its been a long long time

hello friends!

I know its been a while since I've posted.. a long while.  well to catch you up a brief summary:

we surprised my mother-in-law for Christmas by visiting.... our son turned 1.. its a new year.. and we both are doing very well in school.

ok.. i know there wasn't much detail.. but i don't feel like typing all that much.  I am trying to find my hobby.. and i think it might be sewing random thing; but I'm still working on it.
Out son started day care this semester.. and the first thing that happened there was he got sick.. so now we are taking care of an ear infection, after a week of congestion for the whole family.  He is sill feeling out everyone at daycare.. he's not quite sure what he should be doing there.. he just observes everyone.  I'm hoping after a while he will warm up and play with the other kids, but it might take longer since he only goes there part-time.

Geoff and I are still in school, Geoff actually made Deans List !!!!!!!  which is exciting.  We have 2 classes together; which is pretty cool.. we are definitely some of the older people in our classes.. which sometimes makes me want to pull my hair out.. some of the people in our class make me wonder what has happened to the school systems.. and some are just amazing.  I actually like my classes and most of the people in them.. I guess I'm just a little harsh on people and expect more from them.

So I'm starting a nutrition program courtesy of my friend Chris.  I'm starting Herbalife.. now i don't have a link for him yet but... you can just go to www.herbalife.com for more info on the program.  I'm going to try it for 30 days at first to see how i feel about it.  after 30 days i will post about my progress and if i plan to extend my use of it.  I will also give updates.. maybe weekly but that's still to be determined.

well that's all for today.. i will leave you with some pictures of my family.

Updates soon!

please stay tuned for lots of blog updates soon...
life has been really really busy, with work, and school, and home stuff.

im hoping to begin blogging more by next week. lets see how it goes.


oh heres some cute pics of my pride and joy.

Oh and my husband.lol

We'll until next time,  night!

weekend

ok,
so trying to post everyday.. just isn't happening.. so im going to try for every other day.. and once on weekends.. so m,w and sunday?

that might work out more.

this weekend wasn't too eventful.. we were supposed to have lunch with some  friends sunday.. but they ended up getting sick.

I made some glass cookies.. those cookies that have jelly in the center.. I got the recipe from http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Jelly-Cookies/Detail.aspx

I've made them before.. these ones were not as soft as last time because I got distracted with the baby and baked them a little too long.. but they were still pretty amazing..

so now I get to eat these cookies.. with my friend Sara.. since our lunch plans fell through.

my sister-in-law is staying with us for a couple days.. so she can spend time with the baby.. she hasn't gotten to see him too much.. she was awake long enough to eat dinner and change a diaper.. then she fell asleep.lol.

tomorrow we are planning to go out somewhere as a family.. I'm not sure where yet.. but we are gonna try to get out of the house for a couple hours.

We have been watching the show "the bible" although its not completely accurate.. its still a good show.. I enjoy watching it.

I am growing a celery plant with some old celery that went limp.. and I'm gonna try growing the avocado fro the pit as well.. wish me luck..

well I'm going to go for now.. the baby is fighting sleep..  good night everyone!

check up

So today was my sons 2 month checkup.. he recieved 3 shots and 1 oral medicine. he only cried for about 5 mins.. my poor boy :(
on a better note... he was 24 in. and 12lbs. 6.5oz  (not sure on ounces abbr).. he's in the 97% for height and weight.

so i didn't get to post yesterday.. i just didn't have the time.. baby was very fussy last night.
but I'm posting today.

hmmm.. sooooooo.... what should i post?

yesterday i did a ton of laundry... like now i do laundry every other day.. instead of just once a week.. and today i got a couple items at the grocery store with my WIC coupons..

at first i was a little ashamed to go on WIC.. but i quickly got over that.. i paid my due.. and went places and did jobs that others would not want to do.. so why not use what the government is offering?

I've been looking up new recipes as well.. i made an oatcake last night.. but instead of just having oats in it.. i added natural peanut butter and chocolate chips.. i know now its not healthy.. but it is better than stuffing my face with ice cream and chips every time i have a sweet tooth.

i am gonna work on a weekly meal plan this weekend.. and hopefully we can stick to it.. and I'm trying to go to sleep earlier.. the only problem with getting up earlier.. is no one is up with me.
but i suppose it will give me more time to read and work on crocheting.. I'm trying to make a scarf.. i know its a little late in the season.. but at the pace I'm taking.. it wont be done til next fall lol.

i tried just learning a few stitches.. but that was taking too long.. so i just dove right into an easy scarf pattern.. and my sister sent me a link to free patterns as well..

I'm also planning on making some candles for my sisters craft fair in April.. that will happen next week.. after i get the containers to put the candles in .. oh! if you haven't seen her blog/shop yet.. check it out.. my sister sells her crochet and other homemade goods in her etsy shop.

my sisters etsy shop!

my sisters blog

please stop by her sites and check it out.

well i've come up with nothing else to say.. so i guess i will just post again later.. if i can think of anything.. and you have a great night!

working on it

hi again!

so i'm working on writing in my blog everyday until it is so routine that I can cut it down every other day.  so far I have done it 2 days in a row.. yay me!.

well today I was looking up some healthy recipes and gardening ideas.. my friend and I are going to make a garden in  the back yard.. we haven't come to an agreement as to how the garden will be set up but we have begun to come up with a list of what we want to plant.  we want a flower garden and a vegetable garden..
here is a list of veggies so far:

potatoes (of course)
green beans
tomatoes
peppers
onions
broccoli
caulifour
carrots(the multicolor kind)
lettuce(fancy kind)
cabbage
corn
garlic
peas
sweet potatoes

and we want to plan fruit:
strawberries
blackberries
peaches
figs

herbs:
chamomile
Rosemary
basil
mint
cilantro
lavender

and flowers.. now I know this is a huge list.. but we are gonna start off with a little from each category.. and grow from their. 
we haven't decided on flowers yet.. but we are working on it.

we just have to figure out how we want to design the garden..

I'm hoping we can start next month.. fingers crossed.

well that's all for now.. check in for more tomorrow

bye!

Its been a while

Well ive been away for a while.. and my little boy is the reason why.  Im still getting used to the whole mom thing and trying to find a healthy routine. On the seventh my little boy will be 2 months old.

I've been trying to learn how to crochet.   Purchased a book with some patterns and lessons in it. So far I can make a keychain lol.
I am also trying to eat more healthy. I Will start going to the gym next month since the baby will be old enough for the daycare at the gym.
Im gonna start out with walking and maybe light weights . 

My little man is getting to big I can't believe how big he is getting..   im predicting he will 12 pounds at his 2 month checkup. My mom recently came to visit and spend time with her first grandson. We didnt do much.. but we did get to go to the aquarium which amazing.. (more pics later)
I really loved having her here and cant wait to see her again.

Well thats it for now.. I will be posting again tomorrow.

ive

lots have been happening!

im well aware that I haven't posted in about 3 months..
well a lot has happened..

but i'm only gonna focus on the most recent.
on jan 7th we welcomed our son into the world! after waiting 10 hours for him to make an appearance.. we decided to have a C-section and make him come out.. we discovered that he hadn't even moved into the pelvic area.. he was jut hanging out in there.

he weighed 8lbs 6.5oz  and was 21 in. long.  I couldn't be happier.. he is so quiet and adorable.. he has his moments when he looks like either his father or me.. he hardly cries as well. and he is a mommas boy..

so my days have been filled with taking care of him... I still go a little stir-crazy being in the house all the time.. but the weather is getting better

its been a while

wow I know its been a long time since I posted .

well thanksgiving was amazing.. we traveled to MD to see my family and have our baby shower.
we even managed to get a new tv on black "Thursday" Geoff was very happy with it... and since it was cheap I gave in and let him get it.

he surprised me by giving me my birthday present early.. a new computer!
its really nice.. and I would tell you the specs.. but I don't really know how to explain them..lets just say its really fast.. and kinda like a gaming computer.. the only thing its missing is a blueray player..
but that ok..i don't need one on the computer.

its even able to pick up the wifi in the house.. and that's a feat, since our house is like 100 yrs old..and a signal killer for all electronics.

I was able to spend time with my two adorable nieces.. and Geoff got to really play and spend time with them. I got to spend time with my brothers and sisters as well which I haven't done in a very long time.  I cant wait to see them again... they are coming down to visit next year after the baby is born.

well that's all I can remember right now.. I will try to post again soon!

Giving this a try

So I saw an acne treatment at tatget..it says ir compares to proactive teeatment.
I figured I would give it a try.. it was inly $15 and since proactive is expensive.. why not try a cheaper alternative.. so I bought it this past weekend.. and I figure I will give it a month to see if it works..
I will post an update about it in about a week.
So far   I have not gotten any new acne.. but that doesnt mean too much to me

where i've been

so i know its been a while since my last post.. I've been kinda busy/lazy

i know the two contradict each other.. but there is a reason for the way i worded it.

busy with:
making candles
applying to jobs
cleaning around the house
doing laundry

lazy with: just about everything else

i just had no motivation to sit down and type out what I've been doing.

well i am officially at my 30 week mark in my pregnancy.. so 10 more weeks to go!!!
I'm feeling fine.. don't have too much to complain about.

on Monday i will finish pre-registering for the hospital..
and the month of November is dedicated to preparing the "go" bags for the hospital.
and my baby shower on the 24th!
Also.. my amazing mother gave us our baby gift early... its a crib and dresser combo.. it was only $200 but it came with a convertible crib plus a dresser with a built-in changing table.
so it ended up being a really great deal.. and will help us save space for when the baby comes.

this is what it looks like.. minus the accessories.

i think its awesome.. and will be easy to match to our furniture we already have.

I also was able to finish the candles for my baby shower.. i might have to re-melt a couple to fix the leaning wicks.. but it shouldn't be too bad... and is actually easier than making them all over again.

for my next project i will attempt to finish at least a couple pillow.. so that i can clear out some closet space.

i should have some free time coming up very soon.. and it will help occupy my time.. i just hate sitting around and doing nothing.. or at least feeling like I'm doing nothing.

My husband is starting to send out his resume in hopes of finding a job that pays pretty well.. he still has his dream job that he wants.. i even support him in doing that after a day job.. if that's how he wants to do it.. he just has to be able to provide for the family as well.. 

now don't get me wrong.. I'm putting my resume out there as well.. and i will work as much as i can.. but after the baby comes i will be severely limited on what i can do as far as work.. and i would rather not leave the baby with a sitter.. since i will be breastfeeding hopefully for a year.. 

He also is looking at starting school in the spring.. which if he does; will be paid for my the military.. and will bring in a steady income.. since they pay for your housing while your attending full-time..

so either way is fine with me as long as our family doesn't suffer.

well.. i think this might be one of my longer posts... I'm not sure what else i wanted to say (pr ego- brain)

if i think of anything else.. I'll try to write it down..

I've found that lately if i don't writ it as soon as i think it.. i will never remember.

thanks again for reading!

just a little update

thanks for reading again!

just putting up a short update..

i went to the movies and saw Alex Cross..

it was OK.. but i think Tyler perry may not have been the right choice for it.. he did a great job.. but the movie didn't have the suspenseful feel to it like you would find in Along came a spider.. and kiss the girls..

James Patterson is an amazing writer.. and maybe I'm just partial to Morgan freeman being in the movies..

the acting was great.. but i still think it was lacking the same quality that you would expect from something based on a James Patterson book.

on another note.

i am getting my block of wax cut up today (thanks to our handyman)

and will begin making the candles i talked about in earlier posts.. i figured cutting it up would be easier than trying to melt the whole thing.. and then portion it out into smaller batches.. since I'm making 3 different colors.

i will try to make a couple candles a night.. until I'm finished with them. the hard part will  be making the brown candles.. I'm using crayons to color the candles.. and of course.. there are plenty shades of the other colors.. but when it comes to brown.. it has the least amount of shades..

well I'm off for now.. i will post again soon!

have a great day!

hello again!

thanks again for checking my blog..

i am aiming to update at least once a week. that seems to be all i can remember to do at the moment.

well lets see.. what have i done since my last post?

i saw Taken 2 and Argo. both are amazing movies.. taken 2 is pretty much what i expected it would be.. but still bad ass.

Argo was alot funnier than i thought.. i was going in thinking it was going to be a sad/serious movie.. but ended up watching a funny/serious movie!

i would suggest seeing these if you have not already.

tomorrow i have my glucose test to scan for gestational diabetes.. its a routine test.. and not too serious.. and in the event that i do have it.. it will go away after the baby is born...

oh and my little baby is growing fast.. he is already 2.5 pounds.. which puts him in the 67 percentile for weight... hopefully he slows down a little.. i really don't want to push out a 11 pound baby..

my sister opened her etsy store this past week

http://www.etsy.com/shop/handmadengoods

check it out.. it doesn't have too much in it right now.. but it will soon have many hand made items for purchase.. she is working so hard on it.. please show your support.

tonight we are going to the fair.. now i cant really ride anything.. maybe the Ferris wheel.. but i sure can eat lots of fair food.. my hubby is already planning on stuffing me with lots of food.. so i don't feel left out.. which is fine with me.. normally i can only ride a couple rides before i get nauseous  anyways.

its been a while since we've been to a real fair.. being in another country the last couple years.. you don't really get the food your used too.. now don't get me wrong.. German fair food is amazing as well; just different than American.

well I'm off to do a little studying.. and run and grab a quick meal from subway.. just 2 doors down from work..

i will try to post again today.. but i cant make any promises.

see ya!

just another day

well its been a couple days since i've posted.

not much has gone on.. just working and hanging out.
i started working on putting some pillows together to sew.. so as soon as i finish that i can post some pictures.. then after i'm done making them i can start on making candles.

i went to the doctor the other day and have some new ultrasound pics... even some 3D ones.
our little boy has chubby cheeks.. and you can even see his hair in one of them.

he is already 2 pound 6 ounces... and will grow alot faster now that im in the last couple months.

i know there isnt much in this post.. but i'm gonna try to write more next time.


thanks,
ashley

yesterday

so i might not post everyday .. but i will certainly try to post something every couple days.

while i was writing my other post a friend stopped by my shop.
it felt so good to see a familiar face and chat with someone i had a history with

i actually went to training with him for the army.. and had not seen him for about 2 yrs.
he is stationed in the area... and i had sent him an invite to my shops facebook page. upon seeing that we were in town he decided to stop by.

it was so nice catching up with him...and knowing that there is one more person i know in this town..

being that i grew up in PA .. living in Ga is kinda hard since i dont have many friends.. i guess you can count coworkers..but thats not really the same thing.

the most people i interact with are from work or friends of my husbands.

and making friends can be hard as well.. i'm too old to try to inpress anyone and i dont feel i should waste my time trying.

i can be harsh.. some might even say an asshole but thats just how i am.. i dont like lying.. and i dont like being fake.. so when you are a friend of mine.. you usually know how i feel about something.. and can take what i say as the truth.

it makes some people mad.. but the truth hurts sometimes.

thats why i cherish the friendships i do have.. they may be scattered around the world.. but i treasure them all the same


well on another note.. i have lots of gallon jugs that are empty and im on a quest today to figure out a way to reuse them.. im trying to be more "green" i guess is the term.. i want to reuse alot of things instead of just throwing them away.. that way i dont waste money on buying something i already had.

well thats all for now.. i will try to post later today when i have more to say.

thanks for reading.. you guys are great. and feel free to post ideas you might have or opinions..
i wont argue with you.. everyone is entitled to their own opinion.. but i will let you know if i agree or not.

until next time,

ashley

a little about myself

hello blogger world!

my name is ashley and im a soon to be mother and a happy wife.

this blog is pretty much where i'm going to post how life is, ideas i might have, and just everyday events in my life.

ok.. heres a little background on me:
i'm the 3rd child of 7
i spent 3 yrs in the army
i work at a tobacco/cigar store

my husband and i both work for the same person.. a family friend who owns a couple retail stores.
my hubby is and manager of all the stores.. and i just kinda work/run one of them.. i dont have much authority.. but i do get to give my ideas.. and for the most part.. they are never turned down.

we are trying to prepare for the arrival of our little one in january.. but first .. we need to find a bigger place.. right now we are in a 1br studio kinda place.. and we need to be in at least a 2 bedroom place..

of course we are thinking a little further.. and looking for a place with 3-4 br.. that way we can rent some rooms out if need be or sell/rent later down the line.

we have a list of places and will be driving around looking at the neighborhoods hopefully tomorrow.
and we are praying to find a place we can move in by mid nov.. i know real short on time.

i think we can do it though..

on another note.. my shower is next month.. i know a couple details about it and i thank my sister and sister-in-law for planning it.. they are so good to me..

i am making some small candles to give out as favors.. i know i'm not supposed to do anything just be pampered but... i hate not helping.. so i insisted on making something..

i have everything i need to make the candles i just need to break the wax down in smaller pieces so i can melt it..

thats where the fun begins.. i'm going to freeze the wax for a day or so.. then put it in a garbage and take out all the tension in my body by attacking it with a hammer.

now i could use a saw... which could still happen.. but that depends on how the hammer goes..

there will be 3 different scents of candles.. and a couple different colors... the colors won't really match the scents.. but i dont care.

i'm also working on making some pillows.. so far i have the fabric.. and some letters to sew.. i just need to take the time to actually put them together.. as soon as i do.. it will free up some space in our closet.
the colors will be red/gold  they will match the curtains that we have in our room now.. and when we move.. i will just have to make them match something..
or i could make a little reading corner for myself and use them to cushion the floor.

well i think i've talked enough for one session..
thank you for reading.. and  i hope you'll tune in for future posts