The Quiet -- Also Known As: Alli Rambles

Bug is asleep. She actually didn't fight going to sleep tonight. Just a short bicker, but it was settled quickly. Now I'm sitting here, listening to the Braves game (Go Braves!) and looking for things for the house. 

Aren't these curtains from Target amazing?!

Is it crazy that I miss my girl right now? She's quietly sleeping in her crib just down the hallway, but I still miss her. I like her to be in my sight so I can just look over and we can share smiles. I know this is silly. I can't have her by my side 24/7 for her entire life...But I can't help but miss her when she's not with me. 

This whole being a mom thing is a new thing. A wonderful thing. It's during these quiet times that I can reflect on the wonderful thing that is being a mother (have I used the word thing too much?). I'm loving being a mother, especially a mom that gets to stay at home. I love getting to experience every day with my girl. Every day is a new day filled with new experiences for her. I love watching her discover new things. She is so close to finding her feet! I love seeing her face light up and hearing her coo. I even love her sad and pitiful faces! She seriously has the cutest sad face you've ever seen! And her pouty lip stretches for miles! It's just adorable. Then again, I am biased. 

I just love being a mommy and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

The One Where My Dreams Come True

Well, it's official

I'm now a stay-at-home-mommy!

When the hubs and I started dated we did the usual "family talk." The first thing I said is that I wanted to stay at home and raise our kids. My mother did it and I loved that growing up. I wanted the same thing for my kids.

And now I have joined the league of women that is comprised of stay-at-home-mommies!

Bug and I on my first official day as a stay-at-home-mom. 

It took a lot of prayer and a lot of God. Okay. It took a ton of God. All God. We've been working for the past year to trim down expenses and the hubs has been trying to take on extra work so he can make up my salary. He was almost there when Bug came into the world, but we weren't there just yet. We had 12 weeks  to see if I had to go back to work for the end of the school year. I honestly didn't want to. I couldn't even fathom leaving my little girl with someone else, even if it were family members and only for 6 weeks. The thought killed me. I didn't want to miss her first giggle or the first time she rolled over. I couldn't bear it.

Two weeks ago, another job came open. It was honestly all God. He was orchestrating everything to give us that extra push to get me home. I'm crying write now as I think about how He worked to make my dreams come true. 

It's not easy being home though. Now the hubs is bearing the entire financial burden. He has to provide for us. But, as he's told me multiple times, he wouldn't have it any other way. He wanted me home with our girl as much as I wanted to be home. Yes, he's working 14+ hours a day and yes it's hard on us...but it's worth it. And we fully believe God is orchestrating a way for the hubs to be able to spend more time with us. God has already made it to where the hubs gets to be home with us on the weekend! 

To help out, we've switched to cloth diapers in hopes of saving money on that. Also, we've limited our driving to one car. This saves money on gas for us. I do get the car once a week to make a grocery run or run other errands. And if there's a pinch, my mom comes by after work and watches Bug while I borrow her car. So far it's worked out great and saved us a lot of money. I'm thinking about couponing as well (any couponers out there with any advice?) to help with grocery costs. We've also refinanced our house, that's where we're getting money for the renovations, to help reduce our monthly payments. 

Being a stay-at-home-mommy means that we won't ever have nice things. We don't have cable TV, we don't have nice cars, we don't go out to eat, we don't have all the luxuries, but it is all worth it. To both of us. We feel it is important for me to be home. We feel that God is calling me to be home. Even though it's going to be tough, we know that God is going to provide for us as long as we listen to Him and follow where He leads us. 

And now for cuteness:

Life's Insanity

This has been the longest week. Things have been crazy both at work and at home. But I'm excited about where life is taking us and where God is leading us. 

Last night I rocked the red high heels. And can I tell you how good it felt?! There's just something about them that makes me stand taller and hold my head a little higher. 

I mean who wouldn't feel good in these amazing shoes! If I ever need a self-esteem boost I can put these puppies on and feel like a million bucks, and they definitely helped out last night. It's the little things that count. 

The hubs and I have always been of the mindset that I will stay home when we start our family. Of course, we wouldn't have it any other way. I am one who wants to raise my kids. I want to be home for them. 

For every milestone. 

Every smile. 

Every sickness. 

Everything. 

This being said, because I won't be "working," the hubs would be the sole support of the family. Something that he wants to do. But I know the toll it takes on him. I can see it when he comes home. The stress weighs him down. But he wouldn't have it any other way. He wants me to stay home just as much as I want to stay home. So how can I help him? How can I make it to where he's not working so many hours in a day so that I don't see him until the weekend. I want him to be home just like I want to be home. I've been praying for God to give me an opportunity to help take the stress off of him. And last night that opportunity came. I'm not quite ready to dive into all the details, but let's just say, with this opportunity 

I'll be able to stay home with my babies! 

I came home with a smile on my face and my heart filled with joy. God has provided! I'm so excited about this opportunity! I hope to share the news with you sooner than later, but for now, know things are looking up for us. God always provides! And when He decides for our family to start growing, He will be there guiding our footsteps in every way.

 (And hopefully those red high heels will help me look good along the way.)