A look back

Ok; It's finally here! Tomorrow will be my 10th Wedding Anniversary! I feel like a kid on Christmas! Althought it's not like I'm getting anything materialistic tomorrow; it's just a milestone. We did however get our gift cards in the mail back from Chase so our dinner reservations are still on. Just have to make sure that my dress fits as I have gained 10 pounds since Thanksgiving, ugh :( My sister is great with all the sappy, lovey-dovey stuff. I am in my mind but not on paper. Roy if you are reading (since you know about the blog now); I treasure the last 10 years, for better or worse (we have definitely had both). I cherish our little moments together and how we have grown as a couple; and seen our relationship change once we took on our parental roles. I cannot think of anyone I would rather have at my side on this journey. We definitely even each other out; ying and yang. Here is to another 10, I LOVE YOU, BABE! (like a fat kid loves cake.. and that's a lot!) you know which kid and what cake ;) Here is a look at 10 years ago; December 31, 1999.

Mr. & Mrs. Roy Martin Jr.

Cutting the Cake

Cutting the Groom's Cake

My New In-laws

L-R Jodye, Vanessa, Melanie, Roy, Roy Sr, Linda, Tina

My Family

L-R Meredith, Morgan, Melanie, Mom, Roy and Dad

My Father and me

RIP- Odis Jerald Gibbons 4/23/2007

Hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year!
Melanie

Anniversary Countdown

Ok- I have only 16 days until my 10th anniversary! I know I'm probably retardedly excited but not everyone was happy that I got married after all I was only 21 and I got married on the 1st anniversary of my first date with my fiancee. I only know of 2 other couples that are still together after all this time; a lot of our friends are divorced now. I'm so glad we have been able to work through our problems but all married couples know that is an ongoing process. We have overcome so many financial and emotional hurdles in our time together and I cannot wait to grow old with him. All except the wrinkles part :) I cannot wait to see what the next 10 years bring.

Dec 31, 1999

See my "cute" ring

Countdown

I know most people are counting down to Christmas this time of year. Officially we have 10 days left until Christmas. I'm busy getting the last minute gifts for secret santa and dept. gift exchange. This year Roy and my Christmas to each other is a new fridge, a new set of pots, and a coffee maker. (this is the pic from the website since my pic from home didn't go through)- Guess we really are rednecks since we were so excited about a fridge.  BTW this is the first side by side fridge that I have ever owned.

These were all things that we needed but I'm happy. We had to set some of Matt's presents aside for his birthday since we bought so many throughout the year. I hope he likes everything. It seems like he is finally getting the whole "Santa is watching you" now and is behaving. Hopefully that will last till Christmas. Also for some unknown reason I'm more excited about my Anniversary on the 31st than Christmas. Maybe its because Christmas is just different now that my Dad is dead, and all my sisters are married. We are trying to carry on the traditions that we grew up with. Every year I wonder how my mother did it. I only have (1) child and a full-time job and I feel like I can never get everything done. This woman's house was always clean, she did tons of baking, shopping and wrapping for Christmas. I hope that I can get my act together, I'm trying with the baking and cooking; and I know Matt has plenty of gifts. I can't wait until my sisters have babies of their own so we will have a bigger family. I'm an aunt to my sister-in-law's kids that I never get to see but cannot wait till I get to help spoil a little Morg or Mer. I hope one of them has a little fat red-headed baby :)  If I don't blog before then hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

Meeting Matt

Today marks the 4th anniversary of meeting my son, Matthew.  Matthew is adopted; and we got him on December 9, 2005 when he was 6 months old.  I cannot imagine my life without this little guy.  I have included some pictures of this special day.  It wasn't till June 2006 when his adoption was finalized but I knew from the moment I held him that he was my son.

Our New Family

We have been explaining to my son lately of his unique situation.  The book that we most like is "The Day God Found us You".  So I have been telling him today is a very special day.  Today is the day that God found us Matthew.

Clean Ring!!

Here is the pic of my sparkly clean ring, since it wouldn't let me load more than one earlier.  I will have to send pics of my tiny one (but much loved!!) later.

Lemon Pie

Here are the pics of my lemon pie.  BTW- found out my shortening had expired the hard way.  Pie looked good but the crust tasted horrible.  I have since bought new Crisco. :)

Hello Winter Wonderland

Hi All-

Sorry its been so long since I have posted lots of stuff has happened. Since I have last posted my baby sister got married (I have a little sister and a baby sister :)) Congrats Cole and Meredith!!  Good news is that they did not have to let my dress out, but it didn't need to be taken in at the waist just the shoulders.

We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving at my sister's house (Martha, herself) where she made a cute fruit turkey for my son.  Also being the wonderful aunt she is; mailed back the toy he lost in her yard.

We are getting ready for the holidays at our house and on Friday December 4th; Houston became a winter wonderland complete with snow!  Here is a picture of the snow outside my office.

Matt was not impressed at first and just kept telling me it was rain.  Not as much stuck at our house but his inflatable yard tigger had some snow, so he got to feel it. (we can now take this off the list).

Part of my holiday ritual is to become Betty Crocker during the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  This past weekend I made (2) homemade soups, lemon meriguiene pie ( I know the spelling isn't right but I have stumped spellcheck), and snow ball cookies.  I have a potluck on Sunday with my family and friends where I will be making a couple of sides and desserts.  Wouldn't let me load pic.

Finally the last day of this month; December 31st marks my 10th wedding anniversary.  I cannot describe how excited I am.  Not that I have anything special planned.  We are currently working on saving the money we need to book our Europe trip.  While I'm disappointed that we haven't been able to go yet; we are trying for a Sept 2010 departure; its not completely off the table.  Also I have been wanting an anniversary band; Roy and I have been talking about it.  My current wedding set was given to me on our 5th wedding anniversary as a trade up since my original was so tiny.  I was going to save my original for Matt to give to whichever girl he proposes to.  Well I cleaned my rings last night with laundry detergent which my sister suggested and they look BRAND NEW!!  It wouldn't let me load the pic.  Well to shorten the story; I fear no girl will tell Matt; "yes" with my tiny ring.  So I will be meeting with a jeweler on my 10th wedding anniversary in hopes of having my original ring melted down and created into an anniversary band.  YEA!!

Follow-Up on List

So I have been very busy lately, since starting my new job and all of my many appointments over the weekends.  My youngest sister will get married in less than 3 weeks.  I go to get my dress fitted tomorrow.  When I first picked it up it needed to be taken in, but since all of the weddings, and Pampered Chef parties it may need to be let out. :)

Here is an update on my progress on the day zero project:

6. Make sure to give my husband a kiss before I leave for work each morning, or when I wake up :)
12. I have visted a couple of churches the last few weeks- I haven't found one that I want to join yet.
37. We have been eating at home regularly now; and I'm sure even more when I get my baker (thanks Morgan)
49. I'm still working on getting a workout routine going, but I'm consistently taking the stairs in the parking garage and in my office building.  We were taking nightly walks with the dogs until all the rain hit, but plan on getting back at it.
95. Still regularly keeping in touch with past collegues from several past jobs, and making fast friends at my new place of employment.

Day Zero Project-
Love & Marriage


1. set up a standing date night (once a month) and stick to it.

2. go away (1) weekend a year to reconnect

3. travel to Europe to celebrate our 10 year anniversary

4. join my hubby in a sport of his choosing

5. take dance lessons with my hubby

6. give my husband a kiss daily (I know you newlyweds can't believe this)

7. be a more supportive spouse and listen to my husband's problems without trying to always "fix" them.

8. Find a better way to communicate with my husband other than nagging.

9. Sit down with my husband and create a new list of goals for our family; in 5 yrs, etc

10. Regardless of party, presents, etc. on Roy's birthday spend the entire day doing what ever he wants, no griping

11. Meet with a counselor or pastor to address and resolve underlying situations or hardships in our marriage



Me

12. regularly go to church

13. learn to accept compliements

14. start regularly using my bike

15. become a more active person with a workout routine

16. join a yoga class and not worry about my appearance

17. lose 100 pounds

18. quit forgetting my meds

19. consistently eat breakfast

20. organize my closet and get rid of clothes that are too big

21. upon reaching my goal weight enter a 5k run.

22. complete a 5k run

23. upon reaching goal weight let Roy pick out anything from VS and I wear it; no questions asked.

24. buy an actual business suit for interviews

25. buy a bikini for cruise vacation

26. wear bikini on cruise vacation



Household

26. Start recycling at home

27. actually use all of my reuseable shopping bags when I go grocery shopping

28. create a cleaning schedule and stick to it

29. replace light bulbs with new energy efficient bulbs

30. reorganize kitchen cabinets

31. paint the kitchen

32. organize my office and keep it that way

33. donate toys Matt doesn't play with

34. create a budget and stick to it

35. pay off credit debt



Kitchen

36. switch to whole wheat products; i.e pasta, flour, etc.

37. eat dinner at home at least (4) nights a week (0/572)

38. eliminate fast food completely for (1) month

39. try a recipe once a month (0/33)

40. eat (1) completely vegetarian meal as a family once a month (0/33)

41. incorporate seafood into our dinner routine (1) time a week (0/143)

42. eliminate soda completely from our household



Family

43. say grace as a family daily with dinner (0/1001)

44. meet with a fertility clinic to expand our family

45. after (3) tries re-evaluate our situation and make a decision

46. If/when decision is made to no longer try or after additional child is born pack up and donate unused or unwanted baby items to family or charity

47. have Sunday dinner once a month with my sisters' and their families, as well as my mother

48. call relatives that I don't see as much on a regularly monthly basis (0/33)

49. become a more physically active parent

50. take more photos as a family

51. create family game and movie nights

52. trace family heritage for myself and spouse

53. cook once a month with my son and not care about the mess he makes

54. let Matt stay the night at Nanny & PawPaw's

55. visit Roy's Great Aunt in California

56. restrict television view times

57. Write a letter to Matt detailing his history, and our reasons for making him our son

58. Include information on his birth mother and other partial siblings.

59. Write a letter to my father saying all the things I never got to say

60. Visit and put flowers on my father's grave at least once a year (0/2)

61. Visit and put flowers on my grandmother's grave at least once a year (0/2)

62. One day a year take my mother out to do anything she wants; declare it Mom's day (in additional to regular Mother's day)- like she did when we were children

63. Continue the tradition with with my son

64. Every April 24 share a drink with my father (0/2)

65. Every April 24 listen to Ray Price's For the Good Times (0/2)



Travel & Entertainment

66. take Matt to see actual snow

67. build a snowman as a family

68. take a family trip to DisneyWorld

69. take Matt on an airplane for the 1st time

70. travel on a train

71. spend an evening at a Jazz Club

72. go on a winery tour

73. go on a triple date with my sisters and their husbands

74. take Roy to the ballet

75. visit the art museum with Roy

76. take a cruise

77. Upon finishing dance class; go out on the town for a night of dancing with my hubby

78. take Roy to dinner at Vic & Anthony's



Expanding My Horizons

79. Re-enroll in college

80. take classes towards my major

81. take a cooking class

82. try actual raw sushi (I have had cooked sushi before-Philadephia roll)

83. learn to eat with chopsticks

84. on scheduled date nights, try new restaurants (no chains) (0/33)

85. blog regularly

86. learn a foreign language

87. go to a foreign film with subtitles

88. read a novel once a month

89. snokel while on a cruise

90. introduce Matt to a new food a month

91. eliminate swear words from my vocabulary



Work

92. Make sure that my family knows they are a priority higher than work

93. Be able to take criticism on my work and not think of it as a personal attack

94. Keeping a positive outlook, and not get bogged down with any co-workers' negative attitude

95. Keep in contact with past collegues and cultivate new business relationships

96. Take additional training when offered or available



Banking

97. Regularly make a deposit into our joint savings account monthly (0/33)

98. Deposit $2 in savings for every completed item (0/101)

99. Deposit $1 for every item not completed. (0/101)



Environment

100. Plant a garden with my son

101. Work on ways to reduce our household effect on the environment
 
Hope everyone has a very blessed day!!
Melanie

Day Zero Project list

Here is my list for the Day Zero Project that I blogged about earlier:

Love & Marriage
1. set up a standing date night (once a month) and stick to it.
2. go away (1) weekend a year to reconnect
3. travel to Europe to celebrate our 10 year anniversary
4. join my hubby in a sport of his choosing
5. take dance lessons with my hubby
6. give my husband a kiss daily (I know you newlyweds can't believe this)
7. be a more supportive spouse and listen to my husband's problems without trying to always "fix" them.
8. Find a better way to communicate with my husband other than nagging.
9. Sit down with my husband and create a new list of goals for our family; in 5 yrs, etc
10. Regardless of party, presents, etc. on Roy's birthday spend the entire day doing what ever he wants, no griping
11. Meet with a counselor or pastor to address and resolve underlying situations or hardships in our marriage

Me
12. regularly go to church
13. learn to accept compliements
14. start regularly using my bike
15. become a more active person with a workout routine
16. join a yoga class and not worry about my appearance
17. lose 100 pounds
18. quit forgetting my meds
19. consistently eat breakfast
20. organize my closet and get rid of clothes that are too big
21. upon reaching my goal weight enter a 5k run.
22. complete a 5k run
23. upon reaching goal weight let Roy pick out anything from VS and I wear it; no questions asked.
24. buy an actual business suit for interviews
25. buy a bikini for cruise vacation
26. wear bikini on cruise vacation

Household
26. Start recycling at home
27. actually use all of my reuseable shopping bags when I go grocery shopping
28. create a cleaning schedule and stick to it
29. replace light bulbs with new energy efficient bulbs
30. reorganize kitchen cabinets
31. paint the kitchen
32. organize my office and keep it that way
33. donate toys Matt doesn't play with
34. create a budget and stick to it
35. pay off credit debt

Kitchen
36. switch to whole wheat products; i.e pasta, flour, etc.
37. eat dinner at home at least (4) nights a week (0/572)
38. eliminate fast food completely for (1) month
39. try a recipe once a month (0/33)
40. eat (1) completely vegetarian meal as a family once a month (0/33)
41. incorporate seafood into our dinner routine (1) time a week (0/143)
42. eliminate soda completely from our household

Family
43. say grace as a family daily with dinner (0/1001)
44. meet with a fertility clinic to expand our family
45. after (3) tries re-evaluate our situation and make a decision
46. If/when decision is made to no longer try or after additional child is born pack up and donate unused or unwanted baby items to family or charity
47. have Sunday dinner once a month with my sisters' and their families, as well as my mother
48. call relatives that I don't see as much on a regularly monthly basis (0/33)
49. become a more physically active parent
50. take more photos as a family
51. create family game and movie nights
52. trace family heritage for myself and spouse
53. cook once a month with my son and not care about the mess he makes
54. let Matt stay the night at Nanny & PawPaw's
55. visit Roy's Great Aunt in California
56. restrict television view times
57. Write a letter to Matt detailing his history, and our reasons for making him our son
58. Include information on his birth mother and other partial siblings.
59. Write a letter to my father saying all the things I never got to say
60. Visit and put flowers on my father's grave at least once a year (0/2)
61. Visit and put flowers on my grandmother's grave at least once a year (0/2)
62. One day a year take my mother out to do anything she wants; declare it Mom's day (in additional to regular Mother's day)- like she did when we were children
63. Continue the tradition with with my son
64. Every April 24 share a drink with my father (0/2)
65. Every April 24 listen to Ray Price's For the Good Times (0/2)
  
Travel & Entertainment
66. take Matt to see actual snow
67. build a snowman as a family
68. take a family trip to DisneyWorld
69. take Matt on an airplane for the 1st time
70. travel on a train
71. spend an evening at a Jazz Club
72. go on a winery tour
73. go on a triple date with my sisters and their husbands
74. take Roy to the ballet
75. visit the art museum with Roy
76. take a cruise
77. Upon finishing dance class; go out on the town for a night of dancing with my hubby
78. take Roy to dinner at Vic & Anthony's

Expanding My Horizons
79. Re-enroll in college
80. take classes towards my major
81. take a cooking class
82. try actual raw sushi (I have had cooked sushi before-Philadephia roll)
83. learn to eat with chopsticks
84. on scheduled date nights, try new restaurants (no chains) (0/33)
85. blog regularly
86. learn a foreign language
87. go to a foreign film with subtitles
88. read a novel once a month
89. snokel while on a cruise
90. introduce Matt to a new food a month
91. eliminate swear words from my vocabulary

Work
92. Make sure that my family knows they are a priority higher than work
93. Be able to take criticism on my work and not think of it as a personal attack
94. Keeping a positive outlook, and not get bogged down with any co-workers' negative attitude
95. Keep in contact with past collegues and cultivate new business relationships
96. Take additional training when offered or available

Banking
97. Regularly make a deposit into our joint savings account monthly (0/33)
98. Deposit $2 in savings for every completed item (0/101)
99. Deposit $1 for every item not completed. (0/101)

Environment
100. Plant a garden with my son
101. Work on ways to reduce our household effect on the environment

The Day Zero Project

My sister told me when I go my blog going that she wanted me to do the Day Zero Project with her.  Here are the guidelines.

The Day Zero Project

The Mission: To complete 101 preset tasks in the period of 1,001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable, or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of effort on your part).

The list itself, is harder than you think. 101 things that you want/need to finish in 2.75 years, is tough to come up with!

 

Right now I have gotten to 61 things that I want to complete.  Once I get all 101 I will post my complete list

 

Till Next time

Mel

Technically Challenged

OK, was able to find the old post, and publish it. :)

From the Front Lines of the Couch

Ok, I'm trying my hand at this blogging thing. I originally typed a very long first post a few weeks ago, but it was lost after I edited. I'm hoping to spawn more working moms to blog or connect as our resources are very limited. The only support groups I ever see are all for stay at home moms. With that said I respect everyone's individual need or opinion for their current mothering situation.

Currently I'm a stay at home mama for this week. For those of you who don't know me I was laid off last Friday, and 2 hours later I received a call offering me a job that I had been interviewing for. I had been praying for strength and help with my impending situation (aka the writing on the wall, given our economy) and really believe that it had an impact on the result. Although my husband does not believe this. We are at odds on our faith. I will talk more about this in posts to come. I will have to make this short as we are sitting down for dinner. I'm inspired by my sister Morgan's blog to do the 101 thins in 1001 days. I have a few listed but not near 101. I will try to complete my list and post it. I find it funny that I have already done some of the things are her list, and also would like to complete some of the others together (i.e. the jazz club). Can't wait to see if she has completed any of the ones on my list after I post it.

Best wishes till I see you again
Mel

Insomnia

Ok- its 12:10 am and I have to be up by 6:30. Busy day tomorrow; follow-up blood work, pest control appointment, wedding shower gift shopping, grocery shopping, cleaning, paying bills... the list goes on and on.

I'm new to this whole blog thing but thought since I'm becoming addicted to facebook I better find something else to do. I can hear my sisters laughing now while reading this, since I believe we all have inherited some form of our father's obessive personality. I haven't seen many if any blogs by working moms; I'm sure they are out there, but like I said new to the blog thing so I haven't run across it.

Currently hearing footsteps overhead so it must be Matthew on his way to the bathroom. We started night-time potty training as well about a month ago. He previously wore underwear during the day and pull-ups at night. When we finish the last package he announced to me that he didn't want to wear "diapers" to bed anymore since he was a big boy now and "diapers" were for babies. I thought what the hay (its a family blog :) we'll give it a shot. There have been a few midnight sheet changes, and I have some how gotten in a habit of waking up at 2AM to check on him but he is doing very well.

Well I better get off of here and try to get some sleep. Roy went to the doctor today and was diagnosed with a sinus infection an addition to an ear infection, so he is currently in bed snoring due to the new meds. Look like I have the couch, until next time.