My forever and always<3

I have sat looking at this screen since lastnight trying to figure out the best words to type in order to express my love towards my husband on our anniversary. I have yet to find them, which leads me to the conclusion...there are no words in the world to express just how much I love this man that I am blessed enough to call my husband. It also has dawned on me that love is not defined as words written on a card or piece of paper nor is love the words that one can tell another in order to make them feel certain ways. Love is more than all of those things! Love is not just spoken, it is felt, love is a sense of safety, a bond between two hearts that have become one, and much more! Three years ago when I stood at the alter where several generations before me also stood I had overwhelming feelings of joy, happiness, and even disbelief that God had blessed me with the person I would spend the rest of my life with! That day on September 24th, 2011 I felt God right there beside me as if he were leading me in the path that was meant for me. It was as if he were saying do not be afraid, I will show you the way when things get tough and troubled, I will be there. I still feel him beside me and know without a doubt he will continue to bless our marriage for a lifetime to come. Our marriage is not always easy nor is everything romantic nights with wine and roses, but with God as our guide we will continue to to ride out this wave of life, hand in hand as one heart. We have been beyond blessed not only in our marriage but also with the birth of our precious baby boy! What we share is something that cannot be measured by any words spoken! 

I am forever grateful that God choose Daniel Bohall to be my forever and always<3 

Thank you Daniel for loving me unconditionally and standing beside in this thing called life! We are forever blessed!

I love you!

The happiest day of our lives!

When we just met! I was a junior in high school!

We were just babies!

Transitioning To Whole Milk

This week I decided would be the last week I buy supplement for my little! Let me give you a brief history on my little Sawyer's eating arrangement... I have breastfed him from birth, he is now 10 days shy of 1 year (insert sad face + cry uncontrollably)! Yes I know they say wait a year before trying whole milk but come on people we are only 10 days shy with so far no known allergies and let's face it, the thought of spending 25.00 more dollars makes me cringe!! Now when Sawyer was around 6 months old my milk supply decreased resulting in us having to resort to the dreaded "supplement". I say dreaded because any breast feeding Momma that only wants her baby to breastfeed does not want to hear that her body isn't making enough to satisfy! Anyways we got over that and continued to nurse each feeding and adding a supplement bottle at lunch and before bed to satisfy my little eater! 

So here we are a mere 1 year later still going strong with the nursing! Yay!! It can be done and isn't impossible...although at times you wonder how much more can one woman's body take!?! Ok let's get to the point here, when I began the thought of making this week the week we leave the bottles a thing of the past and also make the switch to whole milk, I had a ton and I mean a TON of thoughts and questions as to how other Mommas went about doing so, do you go cold turkey, do you switch one first then the other, do you mix the formula plus milk, and the list goes on. So I decided to write this blog just as informative post on how we did the switch and what worked for us:) 

First off let me start by saying we ARE still breast feeding morning and night (he only gets supplement at night however).

The first night I mixed half and half, formula + whole milk after he was finished nursing. My thought was if he were to have an upset belly or any allergy maybe only making it half and half would lighten the pain a little? I don't really know if it would have or not because luckily he has no allergy or upset belly from the whole milk!

(Note: the red cap or vitamin D milk is the same as whole milk)

The second day I nursed him as usual in the morning plus he ate his cereal and then for lunch he had his full sippy cup with whole milk plus his lunch. I personally went ahead and did without the bottle on the second day because he is relatively good with the sippy already. Dinner followed the same pattern drinking a full sippy plus eating his dinner. And at night he nursed and then had a sippy with whole milk to top him off before bed. 

So far we have used the nuk and nuby cups, they seem to work well for him at this time.

We are on day three and everything is going just as planned! He is taking his sippy very well and adjusting to the changes. I will say that the nursing times have became extra enjoyable for both parties because we have missed each other all day! Lol I have to say the hardest part of it all is cutting out those daily breastfeedings! I always said we would nurse until his was a year but my goodness this year went by faster than I could have ever imagined and the bond that has grown is more than I could have prepared myself for. Throwing out these morning and night feedings may be the death of Mommy! For now I will try not to think about it. Plus this post is not to serve as a sob story for me! Only information on our personal experience of switching! Good luck to you on your switch! And always remember...what works for some doesn't for all! Do what works best for you and your baby! Best of luck to you!!

Xoxo- Ashley + Sawyer

The measure of success

At what point are we and others considered successful??

I have recently been questioning a few different things in life. Many of us go through life day by day with the simple plan of waking up, getting ready for work, putting in a full day, coming home cooking/eating dinner, going to bed and waking up to do it all over again. This is life. With the exception of ball games, sick kids, massive piles of laundry, or the toilet that you just wish would clean itself already, this is reality! We all have our own "struggles"...money, relationships, wanting a bigger house, maybe another baby, or just a new car. Each day lived out in a bit different way, but typically with the same outcome...same amount of money on the paycheck, and driving the same car to work and back to the same house we feel isn't big enough to fulfill our wants. We all want more! Which is exactly what I am questioning...why more? Is that success? At what point are we happy with the amount of success we have been granted? Why as humans do we all want more? Can we ever been content with the life that God has provided us? 

My husband and I are not rich people nor will we ever claim to be. Heck in today's society we probably aren't even considered middleclass! Is there even a middleclass these days or is that a thing of the past too? We have daily struggles just like every other American family in this world. We all want more! More money, more success, nicer vehicles, bigger houses, you know normal stuff! Right?! All I have ever claimed I wanted out of life was to be comfortable or content, but I am...aren't I? I have a wonderful loving husband, a beautiful happy baby boy, a house (well for now...soon to move), my dream car, a flexible career, and my bills are paid. What more do I need? The answer is NOTHING! It's only what I WANT! As a child I remember telling my Mom constantly of things I "needed" and she would say Ashley is that a want or a need? Well the answer is a want! I had everything I needed as a child! And that holds true still to this day, I have everything I need and more so therefore, why is it so easy to want more? Can I just find satisfaction in the reality of life?

I have decided to change! I have never considered myself a successful person in the past but I am taking on a new thinking process for myself! I am successful! And so are you! Success in my opinon is no longer measured by the amount of money we have in the bank or the ranking we are considered by our peers and the community. Success is all in what we make it. Can we find happiness in what we already have? Can we consider ourselves successful with our current lifestyle or do we have to wait until we are debt free with 30k in the bank? Is that considered success? If so, how many of us will die unsuccessful? 

Yes I know this is not a typical post from me! I typically do not want to post the deeper thoughts in my mind for the world to "size me up" or completely judge me. In fear of what people will think of me. I am completely letting my guard down in hopes that some of you can relate maybe even just a little to what I have said. I understand we don't all feel the same but I hope for many of you that you can find success in yourself even if that means you aren't perfect because after all...no one is! 

XoXo-Ashley

Chopped the Mop.

Today I embarked on a new journey. The short hair journey. To many that may sound silly, after all, it is just hair! But to me it was more than just hair...to me it was a security of long strands of brown hair that have been with me for practically my whole life! I loved nothing more than knowing I could wake up in the morning and do nothing to it other than throw it in a pony tail or braid if need be. My hairdresser aka my amazingly talented cousin, Kelli, has listened to me threaten to chop my hair since my son was born however, that was always shortly followed by me changing my mind or chickening out! Yesterday was different for me though, I thought out the pros and cons of this decision and finally came to the conclusion...it was time. I, for the 1000th time text my cousin to tell her I was ready, she of course doubting I would actually follow through! I lucked into being squeezed in today and when I showed up at the salon (knees shaking) I had doubt myself but I knew there was no sense in turning back now, my decision had been made, it was time for a new ME! A braver ME! A me that would love surprising my husband with my new do when he arrived home from work! Sitting down in the chair I am fairly certain my anticipation was shared with my cousin as well, being that she has more than likely dreamed of chopping my hair since the first mention of it! We decided to go with the long bob cut and as she twisted my hair and begin to cut I felt that I may vomit! And I don't mean that in a joking matter...literally felt like I could vomit! I held my composure and she finished the deed. I instantly feel in love with it and couldn't wait for the finished product! I am so beyond happy that I faced my fears and just went for it! Oh and the hubs, he LOVES it which is an added bonus! Not telling him my little secret was great and made it that much more fun! He was sooo surprised and said he would have never guessed I was going to chop off my hair! All in all its a score! And now for the finished product....

 

Bohall table for 14 and a baby please...

This past weekend we were fortunate enough to spend entire weekend with our family in Pigeon Forge, TN! That's right...ALL 15 of us!!! This included my husbands Mom and Mamaw, all his brothers and their wives along with the kiddos and my little brother Brady! What a group! We all had a ball as expected and the littles didn't want the fun to end when it was time to come home! Our cabin "high cloud" was absolutely beautiful with breath taking views of the beautiful Tennessee mountains! The littles loved the fact that the cabin was also equipped with a hot tub, pool table, and foosball table! We kept the hot tub around 90 so even the littlest littles could enjoy! Oh you talk about fun, they were on cloud nine! Daniel and I decided we would take Brady and Sawyer to the Dixie Stamped which was nothing short of AMAZING! The food, cleanliness, entertainment, and the list goes on and on of reasons we all loved every minute of it! Highly recommend to anyone planning on traveling to Pigeon Forge, TN the Dixie Stamped is a MUST!! 

Making memories like these with all the people we love, make us realize how truly blessed we are. Being able to have all our family together and enjoying eachother to me is what life is all about! 

Until next time Tennessee....until next time...

Here is a glimpse of a weekend with the Bohall's!

Oh yes we did! Old time photo we surprised my MIL with! Lol

Sorry guys...she's taken!

Sawyer and Auntie

Amberly and the girlies!

Mamaw Kack and bales!

Brady on the ride home...he wasn't ready to leave!

Sawyer however, didn't so much mind!

My favorite boys!

Daddy and Sawyer

No comment needed! My sis in laws>your!

Hope you enjoyed the small glimpse into our vacation! Enjoy your weekend!😘

week at the fair.

Childhood memories...we all have them, some are good, some are bad, some simply down right pointless...and some still yet years later, create a sense of excitement and joy that can only be experienced when certain smells and sounds, take us back to a place in our lives where imaginations were wild and cares were few and far in between. A place where the cotton candy, BBQ, sawdust and an over whelming strong livestock odor mix and yet somehow still create a desired atmosphere. A place where hearing water being sprayed is muffled by the loud speaker that can hardly be understood.

The county fair to me is more than just an excuse not to cook for a week...it is a walk memory lane where I can vividly remember so many wonderful childhood memories...waking up at the crack of dawn to go tend to my piggy and then leaving after the rest of the county was tucked in for the night but yet eager to get back the next day and do it all over again, eating biscuits and gravy for breakfast at the Sauers stand, spending everyday with my cousin, running the grounds with my friends and eating all the food I wanted, having water balloon fights in between the barns, and riding every ride until my stomach felt like it couldn't take any more! Oh and did I mention those lemon shakeups?!? Those were the days! I can only hope to give my kids the same memories that I still hold dear to my heart!

Here are a few of Sawyer's first memories of our lovely Jackson County Fair!

Sawyer and Daddy at the frog jumping contest!

Little frog went 60 inches! Still not enough to take home the win!👎

All that frog jumping business wore this little dude out!

First time on the carousel! 

Amazed by the lights above!

The whole family rode!

Sawyer sure loves his Daddy!

Little man loved looking at all the tractors!

Hope many of you enjoyed all your littles at the fair also! I know I sure did!

Ps- can you tell who the photographer is around here!?! Mommy gets the shaft!

SOLD!

Excuse me...Hi! In case you forgot, my name is Ashley. I occasionally cook, occasionally craft, occasionally clean, and most importantly occasionally find time to fulfil my love for BLOGGING! Yes, it has been a few weeks since my last post!! I am sure everyone reading was wondering what happen to me? No? Probably not? Ok....I am just going to pretend that someone (anyone) out of the many that follow my blog did at some point in time question if or when I fell off the face of the earth! Anyways...I have been SOO busy with life believe it or not that I have not found time to write! I have however, found time to sit down several times and begin to type...to no sooner than figuring out my first paragraph and have some little stinker crying or needing me...imagine that?!

Now to get on with the BIG BOHALL NEWS!!....

We bought our house coming up on two years ago in August, when we purchased our home we actually bought two homes which are neighbors to each other. For the entire time we have been living here we have had the other home (the farmhouse as we call it) rented out. Last month on a whim we made the decision to sell our home and renovate the farmhouse...and to answer your question, yes we are crazy! We didn't feel that listing our house was necessary considering the high demand of people wanting to live in this area of  Dudleytown or paradise as I like to refer to it;) so I simply text a few of my friends and let them know we were interested in selling. Within the first day of sending the text, I received a phone call from a girl wanting to come take a look and within 9 days we had a offer:) We couldn't be more thrilled, nervous, and most of all excited about what's to come!

We will begin renovation (aka complete gut job) the beginning of July! The offer on our home is contingent therefore, we are unsure on when the actual move will take place. Renovations and moving with an 8 month old will be a challenge, I am sure of that! BUT...the reward when it is complete will (fingers crossed) make it all worth while! Stay tuned this summer for updates on "The Farmhouse Renovation"!

Oh and might I add...the new neighbs are wonderful and have a cute little boy who is just a little older than our sweet Sawyer!!!

XOXO- Ashley