January 2014 -- 101 in 1001 Update

January 2014 -- 101 in 1001 Update

Our Goals

1. Add a member to our family.
2. Pay off all student loans. 

3. Visit NYC. (We are hoping to do this in the summer when we make a trip to PA, NJ etc to visit family) 

4. Take a long road trip. 

5. Sell something on Etsy  

6. Have Dad's Crawfish in Louisiana.  

7. Take a trip to Louisiana at least once a year. (3/3)  DONE the last weekend of January

8. Host a holiday in our home. 

9. Go camping. (We are really hoping to get to this in the Spring.)

10. Build a real fire.   

11. Rent or buy a house. 

12. Decorate the outside of a house for Christmas.   

13. Stay at or Visit the Biltmore. 

14. Serve in a soup kitchen. 

15. Grow our own tomatoes.

16. ******* 

17. Give an item away each time we buy something new (clothing, housewares, etc).  

18. Go on dates at least every other week.  (We wrote goals for 2014 and this is one of our goals; we are going to have "Us" nights weekly and we will do something out every other week)

19. Complete a blog series together.

20. For one month, don't buy anything extra. 

21. Contact our family members/parents at least once a week.

22. Go to a shooting range. 

23. Go sailing.

24. Get involved in a community service group.

25. Go on a mission trip.

26. Read at least one book a month for a year. (12/12)

27. Start a small business. 

29. Buy a new Christmas ornament each year. (2/3) 

30. Get a massage.  

31. Send a card to a friend or family member just for fun. 

32. Begin a photography business (big or small).  

33. Eat at a local/non-chain restaurant every time we travel. 

34. Visit a new place together once a year. (2/3)

35. Ride in a hot air balloon.  

36. Attend at least one festival a year in the state where we live. (2/3) (2012: Spring Fest, 2013: BBQ Fest)

37. Stay at a B&B. 

38. Floss more- at least once a week. 

39. Give a 100% tip. 

40. Go see a musical. 

41. Eat a new type of food. (Korean, African, etc)

42. Repurpose a piece of furniture. 

43. Watch a sunrise and photograph it. 

44. Explore secret paths.

45. Do something nice for someone anonymously. 

46. Pick fruit at an orchard.  

47. Get a library card. 

48. Go to a garage sale together. 

49. Celebrate our Golden Birthdays in style!  

50. Make homemade ice cream. 

51. Learn a new hobby together.

Leslie's Goals

52. Lose my desired amount of weight.  

53. Continue to utilize this blog to document our lives especially once we start having children. (

54. Get a Skype account and use it. 

55. Paint something worth looking at (not just a wall)  

56. Add at least one cross to my cross collection. 

57. Learn to make the best sweet tea my husband has ever tasted. 

58. Make homemade marshmallows.  

59. Sell/Give away at least one cake or cupcakes that I've decorated for a party/gathering/birthday/etc.

60. Plan a scavenger hunt for Matt. 

61. Bake and decorate each of Matt's birthday cakes. (2/3) This year I'm actually making a cheesecake! 

62. Rake someone's leaves.

63. Meet up with at least one other blogger whose blog I read. 

64. Complete a blog series or post about our wedding, including the planning. Just for my own sake :) 

65. Continue mailing out birthday and anniversary cards to our friends and family. 

66. Invite someone to stay with us for a weekend or longer at least once a year. (2/3)

67. Complete a vlog.

68. Go fishing.

69. Make a point to call my closest friends as often as possible, not just texting. 

70. Take a continuing education class related to Autism or other childhood disorders.  

71. Find a yummy Low Country Boil recipe and cook it. 

72. Take at least one picture of Matt and I every time we travel.

73. When we take a long trip (5+ hours one way), drive so that Matt doesn't have to. 

74. Take a trip to visit a few special friends (we know who they are).   

75. Take a cake decorating class. 

76. Read a book, write a blog post about it, and link up with a book club blog.

Matt's Goals

77. Run a 5k. 

78. Take a photography class. 

79. Take Leslie to an air show. 

80. Make a picture frame out of an old or hand-made window frame.  

81. Go to a college football game.

82. Get a dog.  
83. Get a new camera lens.  

84. Make my wife cry in a good/romantic/sweet/you get the idea way. 

85. Give Leslie a love letter at least once a month for a year.  

86. Visit Chimney Rock, N.C. 

87. Wear a suit, and look good doing it. ;) 

88. Visit a new, to me, zoo. 

89. Watch the Flyers destroy the Hurricanes in Raleigh (hopefully with Leslie).  

90. Fix something for someone.  

91. Cook something new and exciting. 

92. Swim in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

93. Make something from scratch. 

94. Do something with Granddad. 

95. Journal more often.

96. Learn all the words to OR learn how to play one of Leslie's "high school days" favorite rap songs.

97. Teach something to someone.

98. Ride a horse.

99. Surprise Leslie with surprises.  

100. Spend an entire day, literally the entire day, in bed. Hopefully not while sick. 

101. Figure out how we will finish all 101 things on this list. 

Ours: 32/51 // Leslie: 17/25 // Matt: 19/25 // Total: 69/101

Praying for Boys {A Book Review}

I recently received the book, Praying for Boys, by Brooke McGlothlin from Bethany House to review. As most of you know, I just became a Mom in November when my son Mason was born. So, not only am I new to being a boy mom, I'm new to being a Mom in general!

The first thing that I loved about this book is that the author, Brooke, did not try to pretend that she had all of the answers to how to pray for your son, how to raise Godly men, etc. In fact, just after the book begins she says:  

"If you're looking for a book to teach you how to raise godly men, Praying for Boys isn't it. Neither is it a book that promises five easy ways to produce a boy to be proud of. In fact, it isn't really about you at all. It's a book about the God who loves your son more than you do and wants to work in his heart and life in spite of you as you pray and desperately seek Him."

This book begins by giving just a quick insight into the importance of praying for our sons, a little bit about how Brooke does that for her boys, and what it's like to be going it alone either as a single mother or a Christian wife who doesn't have a Christian husband. Then, she really gets to the meat of the matter and gives many areas where ours sons need our prayers the most. Prayers and scripture for each area are provided and honestly, it's just crazy powerful!

I am looking forward to using this book in some way or another in the years to come as I pray for my little guy to know the Lord. 

Thank you, Brooke, for writing such a great book and honestly, just being the vessel God used to show boy moms the way to pray for our sons. 

Sunday Funday Photoshoot

Just last Sunday Mason was on our bed doing a little tummy time and I asked Matt to get his camera out and snap a few pictures. The light was great and of course, the subject was awesome! :)

This facial expression...no words

Practicing his sitting up which was done in his Thanksgiving onesie because it didn't fit at Thanksgiving and we NEED to wear it! :)

A Dose of Humility...with Love

It's about to get real around here!

Last week, I had this thought "Hmm, I feel like we are really getting into a routine and I'm getting better at this 'Mom to a baby' thing."

Here's what happened shortly after.

Mason who has been sleeping for 9 hours consistently for almost two weeks, woke up way before that and was a bit of a basket case.

Mason who has tended to be a calm and happy baby burst into tears/fussed when one of Matt's co-workers tried to hold him.

I came home to pump before going to small group which takes place right during Mason's feeding time. I proceeded to pump, leave the milk on the counter and then go to small group without any milk for Mason!!!

Later on that day, I pumped and then proceeded to spill that milk onto the counter.

WOW!

Let me tell you, that was a day for the record books. But in that I was reminded that the Lord is gentle with us. He wants me to feel like I am a good Mom but he also wants to remind me that it's OKAY if a day doesn't go exactly as planned.

Later on that day, I looked back on the day and tried to find the silver lining in those situations. Mason woke up early but Matt and I were able to soothe him easily and he went back to sleep quickly. When Matt's co-worker tried to hold him, we were able to calm him and he was fine quickly. I was able to leave small group, go home and get Mason's milk and make it back to small group before discussion started. When I spilled the milk, I had already poured part of it into another bottle so I didn't lose all of it.

Thank you, Lord for helping me to see the good in all things lately.

Mason: Week 11 {Photos}

Day 71: Wearing my smile! 

Day 72: LOOK AT THE CHEEKS!! 

Day 73: Talking about ice cream with Granddad put him to sleep! 

Day 74: Silly Daddy! 

Day 75: Book Time

Day 76: Someone hid his pacifier from Mom! 

Day 77: Showing off his belly! 

Stones for Bread {A Book Review}

This is a book review for BookSneeze but as always, all opinions are my own. 

I received this book almost three months ago right around the time Mason was born so I have just gotten to read it in the last two weeks. When I started reading, I was a little mad at myself for not reading sooner! It was such a great book!

Side note: As tired as I was for the first 3-4 weeks of Mason's life, there is NO way I could have ready anyway. I'm glad I was able to enjoy that time just focused on him and that super fun stage. 

That being said, now that we are sleeping well consistently, I am enjoying getting back to reading. 

This novel written by Christa Parrish is, in my opinion, somewhat complex (in a good way). The book intertwines a modern day story a bread baker, her past history including her Mom's death, and some biblical principles/stories, and it also includes some of the bread recipes mentioned within the story. It was so fun for me to read. 

I enjoyed the mix of the difference perspectives all within one book. My favorite portion of the book was the present day portion because it was a mix of baking, love and life in general. After reading this book, I would be interested in reading more of Christa's books. 

Petunia Pickle Bottom {Review}

For years and years, I have seen the Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bags. I always thought they were so awesome and well made. So, when we announced that we were pregnant, the first thing Mom offered to buy me was the diaper bag! I knew immediately what brand I wanted. 

Since we didn't find out the gender beforehand, I wanted to get something that was mostly neutral and something I would want to carry daily since it would replace my purse for most purposes. 

I ended up choosing the City Carryall in Frolicking in Fez print.

This bag is just what I hoped it would be. 

The print is beautiful and the outside of the bag is easily wipeable. 

 

The side pockets are large and I can easily put my water bottle in one and the other side holds a bottle of hand sanitizer. 

The front flap also has a small changing pad which comes in handy in places that don't have changing tables in the bathrooms. The front flap also contains diapers and another pocket which is holding our pacifiers. I was able to fit 5 disposable diapers in the pocket. 

In the inside, there are two larger pockets on one side, two smaller pockets on each end and of course, a large inside pocket. I currently have my wallet, small wipes container, gas drops, a bottle of formula, and two gallon ziploc bags holding clothes, burp cloths, etc. 

For us, it is the perfect size! I would recommend this bag to anyone!