Hello...Is It Me You're Looking For?

**This was written almost 2 months ago on 3/25/13...apparently I was asleep when I hit the SAVE button instead of the PUBLISH button...so here's a slight recap before I get to the actual newest post.**

Ever have that feeling that you're so far behind that you shouldn't even bother to try to catch up?  Well that's me with blogging...except, I DO want to catch up!  In the last month...technically two...almost three, I've been TERRIBLY bad at making blogging a priority as I have in the past.  Which also means I've totally NOT kept up with that part of my New Years Resolutions either....well here's why.

Life.

I won't say that I've been busy every day all day for the last month, but my priorities have changed a little.

Toddler.  Geesh, can this girl run!  Annaliese is very active, always on the go!  She is also very exploratory and independent.  It's hard to get everything that needs done in a day, especially with a husband that still gets daily headaches (sleep test is scheduled in May) and sometimes comes home from work and goes straight to bed.  Annaliese keeps me on my toes!  And boy is she headstrong!  If she can't figure something out the first time around, she throws herself down into a fit.  Wonder where she gets that from???  For those of you wondering, she actually gets that from both of her parents.  Poor kid!
Also on that note, Justin and I have decided that we are officially "TTC" again!  So stay tuned for an update on that when we're finally successful!

Money.  Since joining Scentsy in December, I am (to my surprise) doing really well with my Scentsy Business, and I am bringing in extra money (Shout out to my awesome customers and recruits!), but until I become even more established, I have been applying my tush off for other part time jobs.  I've had one interview so far and it seems pretty promising.  I have a few other prospects and Justin possibly has another job opportunity that will mean him traveling 2 hours each way Monday - Friday for at least a year until we would relocate closer to his job.  So we'll see what happens with that!  *Just thought I would put this out there - I am able to do an online party for you if you are interested.  A blogger friend is already making it happen!*  It's just hard to picture myself going back into the working field after being out of it for 2 1/2 wonderful years!  My goal for this year is to make Scentsy my primary income and be able to take my family on a vacation this summer/fall!

Parties.  My sweet maternal grandmother's 80th birthday happened, (February 18th, to be exact)!  My mom had been inviting family and friends from all over the country for months and the total head count as of now is about 120 people!  My grandma is one of eleven kids (HOLY MOLY...could you imagine???) and all of her siblings who don't reside in Heaven came up celebrate!  All of her daughters were there and all of her grand kids, and of course her only great grandchild, Annaliese!  Many of her cousins were there as well as many of her life long friends she has made over 80 years of life.  I cannot tell you how excited and happy I was/am for my grandma to have this day, this celebration of life!  We all had a blast at the party!

Birthdays.  Well more recently, there are more recent birthdays coming up.  My big 30th is April 4th and Justin's (a couple years graduated from 30) is April 18th.  For the last year, Like I mentioned before, I wanted to throw myself a big 30th birthday bash with an 80's theme!  Well unfortunately it looks like that won't be the case.  Trying to keep afloat on our bills (including the expensive cold season we're still in) we have not been able to save and extra money to make this happen.  I won't lie...I'm disappointed, but I've accepted it.  I know that my birthday will still be special in it's own way.  My girl friends have a nice lunch at Olive Garden planned for me on April 6th, and we have a family dinner planned for that evening at Dave and Jane's Crab Shack where I will be indulging in all-you-can-eat crabs!  *Please note: I will be in a complete food coma on this day*

Books.  I have made an attempt to read more like I wanted to this year and I have.  Going from zero reading to some reading is actually a feat, but it's happening at least!  Plus, just recently I have found an awesome website and app called GoodReads!  I'm sure most of you consistent readers out there already know of this site, but I found it to be my missing reader's link!  It's a place where you can make lists of what you have already read, what you want to read and what you are currently reading as well as have "friends" and read their reviews and get suggestions of books!  Go find me so we can be reading buddies! :)

So that has been my last few months in a nut shell.  I'm sorry it's taken me forever to write this post and that I haven't read many of your blog posts that I have missed.  It sometimes doesn't take a high rank on the priority list and I have somehow managed to not even make it appear on the list!  I'll try to keep on top of things!

I have lots of pictures to post and lots of other news to share, so I will be doing that here soon!  As always you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.  *please take note that I have changed my user names to CreatingCassie*

Love to you all...if you're still out there!

Thank You, Justin

In light of Thanksgiving coming up, I tend to reflect on everything and everyone I am thankful for in my life.  I do take daily moments to be thankful, but around Thanksgiving, being among everyone who

Well this post is dedicated to my husband.  My life partner.  My best friend.  My heart.

Justin,

Thank you for always, always supporting me.  Ever since I met you, you have always stuck up for me and have supported me in decisions I have made and helped me weigh out the good and bad.  I have always said that I like that you're so analytical  and I still do.

Thank you for being a terrific father to our beautiful, growing daughter.  You are so good to her and I fall in love with you over and over again every day when I see you walk with her and read to her.  I would be so lost without you both.

Thank you for taking care of me at my worst and encouraging me at my best.  You always show me that you are selfless and always, always have mine and Annaliese's best interests at hand.  I see the sacrifices you make every day for us, and I want to tell you I appreciate them all.

Thank you for the little things.  Cooking breakfasts and dinners, mowing the lawn for the last 4 1/2 years, for dealing with the landlords and paying rent, for taking care of us all financially, for running to the store just because I had a craving for eggnog.  AND for signing up for ballroom dance lessons with me (SOON).  You're so sweet and I know how lucky I am to have found you.

I love you more than words will ever say and I know that the best is yet to come.  I look forward to growing old with you by my side, laughing at the inside jokes we have and STILL chasing each other around the house.  :)  You are my one and only love.

Love,
Me

By the way, this conversation happened today.

Me: I love you honey, you're the best
Justin: hmmm, ok
Me: No, you really are
Justin:  Ok, I'm not disagreeing with you

:)  I love this man.

~See, it wasn't too sappy, was it?

Feeling Cold, Wishing Warm

It's been really really chilly here lately!  Getting down in the 20's at night already, and it's not even Winter.  I fear that Winter will be a super cold one this year with lots of snow, since Mother Nature was kind enough last year to only bless us with a few inches.

Since Justin and I got married and went on a once in a OUR lifetime honeymoon to Negril, Jamaica, anytime the cold Winter weather rolls around, I still like to think back to our honeymoon.  Our first vacation as husband and wife (and really the first vacation alone together), we were in newly wedded bliss and had just had the wedding of our dreams, enjoyed the 90-100 degree weather daily (a little TOO hot for our taste, but it was still nice)...and some of the greatest things we had ever experienced together.

Palm Trees...

Clear Water...

White Sands...

Couples Massage...

Dolphin Dance...

Breathtaking Sunsets...

Romantic Dinners...

Yes, this is how I cope with being cold.  I go back to my happy place...the beach :)

Dear Annaliese, Today You Are One.

Dear Annaliese Marie,

Just hearing your beautiful name makes my heart race.  Today we celebrate your first birthday.  365 days have gone by since you were born and yet it feels like yesterday.  Mommy and Daddy are crying tears of joy with a tiny bit of sadness, because the reality of life in full force cannot escape us.  You are on your way to becoming a little girl and not so much a baby anymore.

You can turn the page on your own in your bedtime book.  You're getting better at holding a spoon when you eat.  You are already indicating to Daddy and I "no" by shaking your head (this helps us fear the years to come).  Just two weeks ago you took 5 steps on your own, twice!  About one week ago you came up to me with your arms up and said "Mama" for the first time and my heart melted.  When I hand you your comb, you place it on your head, knowing that it's used for brushing your hair.  You get upset when we tell you "no" if you're into something you shouldn't be.  You love to dance, just like your mommy.  You still love your veggies like no tomorrow and are also a huge fan of water from your sippy cup.  You sleep with your teddy bear every night.  You are slowing getting into drinking whole milk.  You try to feed me food with your spoon, and I love that you're already sharing.  You light up with you see other children smiling and laughing and you get upset when we're in the grocery store and you hear other babies cry.

You are already have so much individuality and character.  You make me more and more proud every day.

Let me tell you the story of how you came to be.  On the morning of February 16, 2011, after 5 months of trying to conceive,  I had taken my first pregnancy test with my first ever "+" sign shown.  After 3 days and 4 positive tests later, I decided it was time to call the doctor and schedule an appointment.  On Feb 23 we had our pregnancy confirmation appointment and left the doctor's office feeling like we were on top of the world!  To announce the big news to our family, we made plaques for our parents and our brothers read that they were closer to becoming a grandparent/uncle around my proclaimed due date of Oct 24.  Everyone was so happy for us!  According to calculation, I was still very early in my pregnancy and they didn't do an ultrasound until I was 8 weeks along. SO we waited...

Right after the at-home test said that you existed, I accompanied Daddy on a 2 day drive to Nashville, TN for his work conference in the first week of March.  That whole week, I had a container of Tums with me at all times because you gave me heartburn.  I also tried to drink ginger ale because I was a little nauseous and didn't really have an appetite.  Aside from those minor things, we had a nice road trip together.  While Daddy drove, I read "What To Expect When You're Expecting" out loud and we had conversations about what to expect for the remaining months of my pregnancy, how to handle a newborn baby and how we would parent you when you arrived.  Also on the way home, I experienced my first REAL "laugh till you cry" moment.  Daddy said something really funny and made me laugh (as he always does) but while I was laughing, I started getting teary and then I got so teary that I started sobbing...like CRYING uncontrollably type sobbing.  It was totally the hormones and it was totally weird.  But it was funny after it happened.  :)

Then on March 18, our first ultrasound appointment arrived.  I remember the first time I saw you.  Filled with anticipation and a first time parent's slight worry, Mommy and Daddy drove to the doctor's office and got an ultrasound.  Seeing you on the monitor gave us a breath of fresh air.  You were the tiniest little bean inside of my belly.  We couldn't make out that you were a human yet, but we could see your little arm "waving" at the camera.  We couldn't hear your heartbeat at that point yet, but we were able to see it!  It was euphoric.  I will never forget that feeling.  Your daddy cried tears of joy when he saw you that day.  Mommy was the happiest person in the world, that tears couldn't even show my excitement.

I was ready to spread the wonderful news to everyone else and get a baby bump!

I started to show my lovely baby bump around 15 weeks.  For my "unofficial" first Mother's Day, your very thoughtful Daddy gave me the perfect card gift for an expecting mother.  Of course, I sobbed uncontrollably like a little baby cried.

Around 18 weeks we had a non-medical ultrasound done and found that you were a girl.  This is when Mommy cried.  Somehow I had a sneaking suspicion that you were a girl.  Daddy was in complete shock.  He had always wanted to be a dad and pictured himself being a dad, but anytime he pictured himself as a dad, he pictured having a son.  Daddy and I sat back in that room and watched the ultrasound technician find your sweet face with your daddy's nose, your arms and legs, your 10 fingers and 10 toes and even a little shot of your tush that I love so much! :)  We were in awe of you and enjoyed watching you play peek-a-boo with the camera.  You were a bit camera shy.

We revealed to everyone that you were a girl just days later at your Great Aunt and Uncle's Memorial Day picnic.  Daddy wore blue and mommy wore pink and blue to throw people off.  Haha!  We had a cake made and dyed pink inside so that when we cut into it, it would reveal that you were a girl!  It was so much fun seeing everyone's face anxious with anticipation and their excitement come to life when they saw the pink cake! :)  We had a lot of fun doing it this way!

Silly Parents- To- Be

I consider myself lucky because you were very easy on Mommy through my whole pregnancy and I appreciated it.  I thoroughly enjoyed being pregnant with you!  I was only nauseous while we were in TN, after that I was enjoying eating strawberries like the world would be out of them tomorrow, chocolate chip granola bars and apples with peanut butter.  I had eaten each of these probably at least once a day.  Although I LOVE seafood prior to (and since) my pregnancy, it made me nauseous when I was pregnant.  So I wonder if you will grow to not like seafood?  I hope this isn't the case because you'll really be missing out!

I was in LOVE with my baby bump!  I loved showing you off any chance I could.  I miss my bump, but eventually within a few years I will have another bump and you'll be welcoming a new baby brother or sister.

 We had some really great maternity pictures taken when I was 30 weeks pregnant with you.

We even had shirts ordered with your name on them!

This was the last belly picture taken before I gave birth 7 days later

Then in the midst of a full moon on the evening of October 11, 2011, you arrived.  When the doctor placed you on my belly to wipe you down, I still could not believe what had just happened.  Suddenly you went from being warm, quiet and protected inside my belly to seeing and hearing you in person and feeling your touch on the outside of my belly.  All of the events that happened that day went by in what felt like minutes and there you were.  The little kicker that kept me awake some nights and would roll around into my ribs and push so hard on my belly from the inside.  It was painful sometimes, but those contractions...yeah those were a lot worse.  I did it all for you and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

At 5 lb 15 oz, You were the tiniest baby I had ever held.  You were the most beautiful thing I had ever laid eyes on...and still are.

Today we celebrate your First Birthday.  It's really amazing how much you have taught me in the last year and I know the train won't stop here.  You are such a special little person to me and your daddy.  You are loved by so many people and it is so heart warming that you, your daddy and me...we are so very blessed to have all of that love in our lives and that is all that I could have ever asked for.


You are the center of Mommy and Daddy's world.

You are very independent and love to do things on your own.

You are always so joyful and smiling.  You will randomly laugh at things and it makes me laugh.

You love to go for walks and look at the trees.

You LOVE trees!

You love to play peek-a-boo with Mommy and Daddy and "chase us" around the house.

 You love to play "Pat-a-Cake" with Mommy at least twice a day, sometimes ten.

You give Mommy and Daddy the sweetest kisses that just make all of our worries melt away.

 You love when Mommy and Daddy make a fool of ourselves trying to make you laugh.  It usually works, and well.

You have the most bold and beautiful blue-ish/grey-ish eyes I've ever seen.  Neither Mommy or Daddy have blue eyes, so we believe this is just one of the many things that makes you extra special.

Photo Credit for these family pictures goes to Double Shutter Photography

This last week you have been extra cuddly with me and although I know it's due to you cutting more teeth, in addition to the 8 teeth that you already have, I love those cuddles and I can't get enough.  I hear my friends with kids tell me all the time that when you get a certain age you won't really want to cuddle anymore, so I am soaking up all the cuddles I can while I can.  I still enjoy being home with you everyday, watching you grow and develop into your own little person.  I think I kiss you at least a thousand times a day and you love it just as much as I do.  I love nothing more than to make you laugh!  You are my little buddy and Daddy and I would be lost without you.  You bring such joy to our lives every day and in every way.  We know how blessed and honored we are to have you.  I am excited to know that you will soon be talking more and fully walking soon and be able to play more.  I'm in love with you for giving me greatest gift you and only you have given me; motherhood.

I plan to do a LOT of hugging you and a LOT of kissing you today, your day, your very first birthday.

Happy Birthday, Annaliese! aka Bug, Buggy, Anna Bug, Sweetie, Pumpkin