Happy 3 Months, Zinni Bug!

My how time flies! I can't believe my little niece is already 3 months old!! She's growing so fast and just gets cuter and cuter every day. My work schedule has gotten a little kink in it and I haven't been able to visit her on my regular Thursday each week. Here is a super cute shot from my visit with her just this Tuesday. It is still so weird to me that my brother is a Daddy! It seems like just days ago we were out tromping through the back 40. I sure do love being close to him and my wonderful sister in-law and of course my Zinni bug!

Dryer Fiasco

I dedicated part of my day to catching up on laundry. My poor roommate has been in and out so much I decided I'd help her catch up too. Our apartment complex has its own little laundry room with several coin operated washers and dryers. I was in a hurry to take the laundry out of the dryer, run it upstairs to our apartment, lay it all out flat, change into my clean work clothes, and get to work on time. As I bent down to grab the last of the clothes I hit my forehead on the metal quarter slot that protrudes out from the dryer. It was a pretty forceful blow. The girl that was next to me in the laundry mat immediately asked if I was alright and I quickly responded with a tough "Oh, yeah, hah, I'm fine!" while inside I was screaming "Sweet Lord!! Take MY LIFE NOW!!!" It hurt so bad and the worst of it was I couldn't even scream all of the profane things that were jutting through my mind. I gathered the last of my laundry and squeezed past the girl. She looked at me again, gasp, and said "Oh my! Are you sure you're alright?!". I assured her with the bravest of faces I could muster that I was great! As I arrived in my apartment I immediately dropped the laundry basket and went straight for the bathroom. As I looked in the mirror I noticed a stream of blood trickling down my forehead and onto my cheek! No wonder the girl in the laundry room was so concerned! I had to call work and tell them I'd be a a little late as I was panicking at home trying to decide if I needed to make a trip to the hospital for some stitches or if the bleeding would subside after a few minutes of pressure. Thankfully it did just that and I was able to clean up a bit and head to work with only a pounding headache and some yucky hair.


(picture not taken on the scene--compliments of Bella Pop Photography)

Happy Holidays!

I've been somewhat of a Scrooge the past couple holidays. I used to love Christmas time-- decorating the tree, listening to Carol of the Bells, driving around town looking at Christmas lights, making (but mostly eating) Christmas Candy. I guess the charm has been taken away a bit. My poor roommate has heard her fair share of my "Bah, humbug" exclamations when anything about Christmas is mentioned.
So, tonight I am turning over a new leaf! Our apartment now has a tiny bit of Christmas spirit. I bought my very first Christmas ornament today. Or my first 6. It used to be a little tradition that my family and I would do. Well, it was mostly just a custom with my Mom and I, because we enjoyed it the most. Every year we would pick out a new ornament to go on our tree. We had a few different "sets" of ornaments, but there was one set that was my favorite. It was a contemporary set with lots of bright purples, and greens, and turquoise's, and reds with a matching purple silk tree skirt. I loved it! I also bought two stockings to hang on our mantel. It's fun to actually have a mantel!
Lee is in Colorado for the weekend as Trinity has a game tonight. Go TU! I can't wait for her to get back and see that I'm NOT a Scrooge.....anymore!




How could I forget?! I spent yesterday (Thursday) with Zinni, Kim, and Cale. We had so much fun. We gave Zinnia a bath and she just LOVED splashing around in the water. Zinnia was wishing her Aunt Nikki could be in Texas to join the slumber party, so she decided to write her a letter. She's so smart and growing up so fast!!!






Love to you all and Happy Holidays!!!

Thursdays with Zinnia

So, I am typically off work each week on Thursday and have devoted this day to spending time with my brand new niece. It amazes me how much she has changed in just 6 days each time that I visit. Here are just a few shots of my Thursdays with Zinnia.


My first Thursday with Zinnia. I don't think I could give this girl enough kisses!


Little monkey girl.


Holding her head up like a big girl.


She can already roll over from her tummy to her back.


Another perk to 'Thursdays with Zinnia' is seeing my beautiful Sister in Law.

Being Thankful

I try to do this every year. Mostly they are jotted down in my journal, but since I've started blogging I think it'll be neat to express my gratitude through here.

I am thankful for my family,
it has been a rough year.
We are called to be thankful
through the good and the bad,
so for the bad times I am thankful.
I don't believe I'd have the relationship
with my Father as I do now
if the bad hadn't of happened.
I am thankful for my Brothers and their
beautiful wives.
I am thankful for the opportunity to
grow closer with my siblings.
The months we shared in Rockport
filled with many laughs and many tears.
I am thankful for the new place I am at,
my wonderful roommate, our quaint little apartment,
and living in a city full of people
that need to feel the love of Christ.
I am thankful for my new niece Zinnia.
She is healthy and beautiful and full of life.
I am thankful for the opportunity to live close to her
and see her often.
I am thankful for the Till family.
My friendship in Misti and the joy her children bring me.
I am thankful for my friends. Spread as far as Oregon
to New Zealand and everywhere in between.
I am thankful for the health of my family,
the health of my friends, and the health of my own.
I am thankful for my travels
and the friends I have made along the way.
I am thankful for my precious dog Kona.
I am thankful for my spiritual growth, for a little bit of healing this year,
and for the coming to do only more.