Fall

I love it.

Josh built our own little bonfire pit out back. Can't wait to roast some marshmallows!

And here's Reid running through the leaves. I couldn't get him to jump in them.

Halloween... and OrEoS

For those that know me... Halloween is my favorite holiday. We go all out every year. My secret confession - I have more Halloween decorations then I do Christmas. On second thought, Josh has been collecting Christmas lights lately. I think he may have surpassed me in all my orange/black glory.

This year, we scrambled at the last minute to hit the traditional haunted houses. Life has gotten so busy! We made it out to Netherworld and it proved well worth it. Kayla and I both arranged babysitters and met up with our parents for a night of thrill seeking adventure. Josh actually got to come with us on this occasion so it was nice to have him there. We ate at the Cracker Barrell up the road and laughed while dad unintentionally flirted with our down-home southern waitress. Poor thing got the wrong idea, but she was super friendly and the extra attention she gave dad at least kept our drinks full!

Netherworld never ceases to amaze me. I definitely was not a fan at first being a Silo-X junkie from St. Louis but the last couple of years they've been pretty impressive. The costumes... amazing and so life-like. And I'll be the first to admit I screamed bloody murder in that haunted house. As customary, every single new set/room you walk in has someone hiding in it ready to make your blood curdle. Netherworld typically has tons of props and they, like the costumes, are just as life-like. I always see if I can find the "real" guy so when he jumps at me, I don't jump back. This year... every single time I was focusing on the fake one! It was so frustrating but again - IMPRESSIVE. I want to know where they get their material from. My retirement plans involve an all out haunted house... is that weird?!? We also made it out to Horror Hill in Newnan... let's just say it was more comical than scary. There was an insane asylum patient (character) running through the woods screaming "I poo-poo on your shoe-shoe!!" Yeah, shaking in my crapped on boots, folks. Let me tell ya.

We also carved pumpkins this year. Last year, Reid was too young to really get into it but this year proved more exciting for his little boy memories. He found that little pumpkin carving knife and started hacking away. We were over at a family friend's house and their little boy even jokingly stated... "I think Reid's going to grow up to be a murderer." No, seriously... Reid was really hacking at that thing! It was a little unnerving. He got me in the back once too and it hurt but fortunately the dull blade could not penetrate my tough skin! MUWAHAHWHAHA!

Last but not least... here's some hilarious pics of Reid eating oreos and milk. (I styled his hair that day...) It amazes me that kids just know you're supposed to separate the cookie and eat the icing first, then dip it in the milk, and chug it. Nabisco is purely human instinct, I swear it.

Family Life... bits and pieces

So I'm attempting this whole blog thing yet again... Why??

So many reasons... but number 1 at the moment - to avoid work!

Life has been pretty crazy for us from the beginning. We were married back in June 2007, produced a honeymoon baby boy a short 9months later and have been busy ever since juggling work, bills, chores, and well... baby stuff.

Despite the chaos, stress, and family drama - I'd say we're doing fairly well under the circumstances. This past July we were finally able to take Reid out of daycare saving a tremendous amount of money that has since vanished to only God knows where. We spend a heck of a lot less time together as a couple but Reid gets one-on-one attention from mom or dad (whoever happens to be home) constantly, so great for him and his development, I think.

I've been working at a healthcare agency handling payroll and medicaid insurance authorizations for a handful of medically fragile babies. It never bothered me too much until I became a mom myself... these poor, sick, little children, their dead-beat families (some), the tragic stories, and the ones that just can't survive through flu season or any other illness life throws at them. It's a very depressing work environment but only makes me that much more grateful to go home at the end of the day to my beautiful, healthy son.

Josh and I have had our battles as a married couple but so far we've overcome the majority of them. Marriage is a lot harder than it looks folks! I'll be the first to admit. Honestly our first year was pure bliss and I still consider it the honeymoon phase. I think people are crazy when they say "the first year is the hardest". Please... LIFE is the hardest. Not the first year of marriage, not even close. It's the ones that follow the excitement, happiness, anxiety, and butterflies. We've had a rough time of it settling in to adulthood. We both work a LOT! Josh has shuffled through many different jobs throughout the last two and half years or so, at some points having as many as three! Now we're both steadily working 40hrs/wk but I work days, he works nights and our days off do not coordinate so little time for happy, married couple stuff. We spend lots of time catching up on the phone or having middle of the night conversations mostly revolving around Reid and his crazy, adorable personality, newest developments and facial expressions. So lets dive into that... shall we?

My son is a momma's boy in every since of the word. He's practically attached to my hip from the moment I walk in the door until bedtime... Scratch that. THROUGH bedtime. He'll sleep straight through the night if he can hold my hand or wrap his tiny little arms around my neck the whole time. Most days I love it, but there are same days where you just want the bed all to yourself, know what I'm saying?? He's never been a good sleeper. We've struggled with him since he was two months old. What I would do for those first two months when he slept like a pro... I think all those years of high school insomnia has prepared me for the lack of sleep I get now. See... there's ALWAYS a reason!

He's grown up on Fraggle Rock, Barney, and Elmo. His favorite food is McDonald's fries - there's nothing that can wipe that smile of his face when he sees those golden arches. He's decided recently that his favorite color is blue. It will be our little secret that blue is the only color he knows how to say. When Josh or I step out of line, he goes all "momma" on me with his little pointer finger shaking and a big "No, daddy!" Oh yeah... he calls me daddy. Josh is daddy-O. Still haven't a clue where he picked that up from.

We go to the park on a regular basis for walks and playtime. He decided just last week that he's too big for the infant swing and insists in sitting on the "big kid" one. I only let him swing so high because I'm terrified of him falling backwards (or forwards for that matter) and the little stinker will daringly let go when I demand that he holds on. My nerves are pretty much shot with this one and it's only just beginning...