2012!

Everyone says next year is going to be different. However, I really feel that it will be different for several reasons. 

One - I will NOT be having another baby .

Two - Jack is here now, so we have three littles total and that makes things even MORE exciting!! Especially with Libby growing up so fast!! She is little Miss Independent. Polite, but quite bold and thinks she is in-charge! I can't wait to watch Jack grow over this next year!! 

I have some personal goals for the future, and since it is the last day of 2011, I might as well follow the mainstream and say "I have New Year's Resolution" but really, they are just desires. 

1) I want to read more. I honestly don't know when I'd have time to do that - what with a full time job, two kids and a husband who works 2nd. BUT I see all of these people recommending books and bragging about their Kindles, Nooks, iPads....and it makes me wish I was a reader!! It's tough though, I'm still stuck on Harry Potter - I may just try to read through the series again haha. That would be what, 12 times? I've lost count.

2) READY FOR A SHOCKER!!! I want to lose weight. Tonight, as I wait for the New Year - or more like bedtime haha, I'll snore in the new year this time - I am pigging out on swiss rolls, chips and dip and fruity pebbles lol This is because tomorrow I start my "no unhealthy snacking" resolution, my Shakeology again and my new exercise program. It's not that I want to be a super model, though don't be surprised when I start getting offers. I really just want to be healthy for my kids...be active and keep up with them and live a healthy life for them - so I can be right there with them for years to come!! I can't wait to cheer them on - I'm a front row kind of Mommy, this I'm sure. 

3) Libby will be starting school, I just haven't decided when and where. The idea of her being in school is bittersweet. She loves going to Cindy's and I think she learns so much there, but it's important for her to be around more children and learn things early. They are so receptive at this age. She can play games on the computer already, I can't believe the things she can just pick up and learn. She can write her name, she knows every letter in the alphabet and most of the numbers between 1-10 by sight recognition. She can count to 20 and recognize objects in groups of 2, 3 and 4 by sight. She makes me so proud =) So I have to choose a good preschool for her. I was originally thinking BCA, but now I'm thinking Open Arms. That way if we move, she already has friends there!

Stand by for more goals - but for now- here's to a new year and exciting developments in the Lamb Fam!

Expensive Tastes

I'm not quite ready for bed just yet on this blistery June evening! As I lay here, about a thousand different Facebook statuses run through my head. This can only mean one thing - BLOG TIME!

Tonight I have been browsing the webbernet looking for various items on my endless "wishlist." Each time I look at an item, I think to my self "I can afford that!" but then I remember, there are about 200 more items on my I-can-afford-that-list too. And I'm not sure how keen you are in mathematics, but 200 multiplied by "I-can-afford-that" equals "broke". Soooo I thought it would be a fabulous idea to share my wishlist with the world, and my husband...


The idea, I suppose, is to keep a running list of everything I want, need and dream of in order to motivate myself to work hard and treat myself to these things. Of course, some of them are necessary with the upcoming baby, others I can probably live without, and other's are just a case of expensive tastes!


NEEDS -
Bassinet for Baby Lamb - I want one with the removable carrier, so baby is portable while securely tucked in the sleeping zone. And with our current bedroom arrangement (give or take a little change depending on baby's sex) we think it's best baby share our room at first, rather than brother or sister's.  
Crib - Baby Lamb can only be in a bassinet in Mommy and Daddy's room for so long before he or she (we find out which in 2 weeks!!!!) will need a bigger space to snooze. And since big brother has a toddler bed and big sister has a day bed, we don't have anything to pass down. 
Shorts - I will be going through the entire summer pregnant and I only have maternity pants and capris...I've got to find some shorts!! As you all know, I'm a fashion diva -practically Kim Kardashian or Paris Hilton, so I won't wear just any short!! Who am I kidding, the reason I have bought any is due to the fact that spending over 9.99 on a pair of shorts disturbs me.


WANTS -
Other Clothes - I admit it, even when it comes to maternity clothes, there are some really cute things that I REALLY REALLY want, but could probably live without. Dresses for example. I have two from my last pregnancy, but they just all look so much cuter now! And some of the tops are very flattering, but necessary? Probably not! (PS it is safe to say that I am constantly on the hunt for new shoes and purses and will never have enough and stop wanting them)
Furniture - There are several items that fall into this category because I just feel a nesting opportunity that involves decorating and some new comforts throughout our home. FIRST - A Glider/Rocker for our bedroom...something to sit in with Baby Lamb when it's a late night cry or feeding...but did you know they are $500+?? And forget the footstool to boot for a whopping$200+. Looks like, if anything, we'll have to settle for the miniature recliner, and I'll probably start looking for that at yardsales! SECOND - some corner type accessories. Several of our rooms could use an almost invisible boost. For example, sticking a small corner table in our bedroom would allow for extra decorations and a place to keep my computer when I want it in my room, but again, not necessary.


DREAMS-
Camera I know, I've been harping on this one for toooo long, but I'm an addict. I stalk people's facebook photos and obsess over their picture quality. I am SUPER jealous of anyone who owns anything that even resembles a Canon SLR. Someday I'd love to make my living through a lens, but for now, I can't even afford a better digital camera without some major guilt (see above for a list of all of the things I would be neglecting). 
Pool -I know I know, you all want to see THIS is a swimsuit. Trouble is, we spend our summer afternoons/evenings outside in our 2ft inflatable pool (top ring is deflated due to neighborhood dog). I know we would get great use out of a larger, treated pool, but I can't quite wrap my mind around the expense of it all.
Vacation - We are saving our money specifically for this dream, so it will surely be a reality some time in the nearer than not future. But at the same time some little voice in my head says "yeah, keep making those babies and then run off to a beach somewhere instead of add to the college funds!" *sigh* Hubs and I have to be alone together, it's the only way this marriage will last, so I justify leisure as a critical marriage tool.Air Conditioning/Home Updates - Sure these are things that will return value when we move back to my hometown (BECAUSE THAT IS HAPPENING), but are they within reach or something that will break the bank? Air conditioning is probably something that is out. The expense is high, and the return on this update would be the smallest. Why? Because so many people are used to central air in this area, that adding it will not add much value. There are window units, which ALMOST keep us cool in the summer and that's worth enough. Other updates, such as flooring and paint are more doable, and a little more affordable. I plan to rip up everything from the kitchen, dining room, bathroom and living room and replace it with some laminate. However, it's not going to be cheap and it has to be done AFTER we get all of the paper down and the walls painted to my expensive tastes (apparently). 


So, I will start taking offers immediately following the posting of this blog for free services, products listed above, as well as products related to the above projects and baby. This include plane tickets, hotel rooms, heating/cooling services and gift cards. 


Thanks.

Well Hello a little late!

Sorry it's been so long loyal followers....all one of you. We have just been too darn busy to keep up with the literature! I feel it is time for an update....so many things are changing and happening!!

FIRST - The marriage is still intact! We are having a wild time through this first year of romantic newlywedness. You may have heard, we are already expecting! We've heard it doesn't always happen the way you plan, so we thought we MIGHT try after the new year and By-George we made it happen that month!! SO our second baby is on it's way and I'm just convinced it's going to be a boy!! We find out in June! =) This pregnancy has been something like the last, though with several big differences...the morning sickness wasn't nearly as bad, though it lasted several weeks longer. And the baby's heartrate is much slower than my first. My hips are already killing me, which happened before, but this time, my back hurts too!!! YAY! I think we're done after this one...Mommy's had enough morning sickness for this lifetime =) Check back in the next lifetime for more littles.

SECOND - The kids are great! Our daughter is a talkative little diva. She looked at me today, as I sat there drained of all energy, barely awake and said "Mommy, you need to calm down!" lol...that's my girl!! She loves to sing and dance and talk talk talk...no idea where that comes from! On the other hand, she is learning to fish - Daddy is such a great teacher! She loves the farm store and everything about fishing and just being outside in general <3 now that is NOT my girl hehe that's Daddy's girl! *Ayden is also changing fast!! He looks like a little man and is very well behaved for us! He still likes to sleep 16+ hours of the day but when he's up he goes hard. We turn on music and you would think he was a professional dancer haha and he lvoes to play with our dog "Mo" who is moving to Gramma and Papa's in the country soon so he can run all of the time like a real lab (and get out of my hair!)! Ayden has been coming every weekend which is great...it really give the kids more quality time together!

THIRD - VACATION!! I know we just went on a honeymoon, and it was great =) But it was busy busy Vegas and I'm obsessing over a REAL vacation! I am destined to go to Jamaica, though with the resistance of a friend who shall remain nameless (She's married to TJ's best friend and cousin - they were both in our wedding) I am starting to reconsider the value of leaving the country...maybe a United States Beach could be just as nice! hmmm Thoughts? Either way, after the baby is here and a little older, we would like to get away - it's the best way for us to reconnect, even if it's just an hour away for the night, we always seem to be 10xs more inlove when we return...and that's saying something for us!

FOURTH - I know I'm busy enough, but I can't help but thinking about my Master's Degree frequently. It's just not enough to have a Bachelor's. I'm not ready to settle and I want to do it while I'm young so I can get rich sometime soon. SOoooo I'm considering several different degrees...

FIFTH AND FINAL - I have decided it is time to take my skills to the drawing board. I have started an article in the New York Times, it's been a hit so far. Correction: Rushville Times. It's through my job and highlights a various number of mental health and substance abuse facts. However, writing the article is bringing back memories of how much I loved writing papers in college and how (don't mind if I brag a big - I don't have that much going for me so I tend to show off the few assets I have) how great I was at writing! I think it's time for a little side project in the shape of a novel, play or maybe just keeping up with this blog!!! Let me know what you think! Well that's all for now...I will surely try to do this more often than quarterly though I can't promise anything - I'm good at writing, not always motivated though =)

Picture:The kids at the park!

A New Year!

Welcome to our new blog!! 

We are the Lamb Family - T.J., Emily, Ayden and Libby (TEAL)! 2011 kicks off a great new year for us and we are so excited to share it with you! 

TJ and I were married in November and looking forward to our first year as a married couple!! Ayden will soon be turning 2 and lord only knows what our little monster will be up to during the "terrible twos"! Libby is learning so many words everyday and talking in complete sentences now! It's so hard to keep up!! 

I started selling PartyLite products in October for fun and it turned into a 2nd job that I LOVE!! I get home from work and am excited to see Libby and work on PartyLite! This year there are so many great consultant and leader offers from PartyLite, I can't wait to see what benefits and achievements I make out of my business!

TJ's son has recently been spending more time with us and we love it!! It's amazing to watch the kids grow and change and develop a sister-brother relationship! They are constantly fighting over everything!!! But that's what two 2  year olds will do!

Well thanks for stopping by, and we hope this helps everyone keep up with our hectic lives!! =) More to come soon! 

The Lamb Fam