"Run Forrest Run!"

Today has been so busy and all I want to do is nap! 

Well that isn't going to happen so I am just going to keeping on going.

I am so Happy to report that I have ran 5 days a week for the last month.

It still kicks my booty but it is slowly getting easier and I am able to go longer.

Still having to force myself to get up and go but I always feel amazing when I do. 

(in a sweaty, can hardly breathe or walk kinda way ;) 

Having the amazing support group that I do and wonderful girls to work out with 

has really helped to. We can do this together and come August we are going to Rock that 5K.

I know I haven't done a weigh in post in a long time and I promise to get back to them.

Happily I will report that I am still losing pounds and inches!

In the last month I am down almost

 7 pounds and 6 1/2 inches all over.

I know right...WoooHooo!

Here is to hoping that next week on vacation I don't completely blow it.

Planning on making my sister get up and go running with me EVERY morning!

Our trip is getting close and I feel like I still have so much to do.

So, I am cutting it short today and going to get to work.

About to head to Zumba and then home to get my packing on.

(I also ran 3 miles this morning.) 

another awesome interest find and Our Motto!

Until Next Time,

Ashley 

Ready. Set. Go....

Don't you just love how much you always have to prepare for a trip?!

I feel like I always put so much on my plate before we go on vacation. 

In order for me not to forget everything I make all kinds of list.

Lots of them...

To Do list for each day of the week up until we leave.

List of what to pack for Myself, Clayton, Food.

List of what to load in the car and which route we will take.(We normally drive)

I bet you can't guess what I am doing as I prepare to leave 

Saturday for Florida to see my Family. (Sweet Little Somethings)

That is right my friends. Checking my list. Making new lists. Adding to my existing list.

Just part of todays list and I happily got it all done!

Here are just a few things to pack for my little man:

Snacks

Bottles

Dvd's for car

Toys

Books

Clothes

Diapers

Wipes

Medicines

Shoes

Blankie

Bunny

Swim stuff

Beach Toys

Bath Wash/Toys

Lotion

compact stroller

My Lists:

Clothes

Shoes

hair stuff

make-up

bath wash 

face wash

medicine

camera

video camera

chargers

My Sisters stuff ;)

Book to read

Jewelry

Swimsuit

Cover up

sunblock

pillow(I am that person!)

Hand Sanitizer 

Sure this isn't all but it's a start right? 

What are your must have for traveling with a toddler?

What can you not leave home without?

I Simply can not believe our trip is this weekend and I can hardly control my excitement.

I miss my family so much and look forward to all the bonding time.

We have such fun stuff planned and I can't wait to share it with you all!

Tuesday Reflections

Via

Well it has been a busy week so far and it is only Tuesday.

Trying to get everything ready for our trip to Florida, We leave Saturday!

*Insert giddy laugh and jumping up and down!*

I am pondering a lot on life. 

I try and keep busy and stay on top of all of my mommy duties.

Cleaning. Cooking. Laundry. Playtime. and then start over again.

As well as trying to get in as much time with the hubby I can. (He works a lot)

Finding time for myself can sometimes be hard. Then when I do why do I feel bad.

Kinda guilty, you know?

I know the time I do get I am working out and trying to better myself and get healthy again.

But Still.

I miss is resting. Like really resting. Not waking up numerous times a night to check on my son.

Not rising before the sun does so I can work out before my son wakes.

Not staying up late after my son goes to bed so I can clean.

Just resting. 

I am not trying to sound selfish I wouldn't trade the time I have with my son for anything.

I am just truly tired and feel like  I am never caught up or never will be.

How do you other momma's deal with this? 

What do you do or plan for your free time?

Until Next Time,

Ashley 

First Birthday Instagram Style

Well just as I had planned we had an Amazing time at Clayton's first Birthday!

It was about 115 degrees with the heat index but
the kids didn't seem to mind with the water slide.

In the mean time while us parents were melting away,
 we enjoyed the yummy cake and ice-cream. 

I did a head count Saturday evening when all was said and done. 

56 People.

Can you say WOW! 

We have such an amazing group of friends and even more amazing family.

I feel so blessed to know that our son is going to have all 

of these wonderful people around him as he grows.

 Thank You to everyone for coming out, enduring the heat and 

spending time with us on this special day. 

It means the world to us.

So now to the fun part... Proud Momma Picture Overload!

As you can see he devoured his cake and crashed out right after we hosed him off.
We all had a blast and I hope our guest would say the same thing.
This being a momma and hosting birthday parties is serious business,
I think I could have slept for 3 days after.
Of Course I didn't have that option and we started our day bright and earlier the next day.
Thats the life of a stay at home mom and I wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world!

Oh and for all of you out there wondering. I did cry!
Happy Tears of Course.  I am just so proud of my baby boy.

With Much Love,
Ashley 

Momma Overboard

Alright so I am so flippin' excited for this weekend and this coming week.

First and Most Importantly my son's first birthday is this weekend!

I know he won't remember any of the stuff I am doing or even the day,
but I would be lying if I said I haven't went a tad crazy with
decorations, cake, and well the whole sha-bang.

I mean I am spending almost what we did on our wedding cake 

for his cake and then cupcakes for all the kiddo's. 

The husband doesn't seem to get why I am even doing as much as we are. 

Really I am just so proud of my son. 

I won't lie I am proud of myself too!

Let me explain....

We Made It! What have we made it through you ask?

Sleepless nights. Hours and hours of breast feeding.

More spit up than I would ever calculate. Explosive diapers. 

Sweat. Tears. Ton's of Laughter. Learning all kinds of new things together.

Wonderful cuddle time. Upset stomachs.

 Numerous visits to the doctor where I am pretty sure I cried more than him.

Eating Solids. Refusing Solids. Earaches. Teething. Breast Feeding while teething.

Learning to crawl. Learning to walk. Falling down. Getting his first boo-boo's.

Plus many other things that I know we will encounter many more time throughout his lifetime.

So Yes, I may be going a little crazy with his first Birthday. 

I will be an honest Momma and say that my subconscious will be 

patting herself on her back on Saturday.

She will be saying,

"Well done Momma we made it through the first year. Look at what an amazing Son 

you have. You did this. You created this awesome baby. You deserve a high five!"

For any of you that are there Saturday to share our special day

I will be excepting high fives. Oh, and bottles of Wine! ; )

Don't worry those of you that won't be there I will be posting about it next week.

With Much Love,

Ashley 

'Our' Moon

Often I worry that Clayton won't be as close to our family that lives so far away.

Then I have to remind myself of my childhood and I too grew up along way from most of my family.

I am however very close to them and always have been.

It took a little work both ways but we always made it happen. 

I guess you can say it has added to strength of our relationships.

I thought of all this last night when I was driving home admiring the beautiful Full Moon.

Then I had to call my Grandpa and ask him if he had seen our moon yet tonight?

He replied "No I haven't, how beautiful is it?" 

I told him it was gorgeous and while on the phone he had to go look at it.

Via

Now I will share the whole story.

Growing up over 600 miles away from your grandparents is hard for a child. 

I would spend summers with my family or a couple weeks during school breaks.

I will never forget when I was about 8 my Grandpa telling me

"No matter how far away we are or how much we miss each other, 

we were always looking at the same moon."

This has been and always will be so dear to my heart. Ever since then it has never failed 

that every full moon he calls me or I will call him and ask if we have seen 'Our' moon.

I now live in the same town as my grandparents. I actually live about two blocks away from them.

But we still call each other when we see 'Our' moon. I treasure that I have this with him.

I will share this story with my son and I know he will treasure it as well.

My son has some amazing people in his life that love him so very much and I 

know that no matter where we live or how far we are from our family. 

They will make special moments like this with him as well. 

I shared this story because it is so special to me and I hope it shows others 

that no matter how far or close you are to the one's you love you can always be near to their hearts.

(I did not take the above picture, but this is very much what the moon looked like last night 

when I called my Grandpa. I included the link where I found the picture.)

With Much Love,

Ashley

Baby Your My Fireworks!

Via

I am so Thankful that I live in a country where I am free.

Where my family and myself can make our own decisions and choices.

Where we have the right to choose our religion, where we live, what we believe in.

I love America for all of the beautiful things that she stands for.

For all of the amazing things we have come through and continue to grow and develop.

Do I agree with everything? No.

Do I and will I always support my country? Yes.

If it weren't for the free country we live in I would have never been able to make my own decision to move away from home and to the place where I met my husband.

We wouldn't have been able to make our own choice to get married and start a family.

I am beyond grateful for everything I have in my life.

My Husband.

Our Son.

Our Family.

Our Home.

Plus many, many more material things that make our life possible!

I am also so thankful to all of the men and woman 

who have made it possible for us to live in this free country. 

To the ones who have fought, are still fighting and

 the ones we have lost while they defended our country!

Daily I thank God for all you have done and sacrificed and I Pray for you and your Families.

Thank you for making America the wonderful place it is and the Home that I Love so much.

Via

With Much Love,

Ashley