Sayonara 2009!

As 2009 comes to an end, all I can say to it is " Goodbye and Good Riddance!!" I hate the feeling of only remembering the bad things that come rather than the good, and that seems to haunt me about this year. I feel like Jake and I just can't catch a break. The past few months have been SUPER stressful with bills, money and it seems that something has terribly gone wrong each month! Lets take a look at the highs and MOSTLY Low's of 2009.
January: We celebrated the New Year in the boons, while I was pregnant, and surrounded by drunks. Maybe that was a sign of what was to come in 2009-- Misery. I did then celebrate my 23rd birthday. Whoo Hoo I'm getting old.

February: My husband turned 25 and our insurance premium went down. Hallelujah! I spent the most romantic night of the year babysitting my nephew and niece! That's okay, they gave me plenty of love and I made some $$$ doing it. Geesh, I kind of just made myself sound like a..... ANYWAYS

March: Had a 400 year old man, from H & R Block charge me $350 to tell me that we owed $2000 to IRS. Hell, I could of told myself that for free.

April: Went to a butt load of showers, 2 baby for myself, and 2 bridal. Bring on the gifts!! Jake and I also celebrated our 2nd year of marriage! So, April wasn't bad!

May: THE BEST THING OF ALL TIME, AND WHICH MADE MY YEAR, my son Peyton Michael Motley was born May 12, 2009 @ 9:53A.M weight 7 lbs 3 oz 19.75" long. Beautiful healthy baby.

We can fast forward through June and July because I stayed home with the baby boy, lost about 100 hours of sleep, pulled out a little bit of my hair and loved every minute of it!

August: Got back in the groove of working, only to discovere daycare IS NOT CHEAP. We took a trip to the ER for Jake, which we thought was appendicitis or kidney stones. Turned out it was neither, and we have still yet to know what was wrong with him. He took many tests the doctor couldn't find what was wrong. After this, the Medical bills started rollin' in. Let's just say we could purchase a pretty nice vehicle with the amount of medical bills we have accumulated!! At least they won't go to collections, am I right? $10 to you, $10 to you.....

September: SURPRISE! You have a new pool! Oh wait, that's a leak under our driveway. $1000 later we fixed one leak only to find out we have a 2nd leak. Awesome. Which we still haven't been able to afford. Double awesome. That means we have 2x higher water bills than we should. We started taking the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Class to learn how to save money and pay off debt. It's a great class but when you can barely pay your bills, I'm not worried about saving just yet. Good tool for the future though!

October: One of my good friend's baby was born, Cayden Wise. Peyton was a very Furrocious lion for his first Halloween.

November: What do you do when times get tough, you need more money but can't get a second job because you already work full time and have a 6 month old baby????? YOU GET A ROOMMATE!!!! Thats exactly what we did to help out on the bills. Too bad we haven't actually been able to put that money towards paying off anything because again, something always goes wrong. The first check we had to pay off the remaining balance we owed to the plumbers. Oh yea, a great highlight of this month.. JAKE GOT A NEW JOB!!!! Things are looking up... NOT

December: This month is definitely the icing on the cake for one of the hardest years ever. We had to fix our heater [$130], we were stolen from, I had "Fat Bitch" etched into the hood of my jeep, and THEN our family was involved in a car accident on Christmas day. We slid on ice and hit another car pushing them into a wall. Thank God everyone in the car was safe, and no one was hurt, but there was some damage to Daisy, my tank of a jeep. I go today to get her inspected to see how much damage was done to her.

As you can see, this was a very hard year for us. I feel that if Jake and I can make it through this year... we can just about make it through anything!! We're hoping for things to look up in 2010. Full of health, wealth and happiness. oh, and to be debt free! Psh! Hope everyone brings in the New Year safely!!

Much Love

I survived Thankmas!!

Definition of Thankmas: The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas when my Iowan crazy family gets together to celebrate the holidays. Whelp, we survived this year! I didn't think it was going to happen, but we did. Jake and I haven't seen my family since our wedding, which was almost three years ago [yikes!], nor have we been to Iowa in almost 4 years!! We flew this year instead of driving the 14 hour trek. Whoo, thanks Peyton! He was really the only reason we didn't drive! So yes, not only did we survive Thankmas but we survived Peyton's first airplane ride---- barely!! The trip down there wasn't THAT bad, but coming back was terrible. Not only was Peyton EXHAUSTED from the trip, but he's also teething, so you know this made out for a fantastic trip. He cried/fussed for the last hour on the plane. Yes, we were that family that had the screaming kid on the airplane that everyone loves. UGH. Peyton didn't want to sit still. He wanted to stand up, look out the window, stand up looking the other way, stand up holding onto the seat in front of us and almost grabbing the ladies hair, lean over to daddy to hold him then immediately want to come back to me. I mean, my arm muscles start to ache just thinking about this tragedy. Then... the worst of the worst happened.... he took the biggest poop of his life right when the doctor had put the "fasten seat belt" sign so we couldn't get up and change it. Then they decided to descend which made his ears hurt and he cried some more. Luckily we made it out of there alive, clean and with no hearing loss. On a lighter note, it was great to see all of the family. It had been so long and so many people have changed and grown up. It was sad to see how much my grandmas had aged since the last time I saw her. I didn't realize she was that bad. Makes me not want to grow old. It was great seeing all my aunts, uncles, cousins and cousins' children! It was definitely a full house full of delicious food, laughter and tears [good and bad.]

Before I end this I just wanted to give you an update on Jake and Pey Pey! Pey Pey is so close to crawling. He actually took a few paces crawling the other night in order to get his toy. I wanted to start screaming but I was afraid that I would startle and scare him. He can say "mama" but doesn't associate me with that word. Soon though. He waved to my mom when we were in Iowa. Cutest thing ever. We officially lowered his crib since he has started pulling himself up on the bars. I can't believe he's 7 months old.
Jake had orientation last week and is in a training class all this week for his new job. He had a small glimpse last week of what he was going to be doing and he/I think he's going to really enjoy it. Plus, when there is an incentive [commission] it makes you work harder! He looks so snazzy dressing up in a button down and tie. I dont know why we didn't think of this before!! I've enjoyed being the modern June Cleaver. Waking up early in the morning, fixing our lunches, breakfasts, bottles, all the while getting myself and Peyton ready for school/work. Cooking dinner 5 days a week is definitely going to be a new step for me. We've started planning out our meals for the week and going shopping for those items. Wow, how we've grown up in the past year. Well, thats all I have to say for now!!

Much love

Ho Ho The Holidays!!!

Wow! What a Thanksgiving this year was. I'm still stuffed from all the turkey and ham I could eat. ACtually, I'm still eating off of it thanks to my mom sending me home with some!! Probably should throw the rest away since its about a week old! :) We had three Thanksgiving dinners this year, and we're going to add one more to the pot when Jake, Peyton and I go up to Iowa for "Thankmas"! WHOO WHOO!! Wednesday night we spent Thanksgiving with Jake's mom and brother. Thursday morning off to the Leonard household, and that evening to Jake's dad's house for yet another feast. This year was full of food and family! Very enjoyable! I'm sure Peyton enjoyed his first thanksgiving as well. He was sure pooped after a long day of being passed from family member to family memeber. Jake and I did the unthinkable and headed to Walmart, Black Friday, at 4 am! That was complete and total madness and we loved every minute of it. We stood in line for a little over an hour to get a 32' TV for $250... even though it wasn't for us. We were nice enough to buy that for my dad --- with his credit card of course! :) Jake and I were more than prepared to throw some 'bows [elbows] if we needed to in order to get that TV. Sure enough, at 5:25am we walked away with a new TV. We also did some Christmas shopping for the family and Peyton.
The Motley Crew is sure excited about the next few weeks. WE're going Iowa to spend time with my mom's side of the family; "Thankmas". I'm sure you can figure what that is. [Thanksgiving/Christmas just in case] I haven't seen my family in almost three years and this will be the first time for them to meet Peyton! WE're so ready for our journey up there. This will be Peyton's first plane ride and first experience with COLD WEATHER!! Thats okay, check out the new coat his Maw Maw bought him!




I'm pretty sure he's ready to take on that cold Iowa weather!! Such a cutie! Peyton is growing like a weed. He's almost 7 months old, 19.7 Lbs and 27 1/2 inchese long. WOW. Time for a new carseat. He's sitting up, turning in a circle on his bum, scooting backwards while trying to crawl and trying to pull himself up on things. He loves to grab and rip things! I have a feeling he will do just fine with his Christmas presents this year!!

Much love

"I Will Never"

I'm sure everyone can relate... when we're younger and things don't go our way with parents we always used to say " I will never do that with my kids." Boy was I wrong. Obviously, the apple does not fall far from the tree because I have followed in my mother's footsteps. Let me give you a walk down memory lane before I go any further.... My mom was a stay at home mom, and a wonderful one she was. So, because of this I was very loved, nurtured and some people might say down right spoiled. For example, I was on the teet until I was three. Yes, Yes I was. I'm not ashamed to say it, sorry if I just embarrassed you mom, but I was. This was the first "I will never" for me. When it came to breastfeeding for me, I got very discouraged by my lactation nurse which caused me to give up on it before he was even 3 days old. However, I did pump for a month. Whoo, what a chore! So I stuck to my word on that one. When I was younger, around 3 or 4, I LOVED to go shopping with my mom --- still do. In fact, I loved it so much that I would hide in the clothes racks, wander away from my mother and not answer when she would call my mom. Well, I would when I could tell her voice get very upset. So, I got put on a leash. Yes, you heard right.. I was one of those kids on a leash, who I'm sure we all stare at when we actually come across one of those "kids." Again, my second " I will never". My leash didn't last long as I learned very quickly how to "unhook" myself. There went that idea. Luckily, I haven't had to leash my child yet since he's only six months old, but I plan not to either. Now, for the reason why I made this specific blog.... "I WILL NEVER LET MY CHILD SLEEP WITH ME." I had the occasional "sleepover" with mom and dad in their bed, late into teens.... HA Joke.. more like 8. :| Anyways, I vowed not to start the habit with my child because I saw how often I wanted to sleep with my parents. I didn't want to start that! Well, I did. Now, I'm afraid I'm the reason for my son's new sleep pattern. At two months, he started sleeping through the night. That has vanished, along with my sleep, the past couple of weeks. I don't knwo if his lack of sleep is teething, hungry, wet or just down right temper tantrum because he realizes that he's not in mommy and daddy's bed. I know he's only 6 months old but they know, right?!!?! I believe the reason we started this habit was because we recently got a roommate who sleeps in the room next to Peyton. I think Jake and I's thoughts were " Dont wake up Mario, bring Peyton in our room." I think the habit just stuck. With last night's episode, us barely sleeping, I think I'm banishing this co-sleeping habit before it becomes worse than it already is. With the lack of sleep we got, I'm surprised I'm actually able to function at work. Oh yea, it's called Coffee. On a lighter note... THANK GOD for grandma's as my mom has volunteered to watch Peyton overnight so we can sleep the whole night through! Thank you mom, you are my lifesaver--- in more ways than one! =)

Moral of the story kids.... NEVER SAY NEVER. You most likely won't follow through with that.

Much love

My First Time

Well... this is my first official blog. I've never done this sort of thing before but I'm going to test it out... see if I like it. I'm not the best writer in the world so forgive me if my grammar is not correct; spelling will be though! I decided to start writing a blog to help me vent or get things of my chest without having to do it to people. I apologize for those who've been a victim of my "rants". =)

Today has been a little bit of a roller coaster. This morning started off great, as usual, get to wake up with my precious little boy, Peyton, get ready for work and talk to my mom on the phone. This is my morning ritual. There is not a day that goes by that I dont talk to my mom. Thank God for her! She is my rock-- besides God and Jake! Anyways, back to rants... I'm sure most of you know [whoever is reading this blog] that about 2 months ago we had a "pool" in a front driveway. Water was gathering in the front and it wasn't because of the rain. "Uh-oh" was all I could think. We had the plumbers come out yada yada yada... $1000 later we found out we had not one BUT two leaks under our driveway. The best part about that was, that they figured out the second leak as they were finished with the first --and they were done for the day. To make a long story even longer... we were stuck not only with a $1000 plumbing bill but with an outrageous water bill. The city of Carrollton lady said for us to get bring up a receipt showing the work was paid for and they would reimburse us for the water. WRONG. Jake took the paid receipt up to the C.O.C and they said they couldn't reimburse us at this time because ALL of the work was not done. Yes, the plumbers wrote on the receipt that there was still more work to be done but it was up to the homeowners discretion when they would finish the work --- which will be another $500. So, point of that story ... we had to pay a $130 water bill today when they are normally $45. BLAH.

On to better news........ drumroll please......brbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbr [that was a drumroll if you didn't know] JAKE GOT A NEW JOB!!!! I couldn't be happier for him. After 8 months of unfulfilled promises, Jake decided to look for a new job. We'll find out the exact date of employment in a few days. He will be working in a bank, not sure the position, but at First Convenience Bank in Walmart. We know that bank won't be going out of business anytime soon!! The managers were really impressed when interviewing him. They immediately hired him on. It makes me feel good , and I'm sure Jake as well, for someone to appreciate him and the hard work that he puts out. He's felt very unappreciated with his current employer so I think this will be a big esteem booster! It's currently a part-time job [with a minimum of 30 hours and max of 35], but they said they were going to get him on the "fast track plan" which should move him up within a month. I'm a little skeptical of promises like these since this was the issue with Chipotle. Even with him being part time, the pay is still better with a chance of getting commission for new accounts opened, and the hours are SO MUCH better. I'm so excited to be able to spend more time with my husband during the evenings. Of course this means I'll be spending less time at mom and dad's for dinner but YAY my husband will finally be home [@ nights] 7 out of 7 days. Wow, what a change!!!

Well, this concludes my first blog... I hope all the readers enjoyed it. If I have any readers!!

Much love!!