Only my Mia

Seriously.

Only MY daughter.

It's okay, I'll take my little miss with the silly eyes and finger diggin' for gold.

I Am Thankful For

-A warm bed to sleep in every night
-A beautiful, healthy, energetic, dramatic, loving, caring, silly little girl
-A family who will accept me no matter what
-My (mostly) good health that allows me to enjoy my blessings
-My close friends who will catch me when I fall
-A sister who I can tell anything to without fear of rejection
-A mother who will constructively criticize my actions with my feelings in mind
-The Internet so I can keep in contact with my loved ones
-YOU! I'm so thankful for you and you and you.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours :)

This Post Has Been Brought to You Today by the Letter R

R stands for Request. 

I've been receiving little nudges here and there from friends asking me why I've been slackin' on the whole blog thing. 

My reason being? 

I have no reason. 

I've found some other little corners of the Interwebs that fill my down time (read: no time).

Thanksgiving is 3 days away. Can you believe it? 

Over the next 3 days I'll post some of the things I'm thankful for to share with you. 

This is just the layout of my game plan. 

Sound good?

Okay, then. 

Tune in!

Truthful Tuesday

When you live with someone and see them day in, day out, you don't see their outward appearance change, unless it's pretty drastic, of course. 

For instance, I see Mia every day. Day in. Day out. 

I know she's growing up, developing and becoming her own little person.

I didn't realize how grown up she looks. 

Until today. 

Mia's preschool had the kids' pictures taken by the people who do school pictures for Elementary, Jr. High and High schools a few weeks ago.

I was sure that the pictures would come back with her eyes closed, her mouth moving in mid-sentence or she'd throw a fit. 

But when I walked into her school tonight to look at the photos, I was shocked. 

Who is this little girl?!

This beautiful, proper, blue-eyed, sassy girl?

She's my Mia.

My mom and I had a debate about purchasing photos because of the hefty price. 

She made a good point, though. I could easily take beautiful pictures of Mia, around our neighborhood, edit them and save them on a zip drive. The money we were going to use on the portraits can go toward printing photos from Walmart, Walgreen's or even Costco for next to nothing.

What funds are left over, I'll be making the pictures into Christmas gifts for my friends and family.

No, no sneaky people. I definitely won't be posting those pictures here. 

Without further ado, here's Mia's pictures...

PS If you're interested in a Christmas Card this year, please provide your mailing address to me either here or in my personal email!

Truthful Tuesday - Wednesday Edition

*1. I have a test tomorrow and rather than be happy that I've completed my workbook and have studied, I'd rather skip school tomorrow and stay in bed with my electric blanket on. It's been raining all day, and it's pretty chilly outside. 

*2. I've had a headache ALL. DAY. LONG. No joke. The intensity has been rising and falling and has been flirting with a full blown migraine for the better half of the afternoon and early evening. 

I've said it before, and I'm gonna say it again: People who have never experienced a migraine think we (that do suffer from them) are a bunch of babies and it's all in our heads. Well, yeah. It's in our heads! And it hurts!

*3. I'm a little worried. About a number of things. I'll just be vague and leave it at that, though. 

*4. I'm so glad Halloween is over. Don't get me wrong, I love Autumn. It's my favorite season. The only part of Halloween that I enjoy is the decorating, and even then, I don't really decorate with Halloween themes. It's more like decorating for fall. Scarecrows out on our front porch. Leaf garlands on the railing in the house. Apple, Harvest and a few other Autumn smelling candles. Pumpkins for indoor decoration. You get where I'm going. 

There are too many scary Halloween activities going on during that time. All the scary movies are on, haunted houses, haunted corn mazes and everything else scary. No, thanks. 

*5. Now that this has been a pretty pessimistic and down post about my woes, I guess I'll leave you with a happy thought. It's almost Friday! Happy Hump Day, Internet!  

A is for Autumn

Fall is in full swing here in Tennessee!

With that said, here are a few pictures of what Mia's been up to in the past few weeks...

Mia at her preschool's Halloween party

(I'm so proud of myself for making her tutu and hair-ties)

Mia and her favorite teacher at school

We had to stop at Pacca's work to trick or treat (and let Pacca brag and show off his granddaughter)

Getting ready for Mia's preschool fall festival

Face Hand painting 

Cuppie!

All of the leaves are turning beautiful colors.

Planning a drive to snap some pictures of the foliage in the next week or so.

30

Here we are, at the end.

It's been fun and difficult to be honest and open (even though some confessions were pretty vague) for everyone and anyone to read.

I saved 30 for it's own post because I felt it needed to be alone. 

I have my moments where I internalize everything. 

Most of these things that I'm writing to myself are the things that I have to remind myself to do on a daily basis. 

I strive to be a better person every day.

I definitely  have my days where I feel like it wasn't even worth getting out of bed.

That's when I have to take a hard look at myself and get down to the root of the problem and fix it.

This 'letter' isn't even half of what I would write to myself. 

This is only the beginning:

30: A letter to yourself.

Dear me,

Be happy.

Smile more.

Laugh more.

Relax.

Breathe.

Don't sweat the small stuff.

Remember that this too shall pass.

You are a strong, beautiful and intelligent woman who is capable of anything you set your mind to.

Be patient.

Be kind.

Squeeze every moment you can into making memories with your daughter.

Be slow to get angry and quick to forgive.

Don't judge a book by it's cover.

Learn something new every day.

Speak softer and slower.

Observe more.

Finish what you start.

Be thankful for what you have.

Speak up.

Stand out.

Don't settle.

Challenge yourself.

Keep singing.

Surround yourself with people that lift you up.

Remember that everyone wants to be loved.

Remember where you came from.

Know where you're going.

Be prepared.

Read more.

Savor the sweet moments.

Don't rush.

Let yourself be loved.

Be cautious.

Take criticism constructively and learn from it.

Listen to your parents.

Be a better sister.

Genuinely accept compliments.

Ask questions.

Keep in contact with your loved ones.

Remember who you are.

Stand for something.

Defend your beliefs.

Always look at the glass as half full.

Know that you always have someone to talk to in a time of need.

Let go of your fears.

Cry.

Work on your health.

Cherish the time that your daughter allows today.

Keep your word.

Volunteer.

Respect yourself.

Think before you speak.

Spend wisely.

Keep moving forward.

Accept offered help when needed.

Make plans.

Remember your priorities.

Remind yourself that you are blessed and loved, always.

Love, me.