Saturday, January 25, 2014

A Journey Through Pregnancy With Christopher...

Journey Through My Pregnancy

Caroline has tagged me in another FUN "survey" type of blog post! I'm super excited to do this one, because it involves pictures! There is nothing other than pictures to capture an audience! By clicking on her name, you can view her blog & her journey through pregnancy (which I was honored to be apart of) :)

Let's Get Started! :)

A Photo of You & Your Husband/Family Before This Pregnancy
Chris & I at a friends wedding May 2009

How Did You Announce Your Pregnancy?
I put this photo up on facebook the same night I told my in-laws I was pregnant. 13 weeks pregnant

What Were Your First Cravings?

First Ultrasound Photo
5 weeks 6 Days
First Belly Photo
5 weeks
Belly Photo From Second Trimester/ 12 Weeks
12 weeks. Also the photo I showed my parents on a slideshow to announce
How Did You Announce The Gender Of Your Baby
Through an Ultrasound Photo. I was 19 weeks.
Did You Travel Or Vacation While Pregnant?
31 Weeks. Deruyter Lake NY
Favorite Part Of Being Pregnant
11 weeks 6 Days when I heard Christopher's Heartbeat the very first time
Favorite Maternity Photos
I didn't get Maternity Photos Taken... So really any photos we took week by week of our pregnancy were great

Third Trimester/ 28 Weeks Belly Photo
Extremely Hot & Exhausted at 28 weeks. Our Air Conditioning was not fixed yet
Photos From Your Baby Shower
Surrounded by tons of gifts. 
If you want to see more photos of my baby shower click here and scroll down

Final Belly Photo
39 weeks. I didn't give birth till 2 more weeks. But between working everyday and going to school I was too exhausted to take a picture!
Last Thing You Did Before You Gave Birth
I laid in a hospital bed for 2 days. I couldn't start labor on my own. This was me the 2nd day on Pitocin
First Picture Of Your Baby
Christopher Michael Anderson. Born 9/9/2010 8lbs 2.3 oz 21.5 in long
My mom seeing her very last Grandbaby. She was so proud.
This was super fun to do & I want to tag my fellow mommy blogger Ashley. If you click on her name it will bring you to her page :)


Thank you Caroline for this really fun survey! Took me on a trip down memory lane!


-Mel


Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Receiving Happy Mail & Making Stickers...

Hello Everyone :)

I received my very 1st RAK today! :) (As well call it in the group... Happy Mail)

I also received a few samples in the mail, and a FREE Pillsbury coupon to try one of their Funfetti Donut Kits! mmmm :) I'll be picking those up soon to try!

Next week I will be going to court regarding my workers comp injury (that is all I can say for now) & I'm hoping that I can continue medical treatment.

Also on some really good news: My Friend Christina will be coming up to SC in February & we will be doing pictures with her! She hasn't seen or taken pictures of us as a family or of Christopher since he was 18 months old!!!! I cannot wait to see her!

I'll leave you with a few photos & then I'm off for the day! :)

The RAK I got today! These stickers will be of some great use to me!!! I can't wait to use the Girl Scouts ones and of course the tear drops! Those are always super fun to use :)



Utilizing my sticker maker I got 2 Christmas's ago :) I made a cupcake sticker! (I cut out the cupcake design with my cricut on very pretty birthday sprinkle paper)



-Mel

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Random Acts of Kindness & Making Friends Along The Way...

Hello Everyone :)

Among my time on facebook, I have joined another group that is obsessed with Erin Condren as I am.
We organize, prioritize, and prettify (is that a word?) our daily living activities and write everything down.
We share our thoughts, actions, and washi-tape addictions among the group (and no one laughs, or judges) 

I have joined this group and have started to participate in RAK's! (These are Random Acts of Kindness) in which we fill eachother's mailboxes with cute little cards, post-its, and stickers to brighten someone elses day. 
Also we have formed a pen-pal group and I'm just waiting to get a name :)

Thought I would share my journey into becoming better organized & finding helpful friends along the way :)

And because I'm super Erin Condren obsessed... 

Check out her website, get acquainted with her awesome stationary products, sign up with my referral (and you'll get a free $10 code) 
 https://www.erincondren.com/referral/invite/melissaanderson1230 



-Mel

 

Friday, January 17, 2014

Getting Crafty With Ideas for Valentines Day....

Hello All! We're half way through January & I'm getting crafty! I'm ready for February to get here for Valentines Day! <3
Here are a few cute ideas you can enjoy! (I found these on pinterest)

You can find this craft here

I love this card! And I'm looking forward to making it this year. You can use regular card stock underneath (red or pink or yellow) and some notebook paper (or card stock that is made to look like such) and cut out cute little hearts and add long dashes around to complete. I won't be using the buttons... but I may be using some cute lady bug stickers I have laying around.

This would be great for loved ones & friends :)






I found these here

I saw these and showed Chris RIGHT AWAY! You might think I'm silly, but I would rather Strawberries shaped like roses than actual roses themselves. :) And they taste delicious.
We have a fondu pot we could heat chocolate in--- PERFECT date night dessert at HOME <3










I found this idea here

ADORABLE for a loved one or friend :)














And the romantic in me found this here











I hope you enjoy some of my Valentine's Day ideas and have a great Friday!


-Mel


Saturday, January 11, 2014

100th Blog Post... Taking a look back at my most important blog posts since the beginning....

Hello Everyone!!!! I have hit my 100th blog post as of today! Kind-of sad because I've had this blog since 2011, but I just started actively writing in it (which means, I'll write at least a blog post once a month). I like to blog (or journal) and I really like to write things down so that I can remember. So In honor of my 100th blog posts... These are links to some of my past blog posts up to this point! ENJOY!


My Very First Blog Post - At least for this blog. It was an Introduction for everyone who either did not know me, or knew very little about me. It informed everyone of what was to come for the lives of myself, my husband, and of course--- our little man.

Christopher's 1st Birthday- This blog entry centered around Christopher's 1st Birthday with pictures!

1st Birthday Pictures & Christmas Photos 2011- Exactly as this states :) Pictures, Pictures, & More Pictures!

Happy Holidays & Happy New Year- Ending 2011 & Beginning 2012

Hard Times- Letting the world know my Mother has Cancer

Christmas Photos 2012- Exactly as this states :) Pictures, Pictures & More Pictures

Beginning 2013- Bringing in the New Year 2013

For My Mother- Honoring my Mother's Memory

7- Celebrating our 7th year together

Being 3- Celebrating Christopher's 3rd Birthday & Making Cards

My Best Friends Wedding- Being in my best friends wedding & Pictures :)

Day 1 of 30 Days of Thankfulness- Starts with our 5th wedding Anniversary

Merry Christmas 2013- Complete with a Video :)

Happy Birthday to Me!- As it states

Happy New Year 2014- Bringing in the New Year 2014


Hope you guys enjoy!


-Mel


Wednesday, January 8, 2014

TAG... You're It! Mommy Survey's from a fellow Mother....

Hello Everyone! Today is a special entry because I was tagged in two "survey" type blog posts from my friend Caroline, centered around Mommy Activities! (If you click on her name above it brings you to her new Mommy Blog!)

A little history first on Caroline and Myself before I begin. We were managers at Wet Seal, and although I working there before she was, she was good friends with Autumn, the store manager, and she became the Co-Manager & recommended me as an assistant manager a little after she met me. She has been a friend of mine for awhile... and although our lives changed, and went in different directions we still have kept in touch with each other through the years, and we'll probably talk a lot more because not too long ago she had a baby girl--- Paisley :) In fact, I did a few blog posts about her gender reveal. You can read them here and here.

So here it goes! :)

SURVEY #1

 1.       How many kids do you have and what ages? I have 1 son, age 3.

2.       Do you feel like you have it all together every day? Absolutely NOT! I have some medical issues going on right now, so everything is pretty chaotic. We're also not living in our home, so we share a home with my in-laws.

3.       When do you make time to shower? Day or night? I shower whenever someone is able to watch Christopher. So it could be day or night.

4.       Do you wear makeup every day? NO! If we go out, then I slap on some eye liner.

5.       Do you style your hair every day or ponytail it? If I have to be somewhere, I'll straighten it. If not, it goes in a messy bun on the top of my head.

6.       When do you find time to do your hair and makeup? Depends... usually little man comes into the bathroom with my and watches. When I'm finished he gives me a kiss and says "Very Pretty Mommy" (because his daddy taught him to say that, heehee)

7.       Do you work out and when? I do a few exercises for my knee every morning and evening. I can't do much right now because of it, but when it is better I'll be working out 5 days a week :)

8.       What’s your house cleaning schedule? Do you clean daily? Right now it's scattered depending on how I feel during the day, but yes I clean daily because I have a toddler running around, and too many toys that I could possibly step on (Step on a Lego and tell me it doesn't hurt..... )

9.       Do you ever get overwhelmed with all of your responsibilities as a mom? Not so much when he was a newborn... but now... yes. And sometimes I feel like I'm a horrible mom if he wears the same shirt 2 days in a row... but what can I do? I love him to death... and his shirts don't get that dirty... unless he's been outside.

10.   How often do you have alone/me time and how do you relax? Every night when Christopher goes to bed, the days that I have to go to a doctor appointment or meeting, or a night when Chris and I can go out and his grandma watches him.


SURVEY #2

1. Are you a SAHM or working mom? I am a SAHM currently (Stay At Home Mom, for those that don't know)


2. Would you have it any other way? Yes Actually. It might sound horrible to say, but I cannot wait to get back to work. I don't have the patience as some, so going to work for a few hours and being away gives me time to clear my head. I love my son with all my heart, and I love being a mom.... but sometimes Mommy needs to get out too.


3. Do you co-sleep? Some-what yes. At night he falls asleep in our bed, and we move him to his own bed. But sometimes in the middle of the night, he will crawl into bed with mommy and daddy.


4. One must have gear for baby? When Christopher was a baby, our one must have gear was a paci.


5. How many kids do you plan on having? Three more--- so that would make it 4. But whatever happens... happens :)


6. Date night? How many nights (or day) per month? Depends. Usually we'll go out by ourselves on "special" occasions only... like Birthdays, Mothers Day, Fathers Day.... we don't really go out....


7. Your child's favorite show? At the moment--- Team UmiZoomi.


8. Name 1 thing you bought before you had your baby and you never ended up using? We used everything we bought. So if I had to choose--- his baby carrier. I only used it twice. Chris said he used it about a handful of times.


9. Your child's favorite food? It's a tie! Between Pizza & PB & J.


10. How many cars does your family have? 1


11. Weight gain before pregnancy, during and after, and now? I was 135lbs when I got pregnant with Christopher. I had just had surgery 2 months prior and lost about 25 lbs. During pregnancy I gained 72lbs :( I got down to 150lbs, and because of my knee issues I haven't been able to run or dance to really lose weight... so I gained a lot back and am now 170lbs.


12. Dream vacation with your kiddos? Disney World! I loved it when Chris and I went for our Honeymoon, and because we're such "kids" at heart... I cannot wait to take our child/ren


13. Dream vacation without the kiddos? Italy. That was our original destination for our honeymoon--- but it never happened. Maybe for our 25th??? :)


14. How has your life changed since your baby has been born? A lot. I grew up a lot. I learned to love someone else more than I thought was humanly possible.


15. Finish the sentence: "It makes my heart melt to see......" Christopher's smile when he sees us walk in the door.


16. Where do you shop for your kids? Once Upon A Child!  or Target & Walmart :)


17. Favorite make-up and skin care products? I only use eyeliner & mascara. any will do.


18. Huggies diaper jeans: yay or nay? I thought they were cute when they came out, but we never had Christopher wear them.


19. Have you always wanted kids? NO! It wasn't until I was about 17 I started really wanting to be a mother .


20. Best part about being a mom? Everything... including the temper tantrums :)


I hope everyone enjoyed these! Thank you Caroline :)


Hope everyone has a good day!


-Mel


Sunday, January 5, 2014

January Birthday's....

Hello Everyone!
Birthday's I will be celebrating for the month of January :)

1. My Best Friend Debbie's birthday was on the 3rd of this month. I made her a birthday card, and she will be getting some brownies on Thursday.

2. My Father-in-law Kevin's birthday is on the 9th. I made him a birthday card, but still unsure what we will be giving him for a birthday present.

3. My brother Dave's birthday is on the 29th. I will be making his birthday card very soon and sending it out to him.

I think I will be doing this at the beginning of every month. More so to remind myself ;)

There are a number of FB friends (25 to be exact) that have birthdays this month as well-- but they just get the classic "Happy Birthday" on FB posts!

On another note, I haven't really said much about what has been going on with me medically. I have posted a few facebook statuses talking about going to see a doctor and such, but only my really close friends and family know what is going on, and I haven't really said anything on facebook, just because right now at the moment I have not gone to court... yet. I do however; have a deposition tomorrow at 1pm. I can't really go into it right now, but I just wanted you guys to know that I do have a doctor, that told me a few things, and I have asked a couple of you to pray for healing.


I will see you guys soon :)


-Mel


Wednesday, January 1, 2014

January 2014, Let's Get Fit, One-Song Workouts & A Motivational Quote to get the year started...

Happy New Year Everyone!

Our Kiss At Midnight!
















May this year be much better than last, more prosperous, with less of the bad, and much more of the good.










Lets bring on January!!!! I'm not sure what this month will have in store for us. We're starting it off right, watching Gamecock Football--- WOOHOO! 

And because it is the month of January-- I actually made this design on May Designs. It would make a great fitness journal, for those that are choosing to exercise more, work out, run... those kind of things...
  

And also here is a great work out I found on pinterest to do to just one song :)
 
and because it is a brand new month
Here is our MOTIVATIONAL quote for January! 

See you guys soon!

-Mel