Weekly Topic

This weeks topic is 5 things I would like to do in my lifetime. This one was super hard for me. I had 1 obvious one (my number one) and that about summed it up. I had to dig deep and really think. With the exception of number 1, I would be totally contented if none of the others happened. It's nice, though, to have goals and dreams! So, here we go...

1 - Have a happy, Godly household. This includes having a great, long lasting marriage, raising my kids to know the Lord and instilling valuable lessons and qualities in them (I say them, hoping that we will have more kids someday). As said above, this is by far the most important thing I want to accomplish in my lifetime! None of the others matter if this one is not in place!!

2 - Be more organized. I like to be organized and have a schedule, I just never seem to fully get it! Having Taylor and now keeping kids in my house makes it even harder to get that done!! But I would like to be more organized so that I can accomplish more things, like working out consistently, cleaning house on a schedule (Averi, I sort of stole that from you, but I love the idea), scrapbooking more regularly, keeping a calendar, mailing b-day cards, etc. This always seems to be a New Year's resolution of mine and I'm yet to stick with it!

3 - I hope that my photography will eventually take off to where it is all I do, especially once our kids are all in school. This way, I'll be more available to go help in their classes and go to all their events.

4 - Save more! I want to get out of debt with the exception of our mortgage and put away in savings...for emergencies, college funds, kids cars, etc.

5 - Travel to lots of cool places. This one is a bit more selfish, but it's something I would like to do in my lifetime. I would love to see Italy and New York. I would also love to go somewhere tropical with Dustin. And of course, to go fun places with kids like Disney World! I love travelling and vacations. I hope our family can enjoy going neat places!

Photo Update

Just some random pictures from recently...

Mommy and Me!

I love to jump!

Enough pictures already...can't you see I'm busy jumping?!

This is an outfit that my mom made and I wore as a baby. I love the back of it!

Sweet smile

This might be my favorite pic of Taylor so far. I love close-ups!

5 Favorite Things

The topic this week...5 favorite things. This was really hard for me! Here they are...







1) My camera, of course! This thing hardly leaves my side!









2) Folgers Hazelnut Coffee - My day will not get off to a good start without a cup of cofee. I love the hazelnut blend from Folgers!





















3) Our Down Comforter - Nothing like crawling into that wonderful comforter after a long hard day! I very rarely get a good nights sleep when we're out of town. I miss my comforter too much!












4) Warm Vanilla Bean lotion - This is my favorite lotion from Bath & Body. I love lathering it on after a long hot bath at night. The next morning, my skin feels great and my pj's smell so good!















5) This is my new favorite wine! Yellow Tail Shiraz. I like to have a glass a few times a week with that long hot bath I spoke of! Mmmmmm

It's all about Taylor

This post is all about Taylor! She's 4 1/2 months old and changing every day. She giggled for the first time today. She's made cooing sounds when she smiles for months now, but today, she REALLY giggled. I called my dad so he could hear it. It was music to my ears...I LOVE it! We also started cereal on Saturday. She's still getting use to it. We give her a bite, then let her wash it down with a swig of formula. She hasn't quite figured out that she should swallow it.

She is also teething!!! It seems so early, but the doctor said it's not. The doctor also said that she could teeth for quite a while before she actually cuts a tooth. I can see both of her bottom teeth. She's been fussy at times when she's normally not, running a low grade fever, and giving me some really FUN diapers! I'm ready for these suckers to come in...poor baby!

Taylor wearing her cute t-shirt from Uncle Chad and Aunt Staci. If you can't read it, it says, "My Aunt Who Really Loves Me Got Me This T-Shirt in Jamaica."

Taylor's really doing good with tummy time



You might can see the rattle in her hand. She loves it...not to shake, but to chew on!

5 Favorite Movies

This weeks topic...favorite movies. Gosh, this was hard, again! My top 5 are all pretty sappy, girly movies. Those kind are my favorites. The ones you can watch over and over again and never get tired of them!

#1 - When a Man Loves a Woman - This one is particularly sad, but with a great, romantic ending. I love Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia is "yum" in this movie!

#2 - Say Anything - I LOVE John Cusak!! This is such a cheesy 80's movie, but it's great!! I love the boom box scene from outside her house and the song he's playing..."In Your Eyes." Other great John Cusak movies...Serendipity and Sixteen Candles.
#3 - Sweet Home Alabama - I'm surprised that this DVD is not worn out completely! I watch this one all the time! Dustin gave it to me for Valentines a few years back. I'm pretty sure he regrets that now!! Gotta love this great "chick flick".#4 - Parent Trap - We watched this movie SO much growing up! I haven't seen it in a few years, but the last time I watched it, I still remembered almost all the words! I can't wait to introduce this one to Taylor!

#5 Beaches - I know...totally sappy! But I remember how much I loved this the first time I saw it. It's got great humor (I love the song she does about bras) and great emotion! It had to make my top 5!

Runner Up - Nothing to Lose - If you haven't seen this movie, and enjoy a good comedy, get this one! It's got some language, but it's hilarious! I watched this one with my college roommates over and over. This DVD is close to being worn out, also! Favorite quotes, "Helen Keller, do you hear the words coming out of my mouth" and "Please don't kill me psycho freaky Jason."
Runner Up - Office Space - Also a great comedy! This was the second movie Dustin and I watched together when we started dating. We were in College Station for Ashleigh's b-day. It's funny the things you remember!

Cute Hats

I love dressing Taylor in hats. I think she looks adorable! Yesterday evening, we went for a walk, so I put a hat on her to keep her ears warm. I LOVE it! I got it at a garage sale last summer. She was getting hungry when I took the pictures, so I couldn't get the best smile.

This is an outfit that Britten sent to Taylor. I love it because it really shows off her rolls! Man, I could eat that little watermelon up! Thanks, cousin Britten. I really like all my new clothes!

Also, Taylor went to the doctor yesterday for her 4 month check up. She weighs 14 lbs 8 oz (65th percentile) and 24 1/2 inches (50th percentile). She got 4 shots, but did really well. She was so good yesterday, you would have never known that she got shots! We are also going to try cereal this weekend...that should be fun!

5 Favorite Pictures

Okay, so the Blogging Chicks or Simply Us (did we ever finalize the name??) topic this week was your 5 favorite or most memorable pictures. This was SO SO SO hard for me!!! I narrowed it down to 5 faves and 5 runners-up. Here are the top 5, in no particular order...

I have to give credit to Kristin Bednarz Photography for this picture. Kristin took this picture the summer of 2000. She's done lots of photo shoots of the three of us for Christmas pictures and different things. This one was my favorite session and this was my favorite picture from the session. I love the relationship my sisters and I have with each other. We all three have a bond that our husbands will never understand! Love you girls!!

This is my all time favorite picture of Dustin and I. I think because it really captures our personality. We were dating here and were hanging out with friends. We were laughing at how funny our tongues looked, so we took this picture. I think this one will always be in a frame!

This one's kind of a long story. My senior year in High School, Kristin was our "ball girl" for basketball. She gave me strength and a "no quit" attitude before every game...if she could be there running and playing, I could play 32 minutes of basketball, no problem. Before the championship game of the Christmas tournament, Kristin got a HUGE bruise on her thigh from a shot, meaning her platelet count was really low. So, she would not be able to make it to the game. I went by her house before the game and saw her and told her that I would be bringing back a gold medal for her that night. We were playing Levelland in the championship and had not beat them in our tournament since the late 80's (I think). It came down to the last second and I made the winning lay-up. As soon as the buzzer sounded, I looked in the stands and mouthed to my mom, "For Kristin." I was SO excited to bring her the medal that night. I really think the look on our faces says it all!

I loved the summers growing up. I also loved being able to go to my grandparents in Sweeney. This picture was taken in their backyard one summer. The three of us would've all lived in the water if we could have. It looks like we're dancing in this picture...who knows?!

I love this picture of Taylor and Dustin. She is about 2 1/2 weeks old here. We were over at Dustin's parents house and Dustin had been working some really long hours at school. He and Taylor fell asleep on the recliner and the light was coming in through the windows so perfect. I think that they both look so peaceful. Seeing my two favorite people so content makes me feel so good!!

5 Runners-Up

This was on the first night of our honeymoon in Colorado. I think both of our faces show true happiness. I remember that I was so happy to have a break and get away. I had been planning the wedding, moving, and just finished finals two days before the wedding. We had our waitress take our picture after we ate.

This is more about the memory than this being a good picture. In the summer of 2001 (I think) my mom and I went on a mission trip to Singapore with a group from Katy, Texas. I fell in love with two brothers, Jasper and Jethro. This is Jasper. They were both such sweeties! The pronounced my name, "Ally-thon." It was so cute. I almost snuck little Jasper on the airplane with me in my backpack. What an awesome experience this was. You think the intent of going on mission trips is to touch others lives, but I know I was blessed more myself! What a humbling trip!

I love these overalls! I actually don't remember this, but I've always loved the pictures we have in these matching overalls.

This picture was taken in the Tech Coliseum after we won the Regional tournament in 1996. We were on our way to Austin!!!! I love the emotion in this picture. Basketball was a HUGE part of my life growing up. The State Tournament was always a dream of mine. Being able to go and PLAY in the Super Drum in Austin was an experience I will never forget. Taylor is going to get so sick of me talking about this when she gets older!

4 Months

I took these pictures of Taylor this morning. She was 4 months old on Friday. We go to the doctor this Thursday, so I'll fill everyone in on weight, height, etc. She's feeling much better! Just coughing a little, but much better!

Happy Valentine's Day from Our Lil' Sweetheart