engrosed in his childs life, those two are peas in a pod, alike in almost every way. My two little babies.


As for the little bitty she just is not so little anymore. She is up and mobile and into EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!! Gabe and I are pretty exhausted by the end of the day, but it is so worth it. She is so funny!! She dances and sings and loves to read books. In her toy chest she has all sorts of goodies plus books and as of right now all she digs out are the books. She will walk to book to me or Gabe and say booooook. She also moooo's like a cow and woof's like a dog when you ask her. She is done with baby food, she only wants what you are eating and will let you know it as soon as you take a bit. We are extreamly lucky to have a good eater, I have yet to find something that she does not like. She ate spinach the other day, what kid eats spinach. We are also transitioning to milk, so far not a huge fan she is still kind of attached to the "baba". I am also excited that the is a fruit eater. She loves cantelope as much as I do and she will eat 2 bananas a day if you let her. All in all she is the best baby (well toddler now) EVER! I am pretty bias but I am scared to see what the terrible two's bring because she has been such a good baby.


As we approach Aubrey's first birthday I am so sad, happy, excited, worried and every other emotion there is. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BEEN A YEAR! They really do grow up fast and I find myself missing that little bundled baby that we brought home almost a year ago. All of the worry, the sleepless nights and days, the missed days of school and work, and stress of it all has been so incredible worth it that I wonder how I was so lucky to be blessed with this little girl. She truely is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I thank god everyday that she is happy and healthy.

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend my graduation and all of those that sent their wishes. Thanks for all of the support over the past year I love you all.

Sorry! Student Teaching has taken over my life

I know it has been awhile, Student teaching, moving, Aubrey and trying to have some if any alone time with Gabe has consumed my life for the past 2 months. I don't even know where to start. Aubrey is up and movin!! I am going to predict an early walker. This has to be my least favorite stage so far. I am a nervous reck with her. Everytime she falls I hold my breath and try not to make that mommy face. So we clap our hands and say YEAH!!!!! She is a tough kid, I would assume she gets that from her daddy. I know I have said it before but those two are peas in a pod. Even more so now that Gabe is the one home with her the majority of the time. He is also busy busy busy. He has been working at a new place for a little over a month and still managing to take 12 hours along with being a full time daddy. I AM SO LUCKY to have a guy support me the way he does. I am sure when the time comes for him to buckle down and put on that cap and gown I will be taking on the Aubrey load.

We have moved to a new house in Ozark. We figured it was time to get out of the city a little. It is country enough for Gabe and only 10 minutes from Springfield. Also we are closer to my sister which is awesome since her and AJ have a blast together. I would love to buy a house here once we graduate. I would also really love to work at the high school. But what do you know the economy is awful so most of the schools around this area are on spending freezes. So cross your fingers and we will just have to wait it out and see what happens. Aubrey loves the house! we have so much more room and today we had a beautiful day so Gabe took her on a walk down by the lake. She loves being outside so the fact that we have a backyard now makes me even more anxious for spring to come. I see a baby pool in my future.

I will make sure that it is not another 2 months before I update again XOXO

by the way CRACK KILLS AUBREY JO :)

WEEEWW! Holiday season is over!

OOOHHH the holiday's. Although enjoyable they are exhausting. Aubrey Jo handled them well though. She enjoyed all of the action and attention. First stop was Papa Bill's in Arkansas, where she befriended Bill's new puppy. After a brief visit there we came back to Springfield for a day so I could work and then it was off to St. Louis where we visited with the whoooooolllllllleeeee family:) Aubrey did so good the whole time she was home with us. She really is a fantastic baby, so happy and excited to learn about the world. She got her first tooth a few weeks ago and this morning we noticed that another one has decided to join. She is also making attempts to crawl, she gets up on her knees takes one little move and then falls. So close i would say she will be zooming around the house by next week. With all of the holidays and working I feel like I have had no time off. I start my student teaching in Ozark on the 12th. The end of the tunnel is near. I graduate On May 15th and then I am DONE!!! I am so proud of my little family for bearing with me while I finish school (then it is daddy's turn). I ended up with a 3.2 for the semester which was very unexpected. Gabe did well and is looking forward to doing even better next semester even though he will be a stay at home daddy while I am student teaching. Uncle Tyler will be looking after the little one while Gabe is in class on Tuesday's and Thursday's. We have been so blessed with loving people who care for our family and are willing to drop everything to help. We hope that everyone had a great holiday we will catch up more soon. XOXOXOXO

Aubrey Jo said her first word!!1

Aubrey Jo said her first word the other day. Of course it was DADA we all could have guessed that one. Gabe caught the action on video while I was at work Friday and showed me our smart, beautiful little monkey when I got home. We have also been doing sign language with her so when she puts her had on her head that is the sign for daddy. We are so proud of our little girl, she makes us smile all hours of the day. As for other achievments... she is now sitting up on her own playing with anything she can grasp around her. At her last weigh in she was 17 pounds 12 ounces and 26.5 inches long. Growing like a weed this one. I am almost done with the semester and I am looking forward to the time off with my little family. I love spending time with her so I get a whole month of Aubrey before I student teach in the Spring, and then I graduate (hopefully) in May. I hope everyone is doing well and has a great holiday season.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

NOVEMBER- Gobble, Gobble

Well, we are well into November now and I have not updated in awhile. Aubrey is growing faster than I could keep up with the blog anyway. I feel like I have not seen her at all this month. Halloween she was her with Mama E, we went trick or treating with Aunt Molly and our little monkey. The next weekend she was up in St. Louis visiting, because I had homework, work, and Melissa's bachlorette party. And as we speak she is on her way to West Plains for a deer hunting weekend with daddy. Well she isn't going deer hunting but I have my Praxis exam on Saturday morning and I needed some time to get some MORE homework done. Yes, the neverending pile of homework that I have put off until now. But the end of the semester is quickly approaching and I have to take advantage of my alone time. And then next weekend is Aunt Lissa's wedding and Aunt Shannon will be her for the weekend because I am going to be around but not.
As she gets bigger and more playful it is getting harder and harder for me to be away from her. Not that I did not LOVE LOVE LOVE the newborn phase, but now she is just so much FUN. Everyday it is something new. Right now it is raspberry's, she loves to blow them when she has food in her mouth. She is also very curious about faces, she will grab your nose or mouth but HARD (she has not learned gentel yet, poor diesel)Yes she loooovvvvveeeesss the doggy. She is sitting up for a few minutes on her own now, and she is now a side sleeper. I put her in her cradle and she immediately rolls onto her side and puts her face up against the bumper. Silly girl! Once again sorry about how long it has been since the update. XOXO

Wow it's been awhile

Sorry everyone, it's been over 3 weeks since I have updated. It is a whirlwind these days and I am just running short on time. Well, real quick, Aubrey is so spectacular, she smiles, LAUGHS (most precious noise I have ever heard) and is still a daddy's girl. She is eating solids and is as impatient as her dad when it comes to eating. If I do not spoon it in fast enough she starts telling me to hurry up. The picture of her with all the food on her face is sweet potatos that we were trying for the first time. So far so good on all of the foods but we haven't really gotten into the veggies yet. Fruits are all yummy! She still is not sleeping through the night (well at least for me, she slept for Mama E)maybe she misses me and wants to wake up to see me. She is trying to sit on her own now and is just....well getting big! Sorry it's a short one but it is getting late and I need to catch as many ZZZZZZZ's as possible. XOXO

Who's rolling over? That's right I'm rolling over!!!!

Ok, where to start. Aubrey is growing so fast it makes me sad that I am not around to see all of it. I am really really busy with school and if I am not at the High School or in class I am doing homework. 8 more months, thats it. But then I will hopefully be getting a big kid job. I don't even want to think about it right now. One day at a time. Speaking of today, did you know that Aubrey Jo rolled over!!!!!!!! I thought that babies went from tummy to back first... well not my kid. She is a back to tummy kind of kid, it's those strong abs she got from daddy. Anyway I did not get to see it because, oh that's right you guessed it, I was at school. So I got home at 3 and from that point on I was trying to get her to roll over and she would get soooooooo close but not quite there. But daddy swears she did it and Aunt Hollie was here to witness. Maybe tomorrow I will have more luck. The grandparents are all visiting On the 11th for my sister's wedding shower and they have so much in store for them. She is so entertaining now, she smiles, she gives kisses, she almost has a giggle, and she just loves to hang out and be with you, what parent could ask for more. She also had her first time at the gym with me. My gym has a little daycare that will watch your baby for up to 2 hours. She did really well and had a good time watching the other kids play. It is nice to have a couple hours of week just for me, it helps to get her out of the house as well. We go back to the doctor next Thursday for her 4 month check up and shots. I am always excited to see how much she has grown. Her last growth spurt really got her going. She is in 6 month clothes and she in in 2's now for her diapers. Well, sorry for the not so frequent updates. Love you all!!! Can't wait to see you all soon.