Best Valentines day ever...

I am not a huge fan of Valentines Day.  I probably havent been since high school.  It is somewhat ridiculous to me and a waste of money. 
But today, I had a good one.  And I shed some tears....maybe my mind has changed in the way i look at it?
Mike sent my favorite flowers (tulips) to work today....even though I was off.  I went and picked them up and was so happy that he remembered what my favorite flowers are, I wasnt even bothered by the fact that I told him over and over that I was off today  :)

Then I got to pick my boy up from school after his valentine party.  He made me a gorgeous valentine with a picture of himself holding a big heart that says "i love you".   (well his teachers helped)  When we got in the car, he was talking about daddy. I said "you love your daddy, dont you?"  and he said " I love my mama".  OH...It brought tears to my eyes.  The first time he has ever said that.  Then he proceeded to show me where his heart was and that it made a ba-bum sound, which he did over and over.  He is so smart and sweet.  I think he learned alot today at school!

Mike finally got home and showered me with champagne and chocolate covered strawberries, while I cooked him a very special meal that he enjoyed immensely.  Overall...I think with the right person and celebrating with your family, it can be a day of love.  But we should have days filled with love every day....just not chocolate, that wouldnt be good for us ;)

As some of you know, we are trying to get pregnant again.  I took a test today, but it turned up negative.  I am pretty sure its a little early to tell.  So I hope to be able to share good news in a week as we get closer to when I should know!!  Preston needs a sibling.  He really loves interacting with other kids and I think he is going to make a great big brother (even though he is jealous of anyone getting near mommy- guess that is something we need to work on).  I just hope that things work out the way we hope.  After the last pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage, I hope things are back in the correct working order.  we have waited about five months to try again, but I hear many people having problems for years after.  I pray for them to acheive what they want and at the same time hope that we dont have those problems.  Its in Gods hands and all I can do is have faith.

Crafts and cooking

I have been a Mom now for over two years and I have seen some things start to change.  Honestly some of those things scared me at first, but now I am welcoming them with open arms.  Never did I think I was really crafty (creative, yes, crafty, no) or that good of a cook until I finally gave in to this overwhelming feeling to bake, cook, and make things.  Now I do something every time I have a day off.  Probably I am most proud of the nappy looking goodwill lamp that I gave new life to.   

 I am about to start a new one tomorrow for Prestons room that will be a paper mosaic tile designed lamp base.  I am kind of pumped about it but scared i am going to mess it up terribly.  I have made a few other things so far, but they were fairly easy.  I wanted to try my hand at those before i got down to the nitty gritty.  I will try to post some pics up later, due to the fact that its not working at the moment.  (ok so I am posting them now....I made a couple of frames for my neice and baby nephew and preston got his own coat hanger for his wall)  :)

I never envisoned this kind of passion coming from me.  I plan meals now and actually look for recipes of different things I want to make, all while ensuring that the family is eating healthy.  If you had told me three years ago that I would be doing these things while balancing a career, I would have laughed at you. 

I have become domesticated.  The last thing I ever expected out of me.

Not that there is anything wrong with it.  I always admired women who could do all of that.  Mainly because i thought they had a whole lot more energy that I could hope to acquire.  Now I find that this is time for me.  Its time I can set aside to do something I actually enjoy doing....and it still takes care of my family.  (of course mike gives me hell when i take cupcakes to work instead of giving them to him, but i cant let him eat 24 cupcakes)

The one thing I am hesitant to try again is sewing.  Tried that for a semester in junior high.....did a decent job, but that was a long time ago.  I dont really think my memory will serve me well on that one.  I have such a huge list of things I want to try but have no idea where to start.  If anyone has any good hints as to what kind of projects I could start off with to build my skills, please share.  

Hope everyone has a great Valentine's day.  Just found out from our banking info online that I had flowers ordered for me.  Great way to find out, huh?  So then I ask my husband what he was planning.....he forgot I dont work tomorrow and my flowers are getting delivered there.  He doesn't ever hear me.  But i love him anyway. 





saving for college...

I have spent several hours researching college savings plans for Preston (a great thing to do when its freezing outside and you are bored out of your mind).  I didnt realize how much more they say a college education will cost by the time he is 18.  Blew my mind!!  So I think i have found an investment plan to help me reach that goal, but I do want to ask if anyone else out there has done some research and opened one of these for their kids. If so, do you like it and has it helped very much at all? 
I plan (haha- like plans work for our kids)  on him getting some sort of scholarship anyway (fingers crossed) in sports or academics and i like the way you can transfer them to another sibling if that happens or ask for a penalty free withdrawal if they receive a scholarship.  Its kind of like a reward for you if your child does a great job in school or sports!!  :)
I dont want Preston trying to pay off a never ending student loan like his mama, but the cost of things is starting to scare me.  And i still have 16 years before it happens. sigh.

Dont even get me started on retirement.  Maybe if he gets a sports scholarship, he can then play something professionally, and take care of mommy for the rest of her life!  Like a good little man. lol