The Debate continues...

A lot of thought and consideration has driven me to write a post about a topic that is extremely sensitive for many moms out there, myself included.  Growing up my mom was a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) until I was in Elementary school.  When she did go back to work, it was part-time, so she was still able to get me and my brother on and off the bus until we were old enough to do it ourselves.  Maybe it was my upbringing, but I had always pictured myself as a SAHM.  It wasn't until recently that I decided that I had career goals outside of motherhood.  Teaching was something that I had considered, but didn't take seriously until I began working for the county.  I gave it about a year of thought, and decided last January to start taking classes to get my M.Ed. in Special Education.  True to form, I constantly feel the "mommy guilt" so many working moms experience.  Let me just tell you, it does not get any easier dropping your child off at preschool everyday.  Although I have 100% trust and faith in the school we have chosen for her, I still feel like I am leaving a little bit of my heart when I drop her off in the mornings.  She, however, is thrilled to see her friends and all of the fun toys that she gets to play with.

So here is where the debate begins:  What's a mom to do?  If she works, she is criticized for be "absent" and not raising her own child (these comments make me furious, by the way.)  If she stays home, she's "giving up" her career ambitions.  Clearly the working moms get more of the negative comments because they are having to sacrifice their children's well-being (allegedly), and the stay-at-home mom is selflessly giving up her career goals for the betterment of her children (allegedly).  Please understand that although I do fall into the working mom camp, I do not find either of these beliefs to be true.  Let's start with the stay-at-home mom camp.  In today's tough economy, many moms are staying home for practical reasons.  The cost of putting several children in daycare outweighs the potential income they would gain from having the mother work.  Other practical reasons may include being a military wife, or having a husband with a job so demanding and time-intensive that a parent being home is a necessity.  Yes, some mothers may say that they are sacrificing their career to better their children, and this may be true for them.  But does that mean that a mom who works has put her child on the back burner for her own selfish reasons?

Hell no!  Just like some mothers stay home for practical reasons, some mothers work for the very same practical reasons.  Two incomes, even with childcare expenses, is usually financially easier for families, especially with the rising cost of healthcare.  I admit that I started working for the county because of their awesome benefits.  It was the best decision I ever made, because it opened my eyes to my love for education and the career that I am now working towards.  Some mothers go to work because they want to set an example to their children, especially their daughters, that women can have careers and be great moms.  For stay at home moms to assume that working moms are not raising their own children is as hurtful as working moms assuming that stay at home moms have it easy and get to sit at home and watch Soaps all day.  Both are untrue, and both are hurtful.

With all of this being said, what's a mom to do?  Well, there is no easy answer.  You have to do what is best for you and your family.  If that is to stay at home, then great!  If it is to work, then great!  Not one is better than the other, not one is more noble than the other, and not one is deserving of criticism or snide comments from other moms.  Please remember this the next time you are discussing your decisions to work or stay at home.  Regardless of your decisions or your reasons, moms need to support one another.

Photo courtesy of:

https://www.google.com/search?q=working+mom&espv=210&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=a4lcUunpH9Go4APysYHwCg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=643&dpr=1#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=nnZ6ceqDjHOD9M%3A%3Bhx3ga7YDulFqJM%3Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fonlineri.com%252Fsites%252Fdefault%252Ffiles%252Fu128%252Fworkingmoms.jpg%3Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fonlineri.com%252Farticles%252Fask_mom%252Fworking-mom%3B349%3B362

In case you wanted to know...

Social media is gushing with posts regarding the government shut down and new health care act.  If I am being honest, I have taken very little interest in most political news since the last Presidential election.  Most of the time I am left confused or mad after hearing about the latest political crisis.  However, I did not truly feel the direct impact of our government's decisions until today...

Let me preface this by saying that I am incredibly grateful to be an American and feel extremely blessed to have the opportunities and freedoms so many do not have.  The "Affordable Care Act" (Obamacare), was always presented in a way that made me feel like I would not be affected.  After all, we were told that if you already have insurance that you like, you can keep it.  Yay!  That is great news.  Yes, I still will get insurance for my family through my employer.  However, our plan premium has increased approximately 20%, and our new out-of-pocket maximum has increased by 100%.  Yes, you heard that right, worse coverage for a higher cost.  Because I am the insurance provider for my family, and because I make an extremely modest salary, this is a huge hit.  God forbid we have a medical emergency or illness, because our new out-of-pocket maximum would completely empty our bank account.

I promise I am not trying to get political here.  I have no business debating the Affordable Care Act, because I admit to being uninformed in many aspects of it.  However, I felt the need to share our story and how this affects our hardworking, middle-class family.

In other news, Morgan is 19 months old and pees on the potty very consistently.  (I thought I should end this on a positive note).

Happy October!

Goal update

I have very little time to blog tonight because I have a huge paper due tomorrow for class and am in the process of tying up some loose ends.  However, I knew I had promised myself to do an update today, so here it goes...

I didn't meet my goal.

Nope, not even close.

Didn't lose a single pound.

Not one ounce.

BUT....

I didn't gain either.  Go me.  Here's a picture from a couple days ago showing my "progress."  Ha ha.  I am not sure what I weighed in the "before" picture, but I think there may only be a 2 lb difference.  Maybe the only real difference is that my hair is shorter.  And now its even shorter than my "after".  Maybe I think that cutting my hair will give me magical weight loss powers.  Or maybe I'm a rambling nut case right now who needs to go to bed.  You decide.

Bet you can't guess what it on the TV in the background...

I no longer have an arbitrary date to motivate me.  I have an actual event to get myself in shape for.  Lancer Dancer reunion babay!!!  Oct. 26th, that's a little over a month to get my behind in gear.  Wish me luck!

Goodnight :)

Let's get real

So I start my class tomorrow, I go back to work a week from Friday, and Morgan starts Preschool on Monday.  Stuff is about to get real around here at the Hooper house.  This summer has (of course) flown by and I have only done a fraction of what I originally planned to do.  Maybe next summer, instead of planning to organize and decorate my entire house, work out daily, lose 20 lbs, and make gourmet meals everyday, I should just plan on playing with my munchkin and going with the flow.  Don't get me wrong, I have had a ton of quality time with my baby (yes, she is a BABY), but there is some guilt that I carry with me for not accomplishing some other chores this summer.

Morgan is amazing.  That is all there is to it.  She literally says a new word everyday now.  Today it was "beer."  No, I did not let her drink any, but she was infatuated by Mommy's drink and was quite proud of herself for being able to say its name.  She is so stinkin smart.  I don't know if I am extremely biased because she is my child, or if she is truly gifted.  She is demonstrating higher level thinking, understands almost everything we say, and loves to talk.  One of her favorite hobbies is to find a phone and walk around the house giggling and talking as if she is chatting it up with one of her playgroup friends.  HA larious.  She is a little sweetie too.  My favorite thing is when she kisses my leg while I cook dinner, as if to say "You're doing a good job, Mom!"  She melts my heart and I am so blessed to be her mother.

Obviously I haven't posted in a while about my weight loss progress, and it's because I have been SO busy working out, making healthy smoothies, and taking in all of my clothes.  Okay, that's a lie.  Every bit of it.  I haven't posted about my progress because there hasn't been any.  It all started with my birthday celebration and has snowballed from there.  For about 2-3 weeks I have not been tracking my food or working out.  Fortunately I have only gained a pound (whew!), but I know I can't keep this up without ruining all the progress I have made.  Today I decided to get "back on track", but ended up drinking 2 beers (not even lite beer), and had a McFlurry.  FAIL.  I did track my calories though, which makes me feel slightly better.  Tomorrow is a new day, and I hope that I don't let my slip ups discourage me.  I think what I need is a highly motivating goal, like a wedding, so that I have something to work towards.  Since all of my closest family members are married, I have no plans to be a bridesmaid any time soon, and swimsuit season is ending, I am having a hard time finding that motivation.  Here is a crazy thought ... I set a date and REQUIRE myself to do a progress picture and weigh in, and SHARE it on my blog.  Not sure if anyone really cares that much, but knowing that the information is out there for the world to see just might be enough to motivate me.  Okay, so here it goes...

(keep in mind I am down 10 lbs now from my start weight)

September 18th - Goal (-15lbs total)

October 30th - Goal (-20lbs total)

Doable?  Yes.  Realistic? Yes.  Can I do it?  Yes.  Will I do it?  We'll see, I mean, YES!

Wish me luck ;)

New hair, new me?

Happy Saturday everyone!  Today was a special day at the Hooper household.  I hosted a baby shower for my good friend, Amy.  We had a great turnout and everyone seemed to have a good time.  Here are some pics...

You'll notice that I am missing something.  I chopped 9" of hair off yesterday after weeks of contemplating and pinning hairstyles.  I was physically nauseated yesterday morning before my hair appointment and I realized that I was developing an unhealthy attachment to my hair.  It was hard, but I am glad it's gone and I am learning to love my shorter locks.

My brother's wedding was last weekend and was so much fun.  My brother and his new wife were so adorable together and Morgan did a fabulous job walking down the aisle as flower girl.  I was one proud Mommy!

Well with the wedding last weekend and the shower this weekend, I have had multiple excuses to cheat on my diet.  "It's my brother's wedding!"  "It's wedding cake.  I never eat wedding cake." "I am stressed about the shower so I am going to eat."  "I am at the shower that I worked so hard for so I am going to eat everything I bought."  You know the routine.  Needless to say I feel like I am slowly drifting off track.  I haven't worked out in a couple of weeks and I am finding it harder and harder to stick to my 1200 calories.  I am pretty sure this is what happens every time I try to lose weight.  I set a goal (this time it was 20 lbs), get about halfway there, get comfortable and bored, stay at my new weight for a few months, then slowly inch my way back to where I was to begin with.  Am I crazy or does this happen to other people too?  It is such a vicious cycle.  I am going to try to make this time different and push past what I guess is a "plateau."  Maybe the new hair cut can represent a new me (sorry for being so cheesy).  On the plus side, I was down another pound this morning, which I am convinced is due to my hair cut.  

Enough ramblings for today.  Time to get back on track, starting NOW!

Goal 1: Accomplished!

Well, I can't believe I actually met my 10 lb goal, and a few days early at that!  I was a bit shocked when I got on the scale this morning, and I am sure tomorrow it will be up a couple of  pounds because I thoroughly enjoyed myself tonight at my parents house.  Two glasses of wine, steak, chips, and ice cream cake.  Oops!  Tomorrow I hope to get a walk in and eat a little healthier than I did today.  I was glancing at some pictures and have really noticed a difference in my face...

This was taken July 2, courtesy of Lucy Rae Photography (LOVE LOVE LOVE them)

This was taken today, July 24

Only one chin in the second picture!  Yay!  I am feeling more and more comfortable in my own skin as I lose the weight.  I was so uncomfortable before.  I still want to lose 10 more pounds (give or take a few).  I know these last 10 are going to be a lot harder, so I will need all the encouragement I can get.  Random text messages telling me to work out would be appreciated.

Obviously  I have noticed the loss in other areas too.  Buh bye love handles!

Yikes.  I hate looking at that first one but I guess it is necessary to see the progress.

Now I get to feel comfortable and confident in my big bro's wedding on Saturday.  I am so incredibly thrilled for him and his beautiful fiance, Calla.  They are an adorable couple and I wish them a lifetime of happiness together.

Happy hump day everyone!

Feeling Proud!

Well folks, I am finished with my homework, the house is clean, and my sweet girl is sound asleep.  Time to update!

Morgan is having so much fun this summer at playgroup (and I am too!).  We have had an excellent showing lately and the kids are so adorable together.  See?

Poor Waylon

4 out of the 5 of these kiddos were born within 2 months of each other.  It is very interesting to get them together and see how each child has their own unique quirks.  Waylon is always a hit though, and bless his heart, he tolerates a lot.  I am so proud of him.  Not your typical nippy chiweenie!  The mommies have a great time chit-chatting about the kids, their husbands, etc. and it's a fun, free way to entertain the little tikes for a couple of hours.

Operation LOSE WEIGHT BEFORE YOUR BROTHER'S WEDDING is going really well.  I have logged into the My Fitness Pal app very consistently for the past few weeks and have been exercising a lot more than my normal (which was not at all).  Today I stepped on the scale and was down...

8 pounds!!!!

That is huge for me.  I am only 5'3" and with about 15-20 pounds to lose total, 8 is a good chunk (both literally and figuratively).  I have two more weeks until my big bro gets hitched, and my goal is to lose 2 more pounds by then to make it a nice, even 10 pounds down.  I think I can I think I can!!!  I have definitely had my slip ups with my eating, but I am trying to balance the mistakes with healthy choices and cardio.  I am currently reading an AWESOME book that I highly recommend...

http://www.amazon.com/Naturally-Thin-SkinnyGirl-Yourself-Lifetime/dp/1416597980

I am not a huge housewives fan or anything, but Bethenny makes some great points in this book.  She is not big on counting calories or dieting, just making your nutrition and health balanced.  Don't like to exercise?  That's okay, but you will need to eat less.  Love cardio?  Great!  You can eat more.  This is definitely a fun read if you are looking for the motivation to get healthy and are sick of dieting (although I completely admit to being on a "diet" right now).  If you want to get this book, get it off Amazon.  Barnes and Noble is an outrage.  I paid $4.00 TOTAL (used, good condition, including shipping).  B&N wanted $16.00 before tax.  No thanks.

My ultimate goal is to get to the weight I was at on my wedding day, 129 lbs.  Isn't it funny the ridiculous stuff you remember?  I couldn't tell you what I ate that day, but Lord knows I have a mental image of 129 on that scale.  I remember being so happy because I was in the "120's".  Silly, I know.  But we all have our own goals, and this is mine.  Here is what 129 lbs looks like on me...

And here is what 173 looks like, HAHA...

YOWZAS!  I know, I know.  I was almost 39 weeks pregnant here.  I had Morgan 2 days later. I miss that big ole preggo belly!

Okay enough ramblings for tonight.  Much love!

Diet Update

So I know it's only been 2 days of this new "diet" (I hesitate to call it that because I know it's technically supposed to be a lifestyle, but let's just call a spade a spade shall we?), but OMG this is tough.  Yesterday was awful.  Not so much because I wanted to pig out on junk food, but because I genuinely felt like crap.  I was nauseated, dizzy, tired, and a little down in the dumps.  Last night I tossed and turned half the night because I felt so bad.  True to form I jumped on the scale this morning, hoping that my one day of misery would result in a magical transformation.  I am down 3 pounds, which I am assuming is all water weight.  This makes sense, as I made at least 40 trips to the potty yesterday.  I am trying to do around 1200 calories a day, using the My Fitness Pal app.  I totally recommend it.  It's completely free, and you can scan your food items and it pops up with all of the nutrition information.  But back to the point...1200 calories is not much.  I think a small Blizzard from Dairy Queen is about half that, and I used to eat those on the REG!  So I believe the feeling like crap yesterday was my body going into shock with the fewer calories and the healthy food.  Kind of sad, right?  Fortunately today has been a thousand times better.  I have felt pretty good overall and I am hopeful that I can stick with this for a while.  Brad is eating healthy with me, so that helps a lot.  He of course will lose 15 pounds by cutting out potato chips and dessert.  Don't you hate that?!

I also want to thank those who have shown so much support for me while I work on getting myself healthy.  It is amazing and motivating to me at how much this topic resonates with others.  It is a reminder that we are all imperfect creatures!

Now, I am going to pop some 100 calorie popcorn.  Yum!

The dreaded scales...

I love the fact that I have the time (and energy!) to blog. Summer rocks!  Anyways, just a quick post about a recent struggle of mine that I feel the need to get down on paper computer.  The past couple of months have been extremely hectic and stressful for me for multiple reasons.  Of course times like these always spark poor eating habits because, let's face it, a bowl of ice cream can cure even the poorest mood.  I have been avoiding the scales like the plague, so I knew when I stepped on them tonight it wasn't going to be pretty.  Well, it was rather ugly indeed.  Five pounds OVER my pre-pregnancy weight (dun dun dun!!!).  Okay so I know it really doesn't sound that bad, but when put in perspective, the last time I weighed this amount (other than immediately postpartum), was when I was 18 weeks pregnant.  I went back and checked the blog just to be sure.  And oddly enough, the picture of my baby bump at 18 weeks is strikingly similar to the gut I have now, HA!  So needless to say I am not thrilled with the fact that I am looking like I did at 18 weeks pregnant.  Plus it does not help that everyone is beginning to wonder when I will get pregnant again, being that Morgan is 16 months old.  I can sense people staring at my stomach and pondering to themselves if I had too much lunch or if I am with-child.  Before someone points out a non-existent pregnancy, I think I want to get this weight thing under control.  Five pounds doesn't sound bad, but trust me, it's a slippery slope!

Now, here is the reason I am making this personal battle public...I need motivation!  I know if I go at this alone and have no means to hold myself accountable, I won't make any progress.  So here I go, brutally honest,

I weigh....


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GOTCHA!  Okay so I am not actually brave enough (right now) to reveal my weight, but I will certainly share my goals and my progress.  I would like to lose 15 pounds in 3 months.  Very doable.  So there, by September 30, I should be lean and mean still nice.  I will also try to post some progress pictures, but right now I'm in my jammies and a "before" photoshoot just isn't gonna happen!

Wish me luck :)

Summer So Far

Has it already been almost 2 full weeks of summer vacation!?  I have to admit I was a little worried about the adjustment to being at home full time, but let's just say it was a peaceful transition.  I am LOVING every second of being with my little girl.  We read books, play with puzzles, go to the park, go shopping, have playgroups, go walking, swinging, etc...  Morgan is at such a fun (although sometimes difficult) age.  She is bursting with energy and amazes me with how smart she is.  I swear I can have conversations with her and she knows exactly what I am saying.  She is also starting to imitate EVERYTHING I do, so Mommy needs to be careful about what she says!!!

I came to the conclusion very early into the summer that our downstairs living arrangement was just not functional for us.  Morgan's toys were crammed into a corner in our living room, and when we took them out, our living room looked like a complete disaster. Kind of like this...

Horrible!  I didn't mind it too much, but I have to admit that I was a little out of my comfort zone with the main living space in my house looking like this all the time.  Not to mention, Morgan was totally overwhelmed with the amount of toys and how disorganized they were.  So, being that we still have no dining room furniture (who really uses their dining room anyway?), I made the decision that Morgan needed a play room. So here it is!

Now her toys are out, organized, and easily accessible and she LOVES it.  She knew right away that this was her room.  Not only does she have her own space to play, but Brad and I have our living space back (kind of).  Here it is...

We still have her toy chest, Princess castle and stuffed animal basket in the living room so that she has something to play with in there too.  I don't miss my "dining" room at all and would much rather Morgan have it for her toys.  Maybe down the road when all the Hooper kiddos are bigger, we can get some dining room furniture, but I am in no hurry.

Dining rooms that are playrooms, Princess castles in your living room, goldfish on the floor, and diapers in the trashcan are what makes a house a home!

Happy Summer everyone.  :)

Just a quick "thankful" post...

The Hooper house has been very hectic lately, and there are times that I feel incredibly overwhelmed.  Life has delt Brad and I a few wild cards lately and I am finding it easy to feel sorry for myself.  Well, it's time to stop that nonsense and be grateful, because we have so much to praise God for.  Here we go!

1. Our health - this is something that I usually don't think twice about, but the minute I come down with the flu, or Morgan has an ear infection, I am reminded that being healthy is invaluable.

Poor baby sick at the hospital.  So glad to have her healthy again.

2. Our jobs - My job doesn't pay much but it does provide us with amazing health insurance.  Not to mention I love my job, which is a huge plus.  Brad's job provides us with the means to live in a beautiful home and pay our bills without too much trouble. 

Home sweet home.

3. Our families - Not only do they live close (minus my brother and his fiance), but they are so supportive.  I can't imagine not having our families around to watch Morgan grow up.  I pray for the day my brother moves back to Richmond.  Morgan loves her Uncle Ricky!

Meemaw and Grandaddy!

4. Our marriage - Brad is my backbone, my soulmate, and my best friend.  Our relationship is far from perfect and we constantly have to work on it, but I can't imagine my life without him.

Can't believe this was three years ago on June 19th. 

5. Our daughter - Morgan is healthy, happy, smart, and beautiful.  What more could I ask for??

Love her so much.

Sorry for the sappy post, but I felt the need to get some of these things down in writing.  Now, for some happier news, school is almost out! Which means ... stay-at-home mommy mode!  I have to admit, I am a little nervous about the adjustment, both for Morgan and myself.  She is used to having non-stop playtime with the sitter's kids, and I am worried that I won't be as much fun as them!  I hope to come up with a very structured schedule for the summer so that we are productive and busy.  I have to admit that last summer we did a lot of napping and watching the Olympics.  Now that Morgan is a busy toddler, I doubt watching tv and taking naps will be on her to-do list.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!  And when your feeling down, remember to focus on the positives.  Every rainstorm must end, and sunshine is just around the corner. 

What happened to my baby, and who is this toddler?!

I am ashamed.  It's been 3 months since my last post!  Horrible blogger award: winner, me.  So much has been going on these past few months that I've had a hard time finding a minute to sit down and catch up on this thing.  Funny how when I was pregnant I was able to post every week.  That seems unimaginable now.  A wise coworker told me that I would ask myself three questions after my child was born: 1) What did I do in my free time? 2) What did I care about? 3) What did I ever worry about before?  Although Morgan has only been in our lives for 15 months (almost), it's nearly impossible to imagine life without her now.  She gives me such purpose in life, and for that I am so grateful.

Where to start?  Morgan is quite possibly the BUSIEST child I have ever seen.  She is 100% full on, nonstop, all day long.  She isn't much of a napper, so for me and the sitter, breaks are almost non existant.  She is hilarious and so sassy.  Not sure how else to describe a 15 month old who picks up her purse, sashays around the room, and waves her best "princess wave."  I see other mommy friends post pictures and comments about "snuggling" or watching movies with their little ones.  Not Morgan. No sir.  She has way too much on her schedule for any of those shenanigans.  Obviously it makes me a little sad that she doesn't cuddle, but the TV thing doesn't bother me too much.  There are times, however, that I wish a quick 30 min tv show would entertain her.  It would certainly make cleaning up or getting ready in the mornings more peaceful. 

TV may not be her thing yet, but she loves books, puzzles, and all things girly (combs, dolls, play purse, my purse, my clothes, my SHOES).  She will go in my closet, and proceed to remove as many pairs of shoes as possible, one at a time.  Then she will place them in order next to my bed, all the while acting as if she is doing a very important, very serious, job.  HAlarious.

What a talker we have too!  She wakes up jibber jabbering.  She learns a new word almost everyday.  I come to pick her up from the sitter, and she has learned something new.  Of course she has her favorites... Momma, Dada, Nana (banana), Hi, Bye, Apple, Cat, Wo wo (Waylon), cheese, shoe (sounds more like "Jew"), Yea, MMM, All Done, What's That?, Papa, Grandaddy, Oh Wow!  Just to name a few.  She is fluent in her native language, Morganese, and switches often between the two.  I have really enjoyed how conversational she is becoming.  There is nothing sweeter than walking into her nursery in the morning and hearing that precious voice say, "Momma."  Or when she hears the garage door opening and knows Brad is home and shouts, "DADA."  It's bittersweet watching your little one grow up, but each stage is so new and exciting. 

Just a few more weeks of school and I will be out for the summer!  HALLELUJAH!  I'm super pumped to be a stay-at-home mommy for the summer and spend some quality time with my girl.  We are hosting a weekly playgroup which is going to be such a blast.  I can't wait to get Morgan together with some other children. And of course I am excited to hang out with some of my mommy friends. I am also going to be taking an online grad class, so even though there will be no work, I am sure I will be busy!

I feel like I am leaving 10 million things out, and will think of it as soon as I hit "post."  Oh well.  Here are some pics and videos of my sweet angel.

 

 

1 year old!

What a complete whirlwind this past year has been!  Morgan was born Tuesday February 28, 2012, completely changing our lives and opening our hearts.  In July, we moved to a new house, started renting out the old house, and began decorating and getting settled in.  In December I made the difficult, but long overdue decision to finally go back to school and pursue my dreams of becoming a teacher.  It is amazing to think of all the changes that have happened to us as a family in just one year.

Morgan is such an amazing little person.  She is bursting with personality.  Her smile will light up a room and invite perfect strangers to come over and talk to her.  She LOVES being around people.  I call her my social butterfly.  She is such a little chatterbox these days, with her favorite phrase being "What is that?" or "Is that?"  She points at just about anything and asks what it is.  Such an inquisitive little girl she is!  She also frequently says Dada and Momma, and can say cat, dog, oh wow, and bye (while waving).  She blows kisses too, which is so adorable.  Her walking has come a long way in the past couple of weeks.  She still falls a lot, but she is walking much further than she used too.  She will even clap for herself when she makes it several steps.  She has been fighting a terrible cold the past couple of weeks, and has her 3rd ear infection.  The urgent care Dr. said she will likely be needing tubes.  Poor baby!  It makes me feel better to know how routine and common the procedure is, and if it keeps her from being in pain, I'm game! 

With Morgan being a year old, people are now more comfortable to ask Brad and I when we plan on having more kids.  Obviously this is something Brad and I have discussed in great length, and while we know we want another child down the road, we both agree that we are happy as a family of 3 (plus Waylon!) for the time being.  Being parents is both rewarding and challenging, and lately I have been dealing with a lot of "Mommy guilt" for not staying at home.  I feel selfish for deciding to go back to school at times, but remind myself that me becoming a teacher does not make me less of a mom.  Finding that balance between work and family is truly one of life's greatest mysteries.  I feel like if I am doing my schoolwork I am neglecting my child, and when I am with my child, I feel like I am getting behind on my schoolwork.  More often than not I find myself in the latter situation, but regardless, I am still working on finding that balance. 

On a lighter note, Morgan's birthday party is coming up on Sunday and I couldn't be more excited!  We are having her 1 year pictures done tomorrow morning by the amazing mother-daughter team LUCY RAE PHOTOGRAPHY, then I plan on getting busy on cleaning and food prep for the party.  It should be a great turn out!  Morgan will have so much fun showing off for everyone.  I know many people do elaborate "themes" for birthday parties, and I am attempting to follow the theme trend.  We are going to have some Princess decor and lots of pink.  Woohoo!

Ok well it's going to be a busy weekend, and my poor hubby is already passed out on the couch.  Off to bed I go!  But before I leave, here are a few pictures of my beautiful little birthday girl :

One busy Momma

Usually I have no trouble finding the motivation to do a blog post but lately I have been so busy that blogging has seemed like a chore.  There is a lot to catch up on though, so let's begin!

Morgan's first Christmas was such a blast.  She loved her toys, especially her motorcycle (just like Daddy's), and her Princess castle.  Santa also brought her puzzles, a ball popper, clothes, and other little gadgets.  Seeing her face light up while opening her presents was so much fun.  It brought back so many memories from my childhood.  I'm really looking forward to next year when she can appreciate the day even more.

Morgan is quickly approaching the one year mark (she is 10.5 months) and she is doing something new everyday.  She now says Momma, Dada, Uh-Oh, Oh-Wow (kind of like "Ooooo wow"), and Dog (with a long "o"), all in the correct context.  Okay okay, she calls cats "Dog", but can you blame her?  Waylon weighs 8 lbs and can almost pass as a large rodent.  I can see where that would be confusing.  She also said "No" today, but it wasn't in context.  I am sure she will get that one down in no time though.  She is very interested in walking, but isn't quite there yet.  She can take steps while holding someone's hand.  She pulls up on just about everything and is starting to climb too.  No standing up on her own just yet.  She is very wobbly.  She will get there though!

Since my last post I have made the decision to go back to school to get my Masters degree in Special Education.  I have been debating whether or not I should do it for months now, and I finally found the courage to take the plunge.  I start my prerequisite class on Jan. 30, take the GRE Feb. 9, and will hopefully be accepted into the program at VCU for the Summer.  I am terrified about how I am going to do it all, but also very excited about what's to come.

Until next time!

(for some reason stupid blogger is not letting me upload pictures and I am too tired to fight with it, so I will try to post some another day)