Every year I hit on how close my birthday is to my husbands.  Just three short days separate our special days.  Every year I hit on how thankful I am for my husband and all he does for me.  Every year I celebrate him and only him, for one entire day.

This year is the same, but yet so different.  This year I saw my husband in an entirely different light.  I saw him as more than a fur dad... I saw him as a dad to our baby.  I watched him experience a wide range of emotions when she was welcomed into this world.  I've watched him grow into his role as her protector and provider.  I see his face light up daily when she connects with him.  And boy does she connect.  I hear him brag about how she is his favorite (and I'm starting to believe it... girl LOVES her dad.)

This new side of my husband has made me fall so much further into love with him.  It is amazing how such a sweet little girl came in and rocked our world just enough.. in such a good way.

Happy birthday to my husband, my best friend, my baby daddy, my soulmate!  I hope today and everyday is one you treasure and enjoy.  All my love, always.

Every year I hit on how close my birthday is to my husbands.  Just three short days separate our special days.  Every year I hit on how than...

Today is my 24th birthday.

To celebrate... 24 things I've learned in the last year:

1. It doesn't matter how many people you know in a relatively new state, complete strangers can make a birthday one to remember.

2. Laughter heals.

3. Just because you own a boat, does not mean you will use it during the summer like you should.

4. Sometimes one test is not enough.  Sometimes four tests are needed.  Of which three different brands are used, just to be sure.  And even then... a blood test is sometimes needed to erase the disbelief.

5. Being pregnant is not an awesome glowing experience.  It actually kind of sucks.

6. Dealing with the suck of pregnancy is so very worth it when the nine months finally ends.

7. Sometimes you have to make decisions for your family that quite literally tear you apart.  But when you make those decisions with someone you love and trust, it is a little easier.

8. Time heals all pain, but doesn't erase all the memories.

9. It is super easy to plan a nursery design.  It is not as easy to make that design become reality.

10. I thought I slept a lot being a stay-at-home-wife.  Then I got pregnant.  I didn't know I could sleep so much and STILL feel tired.

11. Bananas make me want to hurl.  Still.  The thought, the smell, seeing them.

12. Nothing compares to baby and puppy cuddles.  Nothing.

13. Baby stuff is expensive.  I heard it for years, but never believed it until I walked through Buy Buy Baby.

14. It doesn't matter where you live, the weather can ALWAYS surprise you.

15. New cars are so worth it. They make you feel grown up. (Especially when you sign 50 million documents before getting the keys!!)

16. I've always under estimated my body and its abilities.  After 25 hours of labor and giving birth to an 8 pound, 4 ounce baby... I will never under estimate it again.

17. My husband likes chocolate.  Prior to this last year, he hated it.

18. Surprises are so worth it, no matter how small or how big.

19. Family is the greatest gift God can give you.  I've been blessed with not only my family, but Rob's family and now my own family.  It is so easy to take them for granted, but I'm learning just how blessed and grateful I am for them.

20. A person can never vacuum enough.  Especially when there is a dog involved.

21. Writing thank yous is such a simple gesture that goes a long ways.

22. Being a mother is hard. But rewarding.

23. Being a wife is hard. But rewarding.

24. The greatest thing I learned this last year?  That I was pregnant.  Hands down meeting my baby girl topped everything else from the last year.

On to 24...

February 24, 2013 - 23rd birthday celebration.

February 14, 2014 - 8 days shy of 24.

Today is my 24th birthday. To celebrate... 24 things I've learned in the last year: 1. It doesn't matter how many people you kno...

Happy belated Easter friends, family and readers!

Of course I can't actually post day-of.  That would mean I'm running on schedule.  Which never, ever, happens.  (If that happened... I would ALWAYS have my homework done prior to Sunday night..)(And I would make it anywhere ON TIME...)

Our Easter was rather simple this year.  We didn't have a large feast.  Dye eggs.  Or really do anything Easter related other than attend mass, dress up and eat tons of Easter candy.  But somehow it was perfect.  Probably cause it was me and my little family.  Being together.  Which is really how it should be...
So I hope yours had the same quality of peace, love, springtime and renewal.

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I think the calmness that occurred on Easter Sunday was the building anticipation for Monday.  6 long weeks of class all led up to this one last hoorah.  Graduation.  Rob is done with his ALC course.  I was fortunate enough to not have to spend those 6 weeks separated from him.  The signal NCO academy is at Fort Gordon... so he was just gone from the house a little more.  But he still got to come home every night and sleep right next to me.
Nevertheless, it is a giant sigh of relief that this course is over.  I am so proud of him for getting it done.  And now we can look towards the future...

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Of course Monday afternoon was interrupted with one of those Army phone calls.  You know the ones that interrupt a perfectly peaceful afternoon... where I'm dozing in the chair and Rob is watching some crazy movie on Netflix.  Rather than return to the 9-5 M-F schedule he had before.. now he will be on shift work, which was rumored but never confirmed until that one phone call.

Which really isn't ALL that bad.  We've been married 3 years though.. and he's never worked shift work while we have lived together.  He did it prior to us getting married and me moving to Maryland.. and then again while he was in Kuwait.  So I know there is some adjusting that will have to occur... but it's just one of those things you just deal with.  Let's just say.. I'm more than used to that by now.

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Speaking of three... my first-born-fur-baby turned 3 on Saturday.  I'm almost 99% sure he knew it was a special day too... his stumpy little tail wagged more than usual, he asked for extra loving and it reminded me of how much I love that little dude.  I've been through a ton with him by my side.  So of course he was smothered with extra kisses and love...I couldn't have asked for a better, more loyal, dog.

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Otherwise I'm still holding down this fort while my love earns that dough.  Doing my homework the day it is due.  Waiting for the laundry to fill every hamper before starting.  Cleaning when the floor is visibly speckled with dirt.  Hanging out with new friends and making new Georgia memories.  And always.. always... spending time with my little family.  Who could ask for more?

Source.

Happy April friends!

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What is a Walkabout? It's a blog link-up party, every week here and with our co-hosts! Simply put your blog address or a specific post in the linky, visit some other people, and make some friends. Easy at that! I can't wait to talk to everyone!

Happy belated Easter friends, family and readers! Of course I can't actually post day-of.  That would mean I'm running on schedule...

Hands down the best part about being three days older than my husband is the fact that we can do our birthdays big.. together.. at once.

In 2011.. we went to Atlantic City to celebrate our 21st birthdays the right way.  As in gambling, alcohol, the whole works.  [[Read more here.]]  Last year Rob was home on R&R over our birthdays.  That was a crazy busy week!  Between tattoos and the casino on my birthday and going out downtown with all of our friends on Rob's birthday.. we partied hard for our 22nd birthdays.

I wasn't sure we could really top last year's birthday considering the fact we are in a relatively new state and we don't exactly have a ton of close friends here.. but somehow we came pretty close.

Friday was my birthday.. which included a giant bubble bath in our freaking amazing tub, being a bum, dinner and some errands.  Monday was Rob's birthday.. which included him working and me being a bum.  [Story of my life, huh?]

So Saturday we celebrated!  My cousin and our new neighbor came to "support" me.  Rob had several of his co-workers and a few classmates that came.  It ended up being like 8 dudes or something to us 3 girls.  Regardless, it was a great time!

Tonya, my cousin Jess and I.

My outfit for the night.  Comfortable yet still cute!

Plus it was our first time hosting a get together at our house.. and it actually went pretty well.  We locked the dogs up in their kennels in our bedroom, grilled some burgers, ordered the UFC fight and surprisingly there was only one spilled drink!

Probably the best part though was just having to walk down the hallway to conk out.  No worry about how to get home.  Major score.

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In other news.. I redid the blog.  Check it out!  I love how it turned out...

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I've been spending too much time at Family Dollar... yesterday I got a lamp for the office and a curtain to hide a storage area in our laundry room [$6 that's all!].  Today I went back and got a comforter set for our bedroom.  It was only $40!  Compared to the one we have now.. I have no problem with the dogs laying on it.. I won't be freaking out about it being ruined!  And I just may find myself again there soon to get another comforter set for the spare bedroom.  If you have one.. you should check it out.  Just saying.

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I just finished another session at DeVry!  Only 3 to go!  Next one starts Monday... this session will be a bit different in the fact that I am taking 3 classes instead of 2.  I ended up having an odd number of classes left, so I had to tack one onto this session.  I am hoping it doesn't translate into a ton of extra work.  Oh well.. the end is in sight.

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We just got our taxes back the other day... the best part?  Paying off debt.  Whose with me?!

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I'm slowly starting to tackle room by room adding the finishing touches onto what I deemed incomplete before.  The laundry room and master bedroom closet are done.  The office is so close.  Next plan is to tackle the spare bedroom. :)  I have a deadline [when my sister comes!] and I am sticking to it folks.


And I think that's it... Happy Thursday.  Tomorrow is Friday!  Keep your chin up... or smile a little bigger if you need to!

Source.

Hands down the best part about being three days older than my husband is the fact that we can do our birthdays big.. together.. at once. I...

Dear Rob,

Happy birthday handsome man of mine!

I just wanted to take a moment and dedicate a post to you.  To you on your 23rd birthday.  Thanks for taking care of me and the fur babies.  I know it's not always easy dealing with me (and vice versa) but you do it.  At the end of the day, regardless of how =[ the day has been, you are still my best friend.  My soul mate.  The one I am happy to share a home and a life with.

I've told you a thousand times that you are the only one I'd ever share this crazy life with.  The only one I'd be okay sharing it with.  I mean that with every ounce of my being.

I love you to the moon and back you old man you!

Dear Rob, Happy birthday handsome man of mine! I just wanted to take a moment and dedicate a post to you.  To you on your 23rd birthday....

It's 15 minutes past midnight on Friday February 22nd.  So far an average start to an otherwise average day.  Except I know better.

It is my birthday.

23 years ago I was born.
23. years. Wow.

I'd like to think I've learned one or two things about who I am at 23...

I'm a wife. A daughter. A sister. A friend. A fur mother. I'm fiesty but loving.  I'm responsible.  I don't always make the best choices, but I don't regret my mistakes either because they all became learning opportunities.  I'm sarcastic more often than not.  I'm smart but sometimes lack common sense.  I grew up under a rock, so the world still shocks me daily.  I am thankful for that rock, because it means someone was looking out for me.  I'm outgoing, but don't like uncomfortable situations.  I enjoy writing, designing, watching TV and reading.  I wear sweatpants more than actual clothes.  I'm organized and I love to decorate.  My feelings get hurt easily.  I am naturally extremely trusting.  I cry when people go out of their way for others.  I cry at love and happy things, as well as sad things.  When my husband comes home at the end of the day excited to see me, I am the happiest in the world.  Nothing beats the love my dogs have for me.  I consider myself blessed.

I'm me.
I'm loved by many, probably hated by some.  I'm not changing, or going anywhere.

So when I wake up for the start of this day... I'm going to finally use that oversized bathtub that has not been used, go to the library, watch Magic Mike again, drink wine and be thankful to be celebrating my 23rd year of life.

One last note to tack onto the end of this celebration:
On this special day I want to send a shout out to my mother.  It's her birth date.  And without her and my dad I obviously wouldn't be celebrating today 23 years later.  I am so thankful for the both of you and all you have done for me for 23 years now.

It's 15 minutes past midnight on Friday February 22nd.  So far an average start to an otherwise average day.  Except I know better. It...

It's Thur-Friday!  My third favorite day of the week (first being Friday, because I can sleep in with no alarm clock, second being Saturday, cause I have freedom) all because it is the last work day of the work week!  Which is what I, of course, had to remind myself as I rolled out of bed at the unfortunate time of too-early-for-Amanda this morning.  I was greeted by a chilly (read.. cold) cloudy morning.  Ideal for staying in bed with your fur friend, reading books and possibly more than likely sleeping.  Duty calls my friend and that work place just can't survive without me.  And that is the truth.

Anyway I had one task to accomplish today.  Mail out bachelorette party invitations for my best friend (sorry it took me so long Al!) over my lunch break.  And what do you know.. them post office people pulled a fast one on me.  It went down like this... I get to the counter, she rings up the other little package I was sending out.  I tell her I need stamps for the invitations (the stack was sitting in front of me..) and oh by the way can I mail them with these slightly raised stickers on there?  She informs me it will cost more to mail them because of the stickers.  I am like okay, I will just remove them.  So she goes and gets the stamps and comes back with 65 cent stamps.  Wait.. what?  I am removing the stickers... her response was that because the invitations are square it will cost more to send them.  Mind you, that is 20 cents more than normal stamp prices.  Unfortunately I was not feeling too fiery so I didn't argue her but take a look at this picture of the invitation envelopes (white) and a regular card envelope (purple) next to each other:
Need further proof?  Here is the envelopes on top of each other:
Oh and please look at how fortunate I am to be my Mother's daughter.. she is by far the youngest looking 51 year old I know!
Tomorrow we will celebrate together by seeing Titanic 3-D... my first 3-D movie (I am excited about everything BUT the price.. yikes) and going to dinner.  Otherwise this weekend is looking like homework, rainy weather and cleaning!  Story of my life.  :)

Hope everyone else has a darn good weekend!  YOU deserve it!

Amanda

It's Thur-Friday!  My third favorite day of the week (first being Friday, because I can sleep in with no alarm clock, seco...

For a two year old boxer, Piston is an AMAZING car rider.  He has tons of experience with his road trip from Maryland to Kansas and constantly being my partner in crime.  Usually he just sits back in the seat with his legs extended like my own real life kid!

So I now have a two year old in the house.  And hopefully the terrible twos passed during his second year in dog years. :)  His birthda...