A Clean House is a Happy House, Right?

In an attempt to further happyify (I just made that word up, if you didn't notice) our home, I have decided to work on a cleaning schedule. Now, this isn't an entirely new idea. I have been planning to work on my home management binder (which would include a cleaning schedule) for quite some time but still haven't gotten around to it. As easy as a cleaning schedule sounds, it really takes lots of work. I mean, how often do you clean your oven or shampoo your carpets? Do you do these things on a schedule or when you notice that they are disgusting? Well, right now, I do them completely randomly. I actually can't tell you the last time I cleaned my oven (which means that I'll probably clean it tonight to make myself feel better). There are so many things to think about. For one, I don't think there is enough time in the day for me to clean my entire house while taking care of a 15 month old and three dogs so there are some things that will not get done on a daily basis (maybe mopping the floors, unless Liam gets better at mopping).

 Gggrrr....I need help. Do any of you guys have a cleaning schedule that you stick to?

Setting Goals

If you read my posts about depression, you may have read that I went to see a counselor. I have never been in counseling/therapy before and have only had one session so far so I can't really say too much about it. I did enjoy speaking with my counselor and it didn't even seem like we were talking for an entire hour (which is weird for me since I tend to be reserved around people I don't know). During our session, we set four goals for me to accomplish before our next session:

1) Find a hobby that doesn't involve Will or Liam
I definitely want to get into running and would love to find a running group that would be willing to run in the evening. I just really suck at running and wouldn't want to slow anyone down (although I have seen that it is good to run with experienced runners since they will motivate you). I also wouldn't mind finding a crafting group. I have sooo many Pinterest projects that I need to work on and my home management binder isn't going to make itself.

2) Look into part-time employment
Part-time employment will give me a chance to get out of the house (as well as give Liam a chance to play with other kids at daycare) and have some adult interaction and conversations. I have been looking for something that will fit our schedule and my strengths for a little while now. I want to enjoy what I do so I am being picky. Even if I don't find anything soon, I still have my National Guard base  (I'll actually be there for most of the month of August).

3) Look into the nursing field
During my time at Kansas State University, I majored in Public Relations and Women's Studies, however, I'm not sure if those fields are right for my life now. After having Liam, I have started to consider getting into the medical field. I would love to work as a RN in a maternity ward or even as a Lactation Consultant. Although there are many medical related options, the area I live in is very limited when it comes to programs and schools.

4) Visit local churches
Church has always been a weird area for me. I grew up in a very strict Pentecostal church that was extremely restrictive. Since then, I have strayed from churches. I would like for this to change. I would definitely want Liam to grow up with a great church community that is accepting and loving.

I think these goals are going to be very helpful in creating a happy and healthy home life for our family.

What about you guys? Do you have a hobby that doesn't include your family? Do you have any goals that will make your home life happier/easier?

15 Month Update

15 months old...wow. I know I should be used to it by now but I'm still amazed at how old/big Liam is getting.

This month has been the month of the "wild child". Liam is all over the place and extremely vocal. When he doesn't want to do something, he will let you know by shrieking at the top of his lungs and since Liam is a very independent toddler, you can only imagine the sound level in our house right now. He pretty much wants to do what he wants to do and doesn't care what anyone thinks about it. We're crossing our fingers that this is just a stage.

Teething is another shriek inducing milestone in Liam's life. He is currently getting all four of his first year molars (yes, all four decided to come in at the same time, lucky us). He is so much pain and discomfort. It kills me since there is very little I can do to help him. So far our teething remedies are pain reducer, nursing and lots of hugs and kisses. A few friends recommended amber teething necklaces as a teething remedy so I think we'll be giving that a try as well.


And now on to the pictures!

Sunshine through the Rain

Although my last post was a bit depressing (maybe because it talked about depression), things in our home have been looking up. I've decided to take the necessary steps to my our life a happy and healthy one.

Since becoming a wife and a mother, I have put myself to the side and made my life about Will and Liam. Now don't get me wrong, I love these guys with all of my heart and wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. I just haven't been taking care of myself. I became Will's wife and Liam's mom and somewhere in there I got lost.

Well, no more! I'm taking the steps to become the best wife and mom I can be by taking care of myself. I looked into my diet and exercise routines and realized that I wasn't doing either (no wonder I have been feeling depressed). We've decided to start eating clean and cutting out processed foods. It hasn't been easy but I definitely have noticed a difference in my energy level. I can't tell you how awesome it felt to cook dinner last night (chicken fajitas and guacamole) and know every single ingredient in the food. Wow, I just got really excited about food.

Along with diet, I also decided to include more exercise into our daily activities. Liam and I have added stroller walks to our weekly schedule. It gives us a chance to get out of the house and explore a bit. I also went to a Zumba class with my friend, Krystal. It was a blast and I would love to add it to our weekly schedule as well.

One of the most important steps I've taken is seeing a counselor. I have only attended one session so far but I can already see who it will be helpful. We were able to set some goals for the next two weeks and I must say, I am getting excited to regain my happiness and be the best mother and wife I can be.

Depression is No Fun

Over the last few weeks, I have been feeling a bit depressed. I guess "a bit" is an understatement actually. It's so hard to put into words how I'm feeling and what exactly is the "problem". I think it's just a lot of things building up, causing me to feel useless and lost. I feel as though I have no direction, no purpose, no future but when I type it out, it feels so over dramatic and exaggerated.
Please don't get me wrong. I love my family but there are days were it seems I do absolutely nothing except take care of others. I'm hoping this is just some weird funk I'm going through but just in case, I think it warrants a trip to the therapist. Has anyone else dealt with depression or postpartum depression before?

Where did my little baby go??

I'm sitting here creepily staring at Liam while he eats his dinner and watches a little Dora. It still amazes me that he's a toddler and no longer a little baby. It makes me want to cry (in a happy way, of course). He has been such a blessing to our lives and it almost feels as though my life took on a completely different meaning when I looked into his eyes.

I know I'll never get these moments back so I will cherish every second I spend with Liam. He may never be that small again but being able to watch him grow and develop makes it worth it. Man, I love this little guy.

14 Month Update!

Liam is now 14 months old. Wow, I still can't believe how fast he has grown. We haven't been to the Dr. in awhile but Liam is obsessed with weighing himself so I know he weighs 26 lbs. I haven't measured his height in awhile but he has grown a little (his K-State pajamas are no longer too long).

Our big guy has had a few milestones this month. He says "Pepper", "Hi", "Bye", "Stop", in addition to "Yes", "No", "Mama", and "Dada". He babbles all the time and loves to talk (he loves to pretend that objects around the house are phones and say, "Hello"). Lately when we are out at the grocery store, he'll randomly say "hi" to people as we pass them in the aisles. He also has one of his first molars coming in.

He's such a fun little guy to be around especially since he thinks he's hilarious. He loves taking pictures. Here are a few of our little guy over the past month. I absolutely love this face.

Way to Go Will (And Our New Furry Addition)!!

Yesterday was a big day for the C. family. Will was notified a couple weeks ago that he would be going before the promotion board so until yesterday evening, our household was pretty tense. Will was doing a lot of studying as well as getting his Army dress uniform, or Class As, together. Then Will found out that he had to take a Physical Training test the morning of the board. This definitely added to his stress levels. But after all his hard work and preparation, Will passed the board!

To celebrate, I found a gift for him: A Shorkie (Shih Tzu and Yorkie mix) puppy!
"Puppy's" (she doesn't have an official name yet) old mom told me that she did not fit their lifestyle (not really sure what that means) but we were excited to invite her into ours. So far, she's a good puppy (although I had forgotten what life was like with a puppy). Artemus isn't too happy though. I really hope that she grows on him but until then, we'll just try to make sure to keep an eye on them. Well, here's the new addition!

She looks like an Artemus/Mitzi love baby!

This is late but...13 months Old!

I'm a few days late with this update but Liam is now 13 months old. He's growing so fast and the last month has been pretty exciting for us. There have been a few milestones as well as a few lessons learned.
I shared a few things with you guys already (such as his first haircut) but there have been a few things that haven't made it into the blog yet. Liam has officially started saying "bye" as well as waving. Now Liam is a stubborn little guy. He only does this when he wants to and if you try to get him to do it when he doesn't want to, he'll just look at you like he has no idea what you're doing. I'm sure there will be many more "talking" milestones to come but as of right now, "mama" and "bah" (we're still trying to figure out what "bah" means exactly) seem to be his favorites. He especially loves to say "mama" while making spit bubbles.

Other than that, his other milestone is climbing. He can climb onto the sectional and just figured out that he can climb onto the ottoman as well. This milestone (which can also be called the "give mom a heart attack" milestone) has not been much fun for me. I'm hoping that this daredevil phase doesn't last too long but then again, I do have a boy on my hands.

Okay, here are a few more stats on Liam's growth before we get to his 13 month picture. I weighed him a few days ago and he came in at 24.5 lbs. I didn't take his height but I'm guessing that he's maybe grown an inch since the last time he was measured. He's wearing 12 month clothing and size 5 shoes. He's growing into such a big boy and now on to the picture.

Scrapes and Bites, Oh my!

The last two days have been a little rough for us. Liam is on the move and in typical boy fashion, is very daring. He has taken a liking to standing on furniture (especially the couch and bed) and had his first accident yesterday. Whenever he stands on the couch, I'll tell him to sit down and once I get close, he'll sit and laugh. Well, he was standing up and when he went to sit down, he hit his mouth on the back of the sectional. I picked him up and that's when Will noticed that he was bleeding from his mouth. Talk about a scary moment. Luckily he didn't hurt himself too bad but the sight of the blood on my shirt was enough to freak me out.

If that wasn't enough, today one of the dogs nipped Liam after he scared her while she was sleeping. Our two dogs are very little guys (Shih Tzus) and although they are well behaved, I knew something like this would eventually happen. Liam is very rough with them and even though we try to minimize the amount of contact between them, it happens. Will and I will make it a priority to teach Liam boundaries when it comes to the dogs. I know some people would think about giving the dogs away after an incident like this but something like that would not be an option for me (I mean, Liam bit me yesterday but I'm not going to give him up for adoption). We're all a package deal. Life with a baby is new for all of us and we have plenty of time to figure things out.

Our First Milestone of 2012

Since Will is returning to work after a month of leave, he was definitely due for a haircut. We decided to take a trip to the salon this morning since I have drill and will have the car out of town until next week (yay for hotel living with Liam). The topic of Liam's hair has come up a few times in the last few months and since Daddy was already going, we decided to get Liam's first haircut.

When we walked into the salon, there were two chairs right next to each other open. Will sat in one and I sat with Liam on my lap in the other. I had originally planned to take pictures during the process but that didn't happen. Now that I think about it, I should have taken one of him before so that we could see the difference. Even though we didn't get tons of pictures of this milestone, I was able to get a lock of his little curls and snapped pictures afterwards.

Every time I look at him now, I start to tear up. He looks like such a big boy now that he doesn't have his crazy, curly, baby afro. It makes me realize that I have a toddler on my hands. Definitely makes me want to cry...or start planning baby number two :)

Top of 11 of 2011

(In chronological order)

#1: Will's R&R
Will had arranged to be home for his two week break in January since my due date was January 10th but Liam decided to make his appearance three weeks early. Although the timing didn't end up being perfect, we still had so much fun with the tiny baby.

#2: Our First Family Photo Session
Even though this happened during R&R, it was definitely one of the top moments of 2011 (I also think it set a family tradition of capturing the growth and change of our family). It was our first time meeting Melissa Bradfield (our amazing photographer) and I'm so glad she has become a part of our lives by capturing Liam's first year.

#3: Our First Wedding Anniversay
Although we celebrated this special milestone thousands of miles apart, it did not make the day any less special. We have experienced a lot during our first year of marriage and although it's not always easy, we stick it out and plan on celebrating many more anniversaries.

#4: Baby Milestones
All of Liam's little milestones fit into this top of 2011. From teeth to "talking", Liam has kept our lives exciting. Here's Liam during the teething phase as well as a shot of his first baby teeth.

#5: Liam's First Halloween
Halloween was a little disappointing for me since I expected Will to be home from Iraq. I had all these ideas for costumes but when I realized he would miss Liam's first Halloween, I put everything aside and planned on staying home. Well, that changed a few days before Halloween, lol. Luckily I was able to find an adorable costume for Liam (and throw together something for me) and I'm so glad I did.

#6: The End of Operation New Dawn
The end of a deployment is always exciting. Having Will home after nine months of Skype, phone calls, letters and care packages was a blessing that we definitely do not take for granted.

#7: Liam's on the move!
Walking! Luckily, Liam waited for Daddy to be home to share in this milestone (although he had been standing on his own and taking a few steps). Walking has made our lives super crazy but so exciting at the same time.

 #8: Liam's Cake Smash
To prepare for Liam's first birthday, Melissa Bradfield photographed a cake smash for us. The pictures were absolutely beautiful and we were even able to get a few family pictures as well. Liam had a blast eating the cake and we're glad we were able to capture that moment.

#9: Liam's First Birthday
This was definitely one of the biggest, most exciting events of 2011. Our little guy turned one and reminded us that life goes fast. We had a great party and celebrated his milestone in style.

#10: Our First Christmas as a Family
It was so exciting to spend Christmas together as a family. Although this is technically Liam's second Christmas, it's the first one we've celebrated. It was definitely a blessing and we're excited to spend/enjoy lots more holidays together.

Merry Christmas From Will, Jaye and Liam!

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other." ~Burton Hillis

Mommy and Liam

O Christmas Tree (and lovely no sew ruffle tree skirt)

Melissa Bradfield Photography

Liam's First Birthday!!!!

We had a birthday party for Mr. Liam yesterday and although I was stressed out during the day, the party went well and everyone had lots of fun. We decorated with a red, white and silver theme (candy canes, actually). We served Snowflake Cocoa topped with whipped cream and crushed candy canes, Peppermint and Vanilla Cake Pops (some covered in crushed candy canes), Pizza Pops (or Rolls), Mini Pigs in a Blankets and Sugar Cookies. Nothing too fancy but the kids loved everything. After everyone snacked, Liam was given another cake to smash but this time he didn't seem interested in eating, mostly just sticking his fingers in the cake.
After a little while, we went to the fun part: the presents. He got lots of cool stuff and has been playing with all of them (although Daddy seems to like the Lil' Kawasaki ATV Liam got from Grandpa and Grandma). We'll be back in the next few days with more pictures from our amazing photographer, Melissa Bradfield! For now, here are lots of pictures from Liam's big day.

Birthday Morning

Playing Outside with Daddy

Birthday Bow

Smash Cake

Table Decor

Cake Pops

Opening Presents with lots of help

ATV from Grandpa and Grandma

My niece Jaydelynn

The Perfect End to Liam's Day