help please!

You guys!  I need help coming up with ideas for Berlyn's second birthday party!  I could pretend I'm one of those mommies on the internet who has everything together and knows EXACTLY what she wants to do for her daughter's birthday (which is a little over a month away), but I completely DON'T.

 

Part of me wants to just take her to Disneyland.  Watch her take everything in, and focus completely on her and her happiness.  Another part of me wants to go crazy like I did for her first birthday, and "Pinterest" everything for decorations, food, gifts, etc.  What have you girls done for your little ones' second birthdays? 

 

I know that she won't remember this birthday party, just like her first birthday, but I still want to take into consideration the things that she is interested in... you know, Raya (Cinderella), Belle, Aurora, Go Wipes (Snow White), and A-ee-ole (Ariel).  Is it worth it to spend the money and time on the second birthday party?  Should I just keep it small and intimate?  This mama needs HELP!

 

Xoxo!

 

 

making 2014 count!

Gosh, it sure has been a while since I've blogged!  Being a wife and full-time working mommy takes up most of my time, but it is important that I squeeze what few minutes I have left over each day into taking care of myself.

 

So, in 2014, I will do just that.  I will make this year count by spending more time working on myself.  So that I become a better Christian, a better wife, a better mom, a better ME.  I have always made new year's resolutions that I never stick to.  I'm always like, "I'm going to lose 30 pounds," or "I want to redecorate my entire house for the summer," when in reality, these things are not obtainable if you do not stick to them.  If I start a 'diet' and then fail at it, I write it off FOR THE YEAR.  That is just the way my mind thinks.  I have a really hard time with setting goals, failing at them, and then starting over.  I know, it's kind of weird. 

 

But, I digress.

 

I figure that setting an achievement for myself that I can work at over time and not stress about will make me a lot happier in the end.  This way, I'm not obsessed with a number the scale gives me, or how 'Pinterest' my house looks. 

 

Of course, I do not anticipate achieving this goal without the help of the Lord.  I want to become the wife and mother that He wants me to be!  I need to stop worrying less about what others think of me, and to start focusing more on my faith and what the bible teaches.  I believe that the only way for me to start taking care of myself is to rely on Him in every situation.  I feel like I often forget to do this throughout my busy workdays and jam packed weekends.  I need to just take time out of the day to acknowledge Him.  To pray.  To give thanks.

 

In the end, I feel like becoming a better Christian is the answer to everything.  I can become a more loving wife, a better example for my baby, and a more enjoyable person to be around (let's face it, we can all be a little cranky sometimes!).  If I set this goal for myself, with the Lord's help, I have no doubt in my mind that I can achieve it.

 

Here's to 2014! 

Gerber Photo Search 2013

 

 

Hi everyone!  I just wanted to put the word out there that I have entered Berlyn in the Gerber Photo Search!  Voting starts on November 4, and I just hope we get enough votes so we can win!

 

I really feel like Berlyn has all the qualities of a 'Gerber baby', and ever since she was born people always told me she looked like the Gerber baby.  I know there are thousands upon thousands of entries for this contest, but it would be cool to win!!!

 

Once voting opens, I will post another reminder so that all my friends can get their vote in, if they want to! :)

 

xoxoxo

 

 



Grad School

Ugh.  I am horrible at making decisions.  I am the most indecisive person I've ever known.  And that is most likely the reason I cannot decide if I want to go back to school for my Master's.

 

I went to different junior colleges, and then finally an online school to finish my Bachelor's degree.  It took me TEN years to finish all of that, but I did it.  And it felt amazing.  I was taking classes online when I was pregnant, and worked ahead in class so that I could take a week off when I was in the hospital after having Berlyn.  If that isn't dedication, I don't know what is.  Part of the reason why I decided to finish my degree online was because I just needed to get it done.  I was just ready to put my all into getting it finished and receiving those credentials. 

 

Now I am faced with another obstacle.  I cannot decide if I should go for my Master's or not.  Are any of you ladies full-time working mommies?  I ask this, because if I was a stay at home mom then I would definitely make this leap.  It's a little different when you have 40 less hours a week to devote to studying.  The absolute only option for me to go back for my degree is to do it online.  I refuse to take classes on campus and lose any more time with my family than is necessary.  The particular school that I am looking at is National University.  Have any of you heard of or attended this school?  The courses are 4 weeks long, and there aren't any breaks in between classes except for two weeks during the holidays at the end of the year.  I think I can do this, it's just that I am worried about the workload of a 4 week long course (it is a 12 month program).  They allow their students to take breaks of one month (in between each class, if I want), but that would just drag it out longer, and I really just want to finish it earlier than later. 

 

So, please, any and all advice is appreciated as I am trying to make this decision quickly (which, for me, is impossible!).  As soon as I am done (or almost done) with my Master's, I would like to expand our family again and move into a bigger house.

 

Help!

Potty Training!

 

 

I am really dreading potty training... anyone else?!  I would like to have Berlyn potty trained before she is two years old, but we will see!  I need to do it at a time when I can be available to her all day long.  The only time for us to try this is during the holidays this year.  I will be off work for two weeks on vacation and it will be perfect.  Not that I don't trust my husband to jump up every time she says "potty", but I would just like this one thing to be mine (maybe I'm a little jealous that he gets to spend so much daddy-daughter time with her while I'm at work... I digress ). 

 

Do any of you have any tips that would be helpful for potty training?  Pull-Ups?  What kind of "potty" seat do you use for your little one?  I bought Berlyn the type of toilet that sits on the ground that she can use, however, I read today that it might be better to use the one that actually sits on top of the toilet.  I have also heard from some of my mama friends that NOT using Pull-Ups is the way to go because that way they can learn quickly that it doesn't feel good to potty or poo in their pants.  Any suggestions at all would be helpful!!!

 

I know this was a random post, but, I truly am interested in what everyone's take on this is!  Not everyone shares the same opinion, and I'd like to see what all the different options for us are!  I hope everyone has a great Saturday night!



Pump the Breaks, B.

 

Okay, so my baby girl is officially, officially, a toddler.  Like y'all didn't know that I thought that, before, right? 

 

Berlyn now says the word "no" when she means it.  Would you like an example?  Okay... I say, "Berlyn, can I have a kiss?" and she answers, "No."  She doesn't say it in a mean way.  She just... says it.  And, in a way, it makes me sad!  She has learned how to express her opinion and I don't know if I'm ready for all of that.  Of course, it does come with it's advantages.  For example, if I ask her if she wants something to eat/drink, and she says no, it makes things easy.  Gone are the days when she would just give me a blank stare and I would have to guess for her.

 

She is also in a major HELPING stage.  Any time I clean or pick up any mess, she says "Helpee, helpee, helpee!"  This stems from the phrase that I use whenever she is helping me, which is "Wow, you're helping me!"  Tonight she wanted to help me with the paper towel I used to clean up a milk spill.  She spot cleaned some of the hardwood floor and then stuffed the paper towel into an empty cup she grabbed from the sink.  If that's not  considered 'helping' then I don't know what is.  She is such a big girl, and SO smart.  I don't know any other way to describe her. 

 

She also knows the letter B.  Not because it's the first letter of her first... or last name, but because when I made the wreath for our front door, she was watching me and I told her I was gluing the letter 'B' onto the wreath.  From then on, she would say the letter 'B' when she saw the wreath, but tonight she said the letter when she looked at one of her toys that had a B on it.  She pointed to the letter and said it.  My big girl - be still me heart. 

 

I know this post wasn't long, although it was long overdue, but our fun girl's day out today prompted me to write this post so I could remember this fun stage she's in.  These pics were taken from today.  We were watching the butterflies land on flowers.

 

 

 

 

I hope everyone's Saturday night is restful and full of happiness!

Baitx Family Photos!

 

 

I want to start out by saying that Jacob and Jessica at Jacob Mariano Photography have true talent.  They have made our engagement, pregnancy, wedding, and family moments SO memorable by capturing the most enjoyable pictures.  They used to be based out of California, but they now live in Washington.  We were so blessed to have met them when they were here and have them follow us through our little journey!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope everyone is having a great Sunday evening!  It's off to Disneyland for us tomorrow!  Hot diggity dog!