Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

Well.. I'm guessing everyone knows the answer to this question.... OLIVIA!! Yes it's true she's the light in my eyes and EVERYTHING I've ALWAYS wanted. From the day I found out I was pregnant she has made an impact on my life. She has made me the HAPPIEST mommy on the face of the earth.. I can be having a horrible day and come home to see her sweet smile and it makes all those problems go away..
I'm going through a rough patch right now.. and prayers would be GREATLY appreciated.. My heart is hurting because when i take her to school/daycare now.. She cries and just grabs on to me.. It's the HARDEST thing to walk away when she's crying FOR ME! Today has been the hardest so far.. Is this work thing REALLY worth the heartache I'm feeling today?! I would love to quit my job and not work and stay home with her but i know school is a GREAT place for her to be learning and socializing with other kids, and it gives us more money so we can get our debt paid off and money to actually have a good time and not always be poor.. :( Ugh. Life is Tough Sometimes.

Here's my little lady that makes my world go rough...                                


                                                                              


                              

Day 06- Favorite super hero and why

I'm going to skip out on this because i dont have a favorite super hero... really could care less about them.. NEXT! :)

Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to



The Alamo
2008



I'm going to share a few pictures of Jeff and I's FIRST vacation together. August of 2008 It was one of the best trips that i've ever had... It was relaxing, fun, and full of LOTS of laughs! We stayed with Jeff's Aunt Rhonda and Uncle Tom.. They took us around places and we even got to go see the twins and Aiden!! We also spent the trip going to Sea World, Schlitterbahn, Art Museums, and to Japanesse Gardens. Absolutly AMAZING. We knew that would be one of the last trips we had before we decided to start our little family. Even though it took a little longer than expected to get pregnant, we were a few months along our our 2009 Vacation to Florida with some friends from Republic. It was our last trip just Jeff and I. This years vacation we did a family vacation with the Rawson side of the family and went to Destin, Florida it was a blast. It was the 3 of us this time and not the 2. We are VERY blessed!  

Trip to Texas here are some pictures! It was SO much FUN!!



McNay Art Museum





Schlitterbahn and Sea World



Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have

Well.. I've gotten behind on my blogging because I've been super busy with working and spending time with my little family <3 I'm going to catch up today and do a few blogs! Enjoy.

A habit I wish I didn't have.... I have no habits that I'm working on... Being a people pleaser and getting frustrated/aggravated at problems/situations that are out of my control.

1. Being a People Pleaser - This isn't a "bad habit" but it's a habit that sometimes makes me forget about my own problems or my own life. When I have a friend, co-worker, family member or anything having an issue and I know about it I worry about them SO much. I'm working on trying to let God have all the problems and He will handle them and I can relax. I will be able to worry about the problem, but not let it consume me. I try to make everyone happy ALL the time TOO and that becomes an issue... not EVERYONE is ALWAYS going to be happy.. Thats just life... but I ALWAYS try to make it happen! I need to focus on myself and my family. They are what matters the most and thats what i've been working on...I want to make my husband and daughter the happiest people on the planet. They are my everything.

2. Getting frustrated/aggravated at problems/situations out of my control. I find myself doing this a lot. Even when the situation isn't anyone's fault or if it is someone's fault taking it out on my husband. Thankful he loves me and sticks with me, I've actually gotten a TON better about this.. but there are still times I'll get mad over something so small.. but I usually realize it and STOP... I'm learning to apoligize to him if i do get out of control with this.

That's two habit's I'm working on at this time.. I'm sure at different points in life we have different habits we all want to fix.. What are your habits?!? Think about it and if whatever it is.. is causing someone hurt or pain.. FIX IT :)

Have a GREAT day!! :)

Day 03- A picture of you and your friends

I'm going to make this post about my two best friends. I have lots of good friends, but these two girls have been with me through everything and I know if i need to talk to someone about anything in the world I can depend on them to be there for me. 

Crystal, Heather, Hannah, and Me
Summer 2010

This is a group photo that was taken Summer 2010. This was an AWESOME weekend. I wish I could relive it over and over. Crystal and Matt came to visit, Heather and Joe had just moved back, and Hannah and Bobby were over at our house. We played washers, watched Olivia play,  played games, ate good food, and LAUGHED LOTS!! Some of the BEST memories.. This is one that will be forever with me. Heather got choked and Matt saved her life <3 Thank God For AMAZING friends. I Love Each One of You. 

Crystal and I @ SDC 2010

This is Crystal she lives back in my hometown area and i miss her like CRAZY. I wish we could live closer, but it doesn't keep us from chatting on the phone, texting, and of course facebooking. She is pregnant now and I am SO thankful!! I'm SO excited for her bundle of joy to be here and for me to be an Aunt! :) We have been through a lot together and we have TONS of memories together!! I LOVE YOU!!                                                                   

Heather and I
Summer 2010

This is Heather. We met my freshman year of college at Missouri State University in Wells dorms. She lived right down the hallway and we connected very quick. She loved my hick talking and I gave her a hard time about the way she said "BYEEEE" lol. We were best friends. When you would see one of us you would usually see the other one too. We hung out everyday in the dorms and always were laughing. Once she graduated from college she headed back up north to St. Louis :( It was so sad! I missed her bunches but we could call each other and make sure we kept each other caught up. After 2 years I got the phone call her husband was applying for a job in Springfield and I was SO excited. He came down and stayed with us for a week and then Heather was down a couple weeks later and that's where it all started. Olivia gained an aunt and i got my best friend back. She now only lives a mile away from me in her OWN home. I'm SO happy for her and her hubby!! They are my best friends and I don't know what i would do without either one of them they are AWESOME!! I'm SOOOO glad you are back and I LOVE YOU!!!! <3

I have a ton more friends that mean the world to me also but these two are awesome and i wanted to share that with everyone. I am very blessed with an amazing group of people i call friends and I want each of you to know I'm here for you always and i love you all.  I pray for each of you on a daily basis and wish everyone happy days. 

Day 02- The meaning behind your Blog name

The meaning behind my blog name is pretty simple. I am a MOMMY and I am VERY blessed. Olivia was born two months early and was our miracle baby. Staying in the hospital in the NICU for 24 days she pulled through being very strong. I knew at this point I WAS VERY BLESSED. Life went VERY slow at this point, i had time to just sit and watch her. I prayed and spent lots of time thinking about how blessed i have been throughout life.
Being a MOMMY has changed my whole life. I'll always worry about the little things of making sure i'm doing the right thing and she is getting everything she needs. I now fill the fullest amount of LOVE i've ever felt. I LOVE my husband, but this is just a different kind of love. She is a symbol of Jeff and I's love for one another and she is an image of us both. She carries traits from each of us that are unquie to only her.
She is SUCH an angel. I thank God each day I was blessed with this life and the opportunity to go through it all, because there are others this is hard for and I'm praying for each one of them.

The weekend is going to consist of heading down to the bootheel to see some family coming from Ohio. We are going to eat ribs and do lots of visiting and family time. Also Sunday is Olivia's birthday with the family in Dexter. I'm SO excited!! She is one blessed little girl with AWESOME family and grandparents!!

Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself



Happy 1st Birthday Olivia!!



My Biggest Fan.

        

                      15 Interesting Facts About ME!

  This may not be TOO interesting, but some facts some people may not know about me.

         1. I am a people pleaser..  I hate for people to be mad or unhappy. I like to make sure everyone gets their way, which can sometimes be rough.

         2. I LOVE working with kids. Kids say some of the funniest things. They can make your bad day not seem SO bad. Especially working in the Title 1 schools.

         3. I'm an OVER-reacter most of the time. Little things that aren't that BIG of a deal can make me go off the deep-end. I'm working on that :)

        4. Family is one of my most precious things to me. Especially my spit-fire of a daughter. She already has my attitude!!

        5. I miss ALL my high school friends, and would go back to re-live those days knowing how much i cherish them ALL now. Those were the days!! Time FLIES!

       6. I LOVE my JOB, but DISLIKE being away from Olivia all day. BUMMER! BUT thankfully i have a flexible job and some days i get more time with her than others :)

       7. Olivia has shown me a new meaning of 'Love' She is my EVERYTHING. I can't imagine life without her. She's a VERY special little girl and she taught me about patience, praying, and lots of love when she was born.

      8. My best friend Heather moved back from St. Louis after being gone for TWO whole years. Funny thing is we picked up RIGHT where we left off and it's like she NEVER left. She now lives a mile away from me and I LOVE IT!!

      9. I'm OBSESSED with Sonic drinks!! I LOVE vanialle dr. peppers.. AH

     10. I LOVE being outdoors... that can consist of playing sports, hangin' out, BBQ'n, swimming, and just playing!! I LOVE IT!

     11. Another thing I love to do is CLEAN!!  I try to keep our house pretty clean, but it's getting harder these days since Olivia is walking and playing all the time, but i wouldn't change that. I LOVE watching her PLAY!!

     12. My mom is my hero. She has been there for me through thick and thin even when we didn't agree on some things she never has left my side. She has always been there for me and usually gave me her opinion or the truth when i didn't want to hear it.. Looking back now i can say ... She told me so!

     13. I attend an amazing church, Destiny Church in Republic, Mo destinychurch.me  Jeff and I have been attending here for about a year and a half. Olivia was dedicated last Sunday the 12th. It was amazing. She's getting SO big!

    14. We got a new i-pad (Jeff won during a t-shirt contest) and we both are addicted. I can't believe i can sit and play these games!! It's fun to compete to see who can get the best score.. I have the bubble game, but jeff SO has tetris on our phone!! He said if i beat his score i can have ANYTHING i want!! AHH.. I'm still practicing only 4000 away!!

    15. My favorite shows : One Tree Hill, 90210, Life Unexpected are ALL back on for NEW season's I'm OHHH SO excited!!!! AHH!! Monday and Tuesday nights the DVR is set!!

Hope everyone enjoys this post. I just tried to keep rambling about things some people wouldn't know about me or things about myself.

Excited to enjoy this afternoon of sunshine with my babygirl outside playing.. I AM BLESSED!!

The Challenge

Okay.. I've became a slacker and can't think of anything to blog about besides all the things we do during the day. I decided to take a challenge... I did some research to find something different from others I read and this is what I found. I will be starting this today and blogging every WEEKday!! :) Enjoy!


Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
Day 02- The meaning behind your Blog name
Day 03- A picture of you and your friends
Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have
Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to
Day 06- Favorite super hero and why
Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why
Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days
Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad
Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends
Day 12- How you found out about Blogger and why you made one
Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
Day 14- A picture of you and your family
Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play
Day 16- Another picture of yourself
Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have
Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them
Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future
Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else
Day 23- Something you crave for a lot
Day 24- A letter to your parents
Day 25- What I would find in your bag
Day 26- What you think about your friends
Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned
Day 30- Your favorite song.

BitterSweet

It doesn't seem like days ago we were on the "nervous" drive home from the hospital with our precious little miracle only weighing 4 lbs 15 oz... We are now 3 days away from sharing her FIRST birthday. Now weighing around 20 lbs. Walking, Talking (Mama, Dada), Waving. SO big. It's bittersweet. When she was only days old we wanted her to eat more than 10cc per bottle and to get big... Now we want her to be small again and want to cuddle and let us hold her and do things for her. She is VERY independent and wants to explore on her own. What a BIG girl!!   We are having her first birthday party here in Republic at Pizza Hut on Saturday... The family is al heading here for the weekend and we are looking forward to sharing time with them all together.. It's such an awesome feeling knowing we will be together!! Sunday morning we are doing her Baby Dedication at our church in Republic. When I was in labor and didn't know it.. we were worshiping at church and decided to leave for the hospital. Our church has been amazing.. When they found out we were having the baby many people stopped in and offered prayers, gifts, and just love. That's what it's all about. I was SO thankful for each of them and couldn't think of a better place my family could call our church home. If you come across this and you are in the Springfield or Republic Area Check us out at DWO (Destiny World Outreach) Church. We would LOVE to see new faces!!
I just want to end this with I'm SO blessed!! I have an AMAZING family, friends, and life!!
Trivia night is tonight at church and i'm looking forward to a night with good friends from church and with my brother-n-law and Hannah. It's gonna be a BLAST. I'll post some pics of our NERD outfits.. I'm sure it's going to be hilarious!!

Everyone have a GREAT weekend!! :)

Why Do We Fall SO in LOVE with Animals??

I'm having a hard time understanding how I fall SO in LOVE with all my animals. In January,  we lost Hoss, I've NEVER in my life felt SUCH heartache from a pet. He was a full-blooded bloodhound.. He was beautiful and he was his Daddy's boy.. BUT I loved spending time with him outdoors.. He loved going on walks, hiking, and playing with Tucker. We lost him one evening when someone left our gate unlocked and he jumped up and opened it and ran out in front of a car and we watched him as he was hit. *The WORST thing EVER* Jeff rescued him and we got him into our yard. It was awful, but we managed to keep him living and got him to the ER, but he had head trauma and we had to lose one of our "family members" HEARTBROKEN! :( Still brings tears to my eyes thinkin' about that night. Why do bad things have to happen?!
I think about this and what has happened this weekend and i'm so lost. Our new dog (half lab half bloodhound) ate our pool while we have been in the bootheel. I know it's time we find him a new owner and let our little girl be able to play in the backyard and have toys, but at the same time my heart is aching just saying get rid of him. He now is part of our "family" It's SO hard. We are looking for a good home to give him away to and for him to be apart of another "family" that will treat him like a baby boy, a human. 

He's GREAT with Olivia and she LOVES him.. I just hate that he eats EVERYTHING we own.. the pool was the last incident. 

Here's what our pool looks like at home. We are going back tomorrow to have to put it in the trash... hundreds of dollars wasted when we were SO happy to be able to get this for Olivia at the beginning of the summer. :( 

The Hole!! :(

Alright.. Am I wrong for getting rid of him?! I just want him to live a happy life and if we keep him he's gonna be in a small pen in our background. I sure hope we find him a loving home with some amazing people. 

*Family Time*

This weekend is consisting of FAMILY. We have already been to my dad's house and visited with him and his family. It was very relaxing and great to just sit around and hang out. We have now moved to Dexter and are spending the night with Jeff's family... We ate Dexter BBQ for lunch and Jeff is off hunting with the boys now.. Praying he gets some dove...  Olivia is LOVING all of the attention and LOVES being with family. She is VERY adored and loved. She got a Dora couch and kept giving Dora a "high five" She is SO hilarious!! Everyone is enjoying how big she has gotten and is WALKING.
Tomorrow we are headed to mom's house to spend some time with the family in Matthews.. and let Olivia go on a lil date with Hunter. They are going to the park. A.d.o.r.a.b.l.e. Crystal is also coming to see me and i can't wait to see her and her baby bump. I'm SO thankful for a best friend like her.. We are apart for months at a time, but she is still my best friend. Thanks for everything and i love you.
I feel very blessed to have a family that is so caring and always here for our family. We love each one of them and thank God for them everyday.

What is SO hard about Waking Up Before 7am?!

The reason I want to discuss this is so maybe I can get some ideas of how in the world to get myself and my family up before 7am. I would LOVE to get on a schedule of waking up at 6am and having time with my family before work. The reason we don't do this is because none of us wake up?! Anyone got any ideas how to get us in a routine?! I'm really going to start pushing this starting the day after Labor Day. It's a 4 day week and I want to see how many of those days we could do this. i want to get up, shower and get ready and have play time with my sweet little Olivia. This means earlier bedtimes for us.. Right now we usually head to bed around 11-12pm and wake up at 7:15am! I'm wanting to do bed between 10-11pm and wake up at 6am. We could even do a morning walk! This would make our days SO much better. I have been a bear this week. I think my hormones are going crazy. 11 more days until Olivia is ONE! I can't believe it. Anyways this post is very boring I'm sure not a good way to get people to want to read about our life. Just wanted to share something we are struggling with around the Rawson household!!


Just a side note... Olivia is officially a walker.. and she doesn't like to wear shoes!!!

Who Am I?!

Who Am I?! I'm a Wife, Mommy, and Daughter. I became a DAUGHTER on July 25, 1985 to Johnny and Neila. I grew up in a VERY small town of 600 people.. Matthews, Mo. Throughout Elementary, Middle, and High School I enjoyed playing sports, hanging out with friends, and having a good time. I decided to go off to college and attended Missouri State University where I majored in Physical Education.
After only one semester I met the guy of my dreams, my future husband. We shared lots of memories throughout college playing intramurals, doing homework together, and spending hours laughing and having a good ol time. On November 19, 2006 I became his fiance and the wedding planning started.
January 5, 2008 I became a WIFE to an amazing man, Jeff and we've been through so much. We seem to always pull through even through all of our bad luck!! We bought our first home in March of 2008 and moved to Republic, Mo. This was a big decision for us because we have no family within 3 hours.. which can be a real bummer at times. Luckily, Jeff's brother came to MSU and we now have one relative really close!!
On March 3, 2009 I got to share the BEST news possible with my husband... We are going to be a MOMMY and DADDY!! We had been trying since July of 2008 so we were SO very excited. We kept our secret until Easter when we told our families through an Easter egg with our little miracle inside. She was due November 9, 2009.
I became a MOMMY on September 13, 2009. What a SURPRISE!! I woke up having some contractions, but I didn't want to complain because I figured It was Braxton Hicks.. So being tough I got ready for church and off we went. The contractions just kept getting closer together and longer so we finally decided to head to the hospital about 12pm. After being examined they had told me I had a bladder infection and things were okay just needed to drink lots of water. Jeff called our parents and told them and everyone was relieved. But when he returned to find the nurse double checking we both got the shocking news I was dilated to a 5!!!!!!! From here it was a whirlwind.. I was scared to death. Parents are called and off we go to the labor and delivery floor. I start getting shots and IV's and they try stopping my little sweet precious babygirl who thought she should make an early arrival at 31 weeks and 6 days! AH!
Our little bundle of joy was born at 11:48pm weighing 4 lbs 3 oz 17 1/4 in. long. She waited on everyone to arrive to the hospital before she decided to make her big arrival so I got to visit with everyone before having her. She went straight to the NICU after being born and we finally got to see her around 2am. It was the HAPPIEST, SCARIEST, SADDEST day  of my life. I was overjoyed but so sad she would be spending time at the hospital. The next 24 days were the HARDEST days of my life. I have NEVER in my life felt so helpless just watching my sweet little angel lay in an incubator and grow with wires and tubes everywhere. It felt like FOREVER. I'll NEVER forget a moment of what that felt like. I treasure every moment i get to spend with Miss Olivia.
Life is Good. 13 days from being ONE! She is the healthiest, funniest, sweetest, cutest, most precious babygirl EVER!! I love hearing her laugh and watching her walk. She's SUCH a big girl.

This blog is what I am going to use to help share Olivia's life with each one of you and for her to read when she is old enough. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I love sharing.

Time Flies.. Treasure Every Moment!! <3









Olivia The Day After She Was Born.


This is just a little about Who I am.... and What life consist of for me. I Love My Family.

Jeff, Me, and Olivia

Destin, Florida 2010