200 Challenge: May

Check out how everyone else is doing on The 200 Challenge at Clay In His Hands

May has been quite a month! I gave birth to a healthy baby boy, celebrated my 3 year wedding anniversary with my amazing husband, celebrated my wonderful daughters 2nd birthday, and enjoyed my second Mother's Day. We have been a bit busy, to say the least! Even though it has been busy, it has been so much fun! I love where God is leading me! What a life! We have amazing family and friends who have brought us meals which has helped out grocery budget A LOT! During my first 2 week trip I spent $87.08. Not too bad! I was worried that having to buy lots of lunch stuff for Charlie and I would bump up our total much more than usual. Charlie had 10 days of leave after Jayce was born and then took a few extra days on top of that (he was home a total of 17 days :-) which was a HUGE help to me!) so lunches would be our biggest change for the month. Luckily it didn't change anything! On our second grocery trip I spent $79.97 which was really good since I went to Food Lion instead of Aldi. I got tons of good deals with the sales they had and coupons! Probably one of the most rewarding trips I have taken in quite some time! That brings our grand total to $167.05. I'm very happy with that after the overage we had in April! We are +$32.95 for the month which feels so much better than being in the negative. I hope that I can keep up the good work in June! With a new baby, a busy 2 year old, lots of house work, Family time and tons of other things I need to get done... I won't be posting a menu this month! You can be sure though that it will include lots of quick and simple meals! Good Luck in June ladies! Can't wait to see how everyone else did this month!

Previous Months: Feburary March April May

I'm Not

I'm not sitting on Facebook while BOTH my children are napping instead of taking a nap too...
I'm not feeling slightly guilty about how much I am enjoying the silence of my house...
I'm not wishing my husband were home so that we could enjoy this time together...
I'm not about to go and get something chocolate and delicious out of the kitchen and indulge...
I'm not going to whittle away at my very far behind Bible study and enjoy every word...
I'm not obsessively looking at baby pictures of Lula Mae and comparing them to Jayce...
I'm not secretly scared to death that Lula Mae is angry at me for bringing Jayce home...
I'm not worried that I won't do as good of a job raising Jayce as I did on Lula Mae...
I'm not looking up Disney vacation information in between checking Facebook and blogging...
I'm not upset that Uncle Larry can't seem to catch a break...
I'm not wondering why I didn't decide to shower while BOTH my children are napping...
I'm not pondering what it would be like to have another child in 12 months or so...

I'm not.

Okay.....maybe just a little....

Are We Done Adjusting Yet?

Are we? Please tell me we will be soon! I know Jayce is only a little over 2 weeks old, but I really need the adjustment period to be over. I love my little girl so very much... why does she wait until I am feeding her brother to disobey me? When he is not eating she is great. She plays well, uses her manners and listens beautifully.... then the bottle gets to warming.... and there is a terrible shift in the atmosphere of our condo. Oh yes, it is that bad. She runs, she screams, she throws, she back talks and I am certain that she sticks cotton balls in her ears so she can't hear me.... who is this child and what has she done with Lula Mae? .... I am assuming that she is just testing the waters. Hopeful I guess would be a better word, I am HOPEFUL that she is just testing the waters. It just blows my mind that she can turn it on and off in an instant. She has always been such a sweet, good little girl and I hate to see her act this way. I am praying with her and for her constantly. I know it is all going to smooth out at some point.... can you just tell me that we are close to that point, please????????????????????? Can't say that I am not just a tad bit overwhelmed during feeding times though.....

Coming Soon!

I am currently working on a "two year update" for Lula Mae to post on my blog. Since Jayce was born only 10 days before Lula Mae turned two, I was a little busy and unable to post it when I wanted to. Oh well! It will be up soon! I am taking some videos and rounding up pictures! Oh you can count on there being TONS of bragging involved :-) but what can I say, I'm her Mommy and SUPER proud of her! I hope to have it finished up in a week or so! Can't wait to post it! Hope everyone is having a great week so far!


(Gina, I know you are hoping I hurry up so you guys can see how much she has changed since your move... I'm going as fast as I can!!!!)

My Blog Awards

I received these awards from LaVonne at Long Wait For Isabella and I am very proud to post them on my blog! It is so nice to know that people actually read my blog... honestly I started my blog for me. It is just a place for me to brag, vent, express myself, and share my opinions. It is just an added bonus that people read and enjoy it along with me!

Happy 101 Award

Here are the rules: 1. Copy and Paste the award on your blog. 2. List who gave the award to you and use a link to their blog. 3. List 10 things that make you happy. 4. Pass the award on to other bloggers and let them know about the award.

10 Things That Make Me Happy:

1. Praying to an amazing God who loves me unconditionally.
2. My husband, daughter and son.... everything about them and everything they do! They are amazing and I can't imagine life without them!
3. Coke-a-Cola
4. DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!!!! MICKEY MOUSE!!!!!!!!!! HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!!!!!!!!!
5. Cleaning and organizing
6. Saving Money
7. Long drives with my husband on a summer night with the windows down
8. Singing (alone...... for the most part!)
9. Sleeping in (with 2 kids I think this may be a thing of the past....)
10. Taking pictures of my beautiful gifts from God!

Honest Scrap Award

If you receive this award you must nominate at least 1 other blogger and pass it on. And list 10 honest things about yourself that no one knows!

Well the name says it all! It is all about being an honest blogger. They way I see it, if you aren't blogging honestly, why are you blogging at all? I enjoy reading honest blogs, and even more, I enjoy writing an honest blog!

10 Things You Don't Know About Me

1. I will never fly in an airplane..... by far, my BIGGEST fear of all!
2. I love being pregnant, labor and delivery! All of it! It is amazing and I would do it 100 times if I could!
3. I can play Super Nintendo with my toes.... yes I have monkey feet for sure! I can also strike a lighter with my toes!
4. I hate Dr. Pepper.... it tastes like medicine!
5. I talk to my Granddaddy, Granny and Uncle Mark every single day of my life (even though they all passed away while I was young)
6. I have NEVER tried/taken any type of drugs.... I can't stand for people to say "it's part of growing up... they are all gonna try it.... it's not big deal" I never did and I pray that my children make that same decision for themselves..
7. I talk in my sleep.... terribly!!!!
8. I walk in my sleep.... terribly!!!
9. I am very sensitive about my height.
10. I am too judgmental and I know it... even though I know it and pray about it DAILY... I can't change it.... only God can, and I hope someday He will!

Depending on who is reading this, you may or may not know some of these!

The Sunshine Award

The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blogging world.

What a huge compliment! I am so touched that LaVonne would pass this award to me! It is so nice to think that I just may be any type of inspiration to another Blogger!



Drum Roll Please!

The Happy 101 Award goes to............ Everything Matters Today

The Honest Scrap Award goes to........ reach in, reach out, reach up

The Sunshine Award goes to............. SK Photography

Way to go guys! Keep up the good work and happy blogging!

Blog Award

I recently got my first blog award! Hooray! But.... with Jayce being a little bit of a grumpy guy I haven't had time to post it! I will be working on that post tonight once he is down for the night! I think the only time I will get any "fun" things done will be in the wee hours of the night for a while! But that's just fine! He is a great baby and we are blessed to have him! My life is a little crazy right now, but I know it won't be for long!

You can read about my award here! Thanks LaVonne! (This is a blog that I love!!!) The award made my day! It is great to know that people take the time to join me on my journey through this blog! God may be using my blog for something big... who knows!

By God's Grace

By God's Grace...

I have conceived three babies.

By God's Grace...

I have carried two babies.

By God's Grace...

I have given birth to two babies.

By God's Grace...

I can take care of these babies.

By God's Grace...

I will raise all my babies for Him and His Glory!

Bringing home a new baby is not easy... but no one said it would be! I am learning all over again how to be a Mommy, but now I am a Mommy of 2! I am beyond blessed to have these two gifts from God! Even when I am tired from lack of sleep, stressed out by silly little things that don't really matter, worried that I am not doing things right or frazzled because my baby is crying and my daughter is begging me to play... I am still grateful for everything! Not a day goes by that I am not thankful for the stress that life causes! If I didn't have that stress then I wouldn't have the joy either! My life is so full! I can't even really describe how happy I am with my life and how thankful I am that God loves me so much! There is no thank you big enough for being able to have children...really there isn't. Life is hectic right now, but I am still grateful! My day begins with a prayer that God will help me take the day one step at a time. He helps me slow down and get through tough times and enjoy good times. He will continue to be my strength!

Do not worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own. -Matthew 6:34 (one of my favorites!)

My Beautiful Blessings!

Mother's Day

Mommy and Jayce

Mommy and her sweet little ones

Lula Mae loving Jayce

Lula Mae holding Jayce

Jayce Is Here!

Jayce Moreland Bell
May 4, 2010
8:41 am
7 Lbs
19 3/4 inches

Jayce's journey started on Monday when I went to the doctor for my 38 week appointment. Dr. Erickson told me that I was 4 cm and 100% thinned out. He stripped my membranes and told me that he would probably be seeing me within the next day or so. He was right! By 1:00pm I was contracting mildly, and by 4:00pm they were still coming. They were still 5 minuets apart so I wasn't sure labor was really starting or not. Well, since my labor went so fast with Lula Mae we figured we better head to the hospital just in case. By 4:45pm we were settled into our room and put on the monitors. I was contracting every 2 to 3 minuets, but was still only 4.5 cm. So Charlie and I walked.... and walked... and walked! My contractions were great (longer, stronger, closer) but my cervix still hadn't changed. I knew it wasn't going to change unless my water broke and I kept telling them that. I told them that once my water broke it would go really fast... just had to wait for it to break! Well, we settled in for the night (after walking around the hospital countless times) around 2:00am. Even though my contractions were not hurting to the point of needing the epidural, I opted to go ahead and get it at 6:30am. One thing that made me get it even though I was managing my pain well was the thought of tearing again. My 4th degree tear with Lula Mae was a very painful experience and I wanted to avoid it if possible. Plus, I loved the anesthesiologist that was on call (by love I mean trusted) and I knew she would be getting off soon so I figured getting the epidural at that point was my best option. Dr. Erickson came in and checked me at 7:30am and I was still 5 cm! I told him things weren't going to progress until my water broke, so he went ahead and broke it for me. I had TONS of fluid! Dr. Erickson was amazed at the amount of fluid! (This is where the story gets fun!) Ok, so 7:30am he broke my water.....at 8:20am I started feeling pressure and was ready to be checked. I was 10 cm and ready to push! I went from 5 cm to 10 cm in less than an hour! At 8:30am I started to push! I pushed through 2 contractions with my nurse (a total of 5 pushes) and then Dr. Erickson walked in the room and they started to set up for delivery. I pushed through one contraction for Dr. Erickson (just 2 pushes) and Jayce was born at 8:41am! So from the time my water broke to the time Jayce was born was and hour and 10 minuets.... I told them once my water broke it would go quick! My delivery was amazing! Jayce was beautiful! I can not tell you how much I love having babies! Not only was my delivery amazing, but my recovery has been fantastic! My pain is nothing basically and I feel fantastic! God's grace is amazing! I am so thankful for a such a wonderful labor and delivery!