:) Pink Lady Maynard (:

Christmas has been in the air since Halloween. It seems as though stores were shoveling out Christmas decorations and playing holiday music much earlier than years before. The family life has inspired tons of warm and fuzzy feelings about the holidays. Pre-Noah, I used to find the holidays rather annoying and stressful. I am still not one for hitting the crazy, packed malls for gift shopping and becoming a target for a mugger. However, I will admit that I am a bit more cheery and cheesy about decorating and creating memories for that sweet child of mine. On another note, it is official. My mini ninja is now officially a toddler. I am  still amazed at just how fast an entire year of motherhood, marriage, and life has passed. Noah's first year has been such an amazing journey. Every single moment (even those occasional tantrums) spent with my sweet little one makes me realize just how precious life is. He is the epitome of my genuine happiness. I can only hope and pray that we are bl...

There was a chill in the air. I even saw some snow flurries the other day. However, this morning I woke up to rain showers and 70 degrees by 6AM. I used to love autumn. Although, when living in Florida, it was never a very dramatic weather change. I remember looking forward to coming home for the holidays and seeing the gorgeous fall leaves. My "free" time home from college/grad school would often be spent snuggled up on my parents' couch with warm pjs, a good book (or boring journal articles), and old TV shows on DVD playing in the background - Dawson's Creek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Gilmore Girls. As a new mom, I have learned that Daylight Savings time is almost a cruel joke. The thrill of gaining an extra hour of sleep no longer exists. Instead, you have a baby who wants to wake up at 5AM instead of 6. Also, you have a baby who decides that 6:30 PM is the new time to be cranky and throw temper tantrums. Bath time always puts him in a great mood, followed b...