I'm kinda obsessed.

I've shared recently on FB that we are in the process of being approved to adopt a new doggie into our family.  We lost our beloved Carley in October and our home hasn't felt the same since.
Jackson is lonely.  But, he does get a lot more attention being the only 4-legged child in the house.  It is easier to take long family walks, get to the dog park, regular doggie day care visits...
It is all easier.  But I don't necessarily like easier.  I like a complete family.  Jackson needs a sibling.
We had originally planned to wait until we bought our home this summer to bring a new 4-legged child into the family.  Then I started this dog adoption process on a whim.  Mostly, I kept seeing these beautiful faces and I got nervous that the right dog would miss our family because we weren't on the eligable list.  And, I knew it would take time to get through the million steps to become eligable. Plus, if it takes time to find the right dog, and we didn't get on the list until August, we could be a single dog family until Halloween, easily.
That sent me into a panic.  An axiety driven freak out that now has me in hyper mode trying to find our family a suitable dog.  I swear it is like when we decided to start trying for a baby... I made the decision I wanted one, so I wanted it immediatly.  Not in 3 months.  I cried constanly because I HAD TO HAVE A BABY!  I was a little crazy about it, I get that now.  But, it is what it is.  Once I put my mind to something, it has to get done, quickly.  This isn't only with children, or pets... it's clothes, vacations, buying a house.  I'm impatient.  Just ask Jason... once we had been together about a year, I started nagging about getting married... all at the ripe old age of 19.
So, here I am spending all my free time searching every dog adoption website I can find looking for a dog to look me in the face and tell me that she is mine.
I should be embarressed, but I'm not. 
And, I got my heart set on a beautiful 2 year old girl dog that was good with cats, dogs, AND kids!  I thought for sure she would be ours in a matter of days.  In fact, I had renamed her to something more suitable to our family.  I looked at her picture several times a day for the past 4 days... then BAM! she was adopted to some other family right out from under my nose! I'm confident they are not nearly as good a family as we are, but there doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it.
So here we are... waiting.  Tonight is our home visit with the adoption organization. 
Wow, this is a process.
One online application
One 40 minute phone interview
Several shorter phone conversations later...
And, we are having a home visit.
But, at least by going through a rescue organization that fosters the pets in homes, we have a much better idea about the personality we are bringing into our home.  We have a 2 year old and another doggie to consider here.
Man-o-man, this process is stressing me out.
I just keep in mind that pretty soon I'm going to have two amazing giant retrievers to think they are lap dogs.
My name is Crystal, and I love giant dogs who think they are lap dogs.

I really encourage anyone looking to add a furbaby to their family to adopt.  It is giving a pet a second chance on life, something they will never stop thanking and loving you for.

I'll be sure to keep everyone posted on how this home visit goes and where we end up in the process. Jason is working from home today to get the house cleaned and organized so the home visit goes spectacular!  I have the best.husband.ever. for putting up with my crazy... I know secretly he wants a second doggie too..

Mommy's Blocks

These blocks have been a major topic of conversation in our house.  I brought them home from the Target bargin bin last week.  I'm not a huge holiday decorator, but I would eventually like to be.  Right now, we don't really have the space.  But, I figure if I get a few things this year while we are in our apartment, it won't be a huge expense or as time consuming a process.
Emery pretty immediatly spotted them and wanted them out of their plastic packages and into her sticky little fingers.  You can't tell it here, but they are still in their plastic packages.  I'm not crazy enough right now to let them loose.  They will go into her room, never to be seen from again.
When I gave the blanket statement of, "Emery, don't touch, those are mommy's blocks," I was pretty quickly peppered with questions...
"Those are Mommy's special blocks?"
Yes, Emery.
"Can I play with them?"
No, Emery.
"Are you going to build something with them?"
No, Emery.
"Why not?"
They are not for building, Emery, just looking
"Can I make a train with them?"
No, Emery.
"They aren't for stacking?"
No, Emery.

We've been through at least this full set of questions at least once a day since.  Each time, she walks away with the saddest, most confused look on her face.
She simply can not understand why I would have blocks that I'm not making trains with, or stacking, or building something.
Apparently, I'm nuts...

Welcome 2012, I've been waiting

I'm not sure I've ever been more ready for a new year to begin.  Not that I didn't love 2011.. but it was just such a year of change, I'm ready for a fresh start.  2011 was exhausting.  Everything I expected to happen didn't, and everything I never expected did.  By now, I figured I'd be finishing my first semester of grad school, working part-time at CSULB, and just trying to manage being a mommy and wife while my husband travels CA with his new job.  And, I ended it in Colorado, working full-time, but still trying to manage being a mommy and wife... and with no school.
I'm truly at peace with all of this.  I always knew that Jason wanted to explore living outside of CA.  I had never left CA, so I didn't understand why.  But, now that we are here, I get it.  The people are nicer, the homes are attainable, the schools are better, there is open land.... There are so many perks to being outside of CA, I give myself little kicks for not thinking about it before (but don't you DARE tell him that ;) )
I feel like 2012 is an opportunity to start our new life.  We will experience our first year of seasons, explore our new state, make new friends...
I'm not making resolutions this year.  Let's be honest, I don't usually keep them.  I couldn't tell you what they were for 2011, but they probably included getting healthy/losing weight.  Isn't that always the goal?
I'm making some universal life goals to work on...
Be happy.
Be patient.
Be healthy for my family, not just my upcoming vegas trip.
Be organized.
Keep life in perspective. I'm so incredibly blessed.
Be supportive of my wonderful partner... in short, be a partner.
Be a better friend.  I've struggled with staying in touch with my CA friends.

I can't guarentee that I'll succeed at all of these things, but I'm going to aim to be better.  As we all should.

Some things I'm looking forward to in 2012:
Spring in CO
Vegas in March with our dearest friends
Getting a new doggie, no one will replace Carley, but Jackson needs a friend.
Buying our first home (FINALLY)
Slowly finding a network of friends in CO, other families like us

I promise some pictures from our CA trip are coming soon.... We had such a wonderful time!

My top 11 moments of 2011.. in no particular order

1.       Having a potty trained girl- this is truly the most life changing parental moment so far

2.       Celebrating 5 amazing years of marriage to my love.

3.       Celebrating weddings of 3 dear friends

4.       Being accepted to graduate school (while I didn’t begin classes at CSULB, it was truly an amazing accomplishment)

5.       Accepting our move to CO as an amazing opportunity for our family

6.       Our bon voyage party in Long Beach.  We were able to celebrate our move with all those dearest to us, at our home- the place we started our family

7.       Being offered my job at National Stroke Association

8.       Leaving the CSULB Tri Delta chapter with a wonderful new advisor and being confident in knowing they are going to continue to excel

9.       Leaving Emery with a non-family babysitter for the first time

10.   Our first family snow in Colorado… we survived to tell about it

11.   Right now, today.  Knowing that 2012 is going to bring our family such joy in Colorado.  We plan to buy a home, adopt a new dog and cat, and continue to fall in love with our new home.

Wishing all of my friends and family a safe and happy new year's celebration this weekend.  We had a wonderful trip home to CA this past week and we are so thankful that we got to see so many of you.

Sneak Peek of our holiday card

Another huge thank you to Garrett Adrian for taking our family photos this year.  We had such a great experience and love our pictures.  I love picking out our holiday card every year, choosing the perfect pictures, the best card template... and this year was no exception.  I can't wait to share our holiday cheer with you loved ones!  Check your mailboxes!

The stockings were hung by the fire with care

We've kicked off the holiday season in the Blaylock house.  I've actually had these stockings since Jason and I got married.  I bought 6 at the time (2 for us, and 4 pets).  But, now I have plenty of stockings for our family to grow...and then some, because I am NOT having 4 kids.  This year, I picked up some wooden letters from Michaels to add a monogram to each stocking.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

We've had a few previous snow storms, but we've never had one fresh over the weekend.  So, yesterday, we decided to play in the snow outside our apartment.  There is a great huge grassy area pretty much right out the door.  Poor Emery had so many layers on, she reminded me of the kid from A Christmas Story.
To say that it was cold would be an understatement... it was seriously like 20 degrees.  But, we still had a ton of fun.  Emery hated the snow in her face, but loved telling her daddy to slide down the hill.  We made snow angels, threw snow balls, and mostly got soaking wet.  We also invited our doggie Jackson to the snow party.  Jackson is offically a snow doggie now.  He ate the snow, ran and frolicked in it... then peed in it.  It  was so wonderful to see my girl, my husband and my puppy having so much fun together. 

How cute is Emery in her snow gear?