Jamberry

Hi everyone in blogland :) I have recently decided to join the Jamberry Team!! "What is a Jamberry?..." you may be asking yourself. I will tell you :)

They are high quality, vinyl, heat and pressure activated nail wraps that last 7-14 days, at a fraction of the cost of a mani or pedi at the salon. They are non-toxic (and scent free!), won't chip like polish and do not damage your natural nail. There are over 350 styles to suit everyone's nail design preferences.

OH & one sheet of wraps will give you AT LEAST 2 manis and 2 pedis!!! I mean, if you do the math it comes out to less than $5 for a mani/pedi!! That is amazing :)

I really do love these wraps, mainly because I don't have to wait for them to dry...having a very mobile 10 month old #nobodygottimeforthat. & They really do last forever. My toes are going on 8 weeks (they still look brand new), I am going to change them just to change them soon. Also, you get paid for your commission every Friday, and on top of that you get bonuses every month! Gotta love that.

Jamberry just released a brand new Fall & Winter catalog, with TONS of new fun styles. They even have lots of junior wraps for the little ones in our lives, some made just to match momma too!

If you might be interested check out more HERE << that is my fancy schmancy website.

Jamberry also has AMAZING Hostess Rewards. I'd love to help you get lots of free stuff for hosting a party. We can even host it ALL online via Facebook if you want...super easy & SO fun. Really.

You can request a party here << my fancy schmancy party requesting tool.

Sooo, just had to put this shameless plug out there in the interwebs.

Oh, you wanted to know about Sophia?! haha She is walking. That's right...she started really getting the hang of it at the beginning of 9 months by 9.5 she was taking multiple consistent independent steps. I am amazed by this little girl. She is so stinkin smart. She is also tiny 17lbs at her 9mo appt.

Courtney and I have both started back to school this Fall. I am going full time to finish up my BS, and she is taking a few classes to finish up her degree. Things are busy around these parts...why not add some extra income with some fun nail wraps while we are at it?? We are saving the extra money to help pay for Sophia's adoption fees...I think it is a great plan!!

So check out my website, fall in love like I did & let me know how I can help you meet your own life goals!!

Freedom To Marry

We are getting closer and closer to gaining the Freedom to Marry.

As Courtney kind of mentioned in the previous post, we were recently featured on Freedom To Marry's site. I think the story turned out beautifully with our pictures.

I am so grateful that the times have changed so much that there are more positve comments than negative, and we do not personally know any of the people making the negative comments. I love that SO MANY people have had the opportunity to read our story and even share it. More people should see that we are just regular people living regular lives. We would just like the same right to be married as everyone else.

I think August 6th is going to be a fantastic day. The 6th Circuit Court will hear the vital TN cases and most likely rule in our favor. (At least that's what I'm thinking)

If you would like to take a look at our story over at Freedom To Marry please do :)

Our Story

You can also spread the word if you'd like, maybe if enough people see it, the lawmakers will have a change of heart with the super cute baby face staring at them!!

Maxed Out On Irony

I seriously cannot even comprehend what just happened. Jamie and I were featured on a story on Freedom to Marry. This story was shared by them on Facebook and, as a result, the masses were allowed to comment on it. Most of these comments have been nice and supportive and from complete strangers. I have also seen a few sweet comments from dear friends of ours. I have yet to see anything unkind from anyone I'm friends with, BUT I did see something from someone I know today. As I was scrolling through the comments, someone said something to the extent of.. I feel sorry for Sophia because she will never have a family with a mother and a father. I saw that there was a reply so I clicked on it to see what the person said. Someone nicely jumped to our defense, of course and I was grateful, but I couldn't help but notice that it said So And So likes this comment on the comment about Sophia not having a father. This So And So was somebody I went to school with. Somebody who claims to be an uber conservative. Ok, fine with me. Those are your opinions, but don't go "liking" comments like that on a story about someone who you know and have had a rivalry with when that person and others know that you have had your moments when you thought being gay was the cool thing to do. Also DO NOT EVER comment on something about my child's life when you have aborted a child before. Seriously how dare you?! My mind is exploding with the absolute irony and hypocrisy of this and I could say a million devastatingly hurtful things to this person right now. Really.. I just can't even comprehend this person's thought process.

The Milky Way

No, not the galaxy. The movie.

The Milky Way Foundation is on a mission to bring more awareness to the importance of breastfeeding and the way parents and babies are introduced to each other during the first few hours of entering this world.

If you have the opportunity to see this movie in you city, take it!! Courtney and I saw it last night right here in Knoxville (I love how progressive this scruffy little city is). I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the excellent bond breastfeeding creates. I was also AMAZED at how far the US is behind other countries. Sadly we are one of 4 (FOUR) countries in the ENTIRE world that has ZERO mandated maternity program...other than FMLA. Did you know Sweden offers 18 months of PAID maternity leave (and paternity leave!!)? Did you know the US blatantly goes against the World Health Organization Code on formula marketing? A code written in the early 80s...that says formula companies CANNOT market to new mothers prenataly or within the first 6 months of a baby's life. (yeah...that means all those "free" samples in the mail we received while I was preggo and the ones I was sent home with from the hospital). ALL part of their skeezy scheme.

Oh there is just so much to say about this movie. I loved it and I want you to see it too! I want to see it again...I know I missed little things while tending to Sophia.

I strongly encourage you to find a city near you...or even get an organization in your city to sponsor bringing it to you.

Knowledge is power. When you KNOW better, you DO better.

She's a Petite Little Thing

Sophia had her 6 month well visit yesterday. She is 14lbs 13oz, 24.5in tall and her head is 16.5in....all to say she is a short and trim little girl with a slightly big noggin :)

They had us fill out a development questionairre thing...and she is developing at an 8 month old rate! We knew she was super baby...but now we have proof haha.

The doctor said, I would go ahead and start baby proofing soon. We agreed. We have a WILD child on our hands. She is so curious about everything, and cannot sit still. The only time she snuggles anymore is when she is asleep...even her nursing time has become a party for her.

We are going to have our hands full, even if she is just a tiny thing! She had a cold last week, but with breastfeeding we knocked it out with no lasting evidence. HOORAY for boobie juice! All in All our girl is strong and healthy and perfect...and CUTE.

So onto the part you've all been waiting for....go VOTE!! She moved up 45 spots yesterday, let's keep it up and get her into the top 30 tomorrow!! Please SHARE it with your friends! Thank you, thank you for voting yesterday...voting continues EVERY SINGLE DAY until Sunday, May 11th (Mother's Day)

VOTE FOR SOPHIA!!

I am that crazy mom who thinks her daughter is the cutest ever and deserves to win this Cover Contest for Parents Magazine!!!

SOOOOO we need your help! She dropped from #94 to #122.....that is the wrong way!

Help her get back to the top by voting HERE, and if you feel so inclined PLEASE Share it with your pals too :)

I didn't realize just how many pictures there are in this contest...looks like over 1000, so she is doing really well so far...but I know with me pushing everyone to keep voting she will probably go ahead and win! SO GO VOTE! & then SHARE!!

No Way You Are 6 Months Old

I just cannot believe Sophia is actually two days aways from being a half year old. 6 months. No Way! She continues to amaze us with how incredibly smart she is. Sitting like a pro, rolling all over the place, talking ALL the time now :), she can pull herself up (AHH!!), she can scoot around...crawling is near...that is if she doesn't skip crawling and go straight to running.

She is the joy of our lives. She has the best personality ever. When we are feeling down, that smile brings us right back up. I love seeing this brand new world with her. Every single day is something amazing.

Breastfeeding is still wonderful. We are going to start some purees soonish, and maybe start giving her some finger foods to play with. We may even try to start training her on a sippy cup.

She has her 6 month well visit on Wednesday, I say she will weigh about 14 lbs and she will be about 24 in.

We will be getting some photos taken from our wonderful pal Alex soon. That is our Mother's Day gift to one another :) I love how Alex can capture our personalities so well...and adding Sophia to the mix is going to be so so fun.

While I'm gushing about our girl...let me go ahead and plea for your vote! She is entered in the Parents Magazine 2014 Cover Contest!! Go HERE to vote for her picture...if you feel so inclined, you can share the link too :) She will be so glad you did! You can vote EVERY day this week.

Until next time (which will probably be tomorrow, when I plea for votes again)!