my love, my valentine

This is a little different from the other Valentines survey that's been floating around :) I wish I could remember who to give credit for it to, but I have had it saved in my drafts for so long I don't remember.

Happy day of love! This little guy blows you all kisses!

♥ What are your middle names?
Michelle Kathryn
J**** Daniel

♥ How long have you been together?
Eight years

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?
It was sorta immediate. I mean, we didn't call ourselves boyfriend/girlfriend from the start, but I was in college four hours away and neither of us felt comfortable with seeing anyone else after we met.

♥ Who asked whom out?
He asked me :) We met through mutual friends one night, and then next he asked if I wanted to come over and watch a movie - although it wasn't just us at the time!

♥ How old are each of you?
27 & 36

♥ Whose siblings do/did you see the most?
His. But we don't see many people at all these days!
 ♥ Do you have any children together?
Yup! Our little love bug, Cooper Michael, pictured above :) And of course, Hank Dog and our three horses.



♥ What about pets?
Whoops, should have scrolled down!
Hank - chocolate lab. 11 years old.
Doc, Scarlett and Jax - horses.

♥ Did you go to the same school?
Nope.
 ♥ Are you from the same home town?
No, but the same area. Sort of. His family moved A LOT when he was a kid.



♥ Who is the smartest?
Depends on what you are talking about. He definitely has more common sense/applied knowledge, but I'm more book smart - I have the college degree and am good at spelling, grammar, etc.



♥ Who is more sensitive?
Me.

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Um ... we get Burger King most often. Other than that, probably Buffalo Wild Wings? We don't go out to eat much and we like to change it up.



♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
San Juan, Puerto Rico
 ♥ Who has the craziest exes?
Definitely hubby. I could *really* go into it here but I won't. It's the day of love, after all :)

♥ Who has the worst temper?
Him. He's such a perfectionist and gets so upset when things don't go right.

♥ Who does the cooking?
Mostly me, but hubby grills and ALWAYS makes the pancakes. And helps with some other foods.



♥ Who is more social?
We both are. I typically am more of a planner who always needs something going on, but he will stay out later. And when we go to Walmart he knows at least twice as many people as I do.


♥ Who is the neat-freak?
Neither of us
 ♥ Who is more stubborn?
I'd say it's pretty even
 ♥ Who hogs the bed?
We both do in a way! Lately I think he does ... we swapped sides of the bed when I was preggo and he's still used to kicking his leg out on the side - which is now toward me!
 ♥ Who wakes up earlier?
I do, unless Cooper sleeps in :) Before he was born, hubby didn't wake me up until he was out of the shower.

♥ Where was your first date?
Out to the Mexican restaurant



♥ Who has the bigger family?
He does - youngest of five kids and a big extended family. But he isn't too close to his extended family, while I am.



♥ Do you get flowers often?
Naw and that's OK. They just die. I'd rather have the cheap Aldi or Walmart bouquet.
 ♥ How do you spend the holidays?
Mostly split between our families.
 ♥ Who is more jealous?
Used to we both were, but I'd say it's not an issue anymore.

♥ How long did it take to get serious?
Mmm I don't know. He was my first great love. I'd say it didn't take long, but we were in a long distance relationship for a 3.5 years and he has a psycho ex, so that is why it took five years to become engaged.



♥ Who eats more?
Typically hubby, but since I am BFing I can match him these days!


♥ Who does/did the laundry?
Mostly me, but we both fold/put away.

♥ Who’s better with the computer?
Me

♥ Who drives when you are together?
Him 99% of the time




Happy Valentine's Day! I got hubby a goofy little gift and we bought a few books for Cooper. Tonight we're eating leftover chili and cuddling in front of the TV with our littlest Valentine - what are your plans?

Nice to meet ya!

I've had a few new followers/commenters lately so I thought it was time for an "About Me" post. Also, if you're visiting from Kelly's Korner or Neely's blog, welcome!

I'm Michelle. I'm a wife and a mama :)

Cooper Michael blessed our lives with his arrival on 11.23.11. He was a big boy, weighing 9 lbs. 13 ounces.

 We love him to pieces...

Those boys are pretty much my life :)

In 2007, I graduated from the University of Missouri (GO TIGERS!) with a degree in journalism, with an emphasis in newspapers. Since I met my hubby while on a school break, I returned to Southeast Missouri, where I grew up, and worked at the local newspaper for four years. Last summer, I was offered a job in the Office of Development at community college, which I accepted.

Being a working mom is hard. Almost every morning, I want to cry when I leave Coop at the sitters. But right now, hubby and I know that me working is what can give our little nugget the best possible life. I mean, how else are we going to pay for him to go to medical school and have all the training he needs to be a professional baseball player? For the St. Louis Cardinals, of course.

Blogging is one of the few escapes I have now days. It's where I can say what I want and just get things off my chest. I still love to write but don't get that so much in my new job. Most importantly, it's a way to document our lives. Coop's baby book is kinda sad, but I know that I have TONS of information about him on here.

Although it's not the reason I began blogging, I do love the friendships I've made along the way, too. I LOVE connecting with all these smart, talented women. They sure have opened my eyes to lots of other ideas, etc. While I was pregnant, the advice I got was invaluable, and now I'm just another mama and blogger trying to pay it forward.

Although I talk about my little angel quite a bit, I do have a few other interests in my life. Specifically cooking and renovating/decorating our home. Pinterest. And I love saving money.

So ... tell me more about you!

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on birthdays

For 27 years, I've always looked forward to the next birthday.

I never felt satisfied with where I was. I was always looking for the next thing.

But not today. No, today, I embrace my age and am happy right where I am.

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I am 27 years old. As of 8:12 p.m. :) One year ago, I was freaked out about being 26. But guess what? It ended up being the best year of my life.

For the first time, I feel content on a birthday. I am so blessed and feel like I am exactly where I thought I would be at this age. I am married. Have a beautiful, healthy baby. Got a GREAT new job this year. Hubby and I own (or are paying the bank) for our home. We have our own vehicles.

Being a mom changes you in so many ways. Now, I don't just see my birthday as a day to celebrate Michelle - although it is a national holiday, you know. It's a day to be so grateful for my parents. They're the ones who got me here and continue to support me from one year to the next. My mom is the one who carried me for nine months and birthed me. More than ever this year, I am thankful on my birthday.

I know that, this morning, I wasn't thinking about going out with all my friends drinking and dancing as in year's past. No, I wanted more than anything to stay home with my little boy - that's a real treat for me know.

I'm not really sure what God has in store for me this year. I know there isn't much that can top 26, with all the amazing things that have happened. I hope and pray that this year will mean getting to my son's first birthday and him continuing to grow and be healthy and happy. I hope to continue growing in my marriage, my friendships, and everything else. But most of all, I hope to embrace every day and live to the fullest.


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Me on the map

I almost forgot about this link up! Typical me to work on deadline and do it on the last day.


Anyhow, my blog friend Michelle (don't you love her name, haha!) is doing this cute "Me on the map" link up where you post about where you live. I LOVE the town where I work (and I live just outside of) so of course I wanted to post. 


The place I call home is Sikeston, MO!

This is a town not only rich in history, but proud of its history! Several Civil War battles were fought nearby, and every spring there is a re-enactment. In 2010, Sikeston celebrated 150 years, and had several sesquicentennial bashes. 


Have you heard of Lamberts? You know, the home of the 'throwed rolls?' Well, the first restaurant was built in Sikeston, and it was here that the first roll was thrown. I actually had one of those rolls today. Yum ...

There are a ton of parks here, and people who really love the town and want to make it a better place. One of the best examples of this is the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, which is in August every year. 

This is an amazing event that attracts people from all over, and makes a huge economic impact in our town. As it is organized and run strictly by volunteers, all the proceeds go back into the community. 


I love being a Sikestonian and hope my post convinces y'all to come visit! 

Valentines Day 2011

J and I typically don't do a lot on Valentines Day. As I posted on Facebook this morning, he is my Valentine EVERY DAY. Not just Feb. 14. Although I think it's a good time to reflect on the love, that should be done several times throughout the year!


With that being said, we decided to be very low key this year. There is a fabulous little restaurant a few towns over that we've heard so many great things about, but it's a bit pricier than anything we'd usually have. It's actually an old bank, and you can sit in the vault! J had actually considered proposing to me there, but he chose the beach instead. And I'm OK with that :)


Anyhow, we thought it would be fun to splurge a bit on dinner and just get dressed up and go somewhere really nice, where we actually needed a reservation. 

And boy, was it nice. I can't remember the last time I've been so full! The steak (we ordered NY strip) practically melted in your mouth. Even the salad (I ordered sundried tomato basil vinaigrette dressing) was fab! We also had the "Baked Alaska" for dessert (and we never order dessert!) I didn't want to look silly taking pictures of my food, but it's described as "thin layers of a rich chocolate cake between vanilla ice cream, then covered with meringue and baked briefly." Yum!


After we finished, we stopped to pick up some beer to take home (classy, I know) then went home, changed clothes (you know I love my pajama pants!) and watched movies. It was a great night!


We're both feeling a bit under the weather today, so I plan to pick up a Papa Murphy's heart-shaped pizza and we'll just chill on the couch and laugh at all of our favorite CBS comedies. 


Hope you all have a great day of love as well!

Birthday recap

Since my birthday week is drawing to a close, I guess the time has come to do a recap. Why can't it always be my birthday week?


We decided to have the "celebration" on Saturday. A group of us went to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the fight, then we went to another bar for a little dancing. I don't have all of the photos yet :(


Here we are, ready to leave :)

First shot of the night - a Washington Apple

Great friends ....

And that's about all I have from that night!


On Sunday, we slept in (had to after all those shots! ha! i'm not 21 anymore!)


Then, I whipped up a couple of desserts for the Super Bowl party we attended that night. I made Pack brownies and peanut butter cookies. 

Monday was my actual birthday! I could have had the day off work, but decided that since no one else would be off, it would be more depressing to just stay home alone the entire day. We both  had kinda crappy work days due to the snow/slippery roads, but got home and made a fabulous dinner of porcupine meatballs and hashbrown casserole. Jim also made my cake :)


Later I opened presents. I'd already received this kickass Mizzou shirt, which I wore while we watched the big game. 

I never got a good picture of it, but you may have noticed my hair is a bit lighter in all these pictures! I hadn't gotten it done in almost two years due to a pay cut at my job, so J ordered me to get highlights. So sweet!


I also got:


New purfume

The Jillian Michaels stepper I requested

A new Jillian DVD

And another really cool T-shirt

Now I'm ready for it to be spring so I can wear the shirt and need the workout gear to get my booty into shape. Especially after eating all of this ...

* We have something really excited planned to celebrate Valentine's Day tomorrow night. Can't wait to share it with y'all on Monday! 


Have a great weekend :)