Super Duper Excited

My sister in law, Bridget, was kind enough to let me in her business as far as debt and bills go. She and my brother have created this AWESOME spreadsheet that lays out all bills, when they are due, all the info you need for each bill and even a countdown to when certain things will be paid off!! I saved a copy of her "Budget Form", deleted her info and entered mine! I have been able to plug in my weekly salary - show what bills need to be paid that week - put money in savings and create a plan to be DEBT FREE (minus house and car) by July when #2 comes!!! I can not explain how excited I am. I really feel like a dummy b/c I am obsessed with this plan! I wish my months would speed up so I can put X's when bills are paid and update balances! I even color coded my spreadsheet so it looks more fun! Who knew paying bills and buckling down could be so much fun?!? Its going to be tight the next 5 months but I can sacrifice to make things easier for my family!! To be honest - our family will not be debt free....just me. James and I keep all of our money and bills separate from each other. Not for any reason we just never combined accounts and it works for us. He has some credit card stuff and some loans and a truck note too. If you are interested I pay the daycare, mortgage, cell phones and then my credit card that I have. He pays all the other bills that keep our house going, insurance (health/auto), his credit card(s)/loans car note. It works out to to be about even - I may pay a little more in "bills" each month but he pays anytime we go out to eat or anything "extra" - its all a wash! Some people think the way we do things is weird...but its all we've ever known so it works out well for us :-)

I'm also having lunch with my husband today - who is off on vacation today & Monday. Tomorrow is his 28th birthday and we are going to the Coushatta for the night with a group of friends! (Going to the casino is NOT in my budget anymore....but I'll make it work hehe)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Because I am a Copy Cat....

Kristen at Living life...One Chapter at a Time posted about her cutie patootie daughter, Kensley that is a few months older than Cori. She posted funny things that she says so I figured I had some to share too. Cori's speech blows me away. She speaks so clear and knows so many words and puts correct sentences together! Sometimes I forget I'm having a conversation with a two year old.

Last night we were telling Cori about the weekend that we had planned.

Mommy: Cori, did you know that Saturday is Daddy's Birthday?

Cori: (Excited) OOOOO HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!!!

Mommy: Saturday when we wake up, we can make daddy a big breakfast.

Cori: Pancakes?

Mommy: Sure, after we eat breakfast we are going to take you to Nannie's house so you can spend the night while mommy and daddy go on a date at the casino for daddy's birthday.

Daddy: You get to go hang out with Nanny & Felicia!!

Cori: (Whining) I don't want to hang out with Nannie and Fesha, I want to hang out with Daddy at the birthday party so he can open presents and have balloons.

Cori thew her plate off her high chair and had a very bad attitude:

Mommy: CORI -That is not nice, why did you do that?

Cori: 'cause I was done with my chicken nuggets.

Mommy: You can tell me you are done and I'll take your plate! We don't throw our plate or food on the floor!

Cori: YES!!

James: (from another room over hearing us) CORI - You listen to your mommy and do what she says, and lose your attitude Missy!

Cori: Daddy, YOU WATCH YOUR MOUTH!

(This was one of those times that you realize they remember things you say - and you have to turn away from them & laugh and then turn back around like you're mad - being a parent is a tough job)

Daddy: Do not be disrespectful to me or your mommy. Say you're sorry and get down and pick your plate up and take it to the trash.

Cori: (whimpering) Sowwy mommy...

In the car on the way to daycare.

Cori: LOOK at that school bus!

Mommy: One day you'll be a big girl and ride on a school bus huh?

Cori: Yes with my friends!! Mommy, will you ride on the school bus with me?

Mommy: No baby, you'll be such a big girl you will ride by yourself with all your friends to go to school.

Cori: I only want to ride on the school bus if you go too....

(AWE melt my heart!!)

Apologies....

So as you can tell - I'm not a big blogger. I've become more of a "stalker" than a blogger. I log in almost everyday to read everyone else's wonderful blogs & wish that I had the ability to keep up and write like all my friends! I'm more of a Facebook mini blogger. All the cute pictures that get taken on my cell phone are easily uploaded to Fb and anything important (or not important) that I think of gets blurted out on there too. I could lie and say "I'll work at becoming a better blogger" but in reality...I won't.

Well since I already have a new post open I'll give a few updates. (Sorry, I probably won't post any pictures)

I'm pregnant!! I have to keep reminding myself - this 2nd pregnancy defiantly is not on my mind like it was the first time around. I'm so busy with the awesome 2 y/o that I don't have much time to sit and think about it, or wallow in it. I do have an app on my phone that tells me week by week whats going on....I have to refer to that to even know what week I'm on. Today, I'm 13W2D. Although I don't think about this pregnancy much it feels like its going by SLOW! I am in between looking chubby and pregnant, I'm tired all the time, I don't sleep much at night -- I'm ready to FEEL pregnant. To some I may LOOK pregnant but this belly and headaches are no fun without feeling the baby move around. I feel completely normal besides the few symptoms I just mentioned. Come On Baby!! Move For Momma! (please) This pregnancy so far is exactly the same as my first except I'm showing a lot sooner. I still want sweets and mostly cereal for dinner. I kinda have the feeling we are going to be blessed with another little girl. If we are her name will be.......(okay, I can't tell you what her name WILL be b/c nothing is 100% sure, but James and I have both agreed on a name for a girl....we have such a hard time coming up with boy names that we both like) I think another girl would be fun! I never had a sister an I'd love for Cori to have a sister, and I just can't picture our family with a little boy running around. I say that - but if it is a boy, we will adjust our mind sets and be just as thrilled!

Cori - she's so much fun! I never in a million years pictured such a cute little girl with such a big personality. She is so independent and so smart.....it just blows me away! The way she talks and the things that come out of her mouth just surprise me everyday! I'm biased, but I think she is smarter and more advanced then other kids her age. I can carry on a complete conversation with her and not even realize I'm talking to a 2 y/o child. The other kids at her daycare, some even older than her do not speak as well as she does. I'm a proud mommy! I have a few worries/concerns about her though and my stress levels rise when I think about having 2 kids!!! Cori still has her paci...I've tried to take it away but she screams bloody murder! Will I have her off of it before #2 gets here? Will she be potty trained? Will she be a nice big sister? I hope so. We have it so easy with her! She goes to bed when we say, she's good in the car, she's a picky eater, but that's ok. I hope #2 moves in and is as cool as Cori! If not, we'll manage, I suppose.

James and I and a few friends (6 others) are taking a mini trip to Louisiana on the 29th for his birthday. We are staying at the Coushatta one night and I'm excited! It seems like the last few times I've been to a casino I've been pregnant. I went 2 or 3 times when I was pregnant with Cori and this will be the first time I go pregnant with this baby. I enjoy the waiters brining me margaritas as I throw my $ into those slot machines but Its okay...I'll take my sprite on the rocks this time. Hopefully I'm not boring/lame to the others who are not pregnant. I'm hoping to stay up a little later than usual....man, I'm a rebel! Cori is going to spend the night with Yaya and Pawpaw.....although I have a feeling Pawpaw will not let us go to the Casino without him....Its going to be the first trip that I pack my car to its limit with people!! This should be interesting - hopefully fun! My car will comfortably fit 8 people so that's what we are doing! Its only about a 3 hour drive so we should be okay....as long as everyone packs light (with the 3rd row seat up, there isn't much room in the very back for "stuff")

Well, what do you know? I blogged. Cool huh?

Thought I'd share

This is an awesome Candle cake centerpiece!!

http://www.trulycustomcakery.com/tutorials/31.html

Finishing Up!

Day 23-Favorite vacation

Another favorite vacation was a short weekend getaway James and I took to the River walk. I thought for sure he was going to propose that weekend...NOPE! He booked us an expensive room at the Omni Suites, overlooking the River walk, roses and champagne in the room when we arrived.....why wouldn't I think he was going to propose! Anyway, we had a great weekend, spent a lot of money, held hands, saw the Alamo for the first time - it was just a fun, romantic weekend!!! He proposed 3 months later.

Day 24-Something you've learned

I've learned that there are few people you can trust with secrets.

I've learned how to be a good mommy!

I've learned that you get back what you put in.

I've learned that life is short......live it up!

I've learned to be thankful even when times seem rough!

I've learned that family is SO important!

I've learned how to be an adult, and the transition was pretty easy, actually.

I've learned that I am the voice for my child and if she tells me a teacher hit her at school, speak up b/c she can't!

I've learned a lot from my parents.

I've learned a lot from my husband.

I've learned a lot from my daughter.

I've learned how to be happy no matter what.

Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs

This should be interesting - I have over 1,000 songs that rang from classical, to rap....hehe I'll do first 15

1. Nickleback - All the Right Reasons
2. Kelly Clarkson - You Found Me
3. G Spot Boyz - Stanky Leg (LOL)
4. Carrie Underwood - Just a Dream
5. Taylor Swift Speak Now
6. Eminem - You're Never Over
7. Kidzup Educational Music - The Wheels on The Bus
8. Daughtry - There and Back Again
9. Rihanna - SOS
10. Avril Lavigne - Too Must to Ask
11. Lil Wayne - Drop the World
12. Darius Rucker - Come Back Song
13. Lady Gaga - Beautiful, Dirty, Rich
14. Colt Ford - Gangsta of Love
15. Maroon 5 - This Love

Day 26-Picture of your family

Day 27-Pets

Ally & Beaux. I used to love them SO much. They were my kids. They were so spoiled. Now, it seems that they just get on my nerves, are always out of food, stink, and get in our trash. I feel so bad b/c I do still love them, but they are too much for me now. I tell James that we will not get rid of them, but we probably will not have any more pets until all of our kids our out of the house! I feel so bad, they don't get enough attention anymore. I do no know why this section is underlined, and I do not know how to change it. Weird.

My Beaux & Ally

Day 28-Something that stresses you out

Everything stresses me out! Well I say that, but I'm usually a pretty calm and stress free person. Work sometimes stresses me, Cori stresses me out when she's jumping on the bed, or running down the driveway towards the street....James stresses me out when he's being insensitive. My mom REALLY stresses me out. I need a margarita....and I'm without on until July!

Day 29-3 Wishes

Wishes...I haven't thought of that word in a long time.

I wish for my family to be successful and happy.

I wish for my daughter to grow up and be a strong independent woman!

I wish for my weeks to go fast and my weekends to go slow.

I wish for my daughter growing up to go slow too!

Day 30-a picture

From our cruise. We had such a great time!

Bound & Determined.....

To finish this 30 day challenge....even if I lump the missed days all into one.

Day 20-Nicknames

I don't have a lot of nick names....there is not much you can do with Casey.

• Does "Mommy/Momma" Count?
• Case
• C.J.
• Babe
• Casey J.

Yup, that's about it.

Day 21-Picture of yourself

Hopefully this doesn't mean a picture of my current self, like at this moment. It's Monday morning...I was running late, as usual and I look more frumpy than "cute".

This picture was taken from my phone a few months back.

Day 22-What's in your makeup bag

I don't wear a lot of makeup. I don't technically have a "makeup bag" either. I have a little tray in the bathroom that holds my makeup. Bare Minerals foundation & bronzer, black eye liner, mascara, the same purple-ish eye shadow that i sweep on each morning, and chap stick. That sums it up. The only time my make up is in a bag is if we are traveling. I never take my makeup in my purse to work or anywhere else....I don't freshen up my makeup during the day....I have more important things to worry about I guess. I like to keep things simple. I'm a very simple girl.

FRIDAY!

Day 18-Something you regret

I really try hard not to regret anything, but I do still have some regrets. The first one that comes to mind is not swimming with the dolphins on our cruise when I was in college. Why was I afraid? I'm not afraid of many things! They were so calm and so sweet but I just couldn't make myself get in the water. I touched them on their heads for split seconds (as if they were going to bite me or something) and then jerked away. Really. Now that I look back I was being so pathetic. I missed out on a once in a lifetime thing.

Another that comes to mind was a VERY bad night. I think James and I were on a "break" (which probably only lasted a few days) I was in college and for the most part I didn't go out...I didn't party....I just hung around the apartment, studied, and waited for James to call me. (Again, pathetic) I decided that I wasn't going to wait around on him anymore and I wanted to have fun for one night. We got dressed and went to Shinanagin's. (sp?) I was not even 21 yet but used my college ID to get in and drank WAY. TOO. MUCH. When it was time to go, I though "I am okay, I can drive home". Boy, what a bad idea. Long Story Short.....I didn't make it out of the parking lot before calling James hysterical telling him what I did and what my situation was. He was in Houston...what was he going to do? He called Erin and woke her up, she came and got me....laughing at me, and drove me home. What a good friend. Somewhere in all the throwing up I did that night, my phone ended up in the toilet.... That was a very expensive, embarrassing, shameful night. I can honestly say that I have never been that drunk again, or that stupid for that matter.

Day 19-Something you miss

My childhood. Kids have it SO easy! I look @ Cori as I'm brining her her dinner, all cut up for her, separated like she likes it, the specific cup with the specific juice she requested, and think....what else little princess....do you want me to give you a foot massage while you eat? I have done a great job at spoiling her rotten. I was spoiled growing up too though. But really....just to be a kid again....no worries, no bills, no responsibilities, no job, no headaches, and no problems.....wouldn't that be nice.....even if it was only for a week. I had such a fun childhood. Our neighborhood was perfect and filled with kids our age, some that I am still friends with today. The summer days at the neighborhood pool were long and I was so tan! My mom left a tin hidden in the dining room with cash and movie tickets in it. We could order pizza for lunch once a week and if we could find a ride we could go to the movies. Our biggest problem was "Who's mom was coming home at lunch that could drop us off at the mall". Riding our bikes to our friends house, making trails through the vacant lots to cross from one street to the other without going all the way around was our specialty. Playing babies, dressing our brothers up like girls, making friendship bracelets and watching stupid shows on MTV, like singled out. If only I could go back to that time I would know not to rush things. I was so anxious to grow up, and even though growing up is exciting, I'd give anything to be young and carefree again!