thrifty

So, lately I've really gotten into being thrifty and looking for the bargains. Some of you could spend hours reading blogs about the environment and political views...me, I could spend hours looking for coupons and reading others ideas on being thrifty! LOL

Anyway, leading up to and having our first child has caused me to try and be even more economical and thrifty; especially since I'm staying home now with Ryan. Even though I'll be working PRN at the hospital and doing resumes from home we're still loosing my income which is never easy but it CAN be done! I've really enjoyed reading BabyCheapskate since I first became pregnant. They provide specific sales in their area but also list online sales and coupons specifically related to babies and children. Oh, and they have great ideas for entertaining your children; both places to go and ideas to get off the internet.

So, in honor of their site and my own desire to share the wealth...here's a coupon to use at Target for Luvs diapers...$2OFFLuvs!

Starbucks Java Chip Ice Cream

My friend Natalie posted THIS to her blog awhile ago with some adorable pics of her daughter and Java Chip Ice Cream. I decided to dedicate this post in honor of her! For those of you that don't know her she is one of the kindest, most unique and beautiful people you will ever meet. She has a heart of gold and a love for the Lord that is contagious. One of the things I LOVE about her is her desire to celebrate the everyday and to make big the things that most of us would pass over. She savors everything and is teaching her children to do the same thing (hence the blog).

So, here's to you Natalie...I couldn't let it go to waste! LOL Love ya!

Succulents!

This is my new succulent garden thanks to my mom for such a great birthday present!I love them all but think that the string of pearls may be my favorite. They're all so unique and not poisonous so that's a plus since Ryan will be crawling before we know it. Plus, they're all soft and touchable so no worries with that part of Ryan crawling too.

- String of Pearls -

- Baby's Toes -
-Don't remember all their names but love the baby's butt looking one! -

little masterpiece!

God really does know what He's doing when he creates these beautiful masterpieces inside of us! I cannot get over how perfect Ryan is and how perfect he is for us!

My sister took this photo...you can see more of her work here!

P.S. Click here for Ryan's new blog.

New life, new love!

This is the newest addition to the Mayo family...Ryan Michael was born June 13th at 5:03am.

He is a perfect baby and we're enjoying every moment of our new life with him. Labor and delivery went very smoothly and quite enjoyably as well. The doctor allowed me to reach down and deliver Ryan the up onto my chest after his little head and shoulders were out! Simply indescribably! He's grown a bit since then...almost 3 weeks old now.

Here's a pic from today.

You can check out more pics here. I'm hoping to have a blog just for him very soon as well.

Heritage

I am blessed with grandparents who love the Lord and will leave, and are already leaving, a wonderful heritage.

This past Sunday we celebrated Mother's Day at my grandparent's where we often gather for special celebrations. As always they opened their home up to people they'd never met. My friend Erin and her cute little Brynn ate with us and we all enjoyed sweet fellowship. My grandparents know no strangers, and if we truly do entertain angels unaware they never have to worry about turning them away. Lord willing my son will get some time with his great-grandparents before the Lord takes them home.

What a blessing they are!

Family love...or something!

My brother made a quick visit from AZ when he helped move my cousins to there new job in Omaha at Boys Town. He may have only been here for a short while but we still had a lot of fun. The above photo is a classic pose of Nikki, my sister, and Dave. We decided to see who's belly was the biggest. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings so you can be the judge. :)

I've added a few more prego pics here.

Cutest idea ever!

Everyone needs to check out this post on the Purl Bee. It's the cutest idea ever! And what a clever way to use those small pieces of fabric that you just love but don't know what to do with them because they're so small. I can think of two already. You could even paint the "frames" different colors to add more of a splash of color. They could store needles of different sizes too.

I guess March is craft month, according to a sign in a local craft shop here, so get crafting! :)

Thoughts...

So, I'm loving what I've been reading and learning and thinking lately about using what I have for other purposes and just using what I have, in general, before I go buy a bunch of new stuff. One of my goals right now is to use all of the mosturizers, shampoos, conditioners and hair products before I go get anything new. This means my hair may not react the same way I think it does when I use the really expensive curly shampoos and such but I'm wondering how much they really do anyway. And for me, I don't do a whole lot with my hair so how much can it really do? Who knows? For now I am enjoying not buying new chapsticks and shampoo and mosturizers and etc, etc, etc.

Also, I've been thinking of ways that I can use what I already have to cover a window or two in my house that still has towels on it! :) As I was thinking the other night I remembered two white pillow cases that I really don't use that I could take apart and make into curtains. I'll make sure and post a pic of the before and after.

I have another goal of converting a pair of jeans I have now into prego jeans. I know that I can't change them back after the baby but they fit perfectly and would be great for my next several months. I've tried on so many jeans and can never find ones that don't cost an arm and a leg or that just fit right. So, I'll keep you updated on that project as well.

Oh, and I'm planning to take my first load of recycling to the bins tomorrow. I'm so excited. I have to sort all the paper/cardboard stuff because we just throw it all in one bin. I can already tell a difference in the amount of garbage that I take out per week to our big garbage can. Hooray for recycling.

A lot of my thoughts and readings have come from here, here, here, here, and of course my friend Sara. Thanks to all of you for sharing your thoughts, feelings and lives with the rest of us!

Sipping Sweet Cinnamon Spice Tea

I'm sipping some wonderful Sweet Cinnamon Spice Tea from Tazo. I love Tazo teas...Passion tea is very, very excellent! But do you know what I love more than Tazo Tea? Good friends!

Yesterday I got two letters/packages in the mail with sweet goodies inside. I received a wonderful handmade card from my friend Natalie who, even though I haven't seen her in probably 3 years, I still consider a soul mate because of how God has used her in my life and how we seem to just connect. She included some Sweet Cinnamon Spice Tea along with a cute little sticker from her son, Tay. I just love knowing that somewhere in Boulder there are people that I know and connect with, who love God and love me!

Second I got another handmade card from another wonderful friend, Sara. She also included some tea but this was a Mint flavor from Numi. I shall sip that wonderfulness later. Sara also included a little star thingy that I don't really know how to explain but you can see pics of bigger ones here. Sara recently moved to Bozeman and now I have people who understand and love me in Bozeman! And she loves Jesus lots too so that makes it even more special.

So, today, I challenge you to send a little goodie to someone you love. It'll make them feel so loved and special!

Well, it's been such a long time since I've written anything here. I suppose it's because I keep waiting to put a pic with the story or something really cool to happen. Well, a lot of great stuff has been happening so I'm just going to share some tid bits of it all.

First off...Tuesday we found out that this cute little baby growing inside of me is a BOY! We are definitely excited for that. It's so crazy because you all know we would have been happy either way and I'm sure some of you have experienced the exact same thing but it's just incredibly fun to know who this little person is inside you. I just stared at the monitor and kept thinking, "I'm his mommy! No one knows this baby like me (except for God of course!)." It's just an incredible thing that a mother can't even begin to explain and those that aren't mothers can't really, fully understand. I know I never could wrap my brains around the love of a parent for a child but even now I'm beginning to understand. It's a wonderful gift from God...all pointing right back to Him in order for us to long to know Him more!

In other news, Paul has started work. Yes he passed his boards...no surprise! But he is loving his job and just happy to have something that he enjoys to fill his days. He's not one to be able to sit for long and not do anything. The two weeks after he took his test were killing him with boredom. We are very blessed to have him where he's at.

We sat down the other Saturday and talked about goals for now and for the future. Little things like learning to recycle and reading out loud once night a week to paying off school loans in 3-4 years all the while saving for a down payment on a house. It was good for me to remind myself that these things are temporary and having a house that we "own" is not a measure of status for us. We are very well off and our wonderful little house fits us very nicely. We can do without and do without new things all the time. We also decided to keep both our cars and just trade so that I have the 4-door and he has my 2-door when the baby comes. Both are cars are still reliable and it just fits into our financial goals to keep them versus buying a "new" one.

All-in-all this has been an amazing year full of God's wonderful blessings. I visited Starbucks this morning because I haven't had a Soy, halfcalf caramel Machiato and a Lemon Raspberry Coffee Cake since I've been pregnant. But they don't have that kind of coffee cake in Lincoln! Sad! I drove away thinking, "If that's the kind of disappointments that I go through then I am truly spoiled!" We are such a blessed nation...take time to enjoy what God has truly blessed you with, and don't be afraid to share it!

4111 Place

We moved into our house in Lincoln on December 18th and are loving it so far. It has it's quirks because it's an older house but it fits our needs quite nicely with tons of room to spare. The best part is we got to paint the main floor rooms whatever colors we wanted. Of course I had to paint something red and something green. The baby's room is the only room that nothing really has been done yet but hopefully that will all change on Feb. 6th when I get my next ultrasound. :) The dogs love the huge fenced in backyard...squirel watching is a favorite. I love the extra little room downstairs where I can leave all my creative stuff out for when I get an itch. Ahhh...the good life! :)

Check out more detailed photos here. And if you're in the neighborhood, stop on in!

16 1/2 weeks!

Well, I am not at 16 1/2 weeks of my pregnancy and loving every minute. We just had an ultrasound with our new doctor in Lincoln and everything looks great. I can't believe how fast they grow!

All of you that have been pregnant before know that sometimes, at least when you're earlier along like me, your belly seems to stick out more and other days not as much. We took this last night and it is pretty much this size all the time now. I still laugh sometimes when I look in the mirror at how my belly keeps growing. It's just funny sometimes...I don't know...it's probably just me. :)

I'll let you all know as soon as that 20 week mark hits and we get to hopefully find out what we'll be having! Can't wait!

Merry Christmas!

Family and Friends!

This time of year we celebrate God’s amazing gift of His son! And because of that gift we are able to celebrate all the other wonderful gifts that He blesses us with day in and day out.

Approximately 2 & a half years ago we began a journey to Kansas City where Paul would study intensely at KUMed in Anesthesia. Now, as of December 15th, we are officially done and moving on to the next stage of our lives. Yippee!

Paul has done amazingly well. I am constantly surprised and grateful for his diligence, discipline and, throughout it all, love for the Lord and me. He’s been recognized time and again by doctors and nurses for his “smarts” and respect. Now, after hours of free labor in the OR, long days and late nights of studying, and practically no social life, he’s approaching freedom! Once we move back to Lincoln he’ll continue studying for boards and take those sometime in January. Then, in February, he’ll start his new job with the AAPC (a group of Anesthesiologists and Anesthetists). God is good!

Over the past two years I have been working for a mortgage company where I was blessed to learn several positions the last and most rewarding as a Career Coach. Now that chapter of my life is closed and I move on to a new position within the St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation. I will be a Secretary there, learning the ins and outs of fundraising, donations, grants, etc. Once again God has opened doors and blessed us indeed!

And maybe the biggest celebration, at least in terms of personal growth (heehee), is the new addition that will be joining us in person next June! We are taking the plunge into parenthood! It’s been an amazing 12 weeks so far! Enjoying every moment and looking forward to finding out whether we’ll be having a boy or a girl. We’ll keep you posted.

Other than that...it’s just a great journey of marriage, laughing at our dogs, enjoying life, and learning to love the Lord more.

Merry Christmas everyone!
And may you celebrate BIG this season as we have so much to be celebrating!

Paul, Kristin, little one on the way, Adah & Mac.

grad class of 2006

Woohoo! They all received their diploma's last Friday night at a nice little dinner in celebration of the 2006 graduating class of Certified Nurse Anesthetists! Only 5 days left in KC then we're headed for Nebraska...home sweet home!

Nebraska vs. Oklahoma = COLD!

We bought tickets for the Big 12 Championship game before we even knew who would be there just hoping that this would be Nebraska's big year. Well, they made it and so did the Sooners but it wasn't quite the finish to the big year that the Huskers had hoped for. And it was COLD!

Paul's parents came down, Jason and Jesse some other friends from all over (Nebraska fans of course) and then some friends of Paul's from work (unfortunately Oklahoma fans...just kidding we love them).

We all had a great time freezing our little tushies off and were able to walk away smiling...sort of. LOL

the little one

Some of you already know but now I have a picture to prove it...we are expecting our first little one next June! I'm 12 weeks along now and just finished my first trimester on Sunday! I've been so blessed to feel great...no morning sickness (cross my fingers)...and enjoying every minute of it.

A few weeks ago we went for the visit where we'd get to hear the heartbeat. This is what we got instead! :) (it's a picture of a picture b/c I don't have a scanner so you may have to squint).

First snow...

Our first snow, of the season, started as an ice storm and the next day progressed to beautiful snow flakes blanketing our area in about 6-8 inches of snow! Mind you, the ice did not miraculously melt as the snow fell so it was pretty nasty for awhile...but beautiful all the same!

the ice begins...















great time to make cookies!...















blanket of snow...















It was beautiful! I love the change in seasons...although I was very happy to be snuggly warm inside! :)

Sara Inspired Living Space

One of my passions is decorating. I'm constantly rearranging, decorating, moving things, trying new things, organizing, etc. Recently, after viewing my friend Sara's cozy new abode, I decided my living room needed touched up. Here's a few pics of what I ended up with.

Arizona

About a week ago Paul and I returned from a wonderful vacation visiting family in Tucson, AZ. We met our new niece, Ryleigh Lynn, for the first time, who is already a year old! (She looks so much like my brother!)

Had a great time enjoy my brother, Dave, and his beautiful wife, Susie.














We took my brother's new jeep out on a 19 mile off-roading adventure in The Gap. It performed very well and we enjoyed the beauty of the mountains and the wildlife. (Pictured: Dave, his nephew Michael, Paul and me)

We watched my older niece, Sarah, in the pig-tails in green to the right of the pic, crush their opponents with a 48-6 victory!

All-in-all it was fantastic and we would have loved to have more time. Wish they were closer!