I miss blogging!

I miss blogging SO much! I really hate that I've had to let it go for so many months. I wish I had time to go back and catch up but I really just don't. But for tonight, I'm going to do a family update, just to jot down what's been going on with us.

Brantley and I got dressed up in 80s attire last week to go to JiJi's birthday party at Roller Motion. Brantley LOVED it and is looking forward to going back sometime soon.

Brantley:
She will be in 3K preschool again this year 3 days a week. I know she is going to learn so much and make more new friends this year. School starts on Tuesday and we are all ready! Brantley is also taking ballet and tap this year. She LOVES it! My wonderful mother-in-law has taken on this activity for us each week while I'm in class and Chase is at home with Savannah or working. Thank you, Bebe!
Brantley loves to color, paint, draw...pretty much create something with whatever she can find. She is working on her hand writing and has improved quite a lot since the beginning of the summer. She is a very smart little girl!

We (Chase and I) gave BR her first haircut last week at home. She did great and the cut turned out straight. ha!

Savannah:
Well, my Doodlebug is 15 month old now and I can hardly believe it! Life is flying by and I can't keep up. She is walking and getting into EVERYTHING! Savannah is a climber, so the kitchen chairs and the stool in the bathroom are two places that I can usually find her. She doesn't want to miss out on anything! Girlfriend only naps once a day usually for about 1.5hrs, 2 if I'm lucky. She doesn't require a whole lot of sleep, much like her Momma!
Savannah is a very animated little girl! She doesn't have many words yet but she gets her point across just fine without them. We're working on this each day of course but I'm not really worried. So far she says, "Momma" and she says "da" all the time for just about everything else. I guess she says "Dada" for Chase sometimes but not much. She just gets super excited when she hears him come home. It's so cute! When she is saying bye to someone, she will wave her little hand and say "da, da" just like "bye, bye". She has perfect intonation and all, just the wrong word/sound.

Still not much going on in the hair department. We think the fuzz has gotten a LITTLE bit longer but that may just be wishful thinking. I'm not sure. She also only has 4 teeth still.
Savannah will also be starting preschool this Fall in the 18 month class. She is a little young but we're going to see how she does.

Me:
Oh gosh, me, I'm busy all the time, everyday! Between cooking, cleaning, parenting, working part-time, Thirty-One, and most recently, graduate school...I have NO free time! Everyday has to be planned out to the minute in order for me to get everything done and for me to stay on task. This is crazy for me and really overwhelming right now and today was my first grad class. Yike! Prayers for peace would be greatly appreciated right now. I know I can't do everything on my own, so I've asked Chase to help out more than he has been lately, because I simply just can't do it all if I'm going to be a good student. I absolutely LOVE my Thirty-One business and team so I'm going to be working super hard to keep my business strong. I was able to go to Thirty-One National conference back at the beginning of this month and I had a wonderful time. I met many of the great ladies on my team and learned a ton from training and conversations with other consultants while I was there.

 This is my awesome Director, Tammy Harper. She is a great time leader and wonderful friend. I am so thankful for her kind words of encouragement over the past few months. Thank you, Tammy! You are beautiful, inside and out!!

Grainy picture but this is me at conference with my team members. It was so fun to meet every one and I look forward to see you all again next year!!

So, back to school.... I'm taking 4 classes this semester. I'm already stressing out but I'm taking it day by day. I know that this is where I'm suppose to be because I've felt God leading me during this whole process, so I know He will help me. I can do this if I stay focused every day on the things I need to accomplish.

Chase:

He is such a hard-working man and I love him for that! He hardly ever stops doing stuff whether it's at work or at home. I am so thankful for all he does and that he is going to be doing for our family while I'm in school. The next two years are going to be interesting, but in the end it will be worth it.

So there you have it, the latest on the Williamson's. My hope is that I can blog at least once a month from here on out but we will see. 

Williamson Family Update

Since I've been such a slacker on updating my blog lately, I've decided that I need to write an informative post for me to remember things that have been going on right now.

Chase: He is super busy at work these days. Some times he gets home late and pretty much always has to go in by 6am. I've missed him a lot lately and I'm ready for his projects at work to be over so he can spend more time at home with me and the girls. Chase just celebrated his 31st birthday last Sunday. We went to dinner to celebrate on Saturday night and had dinner with his parents on Sunday night. It was good but nothing to exciting. Chase is a wonderful husband and I am so super thankful for all his hard work that he does to provide for our family. I know I don't tell him or show him enough how thankful I am and how much I love him. If you're reading this Hunny, know that I love you more than I can every tell you and I am truly thankful for all that you do for myself and the girls. We are so blessed!

Savannah: I just updated about her in her 10 Month blog post. You can go back and read it HERE.

Brantley: Oh man do I love this girl but she is wearing me down. We are still having potty training issues and I have about had it. We have tried EVERYTHING we can think of in terms of rewards and consequences and she is still having accidents! AHH! I want to pull my hair out! We have resorted to taking away the iPad and watching cartoons/movies until she can keep her panties dry/clean for a whole day. That started last Friday and this morning was the first time she has watched TV since. I'm thinking about calling the doctor now to ask if there could be a medical reason (maybe a weak bladder) for all the accidents but I really just think she's being lazy. It's super frustrating!

Other than that, she is enjoying school and learning lots. She loves to sing and talk! Really! She is never quiet unless she is sleeping or watching a show or movie. She is also having a hard time learning to share with Savannah and there is a good bit of jealousy going on right now that I think may have something to do with the accident issues we've been having. We're working really hard to remedy these issues/problems so I'm hoping we can get it figured out and make progress soon.

Okay so on to Me: This one is a little hairy actually. I'm just going to be honest and say that I haven't been a super happy mom or wife over the past few weeks. I have put on a good show I think but on the inside I've really been struggling/hurting. I have been feeling extremely defeated over and over every day. I'm desperate!  I need help with the girls, the housework and my time management. Does anyone else ever feel like that?

I finally broke down on Monday and told Chase about how bad I've been feeling. It was such a relief to just let it all out and ask for help. I feel like I don't clean enough, cook enough, sew enough, love on my husband/kids enough, and I know I don't spend enough time with God each day. I've been SO disorganized lately and I just couldn't get a grip on it all. Now that I've talked it out and asked for more help from Chase I am actually feeling better and doing better. I love my husband and my girls more than I can express but life has just been tough lately and I'm just run down.

So I'd like to ask for prayers from you all that read our blog. If you feel led, please pray for me. For strength, comfort and peace. Thank you in advance!

Onto a more exciting development and part of my healing process: I'm going back to school! I've decided to apply to UAB's Alternative Master's in Early Childhood/Elementary Education program. I've been working on my application, talking to UAB personnel and friends, signing up for tests and planning all week. I'm really excited about getting my Masters degree! My goal is to graduate and have a job by the time Brantley starts kindergarten. Hopefully, it will all come together. So far this week I have really felt like God is opening the doors and making this all possible for me to do and have my application completed and submitted by July 1st. God is so good! I'll be taking the AECTP: Basic Skills test on April 27th and the Praxis II on May 31st. I don't have time to take them more than once before July 1st so I'll be studying like crazy to insure that I do the very best I can on these two tests. After talking with Dr. Emfinger today, I found out that as of last week the GRE nor MAT are required anymore for students that are applying for the Alternative Master's (5th year) program. I just about screamed Hallelujah on the phone today when she told me that. I have been super worried and anxious already about taking either of those tests and now I don't have to. Again, God is so good!!

A few times I have sat back and thought, "Allison, you are totally crazy for going back to school with a husband and 2 small kids," but then I feel this undeniable peace about it and I know that this has got to be in God's plan for me and our family. I am really looking forward to learning more about all that teaching has to offer. If you have any advice/tips or words of encouragement, I'd love to hear them. Email me!

So that is a quick update on life at the Williamson household. I hope everyone is doing well and is staying healthy! Hopefully, now that I'm getting a little more motivated and organized I'll find more free time to update the blog more often. I really do have lots of fun things to post about and pictures to share, so maybe I will get around to that soon. Stay tuned!

Here is an adorable picture of the girls that I took yesterday. I can't figure out how to put Instagram pictures on my blog so HERE is the link. Surely, it isn't all that hard but if you know, please tell me. Thanks!

What's Been Going On

I have been on a serious blogging break but I didn't even mean to be really. I've just been busy! I started working 4 days a week at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in their nursery. I also stay an additional 2 hours to care for one of the teachers children as well. The other little girl I keep is only 2 days older than Savannah so it's really fun. I can't wait to see this girls interact once they are both more mobile. So far it's going well. Savannah is adjusting to sleeping at school as best she can. Her naps are only about 30 minutes and she has to be swinging, bouncing or being held by me. That part is a pain since at home I can just lay her in the crib and she will sleep for an hour, but we manage and she's happy!

Brantley is now in the 3-year-old class there 3 days a week. She is warming up to her new teachers and new friends. All of the kids in her class are older than her, most are turning 4 soon, so I think she feels a little behind or something. I'm considering moving her down to the 2 year old class but then she would be the oldest. I can't decide! She's been having accidents and that part is driving me crazy. But not everyday and not every time, thankfully. She knows when she needs to go, she just won't stop and tell me (or anyone) in time! Oh well, she will get it. We're just taking it one day at a time.

This is Brantley playing dress-up at school the other day. Her sweet teacher sent me this picture.

I need to get better at taking pictures again. They are all on my phone! Oops! What would I do without it and Instagram!?!

I am super thankful for this job opportunity. God's plan and his timing are perfect, always! I get to take both my girls to work with me and Savannah is in the same room with me. It's wonderful! God is so good! Sometimes I forget how blessed I am, Chase and I are, to have all that we do including 2 beautiful, healthy little girls. I want to give God all the glory and thank Him for it all.

Last weekend, Brantley helped her Daddy outside in the yard for a few hours while Savannah slept and played. That allowed me to actually get some work done downstairs in my sewing room. It was great! I love this picture of BR! She's such a cutie pie!!

Speaking of Brantley....she turns 3 on Monday!! What?! I'm not sure it's really sank in with me that she'll be 3. Time is going by so fast! We're going to take her out to dinner Monday night to celebrate and then her party is next Saturday. 

Her party is going to be really SWEET! We will have cake and candy galore! Brantley definitely has a sweet tooth so this party is perfect for her. I didn't mention this part to the dentist today because I didn't figure he would approve. haha! Speaking of....

Big girl went to the dentist for the very first time today. She did great! She got her picture made and they let her put her hand print on the wall. She now goes to Dr. Johnson at Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry in Hoover. The doctor and the dental hygienist were very nice. Brantley was a little shy/scared at first but then she laid down and let the hygienist clean her teeth. Big girl!! I was so so proud.

After the dentist trip, I took BR to her PawPaw's house so that she could go to the boat show with her daddy and PawPaw.

PawPaw and BR by the fountain at the BJCC. Her PawPaw loves her so much! I'm really glad they were able to spend that time together!

They caught a trout in that big tank. Brantley came home with a big sticker that said, "I caught a Trout." She was pretty excited about it! Again, I'm really glad they got to go and have some fun together!

Well, for a blog post that was suppose to be short and sweet, it sure turned into a long one. Hopefully, you readers all feel back in the Williamson loop now. Haha! With the exception of me being sick with some weird cough thing, we're all doing great and trying to make the most out of every day. I'm going back to the doctor in the morning because I can hardly talk, my throat hurts really bad and I can't stop coughing, hence why I'm blogging in the middle of the night. Bummer! Hopefully, I can get on the right medication tomorrow and be on the road to healthy soon. I'm going to try and get some rest now. Night Night.

Busy Bees

This post post isn't going to have any pictures, but I wanted to post some family updates for myself and those of you who actually read blogspots without pictures. haha

Hall Bathroom Update: Chase got the walls painted last weekend and they look great! We still need to buy the cabinets and a nice laundry basket. Then it will be pretty much finished.

Downstairs Den Update: Chase and I hooked up our new TV for the den on Friday. The coolest part is that we have a Logitech Revue or "Google TV" as it's commonly referred to. So far it's working really well and we love it! All of that will be even better once our furniture for that room comes in. It might be another 3-4 weeks but hopefully sooner. I would share a picture but I can't because Ashley furniture doesn't have an online catalog. Bummer! We bought a sleeper sofa and 2 recliners.

Kitchen Update: Chase and I went to my Granny and Granddaddy's house yesterday afternoon to pick up some furniture to use in our house. We brought home their kitchen table and chairs, a rocking chair, a toy box, a desk and a stool. We will be re-refinishing the table and chairs so that they will match the kitchen decor (white with a brown glaze wash). I'm pretty excited about this project. I've been wanting to re-finish a piece of furniture for a couple of months and now I finally get the chance. Before and after pictures to come.

BR's Preschool/My Work Update: This year Brantley will be attending Shades Crest Baptist Weekday Early Education Program Monday-Thursday every week. I'll be working there as well in the Babies room (3-6 months). I'm really excited about getting back to work because I've been wanting to get out of the house some and I think Brantley is at the perfect age to start her in preschool. She needs that structure, routine, and social interaction with other children her age. I'm glad that I'll be there with her in case she doesn't adjust well but I'm hoping for the best and that she'll do great and have a blast!

I start tomorrow with orientation and training on Monday and Tuesday. The rest of the week, we get to work in our classrooms. We meet our students next Tuesday and class begins on Wednesday the 24th.

**If you are looking for a preschool for your child, Shades Crest does have some openings left in the program so give AnnMarie Jordan a call if you'd like more information.**

Off to church and then back to start working on the furniture. I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday!! God Bless!!!