My Adventures in Love, Life and Motherhood

A New Year

2011-01-02T09:50:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great New Year's celebration. I had to work until 10:30 then, just came home and we watched the ball drop on TV and then hit the sack! And, to top it off, I'm spending my first weekend of the year hanging with Kadyn, getting some Kadyn/Mommy time! Brian was starting to show the stress from being home with Kadyn so, I sent him to his brother's house for the weekend! Told him he'd better come home with an improved attitude or I was going to kick his butt!! LOL

I have yet to set a New Year's resolution for myself, seems they always fizzle out anyhow. But, I am going to try to scrap/craft more, and get into shape. Brian's also working on the getting into shape thing and I hope it leads to quitting smoking.

He did go back to school at the beginning of December. That was my one stipulation for him getting to stay home when he got laid off in Oct. So, M-F, he and Kadyn both go to school. Kadyn is actually in the day care in the next classroom over but, as far as he's concerned, it's school and he loves it!

Ok, back to hanging with him, we're gonna watch football and run out to the store!

Happy Mother's Day!! :)

2010-05-09T12:33:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to say Happy Mother's Day!! We've just had a nice, relaxing weekend. My mom came yesterday morning and picked up Kadyn. They went yesterday to the California Train Museum to ride the train. I guess it turned out to be National Train Day so, that was a lucky coincidence! Then he spent the night there last night and they brought him home just a bit ago! It was nice to get some alone time but, the house just seems so much fuller with him here!

In other (pretty) happy news, I got a call on Friday from AT&T! They want me to start on the 28th so, I went yesterday and took my drug test and sent the stuff in for my background check. It is a bittersweet thing for me. In order for us to get to a better place, financially, I need to be working. But, I don't want to leave Kadyn either... :( But, it will all work out and that's what is important!

Well, I am off to spend some time with my guys!! Hope all of you Mommies have a great Mother's Day!!

Sharing some creations!

2010-05-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

Hey there!! So, I just got onto a new CT, for Jill D-Zines. It's a hybrid spot so, I'm enjoying it! She creates cutter files so, I get to play with them on my Silhouette! I need to get ink for my printer and then I can print out papers and use the files!! But, here's what I've done so far. It's only been a week!

A treat bag and flowers, using her Bloomers! Digi-Cuts™

A paper layout, using her Curvy-Cuts Digi-Cuts™

I also host the monthly hybrid challenge at Plain Digital Wrapper. Since this month seems to be the true start of Spring here in Reno, and it's Mother's Day, I put together this bouquet for the challenge. Using 2 different flowers, I put them on cut up metal hangars and put them in my own popcorn box template.

I am currently out of ink so, I had to settle for a real paper version but, it all works the same!! If you would like to see how I did it, the challenge is HERE I picked up some other papers and plan on making 3 more of these, using only that second flower, this week, one for each Brain's and my mom, and one for a friend who just moved into her first apartment!

Am I crazy??

2010-04-20T21:21:00.000-07:00

So, I joined the Skinny Jeans Challenge with a great group of gals, I'm hoping that having to take pictures of my body every week and own up to what I have done kicks my butt into gear!! I have done really good the last few days, not snacking on anything but non fat yogurt and fresh veggies. I only had one can of soda today and 30 or so ounces of water. Not as much as I should be getting but, it's a step in the right direction, right?? My goal, which may be out of reach is to lose 40-50 pounds by the end of June. It works out to be a little under 5 pounds a week so, if I push, I can do it!
Kadyn and I went for a bit of a walk yesterday but, it got cut short because it started raining. We were going to walk the neighborhood where the streets go up and down but, we only managed a mile and a half, maybe two, half down and half up... Today, we didn't do as much since it was freezing and threatening to rain all day and had started to snow at one point. But, we did go over to the little park across the way and Kadyn climbed and played and we played chase for a bit. Then he passed out around 7:30, I went and took a bath and am now watching Glee! I LOVE this show!! LOL So, I am off to watch it and try to get to bed early so I can get up early tomorrow and go over to the gym and get in a workout before Brian has to go to sleep. Oh, have I mentioned how much I HATE him being on nights?? He goes back on days in June...

New look!

2010-04-07T20:14:00.000-07:00

I guess I can just never be satisfied with how my blog looks! LOL But, since Sweet Shoppe has a big sale going, I grabbed some blog wear. And, I am going to grab a few kits that I've been oohing and aahing over while they're cheap. :)

I am currently giving senior Kadyn his bath. In the last few weeks, he has decided that for whatever reason he has to have either Brian or I in the bathroom with him at all times while he is bathing. It doesn't matter if I'm reading or blogging, as long as he can see me! If I leave the room, even to grab a towel right outside the bathroom door,m he gets out and follows me!! LOL I figure he'll get over it soon enough and, it gives me a little extra reading time most nights! But, I'm going to have to make a trip back to the library, I'm running out of reading material! LOL In the last 3 weeks, I have read 5.5 Scott Westerfeld books. I'm almost done with the 6th one and then I need more books! LOL

In other news, I have a telephone interview with AT&T in the morning! It's for a telephone support for DSL self installation position. My brother's been doing it for a few months, my sister in law started training for it a couple weeks ago and a friend starts training in a week and a half. My parents have both been with the company for over 30 years so, It's certainly a family business!! LOL So, fingers crossed! Plus, it'll help us at home, and the benefits are better and cheaper than Brian's! The only downside is that Kadyn will be in daycare. Which is going to be a pain on so many levels. First, we have to find a daycare that is open late. My shifts can range anywhere from 5 am to midnight. Right now, Brian's on nights so, he can't watch him. He'll go to days in June so, it'll all change then. But, we will deal with it as it happens. :) At least the first month or so will be 8-4:30 so, that'll be nice. I just hate that neither Brian or I will be home to get Kadyn in to bed. But, it is what it is.

Now, I am off to do some scrapping. Which reminds me, I have a couple layouts to share!!

Created with the So Inspired Mega from Inspiration Lane:
Created with Lucky # 17 from Starving Artist Designs:
Created with It's Easter for Peep's Sake by Starving Artist Designs.

Creating...

2010-03-25T15:59:00.000-07:00

This weekend, we have a friend's baby shower and our niece's first birthday party to go to and, my mom's birthday is next week so, I used my silhouette, papery from the Quite Contrary line from My Mind's Eye and some cardstock, some from Bazzill. So, here are the cards, the one with the cake is for our niece.

Things are looking up!! :)

2010-03-08T20:24:00.000-08:00

We have been talking about me going back to work for quite a while now but, nothing has come of it. With Brian working 12 hour rotating shifts, we don;t have the child care thing covered. Which put a part time job pretty much out of the question. I applied for a job with AT&T about a month ago and got an email this evening to come in for testing!! I go on April 1st. I'm not exactly looking forward to going back to work full time but, it's what we need to do for our future. That's the important thing right now. We were hoping to go for number 2 but, that may have to be put on hold for a little while longer. Good news is, it's a union job so,if and when I do get pregnant again, the spot will be held. My brother started with them a couple months ago and had a gal coming back from maternity leave. So, I know the possibility is there.

If I get the job, we'll just have to get through the first couple weeks and then can get Kadyn into daycare. Luckily, he's almost old enough for preschool so, who knows!

I'm ready to celebrate!

2010-02-15T14:06:00.000-08:00

Well, we got Kadyn a plain old wood toddler bed yesterday. Came home and set it up after dinner. We put his Cars bedding on it and an hour or so later, I notice he's missing. We look and he put himself in his bed! Now, granted, his bed is our room but, if he's out of our bed, I'll take that for now!! He whined a little when he realized that he was staying in his bed but, once he fell asleep, he slept until 7:15 this morning!! And, he had no juice or water the whole time! He woke up at 7:15 and came and asked to lay with us. So, he laid down, went back to sleep and I got up for the day.

Tonight, Brian starts working nights for 4 months. He'll go in at 7pm and get off at 7am. It sucks but, he does get a shift differential for the night so, yeah. It's going to take a little while for Kadyn to get used to Brian being home but sleeping. He asks every morning to wake Daddy up so , it's going to be hard for a bit. We can't close the bedroom door because the cat box in in our bathroom and Brian doesn't want them locked in with him. So, yeah...

Anyhow, I had to share the news of our night last night and now am off for a coffee date with a friend! I'm going to post a few digi scrap layouts here in the next day or two as well!

Blog Makeover!

2010-02-13T23:09:00.000-08:00

I have been itching and itching to make over my blog and I finally did it!! How cute is all this stuff?? I used the new Collab from Sunshine Studio Scraps. I think I'm in love. But, don't be surprised if it changes in a few weeks!! LOL I am going to start making myself layouts so that they're all ready to go.

We got our tax return on Wednesday! Thursday we went and did some of the shopping we've been talking about. I got a new laptop, and we got a new TV and stand for it. We've finally entered the digital age!! LOL We've been using Brian's 15 year old TV up until now. We may put it in our bedroom but, we're not sure yet.

We moved Kadyn's bed into his room a couple weeks ago and it did not go well! He was waking up 5 or 6 times a night, asking to watch TV or get into our bed. Then, Kadyn and I went with my mom and sister in law to Southern California for my cousin's baby shower and Kadyn and I had to share a bed so, he got used to that again. We did pick up a Cars bed set for him but, it doesn't go real well with his Elmo room! LOL So, tomorrow, we are going to go hunting and see if we can find a second hand toddler bed for him. We want something plain so that when he's over Cars, we can just change out his bedding. Then, we'll put the whole Elmo set on Ebay or Craigslist.

Well, the boys are sleeping on the couch and I am going to go sit down and watch more of the Olympics!

Progress and some Deliciousness!!

2010-01-20T23:45:00.000-08:00

Well, to start, let me tell you about our SUPER yummy dinner! And, it was super easy! :) We had Chicken Taco soup.
It's a Crock Pot one so, that right there spells easy to me!! And, it's snowing out so, soup was perfect! :) Wanna make it?? Here's the recipe!! :)
1 can tomatoes, with or without peppers
1 can pinto beans
1 can black beans
1 can chicken broth
1 packet taco seasoning
1 small onion, chopped
1 can of corn
2-3 chicken breasts

Mix the first 7 ingredients on the crock opt, then add chicken on top. Cover and cook for 4 hours. Remove the chicken and shred, cook another 2 hours. Serve topped with cheese, sour cream and crushed tortilla chips.

Now, for some family related progress! We made the mistake of letting Kadyn sleep with us from day one and have been trying to work with him on getting into his own bed. So, a few months ago, we moved his bed into our room and tried getting him to sleep in it, with little luck. A coupe weeks ago, I was out, and the guys were home. Brian called to tell me that Kadyn was asleep in his own bed, entirely of his own accord! So, we're back on the quest! Every time we go into Toys R Us, he ooohs and aaaahhs over the Cars bed they have. Granted, he loved his Elmo one when we got it but, that's beyond my point! So, we have told him that if he starts sleeping in his own bed, we will get him the Cars one. And, he's allowed to have a drink at night, as long as he's in his bed. We let him climb in with us at 5 or 6 in the morning but, otherwise refuse. Once he's sleeping in his bed, we'll move it back into his room. And, once the tax return comes, we'll get the Cars set and Craigslist his Elmo set. Each night we remind him that if he wants his Cars bed, he has to show us he can sleep in his Elmo bed. So, fingers crossed, this works for us! It's nice to have our bed back! Brian hogs it now but, I can kick him!! LOL

Wll, I guess I should go and enjoy my nice, empty bed. Brian's playing Call og Duty so, I'm stakig the big claim!! LOL Night!

Is it really?

2009-12-23T12:45:00.001-08:00

I am still having a hard time grasping the fact that it is Christmas!! Tomorrow is Christmas e Eve!! Where exactly has this year gone? We are finishing up the last minute shopping and such and it's looking like we may even be stuck doing running tomorrow! Hubby just celebrated 1 year at his job and, a few months ago, we received a packet from his previous job. They had an employee profit sharing plan in which employees participated. For some reason, it took them over 10 months to send him notice that, as he was no longer employed, he was no longer qualified to hold stock. Ok, no biggie, it's not much money, send us a check... We are still waiting on said check. The chick doing it told us a month ago, maybe more, that we'd have it come middle of December. Here we are, 8 days before January and she left a voicemail this morning that she MIGHT get it done today. But, she's off after today, until next week. He hasn't been able to get ahold of her to find out if we should expect the check to be cut today or not. It's an hour and a half drive there so, if we can get it today, it would be good to know before 4pm so we can actually get it before tomorrow! I'm am so frustrated with the entire situation that I'm finding it difficult to enjoy Kadyn and the holidays!

I did finally get our cards in the mail last night. I guess that's what I get for deciding to make 25 cards, all by hand and all different! But, I think they turned out great and I am super happy with them! Now, if only we could have our original Christmas plans back, I'd be a super happy camper! We were going to wake up here Christmas morning, do the Santa thing with Kadyn, pack up, head to my mom's for Christmas dinner/night, stay there then go to Brian's mom's for their family gathering on Sat, the 25th. But, nope, Brian has to work Saturday. So, we're going to my mom's, Brian will come home Friday night, Kadyn and I are staying, my mom will run us to my MIL's on Saturday, we'll stay at my mom's that night and then Brian will come down either Saturday night, after work or Sunday and we'll visit his mom, and go visit his brother and his family. Then, Brian is off all next week so, we'll have a full week to recover and enjoy!

We did the visit with Santa last weekend, Kadyn loved it!! I will have to post a couple of pictures but, first, I have to edit them because for some reason, they turned out really dark, even with flash! I am off to start my baking, I am in charge of desserts and sweet for both Christmas parties this week! Good thing too, I LOVE to bake! :) Not sure what I'm going to do yet!

If I don't make it back before, I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas! :)

Hello!

2009-11-08T23:40:00.000-08:00

Hi there everyone! I'm Jamie. I'm 29, a mother of one little guy, Kadyn and married for almost 4 years to my hubby, Brian. We live in Reno, Nv, since February of this year.

Kadyn was born in July of 2007 and Brian and I were married in April, 2006. I was born and raised in Southern California and moved to Northern California in 2000.

I am hoping to share info on life, motherhood, and my attempts at being crafty! So, until next time!!