7 Whole Months!

Thats how old Allison is! I can't believe she's that old (and that I forgot to blog about it on her birthday). Here are seven cute things my baby girl loves to do!

1. Play "Where's Allison/Mommy/Daddy?"
2. Turn pages in books
3. Roll across the floor as far as she can go
4. Talk!
5. Be outside
6. Eat!
7. Drop things and wait for mommy & daddy to pick up, then repeat.

Happy month-day, munchkin! Mommy and daddy love you so much!

Baby Photo Contest

I entered Allison in the cute baby photo contest at the Orem Walmart last week. Contest goes through March 1st... so if you run by there, vote for her! Its this photo... isn't she too cute? =)

Flinging

Brian and I have spent our evenings this week "flinging." Or, at least, thats what my mom told me we were doing. It all started in our spare bedroom/Brian's guitar room/Rosie's craft & sewing room. It has never really been organized and I think I finally got fed up. I started flinging... that is, I grabbed a grocery sack and started filling it with things that I decided I did not need or want. Then I did the same in the bathroom (come on ladies, we've all got entirely too many lotions and creams and yummy smelling stuff hidden away in our cupboards). Then the desk... then my closet... the the book cases... I couldn't stop!

It was amazing! I posted all the stuff I no longer wished for my house on Freecycle (its a give and take Yahoo! group) and today, officially 4 minutes ago, it is ALL gone! I'm so excited! For the first time I feel like my house is really getting clean (well, its been clean... my mom did a great job making sure of that when she was here when Allison was born, but this time I did it) and decluttered and organized! Yeah!!!

Next step: IKEA for organizational tools. I've got my eye on a few of these beauties!

Get-together with friends

Yesterday was a fun day. I was able to get together with 4 of my former roommates. I lived with these girls before I went to Nauvoo five years ago (was it really that long ago?). We got together, had lunch, brought the kids. It was so fun to see everyone and to catch up. Sarah, Jamie, Kyle and Julia... I'm sure glad I got the chance to move in with you 6 years ago and sure glad we got to catch up and talk yesterday! =)

From left to right: Sarah & Cole, me and Allison, Julia, Jamie and her daughter Ellie, then Kyle, holding Jamie's second daughter, Meg.

A Nightly Ritual

Part of Allison's bedtime routine is that Daddy changes her last diaper and puts her in her PJs. However, between the undressing and the redressing, this happens. =)

I love my husband!

Neither Brian nor I believe that Valentine's Day should be expensive... I think that so much it means a lot more it is thoughtful (not that jewelry can't be thoughtful!). Brian was very thoughtful this year. Brian is a musician... he plays guitar and writes a lot of his own music. The song in the video is one he wrote in the last few years (I'm not exacly sure when). I loved it, and I wanted to share.

I LOVE my post-baby body!

Today, six months after my little angel was born, I feel better than I have in years! I absolutely LOVE my post-baby body. I recently went on South Beach Diet. Since I'm still nursing I didn't stay on the super-strict part of very long, but about a week of it did break me of my incredibly strong sweet tooth. I've now cut almost all sugar out of my diet and, in the process, lost 8 pounds. I am back to my wedding weight and only 5 pounds from my high school weight... I've I've been trying to take off those extra 15 pounds (I lost 4 from my pre-pregnancy weight in the first month of Allison's life) for 3 years! I feel great! Yesterday I realized how good I was doing with this new change... I tried on my pair of size 8 Gap jeans, which I haven't worn in nearly 2 and a half years... and they fit! Not only did they fit, but they're COMFORTABLE and they look pretty good! Check them out below!

6 Month Portraits

We had Allison's 6 month portraits taken this week... they turned out so well. My favorite one is of her in her blessing dress that my mom made her (yes, it still fits... better now than when she was a month old). Look how pretty! The photo here is not real high quality, but you get the idea. =)

Dinner with the Thornock's

My January meal plan goal went really well... we ate well most nights, I didn't have stress out about figuring out what to make for dinner and we stayed within our eat out budget. Now, granted we more than blew our grocery budget, but part of that is that we had to completely restock out pantry at the beginning of the month. We had NOTHING after Christmas. Anyway, since it went so well, its more of the same for February. Here's what we'll be eating. =)

1 - Leftovers
2 - Ginger Stir Fry
3 - BBQ Pork Ribs
4 - Mormon Mommy Casserole
5 - Wontons
6 - Haystacks
7 - Oven BBQ Chicken
8 - Pizza
9 - Taco Bean Soup & Quesodillas
10 - Chili
11 - Enchiladas
12 - Pork & Pineapple Veggies
13 - Parmesan Chicken
14 - Fondue (Valentines Fun!)
15 - Pizza
16 - Honey Lime Chicken Sandwiches
17 - Crock Pot Roast
18 - Tacos
19 - Chicken & Rice
20 - Lasagne
21 - Chicken Pockets
22 - Pizza
23 - Purgers and Fries
24 - Beef Stew
25 - Burritos
26 - Chicken Creole (my grandma's recipe)
27 - Eat out
28 - Lousiana Red Beans and Rice (Brian's choice)
29 - Pizza

Yum! Can't wait for some of these meals!