I saw that my friend Katie did this on her blog Tutu's and Tonka Trucks and I had to do it too. I love questionairs! You can read her answers here.

Monday, March 18, 2013

My First's

My First's

I saw a couple bloggers doing this and enjoyed reading their posts so I thought I'd do the same

1. First thing you do when you wake up in the morning.

Cuddle in my covers, check the time. Check my alerts on my phone,

make bed, grab Evelyn and start the day.

2. First thing you do when you get home from work

I don't work...but when Evelyn is in bed, I lounge in front of the TV

and get some time in with the hubster.

 

 

3. First kiss

Umm...my neighbor Robert kissed me when I was 6.

First like...make out? lol. Umm..I was 14? with my "boyfriend" Frank.

4. First home

My family and I lived in Utah, and I didnt really move out till I got married.

So Junction City, Kansas was the first place I lived.

 

5. First car

This super crappy ford taurus my grandpa owned.

It died everytime I hit the break too hard.

 

6. First car accident/ traffic violation

...I gotta say...I was 13? I got mad at my brother and went to go get my mom at church,

took her car and when I pulled back into the drive way I ran it into my Grandpas truck.

Evelyn wont be learning to drive till she is 16.

7. First thing you wanted to be when you grew up

I think a dentist...because my friend wanted to be one.

8. First choice beverage

Ice Cold Pepsi!

9. First choice dessert

Cheesecake anything!

10. First choice of restaurant

Sushi or steakhouse!

11. First song that comes to mind

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes...

We are watching Cinderella.

12. First major purchase

My car when I was 19.

Worst mistake ever. I was not ready for bills.

13. First job

Babysitter...or working at my moms store.

14. First time you flew on a plane

Going to California when I was 8!

15. First real "big girl" job

I worked at Starbucks...hated it. Alorica was an in call center I got after

we got married, and hated it. So I'd say Motherhood.

But I worked for my Mom for 5 years.

ABC's of Liz.

A. Age: 23! (I know I am a baby)

B. Bed size: King!

C. Chore you dislike: Bathrooms. I avoid it for as long as I can!

D. Dogs: ...NO! I usually think I want a dog, and I know P want's one, but I dont want to clean up more poop and throw up then I already have to.

E. Essential start to your day: ...I am not a morning person. Usually is soda or a super good breakfast.

F. Favorite colors: Deep reds. Blood red to be exact.

G. Gold or silver: I think I like both? I dont know I like both. 

H. Height: 5' 6"

I. Instruments you play(ed): I never played anything! I always hated that.

J. Job title: Evelyn's Mom, P's housewife and Wannabe crafter, decorater, ruler of the world. 

K. Kids: 1 little girl!! Maybe another one later on.

L. Live: Beautiful North Carolina! Home of Nicholas Sparks movies :)

M. Mom’s name: Cindy

N. Nicknames: Liz (my full name is Elizabeth), Lizzie, Lizbeth, Lizard.

O. Overnight hospital stays: Just when I gave birth to Evie.

P. Pet peeves: bad drivers. dirty houses.  military wives wearing husbands rank.

Q. Quote from a movie:  The Notebook: "So it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, for ever, you and me, every day."

R. Righty or lefty: Right.

S. Siblings: Travis, Suzy, Aj, Guy and Alisha

T. Time you wake up:

U. Underwear: I don't understand this one... do I wear it? Yes.

V. Vegetables you don’t like: I'm just not into anything weird. I like celery, carrots, lettuce, tomato...and thats probably it.

W. What makes you run late: Evelyn..I hate being late!

X. X-rays you’ve had: Probably my whole body except my head.

Y. Yummy food you make: Everything I make is yummy!

Z. Zoo animal you like: I love the elephants!!

My Brothers.

I dont think I ever talk about my brothers...not really anyways. I have 3 brothers but only talk to two of them.

Travis and Guy are seriously the best. I have been pretty much a "might as well be the only girl" for a while now. I have two sisters but my older sister died when I was 10, and my younger sister isn't too intrested in me. So Guy and Travis are like my sibling rocks.

Travis is 13 years older then me and has 2 kids and 2 step-kids. Its really been great for him and I to be close. With the huge age gap the relationship never really happened until I was married to P. We have grown alot closer and talk way more!

Guy is my little brother. He is 14 months younger then me. I have always had a close relationship with Guy. We played together all the time when we were kids, and when we got older we had eachothers backs in good times and bad. Since now he is the only child unmarried (besides my sister), we've grown a little distant, but I'm still so glad to have him in my life. He worries me alot and has alot of figuring out to do in his life but I'm glad that when he needs someone he knows I am there for him.

I seriously miss home, and can't wait to go home in May for a few weeks for a family function! Plus getting to hang out and grab a drink with my brothers sounds good to me!! Its the little things you miss when you live far away.

Evelyns View of Love.

You hear it all the time how important it is for your child to see their parents happy and in love. Wether the parents are together or not, your child learns from how you act. Its something I think about alot. I grew up never seeing my parents fight, sure they got into little arguments about how the living room set up, but nothing such as raising voices and storming off because they are mad. Its something I have always wanted to do with my kids. There really is no need to raise your voice, especially when your child is around. But I grew up raising my voice louder and louder trying to get my angry teenage selfs point across. I've kinda stayed that way too. Usually when P and I are arguing I raise my voice and he raises his and then it turns into yellin over eachother type of deal. Usually we stop it when we see Evelyn staring at us, and take it down a few notches. We've gotten alot better with it too! Which is good! Its a work in process from me being the right one all the time, and from P who's always witnessed fights, but we noticed it and we are trying.

Sometimes when I try to look through Evelyn's eyes and see what she is seeing this is what I think she see's.

For one she see's her mother who's working on the house, playing on her phone too much (not so much since I quit FB and Twitter!), making dinner, teaching her things and a playmate. She see's her Dad who is gone too much, but is the best playmate when he comes home, who is on his phone too much (we are working on that), who loves to throw her in the air, and cuddle her to death.

She see's alot of love we give her. But what about the love between P and I...what does she see?

She see's us stealing kisses through out the day, always saying I love you before we leave, cuddles on the couch, holding hands in the car, dancing in the kitchen ust because we can, she see's arguments sometimes but she also see's us appologize and make up for it, the random gifts we give eachother even if its just a beer after work, and best of all the tickles, smiles and laughs we have with eachother.

I had never really though about how my child would see love in this world. I grew up with an amazing example of love. P didn't have so much luck. I'm glad that this is a huge example we can set for Evelyn so easily. Just by being us we show her what she should look for in a husband one day, how a man should treat her, and that her parents love and respect eachother.

The Parentals are in town!

I have a bunch of scheduled posts for you guys because my Parents and Little Sister are going to be in town for 10 days, and we got a ton going on! So probably no blog reading on my end but I'll catch up when I can! I'm so excited! My Dad's dad is from North Carolina, and hasn't been here in 30 years! We are going to go see some of his family, and I'm so excited to get to know my Dad a little more and know more about how he was when he was a child.

We will also be going to DC while they are here over Easter Weekend :)

Happy 20 Months Evelyn!

Woah! that last month flew by! This one will be a short little update on Evelyn.

She is doing fantastic at catching onto words! She says so many!

She's learning her animals and foods now. Most of the time if I ask, "what does the doggy say?" she'll just say "I dun know." But she's getting better! You should hear her little "meow".

She's in 18 mo and 18-24 month clothing. Size 3 diapers! I think its been a year now that she's been in Size 3. She loves almost any fruit you give her! Picky eater otherwise though.

It can get confusing.

I never thought much of disapline or anything of the sorts when I was pregnant. Most woman, that are probably older then me, research alot of parenting books, take classes and learn from friends on how to be a better parent. Me? Nope. All I knew was that Evelyn was going to be the perfect child! And since I had a little terror of a nephew I knew I did not want her to be like him.

Since Evelyn has gotten to the stage of needing more boundries and probably more disapline, I've been confused on what I want to do.

Do I want to spank her? Do I do time outs? If so where do I do them? How do you know when she's just overly upset or when she's just super mad? How do you get a child that is this mad to calm down?

So far I've really gone with my gut at the moment...but I can understand how it would confuse Evelyn. Right now, she does not have much listening skills...and I am not sure how to improve that for her. I try to grab her attention and get her to listen and talk nice...but lets face it, a toddler who is mad your trying to stop them from chewing on a cord, is not in the mood to listen to you. Time outs have happened a few times, but usually its because she can't calm down and needs to just have an area to cool off. I have swatted her butt a few times, when she is doing things that are HUGE no no's. I know she's learning, and I know she is soaking in all this information now, so I know I need to be confident in my disaplining with her.

But anyways, I am working on this. Parenting turns out to be a whole different world once you have that child in your arms. I've been really asking for my parent's advice and they will be here this week so I will have lots of time to get some ideas and help from them. I think that's one thing I need is for my parents who raised 6 kids to give me advice on how to parent better.

I know I'll figure it out soon, and while usually I feel like I have pretty steady feet with this parenting "gig" I know that its a learning process too and every child is different and I just need to learn what is best for Evelyn, P and myself.

"I want to be a Stay-At-Home-Dad"

I'm pretty sure I am not the only wife & mother who has heard their husband utter this sentance. Mine utters this more then I would like to hear.

A long long time ago, when P and I were dating I told him that if I could be a SAHM, I wanted to be. That I never really wanted to do anything or be anything other then a Mom. I'm good at being home and getting things done, and I'm good at taking care of my child. I love it and I feel like it's been my calling from the beginning to be Evelyn's Mom. Some people want to work, but I don't. Its my choice. So since I had Ev I haven't worked. I've loved it.

The other night P and I were in bed talking and saw a man on House Hunters who was a Stay-At-Home Dad. Then P uttered the words "I want to be a stay-at-home Dad"....and I looked at him and said..."No you don't!"

Now hear me out, my husband is a wonderful father, BUT! He can't change a poopy diaper with out gagging through out the process of cleaning Evelyn's butt. He is to the point of throwing up. Usually I am the only changing the diapers and every once in a while I can get him to change a diaper. Oh yes, he's gotten to the point were he won't change even one diaper. I think he averages on maybe 1 to 2 diapers a week that he changes. P also doesn't like to clean. Even helping me on weekends is a fight. He is mad that he is helping me fold laundry, he's mad that I want to move furniture and vacuum under the couch.

So after I told P that he didn't want to be a SAHD, he looked me and said that I make it so easy, and I make it seem like I dont have to do anything....yeah well I'm good at it! (just kidding!)

Being a SAHM is no freaking joke! Yeah, when Evelyn was a newborn, it was pretty easy. I would put her in a crib, do the cleaning, take a nap, watch a little TV. That is after I moved from Utah back to Kansas and set the house up (with help from my parents) then was alone for a month before he even came home from Iraq. Super simple! But ya it was much simpler when Evelyn was immoblie. Then it was all about getting Evelyn to crawl, then moving across the country, then her becoming moblie! Now she's a running, screaming, walking and hitting toddler! Not so simple anymore.

I wake up and I am cleaning, picking up the house, taking care of Ev, cleaning up her messes, then cleaning up P's messes, and so on and so forth. While I dont mind it very much, P would have a fit if I left my clothes all over and he was the one to have to pick them up.

Really what P want's is to sit in front of the TV and be left alone....hey what do you know?! I sometimes just want to go shopping by myself!...its not a perfect world.

Being a SAHM is alot of work. So those who think it's super simple, dont get it twisted. Most of us fake it pretty good. At least your probably (and hopefully) getting a shower every day that is not interupted by a child screaming at the door. But I wouldn't trade this for anything! I love all the time I get with Evelyn, and even though sometimes I can get a little overwhelmed, I wouldn't have it any other way!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

I hope you all had a fun weekend! P was sent for the field for the weekend and I had a sick baby on my hands. She seems to be feelin better today though. :)

Happy St. Patricks Day!

 

Love, Evelyn.

 

P VS Liz

P VS Liz

I saw some of you do this around Valentines Day and I finally have done it!!

 

 

His Answers / Her Answers

How long have you been married?

9, 10, 11, 12....4 years/ ...3 years and a few months.

 

Where was your first date?

HuHot/HuHot and Ice Cream

 

Where was your first kiss?

Kylie and Thomas's house/ Kylies house on the couch.

Who first said, "I love you"?

She did/ I did right after he left for Iraq, I text it to him cause

I couldnt bare for him to leave and not know

What were your wedding colors?

Blue jeans, white shirt/ Apperently he heard clothes...

but had a courthouse wedding so no colors.

 

What is her most commonly used phrase?

"What time you coming home?"/ He's never home.

 

Who is her celebrity crush?

Channing Tatum/ OOOH yeah!

If she was ordering drinks for both of you, what would you each get?

Beer/ Probably a Corona for him, and coke for me. 

What is the best meal she has ever cooked you?

Maple wings/ I hate making those.

What is the worst meal she has ever cooked you?

I don't know/ thats right cause I'm a bomb cook!

What is the most-played song on her iPod?

I don't know/ He's sick of answering questions now.

I'd say probably...We Found Love by Rihanna

What would she say is your most annoying habit?

picking/ as in nails, hair, amost anything he can get his hands on.

What is the last thing she does before she goes to bed?

stares at her phone for an hour/ I'd say I roll around for 30 minutes,

 checking my phone and turning the TV off.

If you could throw out one item of her clothing what would it be?

...Nothing/ Still awesome.

What would you say is your favorite thing about her?

that your you./ :)

What's her go-to drink at Starbucks?

hot chocolate/ that or chocolatey chip frap! I hate coffee.

What's her blog's name?!

"Liz"/...close.

Taking a Break.

I decided about oh...a month ago that I should take a break from Social Media. I have become very addicted to my iphone. I'm on it all the time, to the point where I am charging it at least twice a day. Evelyn is also addicted to my phone, ipad and so on and so forth. I dont mind letting her play some games on my phone, but she has it to the point of throwing a fit if I don't let her have it when I'm using it. So I decided that since my biggest addiction/app's on my phone that I use is Twitter and Facebook that I should delete the apps off my phone.

I just think that my addition and reading everyones point of views on every detail in the world, and especially the Military and Parenting world has really effected me. While I find that alot of articals that parents I admire post are very helpful, I also see people ragging on people who can't breastfeed, disapline kids and loads of other stuff and I just can't make myself feel bad about the parent I am anymore. I disapline Evelyn, yes I do. I put her in time out and we have the 3 strike system to time out. But Evelyn gets a talk too before anything is done as far as disapline, and I do disapline depending on how much she needs to learn the boundrie, such as playing in my cleaning supplies or not listening. So far my system is working. Not ashamed of it either. She's learning, and I dont mind her exploring, but there are somethings that are No No's in my book and she will learn that its unacceptable. But then I love to read the articals about how I should be more patient and listen more to her too, even if she's not very vocal I still know what Evelyn is telling me. Patience is something I know I need to work on with her, especially when I am feeling overwhelmed.

So I deleted my apps a few days ago, and I tell you its so nice to have a break! Its nice not knowing every detail about lives, and knowing every single personal oppion about something. Its nice to feel like I am going back to me.

I kept my Instagram, because how could I not? I mean I gotta show off Evelyn somehow, and you know its been nice! I still get to see some of my blogger friends cute kids, and know a bit about whats going on with them. I still get to show my brothers Evelyn, and whats going on in our lives here. Its nice!

I don't really plan of ever going back to Twitter or Facebook. I'm enjoying not endulging in my addiction and I really dont want it back. I feel more apart of the family now that my face is not burried in my phone when we are relaxing. I may not know whats going on with my favorite celebs or know most of your little stories thoughout the day. But I think your ok with that :)

One Year!!

This is an exciting moment for P and I! Yes its been a whole year since we moved to Fort Bragg! We expected this adventure after 3 full days of driving to be an amazing time!  We've had lots of fun, and our marriage has grown closer, taught Evelyn to walk, talk, crawl and all sorts of things in this house. Its been amazing, and while Fort Bragg has no been ideal and we are looking forward to a new adventure, its been great to finally have lived in a house for more then a few months at a time.

So yay for our one year in this house!

Spring Cleaning List.

I don't know why I am so excited for Sprng cleaning this year...maybe because we will have lived in one house for a whole year for the 1st time ever, so its my first time. Or because I have so many guests coming before Mothers Day that I feel the need to clean my butt off.

But either way, I am an organized person usually, so of course I was jumping on making my list. For the last few weeks I was putting it together in my head what needed to be done, and this is my list :)

§  Bathroom Closet/Cabinets organized and cleaned out.

§  3^rd bedroom closet organized and cleaned out.

§  Evelyn’s closet cleaned out and organized.

§  Hallway closet cleanout and organized.

§  Kitchen cabinets cleaned out, organized and things going to Goodwill.

§   Carpets cleaned.

§  Washboards washed. (use fabric softener sheets)

§  Cleaning supplies organized and put in Laundry closet.

§  Go through Storage room (mostly Evelyn’s clothes)

§  Go through Evelyn’s toys to be donated.

§  Find storage solution for Evelyn’s stuffed animals.

§  Go through Paul’s and Liz’s drawers. Donate unwanted clothes.

§  Clean freezer.

§  Vacuum couch. Static spray couch. Febreeze couch.

§  Wash pillows. Clean mattresses.

 

Lots for me to do...but strangely..I'm way freaking excited! Whats on your list?

The randoms.

So now that March is here...that happened fast. I am in the process of preparing for almost everything I can think of.

This month my parents are coming for 10 days with my little sister! This is when we will be going to DC for Easter too. I'm so stoked for my parents to come! I feel like I never see them anymore. Plus they are spending Easter with me and I can show my cooking off to my Dad! My Mom was just here in October and I haven't seen my Dad since September so I'm stoked to see them! I got lots to do, like cleaning out the guest room, taking things to goodwill and arranging everything. Pretty much Spring Cleaning.

Next month my MIL is coming. Even though we had to pay for her flight, and I have not been very happy about it, I am glad P gets to see his Mom. He hasn't seen her since Decemer 2011, and I'm sure he is glad to pay for it. While I am upset about paying for things for her, I am trying to get over it and realize that this is just our life with her. She can't afford to really do much and she's just that type of a person, and I am going to have to get used to it. The last few times she's visited us she wasn't very nice to me, and even if I had just given birth to her first Grandchild she still ignored me and put me and my feelings on the back burner. I've told P that I have no hopes and wishes that she'll be nice to me, but that I dont want to keep flying her to see us when she's just uncomfortable with me, and since most of the time she's at our house she is with me. But this will be during P's 4 day weekend so hopefully it will go good.

My mouth is still in a ton of pain, and I'm going to the oral suregon to get checked out. I'm worried about dry sockets and can barelly open my mouth.

I have been enjoying the down time, but really hate that I'm not so up and going in the mornings with Evelyn since I am icing and heating and taking meds and then by afternoon I'm pretty ok. But taking her to the parks or letting her run around is not high on my agenda since I have been feeling pretty "high" on my meds, and while I wish I had a backyard witha fence to just let her run around and play I don't. I'm glad Evelyn is so forgiving and is really ok with just coloring, playing with Play Doh, playing with toys, reading books and watching movies with me. Its nice to take it easy. While my mouth hasn't put the rest of my body out of commision it sure does feel like it. This pain is no freaking joke! I'm glad I can still stimulate her without needing to take her somewhere right now. Hopefully by next week I'll be up to it and we can go to the really cool park with the lake :)

Has anyone else been freaking about Easter? I think since Christmas, I've been taking holidays way more seriously. P thinks I am a weirdo cause I dont just buy the pre-made Easter baskets, I never had one when I was a kid, so I am perfectly fine getting Evelyn her own personalized basket. I've already got her a few things, and I'm almost done! But I cannot wait to do Easter eggs with her and a little Easter egg hunt! Its going to be fun!!

ThredUp

Hello Everyone! Since this weekend I spent mostly in bed, I had lots of time to window shop all over online! Right now P and I have been searching for swimsuits for Evelyn without paying a bunch of money for a suit tha will only fit her for a few months.

I had heard for the site ThredUp before through a cousin, and I thought that was a little risky. Ordering used clothing online? But no really its fantastic!

I got online a few weeks ago and was searching for her suit, so I checked out ThredUp to see what they had, and found 3 suits! All under $5! Couln't hurt right? So I ordered them, along with some bigger sized clothes for the summer.

I got the clothes super fast, and they are in FANTASTIC condition! No rips, stains, or weird oders. I was thrilled! They looked brand new!

We got one suit we didnt like, but we got a bag to send in some of Evelyn's old clothes to ThredUp to make some money that we'll just be sending back, but we are thrilled with how cheap and in what great conditions these clothes were in that we ordered more suits and clothes for her.

I thought I would just personally share my experience with this company! and if you'd like to order from them you can click on the link below and get $10 off your first order! and I get $10 so it works out for us both!

CLICK HERE!! http://www.thredup.com/r/SXAMMH

**I was not paid to write this post. Just wanted to share my wonderful experience with this company**

**These are the 3 orders I've done with ThredUp so far.**

March? July? Next year?

I've talked a few times about P re-enlisting this upcoming year. His window is open and he has been just waiting for the 1st SGT...or someone, to transfer out the unit so he can re-enlist and get orders to somewhere else. This person is leaving the unit this month so P said he was going to try this month, even though he is obligated to this unit until July 20th of this year. Then last night, P says what if I wait until next year?....WHAT?!

Seriously you guys. I dont know how many times I can say "P hates it here and can't wait to leave" and then for him to say "What if we wait until next year"...just seriously babe. No.

I feel like I should almost take control of this situation. I wasn't planning on him doing anything until July, just incase someone decided to cancel his orders or whatever...I don't know the whole deal. But then he tells me March...ok then March, whatever...Next year? umm no.

I dont feel like listening to him whine for another year about how bad it sucks here.

Ugh men. He needs to just make up his mind.

But good news for us though, is P got permission to wear his old unit's crest on his Dress Blues, from Fort Riley, which means wecan have the chance to go back to Fort Riley, which we wouldn't really mind. Or go to Hawaii! Bonus on both parts but I think we like the chances that we could possibly go to Hawaii one day :) All part of the adventure!

Wisdom Teeth.

**Thanks for all the wonderful comments you gave me on my last post! You guys are seriously the best readers!!**

Well my plan today was to write a post...but I didnt..until now.

I was supposta get my wisdom teeth out next Friday...but if your not following me on twitter, instagram or a friend of mine on FB, you'd know I got them out TODAY!

I wasn't too nervous until I got into the back room with the evil chair and the assistances started hooking me up to things. I finally just started feeling like I needed to get out of that chair, and I even told one of the DA's that I needed to get out of the chair and didnt want to do this. They had the heart monitor hooked up to me and they could tell I was stressing out, so I asked them to go get P for me. They were happy to do so, and when P and Ev got in the room I was immediatly calm! Made life much better for me, and then the DA's and Dentist were super nice in calming me down after they left by talking about how cute Evelyn was. Next thing I knew after they made a vein colapse and hooked my IV up and started the medicine I noticed the vent above my head moving and being told that it was "normal" for the vent to move....I woke up walking out the door and asking where my teeth were. Thats about all I remember until I got home. At some point we were at a pharmacy, the gas station getting Gatorade and then I was in my kitchen taking my percecet. Oh and I had sent out texts and Instagramed a photo of me... this one.

Thanks for not making fun of me. I know it looks like I have a giant tampon in my mouth.

I'm glad I did it, and it wasnt as bad as I thought it was going to be. But oh man I'm glad they let P and Ev come see me, because I was so close to jumping out of that chair and saying "EFF THIS!!"

Now I am in my bed taking it easy. Trying to remember I dont get breaks like these very often and after all my anxiety this is a good break. I'm glad I have such a supportive husband who's just completly taken my role and let me relax. He's gone above and beyond what he could be doing, like offering to get me KFC mashed potatoes finding me some soft chocolate so I can have a little treat, and really he's just been amazing.

I should be feeling better in a few days, and I plan on reading, watching my TiVO, blogging and maybe throw in a bubble bath. Its a crappy way to have a break, but its a break. Even if I seriously miss Evelyn like crazy, she just is too rough with my face when she wants kisses, I still make sure to pop out of the room and see her and see what her and P are doing. Hopefully I can come up with some good ideas for blogs :)

Have a happy weekend everyone!!