Baby names & Birthday Party Plannin'

Im indecisive. So, incredibly indecisive. I dont like to hurt anyone's feelings, choose too soon, choose out of impulse, choose too late, or regret that decision either. Its a vicious cycle.

Im 10 weeks and a day prego today and am already thinking about baby names. Mainly boy names. We're 'supposed' to have a boy next! We were dead set on one for about a month, but threw that one out the window already. Im kinda bummed about it, but we'll see what happens! I really like boy names that start with C or K. Alyvia was going to be Hayden if she was a boy, but we know a Hayden now and dont want to steal the name from them! Ive asked opinions and got so many responses. It made me.....even more confused, LOL :)


Alyvia will be 2 in 7 weeks. I hate the fact that I just admitted that. I MUST start getting things together for her party. I know the theme of it, colors (mostly), have her outfit for her pictures that are NEXT weekend, know what her centerpieces are; Im going to make the cake/cupcakes myself, and have 'mini' foods to eat. Beanie weenies, cheese, chips and dip, fruits, veggies. Im determined to put together something very special too, with the help of my SIL. :) Invites need to be out the end of the 3rd week of January. I like to have them out a little early so people have time to RSVP. Yes, PLEASE RSVP whether you can come or not! Thank you :)

A few Alyvia updates!

She is 22 months old now! I am NOT ready for her to be 2 and not my little baby anymore :( I have been planning her birthday party in my head, and need to start applying those thoughts soon!

She is saying SO many new things. Gum is the newest one. She knows when Im chewing it, and asks for some (of course I dont give her a piece); we compromise with half a tootsie roll; hey, its chewy, and she doesn't know the difference!
She says hot now, instead of just blowing on things that are hot. She calls books 'kooks', and loves to read them. She says No-No, instead of Na-Na. She can say blankie, and HAS to sleep with one, her silky and her bunny every single night. Oh, I almost forgot, she loves bread and butter flavored pickles, just like her Momma. And she'll ask for them. Cickle! I love it. She loves to tell stories at the dinner table. She'll point at Dev and I and start saying 'MY dada, mama, lylia, caya, home'. We've been talking A LOT about Ho Ho coming to her house and leaving her presents if she's a good girl. I'll ask her if she was a good girl today, and she'll respond 'Mhm!' and tell me about her day in her jibberish. Then I'll tell her if she continues to be a good girl Santa can come to her house. She'll smile and ask, 'ZaZa?!' She is SO concerned with Santa stopping at Zoe's house too. It is so funny.
She can say most of the foods we eat, please, thank you, and all her body parts. She knows her left from right; daddy is so proud of that because that was one thing he wanted to teach her himeself :)

I know there are lots more, but I think thats enough for now!

Christmas week!

My shopping is pretty much done! I just have 2 giftcards to pick up sometime before Saturday :) Im very proud of myself for only spending the amount I did on Alyvia this year. She got a lot, but I stayed within a reasonable budget. Double score! She needs big girl stuff; a lot of the toys she has now are baby-ish and she's losing interest. I'm so excited for her to wake up on Christmas morning. Devon said she'll lose interest, probaby about halfway through opening her gifts, but I dont care! I know she'll play with everything we got her...well that Santa got her. Im really, REALLY excited for the kitchen her Granny & Poppy got her! And the barnyard set my Mom is supposed to get her.

Yesterday we ate lunch at Texas Roadhouse; I forgot how much I LOVE that place. Just talking about it makes me want to eat it now! We finished up shopping and all 3 of us napped when we got home :)

Devon is home tonight. I dont remember the last time he was home on a Monday night. He works Tues-Fri, but will be home for Chritmas :)

I dont have much wrapping to do either! Devon helped me with most of Alyvia's on Saturday night. I'm totally excited to make cookies...its another one of my favorite traditions!

If I dont get to blog before Saturday, I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

Worn out.

Its only *currently cringing as I type this* Wednesday. And I am beyond pooped. Devon has been at work since Monday night, and has to work again tonight...oh, AND tomorrow night. After work, I pick Alyvia up and get home as quickly as I can because I know I wont have much, if any, relaxing time; so, the sooner I'm home, the sooner I can relax. Its about a half hour drive from Tasha's and since the snow has hit, it takes about 45 minutes. YUCK. I can't get out of the car without Alyvia asking for num-nums or hearing Caya whine. She's in her cage when Devon is at the FH so as soon as I get home, the routine goes a little like this:
QUICKLY drop all my stuff, lug Alyvia with me to let Caya out (because she wants to help), sit Alyvia down in her booster, put our coats away and (even more QUICKLY) get dinner ready for her. Let Caya back in, get Lyv a quick snack while she's waiting for her dinner to cook, start putting things away because by this time the door to our garage is barricaded with all kinds of stuff in front of it. Alyvia eats dinner and I whip up something easy for myself (usually soup, sandwhich, of leftovers). This whole time I'm constantly telling Caya to stop begging; we dont give her table scraps.
Alyvia's finished in about a half hour and completely covered in whatever she ate, so to the bath we go. She loves the bath, so we usually play around for a little bit before it's time to get out. PJ's, clean up (dishes, counters, table), books/playdough/or coloring, either sweeping or laundry. By this time, its almost 7 and I pop in a movie for Alyvia. I call it her 'unwinding time'; she's an early bird and ready for bed about 730-8pm.
I'll probably eat something else or finish my dinner, change my clothes, and sit down with her to read another book or 2. Bed time, shower for me, MAYBE...MAYBE a TV show for me and Im ready to crash by at least 9.

Needless to say, with Devon being gone every single night this week, I'm ready for a LONG, hot bubble bath and a buffet style dinner. He's off Friday, but we have a Christmas party to go to, Photos with Santa and shoppping Saturday, and another photoshoot with Tash Sunday.

Now, I need a nap.

Happy Birthday Babe!

Today is Devon's 22nd Birthday! I hope you have a great day [sleeping :)]. I love you!

An Early Christmas for You!

Here's a sneak peek of Alyvia's Christmas Photos! Courtesy of Tasha Braniff :)

I dont wanna share TOO many because you may be getting one with your Christmas Card! :)

Tonight we are cutting down our Christmas tree! One of my favorite traditions! Cant wait! :)