Hammond, New Orleans, and Gulf Shores

What a week. Seriously. I am dragging my rump back into the life of motherhood. I am sleepy and trying to keep my sanity and to be honest the only thing helping is reminiscing on the week I was able to spend with my Husband; and new found friends. Remember the post where I cried that I was having to leave them. Call me crazy, and I will totally get it now!

We left on Sunday morning and headed to Hammond, Louisiana. If you ever get the chance to visit it, don't. No, I'm not even kidding. Maybe I just love the country and sweet southerners a little to much because everyone I came in contact with until a maid the day we ever leaving was rude.

We traveled down with a nearby sheriff, one of his deputies, their wives and a trainer. We were even able to meet some great officers from other agencies and their even more awesome k9s. The competition was busy and stressful some days because the dogs were working so hard with no pay. But we were able to make the best of our time.

Curtis was able to experience New Orleans for the first time. Bourbon street pretty much had him baffled, and even though I have visited before the smell of trash is still haunting me. Not to mention, the craziness that we came across. We did enjoy some beignets and they were completely amazing...totally worth going for.

Gunner and Curtis did an amazing job for their first nationals. I believe they were 8th in outdoor searches and 20 overall. I was very excited for them and enjoyed being able to spoil the fur baby all week. He was so much fun and made me dream of day that we have hardwood floors when he can stay inside to play all day.

On the last day of the competition we had planned to stay the night to rest up for our drive home. But instead, we took the plunge with everyone else and headed to Gulf Shores for two nights. We had a mission to get pictures with Gunner on the beach. We had to hurry but our mission was accomplished and thankfully so because Gunner was not a fan of the waves.

The ride home seemed to last forever due the wrecks we came upon and the forever #2 breaks that Gunner had to take. But when we arrived home the hyperness of Miss Charli and the smiles on her face let us know that we were dearly missed.

Away

Hey y'all! I am away from the blog world for a few days, besides tomorrow for a sweet post. While I am away cheering on two handsome men, I will have some guest bloggers. Please come check these ladies out and go read there blogs as well.

It's amazing how the blog world works and how many true friends you can find. Even though they are only a text message away at times, I am so blessed to have them!

{The photos below are of two of my guys being interviewed on a local news channel about the competition they are in this week.}

Guest Post: Mandy {Beauty Products}

Hi everyone!  I'm so excited to be taking over Paige's blog today while she's busy cheering on Curtis and Gunner!! 



For those of you who don't know me, I'm Mandy and I blog over at Mommy Musings. 

I'm a Jersey girl teacher turned SAHM.  I'm lucky to be married to my best friend, Skip, and we are blessed with two sweet little girls.  My husband is a former Marine and for the past almost ten years, a cop.  I am a former-teacher turned SAHM, and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world.



Today I thought I'd share some of my favorite  beauty products with you.  I'm not expert, that's for sure, but just a girl who feels like she's tried a lot things out there. 

Victoria Secret So Sexy Nourish shampoo and conditioner.  This is one of the few things I splurge on for myself.  Not only does it make my hair super soft, it smells absolutely amazing.

Eucerin body lotion.  I get such dry skin, especially during the winter, and this is my most favorite lotion.  It really heals my dry skin, and isn't too thick.

I have never actually bought Clinique eye shadow for myself, but I've gotta a few trial sizes and left overs from my mom recently.  I do have plenty of super cheap eye shadows, but when I want something that lasts all day/night {literally} I always turn to Clinique.  The above colors are the exact ones I use and they are just perfect for my eye color.

I have probably tried every single foundation they stock at CVS.  I have never been able to find just the right one, and I refuse to pay lots of money for one.  Then I stumbled upon CoverGirl Trublend and I swear my world changed.  It has great coverage, lasts a long time, and gives my skin the perfect dewy look.

Maybelline Lash Stiletto is my most favorite mascara in the world.  The waterproof one is the one I use every single day.  It literally lasts forever!

I read about Milani blush all over Pinterest recently, as a dupe to NARS, so I had to give it a shot.  At around $8 it is really a great price for the coverage.  I've tried two colors and both have been long lasting and super pigmented.





So what are your favorite beauty products?

Guest Post: Jamie

Hello everyone!  I'm Jamie from Jamie's Journey Through Life!  I am very excited to be guest posting for Paige today!  If you haven't seen it go check out Paige's guest post that was on my blog 2 weeks ago!  Before I start I want to give a little bio on myself :)

I am a 17 1/2 year old recent high school graduate!  I am working at a local daycare and love it!  In the fall I will be attending college perusing an Elementary Education degree!  

When I got asked to guest blog, I thought what did I want to write about.  As I thought about it I decided to do it about something with kids.  You see kids are very close to my heart and i figured since Paige is a mother that kids would be a very relatable post!  



So that lead me to this post, Things I've learned from working at a daycare! 

Just know that this is all my opinions before we begin!

1. You WILL be attached to the kids.  No if ands or buts, it's true.  They will become your whole world and you will love them all.


2. You will run into many different kids at the daycare with different backgrounds.  Some will be the oldest, some will be the youngest, some will be foster child, some will have parents together, ect.


3. The kids love shaving cream.  Don't ask me why but they love it!


4. Some kids will get jealous of your attention on others.  They will throw fits to get attention if they fill like you don't play/be with them.


5. You will deal with tantrums  tears, missing mommy & daddys, screaming, throwing, not getting along, ect.


6. Everyday is a new day, you never know what to expect!


7. At the end of the day, you will love the kids and enjoy every crazy hair pulling moment no matter what :)

I hope you all enjoyed this post & I want to give a big thanks to Paige for letting me guest post for you all day! :)

Happy {Belated} Birthday Curtis!

Curtis turned 29 on June 2 but I totally lacked as the greatest wife ever in making him the sweetest blog post to read. But I must confess that I believe he had a pretty wonderful birthday! The weekend before his actual day him and I enjoyed a day in Nashville picking out the perfect pair of boots for him. We finished off the day with his favorite meal in Nashville at Demos.

On his birthday we attended church together then as tradition his Mom made a favorite Sunday lunch. Afterwards we spent the afternoon at a nearby creek fishing the day away. Which just happens to be one of his favorite past times. Sadly, he didn't catch the "golly whooper" him and Charli were looking for. But Charli did catch her first fish and it was the tiniest little bluegill. She surprisingly didn't ask for any help and didn't tell us until it was already out.

I hope he enjoyed his day just as much as did spending it with him :)

2 Year Anniversary!

When I first started my blog nearly 5 years ago I never thought that my life would change so quickly. I prayed for a man and knew exactly what I wanted but I just didn't realize that he was right there in front of me all along. I am blessed to announce that today is our two year anniversary. Even though to some we are still considered newlyweds at this point, we have endured some of life's greatest tasks.

I am thankful to be able to have Curtis in our lives and watch him grow as a Father, Deputy, Christian and so many more wonderful things. As I walked down the aisle towards him on June 11, 2011 the following lyrics were played:

I’ve been a walking heartache
I’ve made a mess of me
The person that I’ve been lately
Ain’t who I wanna be

But you stay here right beside me
Watch as the storm blows through
And I need you

God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
For when I think I’ve lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it’s true
God gave me you

There’s more here than what we're seeing
A divine conspiracy
That you, an angel lovely
Could somehow fall for me
You’ll always be love’s great martyr
Ill be the flattered fool
and I need you

God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
For when I think I’ve lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it’s true
God gave me you

On my own I’m only
Half of what I could be
I can’t do without you
We are stitched together
And what love has tethered
I pray we never undo

God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
For when I think I’ve lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it’s true
God gave me you, gave me you.
Gave me you.

I can never forget the emotions running through my head of how I was becoming this man wife and he would be there for me through each hardship and joyous moment from now on. It was truly an incredibly feeling and still today as I hear this song {in the Dave Barnes version only} I cry and feel the same goosebumps as I did walking towards Curtis on that Summer afternoon. 

We are SO new to our marriage, still. We are still learning to cope, to fight, to love and to laugh at times but we made it another year (hallelujah!) My heart is so full of happy moments thanks to this man and our littles. I cannot wait to see where this year will take our family. 

Curtis. 

From the moment that you told me that you loved me, I knew that one day I would become your wife. We may have never knew that it would come to us as fast as it did and we may have let life hit us with a few curve balls, but I would never change a single moment. Falling in love with you one of the biggest blessings and watching your become a Father has been the greatest joy. I can never imagine my life without you and pray for us to continue to grow. I love you more than words can say and after all this time I am still just as ecstatic to be your wife. 

The Non-Sleeper

If you are not a parent of a non-sleeping child, then please pass no judgement here.

Since October 5, 2011 my body has learned to make it on little to no sleep. I have to be thankful for my dispatching days that helped me learn how to go on with life all while being exhausted. I figured at some point along this journey of being Bryar's Mother that it would become easier, and sleep would come. But to be honest, it hasn't for the most part.

Screaming like a pterodactyl at bedtime or yelling for his "Buddy" because he launches it as soon as you leave the room can last for over an hour. Actually, more than an hour. He recently even got his knee stuck in the bed rails. But thankfully, a bottle of lotion slicked that baby leg right out. At other times he just gets super ticked and throws up. Then we are in a downward spiral from there.

There have been lots of nights that he sleeps all night long. They are joyous nights. Nights that turn into mornings where I wake up smiling. They happen maybe once a week to every two weeks. Sometimes after just trying to calm him, I lean over the bed pat his bottom and he will fall right to sleep. Lately, he has come to our bed because the screams are unbearable at 2:30 in the morning. Like I said above, they are not the sweet newborn screams, it's like a pterodactyl getting stoned type of scream. So to our bed he goes, where he practically fights in his sleep. He kicks, pulls hair and sometimes even throws tantrums all in his sleep.

I'm a little at a lost of what to do with him. But I assure you, I have tried it all. All of the advice has been checked marked off. But this kid is strong willed and if Bryar isn't happy truly no one is; baby doesn't want to sleep, neither does ... Mommy.

We have lately wondered if he has sleep apnea or something else going on that makes him startle in the night like he does. But then again we could just be looking for an excuse of why our son is so good during the day but becomes slightly demonic at night.

I am leaving on Sunday for 5 nights away. I feel this hole in the pit of my stomach and I am pretty sure that hole is called guilt. I know it is not a burden for me to leave the kids for someone else to tend to for a few days but I cannot help to feel terrible over the lack of sleep. I am crossing my fingers that he will surprise us all and be a little angel baby.

Our Summer lately

This Summer has been so peaceful so far. We have played ball games, went for walks, roasted plenty of s'mores, and have had lots of movie nights. Typically Fall is my favorite season but this is my first Summer really enjoying family time throughout the day. I must admit that it is truly giving Fall a run for it's money.

Ball season will end this weekend with a tournament. Then Curtis, Gunner and I will be heading to Louisiana for a K9 competition. I love traveling but traveling with G man for 5 days will be a totally new experience. I just hope our little team will bring home a big award! They really have been working hard lately and I may be a little bias but they totally deserve it!

Bryar has used the potty twice but I am really trying to not force it on him. He knows when he needs to go #2, so I just ask if he needs to use the potty then he will head to it. I don't want to force him into hating the potty then eventually not being able to potty train until he is 4. He has picked up many new words lately. Sleep is still a hit or miss on different nights, no matter what we try. I just believe that is just apart of who Bryar is. He really loves tractors, and pretty much uses that words a million times throughout the day.

Charli has been riding Ranger more and more lately. He is such a stubborn soul, but I truly believe that she is too. Which almost makes the perfect team. They still have a lot of days to learn ahead of them. Some of the pictures that I capture of Charli riding are my favorites of the Summer so far. She looks so natural sitting up there, and it makes me exited to see how far she goes in her "cowgirl" lifestyle. She does still have daily chores of feeding and scooping. But sending her out with a jug of water or lemonade always helps get the job accomplished. Once work is over they both know it is time to play!