Being Thankful...

It's been a while since I have done a Thankful Thursday & I gotta say I am glad to be back at it! There is just something about taking some time to list the things you are thankful for! Recently I have started a "gratitude journal" where I write at least one thing everyday that I am grateful for. Most of the things I have written in it have been pretty private, so this will be good to be able to post things I am openly thankful for!

I'm Thankful For:

• My wonderful, adoring husband. He is always there for me & so thoughtful. -Today he surprised me with a little gift when he got home from work. Out of the blue, for no reason other than that he loved me.
• My baby boy. His laugh & smile bring me so much joy. I can just sit & snuggle with him all day.
• The chance to watch Connor grow & develop. He's so strong & such a big boy!
• The ability to be a mother!!! I never ever take it for granted. I love being a momma & the past 6 months have been the best of my life! [I can't believe it's been 6 months!]
• My family. Right now my momma, brother, & sister are visiting & its so fun! I'm still missing a few of my siblings, but I am so glad to have a couple of them here.
• Friends! I have some really amazing friends that I get to spend time with & they really make my days better.
• Girly things! I recently got my nails done & it's fantastic. I love all things girly =)
• [That my hubby lets me spend his hard earned money on girly things.]
• Blogging! I love having my outlet & I need to remember to do it daily!

I'm Thankful for Jessy!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful 11 year old sister Jessy!! She is visiting me until tomorrow & I am so lucky to get to have her her over her birthday! We have had so much fun & today has been even better than all the other days!

First thing this morning - Birthday girl!

She caught me while I was doing my hair!
Crazy lady.

We woke up bright & early so we could go get some McDonald's breakfast. [I'm pretty sure McDonald's is her favorite place to eat! -and mine, who am I kidding?] We were a little irritated when we got there because they didn't have either of the things we wanted on their menu. Freaking Micky D's! We were able to find something we both liked though!

Connor is wondering why we are going out in the
cold so dang early in the morning!

I have had a surprise planned for Jessy for about a week and a half, but she has had no idea what it is! She usually demands to know surprises, so I was pretty proud of myself for being able to keep this one from her!!!

I surprised her with an appointment at a nail salon to get her very first pedicure! Turning 11 & getting a pedicure. Not too shabby =) She was completely surprised & loved every second of it! She kept asking things like, "what's this part?" and "why are they putting that scrub on?". She had no idea what a pedicure even consisted of before today!

Needless to say, she is hooked! This might have to be a yearly birthday tradition! Pedicures with the big sis!

After our pedicures, Reese & Connor met us over at good ol' DQ for some lunch & a Blizzard! She told me the reason she wanted to go there was because, "I like their fries, I like their food, & I like their ice cream." You really can't argue with that!

After lunch we went over to the Dollar Store and had a lot of fun roaming the aisles. Jessy picked out 5 things she wanted & I picked out a hat for her...

I am making her wear it everywhere we go!!

The rest of the afternoon we are going to lounge on the couch, play some Dance Central 3, watch chick flix, & just hang out! Tonight I am making her favorite food for dinner: Steak & green peppers! [Reese isn't going to complain about steaks! Am I right, Justins?!]

We have to take Jessy home tomorrow & I am pretty bummed out. We have had so much fun this past week & I can't wait for her to come back again!

Happy Birthday to one of my amazing sisters!!! I love her so much & I am so thankful for her & all she does for me. She makes me so happy!

Me Again

Welp, I have decided that I am going to get back to the old Steph, the woman who felt like the world was at her fingertips & like nothing could get her down!

I want that back. I want to be fierce, strong, saucy, & amazing! Even if I am the only one who I thinks I am all of those things, at least I will feel them again!

Most of all though, I just want to be happy! I want to wake up every morning, with a smile on my face, & feel in control of my life! I am going to make it happen.

I have started working out everyday...Ok, I am going to start today! Even if I don't lose weight & get my pre-baby body back, at least I will get some endorphins pumping through my veins & feel better. I just want to be healthy! Also, I am going to start eating healthier! No more Dr. Pepper with every meal! [Don't get me wrong, I can't say goodbye to my dear friend for good, I am just going to cut back.] Less fried foods, more veggies! Endorphins & healthy-ness running through my body!

I've decided to whiten my teeth too. Oh yeah, I went & spent a bajillion dollars on some white strips & I am going to do them everyday! Not once a month, not once a week, but everyday until I do the whole pack! I spent the money, I want the whiter teeth!

I may or may not hit the tanning beds just a FEW times as well. Don't lecture me on how bad it is for me & blah blah blah! I know. I know it's not amazing for me, BUT I do know that it makes me feel better about myself. It makes me feel pretty & like I have less flaws in my skin! So, tanning a few times! Maybe. It's on my list of things I may do. Because I wouldn't mind looking like her again...

White teeth, tan skin, & skinny! Ahh. Yes please! I like me now, I like the person I am. I LOVE being a momma!!! I do miss doing the little things to lift me up though. I spend every waking [and sleeping, to be honest] moment thinking about Connor & how to be a top notch momma to him, because that is the most important thing to me, but I have been doing it for 5 months now & I am kinda getting the hang of it! I think I am getting the hang of it enough to take a little bit of time to do the things that make me feel like me again!

So, here's hoping I am not just a bunch of talk & that I can get healthy, happy, & beautiful again! Let's take care of me to enable me to be the best momma on the planet!

Distractions!

My little sister Jessy is visiting me for a week! It has been so much fun! I have loved every second & she still gets to be here for 4 more days =)

I am greatly slacking on all of my regurlar...."duties" though! All weekend I sat around watching tv/movies/playing Dance Central 3 [funnest game, ever.]

I have been missing blogging and I have a bunch of cleaning need like to get done every day [I even made a list to help me], but I have not been doing it.

Well, today I buckled down & did days Mon, Tues, & Thurs so that I could just hang out with her & enjoy all of our time!

It was great & I feel super productive! [Not to mention, my house looks amazing!!]

Now I am ready to hang out, watch movies, dance, do make-overs, & just play with my baby sister!! Time to slow down & enjoy life.



P.S. Jessy made her own blog today - you should check it out here!

Life Sometimes.

Sometimes life is harder than other times. Life is good. Life is great. But...sometimes, for whatever reason, life can be harder.

I have come to find that in those times there is one thing that is always helpful - and that is spending time with/talking to my loving sisters.

I am so lucky & was blessed with two beautiful younger sisters. They mean the world to me & they help me more than they will ever know.

Sami is 18 & so strong. She is such an example to me, without even knowing it. She is beautiful, strong, Christ-like, loving, & the list goes on and on. I could write a post about her all day, everyday.

Something that I really admire about her is her kindness. That is something I don't really have. I can be kind, but I have to really think about it & try. Sami is kind always. She always thinks of others, puts them first, & empathizes with them. When I am having a bad day, she is someone who can always lift me up. I am so lucky to have her.

Jessy is going to be 11 in one week. [Maybe I should wait & write a post about her then...] She is sooo amazing. She is a shining star in many ways - she is smart, happy, smiley & strong.

She can always make me laugh. She is so attentive to other people's needs. She is always wanting and willing to help others feel better. I need her in my life.

Recently my brother got married & I got another sister, Whitney. I love her so much. We have been friends for a few years, but have always felt like a sister.

She is such a great listener. I can call her when I need to talk & she will listen to anything & everything I have to say. I love to listen to her wonderful laugh & look at her smile. She doesn't know how much just being in her life & getting random texts from her saves my life & makes my day.

[I don't have any current pictures of the two of us.]

Two years ago Reese's brother married Brittany & brought another sister into my life. We had some rough patches at first [probably because we are both sooo sarcastic] & it took us a little bit to realize that we could be there for each other.

I honestly do not know what I would do without her. When life is hard I always think to call her, but I talk myself out of it because we haven't been sisters for very long. Then when things get a little harder I do call her & she always is there for me. She always knows exactly what to say & she empowers me. She lets me vent, complain, & get to a good place. She calls me on my crap & would let me call her out on hers.

[I don't have any current pictures of the two of us.]

Sometimes life is harder than other times. Whenever I have a bad day, I just need to remember that I have 4 amazing, wonderful, kind, beautiful sisters who love me & would do anything for me. I would do anything for them & hope they will lean on me when life gets hard for them.