Trick or Treat!

Tomorrow is my hometown's trick-or-treat. Alyvia is totally obsessed with Monsters Inc. So, she will be Mr. Sulley -- a girl-ified one! You just wait til you see the photos. Tash has helped me put together the costume, and Miss Z Weezy will be her bff, Mike! Im such a little kid, but it'll be lots of fun!

Our mini session sneek peaks are up. I fall in love with every picture those 2 take of us. They capture moments that come and go too quickly, and I cant wait to see all of them!

Tasha also does photography (if you didnt already know that!) . She's taken thousands of pictures for us. Literally. Today we decided on Alyvia's (sad face) birthday pictures. They'll be great. Planning ahead is my thing, but Im not ready for my baby to be 2.

Dev has been gone, a lot. Working...but when this next paycheck comes, we have to start, are you ready for it...CHRISTMAS shopping!!! I cannot wait. Ive put together Alyvia's list, and have a good idea of what we're getting other family members. But I have NO idea what to get Dev. Gotta brainstorm that one.

Im reading a book; 'Battlefield of the Mind'. Im not a religious person, but right off the bat, the book related to me. Im hoping to catch up on some reading tonight.

Alyvia still amazes me everyday. She starting to say 'love you'. Makes my heart melt.

Pumpkin Show and Milestones!

My baby will be TWO in FOUR months. That to me shouldn't be possible. She's starting to put together sentences and thoughts. She knows when I pick her up from Auntie Tasha's, we go 'ommmme' to eat 'num nums'. She recognizes Elmo, and calls him 'MolMo'. Its totally cute when she makes the face right before she says it. She knows the 'babay' goes 'ni-night, shhhh!' She knows to put her 'szoos on'; how to 'buush tees'; and so many others. It makes me SO proud to see her learn new things.

Last weekend, we had a (mini) photo session with S&S. I am SO anxious and excited to see them. Some of you will get one with your Christmas Letter! These girls are the bomb diggity.

Dev and I also had a date night last Saturday. The first one in a VERY long time. We went to see Life as We Know It - LOVED it. He did too :)

I cannot wait to take Alyvia trick or treating this year. She is gonna be (yet again) so SUPER cute! This year, she can walk, so it'll be even more fun than last!

We went to the Pumpkin Show last night. Crowded, cold, but I love to go. We primarily wanted to see the parade of bands, but it was a little too cold for Alyvia to be out. So we left an hour before and went home!

Tomorrow we are going to Boo at the Zoo. Its supposed to be nice and probaby the last time we'll be able to go this year...besides the Christmas Lights! It'll be fun!

I dont tell you enough...

Dev has worked a LOT this week. Sometimes, I miss him working the 'normal' 40 hour work week. He has started working his 7p-7a shift at the hospital, and a 24 hour shift somewhere in the week at the firehouse. So, 3 12 hr shifts and 1 24 hour shift every week, at least. 60 hours a week at minimum. He can be a pain in my rear, but I miss him. Lyvi does too. She asks for him all the time. But luckily, starting next week she'll be able to stay home with him 2-3 days a week. This Wednesday-Thursday is gonna suck. He works from 9a Wednesday to 7a Thursday. Then again Friday night. Saturday he'll sleep til about noon, then we have family photos at 3 with S&S! :) I am so excited! Then, he works Sunday for 24 hours. AND Monday night. BOOO.


I dont tell him enough how proud I am of him. We started dating in Summer 07; right after graduation. To rewind a bit, we went to elementary school together (3rd grade) and for some reason, I always remembered him. We 'dated' in 8th grade, and always kept in touch thoughout high school. I went to Kent State the first year we were together. One of the hardest things Ive ever experienced. I hated it. I had no roomate, 2 jobs, and Dev was the only one who visited me...which was about once a month. Its like a 3 hour drive. When I finally moved home, and in with him. Our one year anniversary, we found out we were expecting; Dev was about to graduate from EMT School. We got engaged October 2008; Alyvia arrived February 17, 2009! Dev started Paramedic in June 2009 and graduated a year later! All while working a full-time job and also a part-time job at the firehouse.

He got his new job with OSUMC about 2 months ago, and is still working at the firehouse about once a week. I am so very lucky to have a hard working hubby and the best father to our little girl :)

THE Wedding Post!

Shame on me. I just realized I havent posted a 'formal' blog about our wedding day! Not many people read this, but I like to post and read about it later :)

June 19th was the big day. We set up the rehearsal Friday; I couldnt sleep the night before. We had our rehearsal dinner at Rising Park in Lancaster and then my mom took me and the girls out for a few drinks; Dev and the boys stayed at the apartment. He also kept Lyv so I wouldnt stress about getting her ready or be overwhelmed!

My hair appt was at Kenneth's. A friend of mine, Kristi (we grew up together), works there and has done my hair before so and said she'd do it for the wedding! As you know, my hair doesnt need curled, so a few bobbypins and headband did the trick! Loved it :)

My boss/family friend met us at the church to do my bridesmaids' hair with no cost to me :) Just a side, curled ponytail with a flower; cute and simple. The boys got ready fairly quickly, thank goodness! Tash took most of our pictures before, and soon enough it was 4:30pm.

My Uncle Bub (Eric) was the handsome usher and his 2 (of 3) little girls welcome guests and had them sign the guest book. His wife and 4 kids mean a lot to me.
I wanted our ceremony to be different; I didnt want the traditional wedding march being played. I wanted to walk down to a song I chose based on how I feel. Sara Evans, Could not ask for more. Perfect. Tash's sister-in-law, Jessi, sang and a lady from their church played the chords on the piano. They did a wonderful job. My friend Lacey started crying before I did...it was a moment Im glad we shared together. The song fit how I feel; Kudos to me :) (And my hubby for making me feel that way)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EVd_zghQXA&ob=av2e <--Video and song!


My brother walked me down the aisle, and my mom met us at the end to give me away -- it was a bittersweet moment.
My uncle was the pastor who officiated the ceremony. He made a few jokes and made it very personal. He did a great job.

(PS...I ripped my dress walking up the stairs. Thank goodness no one noticed!)

After everyone was dismissed, they let go balloons as we walked out of the church and we finished up photos!

The reception was at KofC. Pinks, greens and browns everywhere...A Solid Gold Sound was our DJ (I love to dance. The music was the BIGGEST thing for me, and I had SO MUCH FUN!)...Family and friends shared the day with us and it was all I hoped for.

Devon and I danced to 'Bless the Broken Road' by Rascal Flatts. I knew from the day we started dating, that was the song we'd dance to at our wedding. If you know my past, it just fits perfect. I will never forget that moment. Every time I hear that song, I get chills.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkWGwY5nq7A <-- Our song!

Reception was over at 10. Talea took Alyvia home around 8; she was perfect the whole night. Dev and I stayed at Fort Rapids that night and spent the day there Sunday with Alyvia for Father's Day. Sunday evening, we opened gifts and relaxed.

I miss our wedding day and wish we could do it all over again. I wouldnt want to share the memory with anyone other than Devon and our little girl.

Thank you to everyone who played any part into our big day.

A few decisions.

Devon and I rarely buy anything for ourselves...ever. I didnt have much growing up (meaning material things...phones, cars..) and he isn't the 'money-blower' he used to be. Thanks in great part, to me! That boy had more clothes than I did when we first started dating. He had a motorcylcle -- that I miss sometimes -- the latest phone, expensive shoes, etc. He worked all throughout high school, so it wasnt like he was a spoiled brat. But he had to learn what was necessary. He, since then, has sold multiple 'toys' to pay bills, or just because he knew there were other things we needed. The biggest seller was his baby before his baby; that oh so gorgeous 2007 Honda CBR 600 RR. He was IN LOVE with that thing. I liked it too...maybe more than I admitted ;) As soon as I found out I was pregnant, he sold it. I think thats when I knew he'd do whatever it took to provide for us.

Over 2 years later we have moved twice; sold clothes, guns, toys, cars, 4hweelers and other things to get us by. We're finally outta that gross old apartment and in a house we love. We have good jobs, and a 20 month old monster.

Our phone contracts with verizon are about up and Devon is head-over-heels with his brother's-in-law iPhone. I, on the other hand, could care less what my phone looks like or does. As long as it calls and txts, we're good. Its not a necessity to me. Well, I finally broke down and took a peep at em online. I like them, a lot. We'll be paying less - or about the same - on our monthly bill as we do now with Verizon, but we get all the good stuff with AT&T; 3G, apps, touch screen, and lots of other thigns at the palm of our hand. The brand new ones are about $250-$300. OUCH. I came across the Refurbs -- which were about $150 -- and thought 'hey, we can do that!' And you can get insurance on the Refurbs. So, soon-ish, we will be owners of the 'new' iPhone 4!

You gotta understand; we cant spend money we dont have. We have ZERO credit cards. ZILTCH. We got into trouble with them and had to consolidate the monthly payments and are now digging ourselves out of a very deep hole. We're doin it tho. I think we have about 2 years left until they're all paid off. So, when making money spending decisions -- usually any over $100 -- its a big decision for us. Almost a milestone for me. I HATE spending money on a single thing that costs that much! We also have to stock up Alyvia and my fall wardrobe. Poor thing has almost nothing...neither of us do at that. All my stuff is maternity or too big, or not 'business-y' enough. And she, well, has grown and we haven't bought much lately! I TRY to only go shopping when I have a coupon (Carter's is the bomb-diggity), and so far Ive been pretty good with that! Which reminds me, my October coupon should be in my inbox! :)

This weekend consists of shoppin and makin'. Makin Alyvia's Halloween costume, that is! With the help of both my MIL and SIL -- they're my mentor's with a lot of stuff! Im so excited; she'll be a-freakin-dorable!

80 days til the most wonderful day of the year! I am the BIGGEST holiday buff. Dev makes fun of me for it, but I know deep down he is too :) I already made a rough draft for my list and pretty much know what we're gonna get Alyvia. I had something in mind for Dev, but I'm not sure if we're gonna be able to do it just yet. We will see!