Jamieson Diaries – Page 31 of 33 – Married | Mother

Jordyn is 7 Months Old!

January 18, 2015 Comments : 6

My little stinker is 7 months old, today. Every time I write one of these monthly posts, I am in disbelief of how fast time goes by. However, I am just as ecstatic I am able to be with her every day to watch her as she grows.

We worked on getting her to go to bed almost 2 hours earlier than she usually does, so Mommy and Daddy can spend time together every evening before bedtime. It didn’t take long at all- after making her stay up (a.k.a. we entertained her for almost 2 hours straight) and skip her last nap of the evening. She now gets story time at 9pm, cereal bottle at 9:30, and is out for the count by 10pm. Once we decide to start sleep training her (we’re thinking this week so pray for us!) we will put her to bed about an hour earlier than we do now.

In other 7 month news; she has learned how to blow air in our faces. She inhales (making the funniest inhaling sounds ever) then she puckers up her lips, and blows the air out. It’s hilariously adorable. She also likes to be held so she can stand on her legs. She can’t do it without us helping her but she quite determined. She can also sit on her own without any assistance which is pretty cool.

Since the last post when she had her first meal (peas) she has now also tried carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes, avocados, bananas, pears, and apples. She likes them all, but her favorites would definitely be sweet potatoes, carrots, and bananas. When she’s eating her food and she’s REALLY enjoying it, she does her “I’m so happy to be eating dance.” (She’s for sure my kid because I dance and hum when I enjoy my food LOL) Big brother, Ares, also tries his hardest to clean up after her too…

Oh, and did I mention she has a tooth coming in?! We can officially see it when she smiles big enough for us to see her bottom gums. She’s been teething like a champ too, because she hasn’t been anymore more fussy than usual. Lucky us!

Princess J celebrated her first Christmas and NYE as well. We had a great time with family and friends on both occasions. Here go a few family pictures from both occasions; and I’ll be back in a month to update you on Miss Jordyn Denise again 🙂

Brie <3

[01.18.15]

Happy Birthday Dr. King!

January 15, 2015 Leave a Comment

Today would have been Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s 86th birthday. I don’t believe I have to say much in regards to how influential and important this man’s accomplishments and dreams were, and still are to this day. Because despite what people may think, most of us know there is still a lot of work to be done. We often times hear people make comments about the Civil Rights Movement being “so long ago,” but the sad reality is, most people my age have grandparents who are 86 years old. (My Mother was already born when he was assassinated just to give a little more perspective) The even more harsh reality of the situation is these same people probably don’t even have a clue what side their grandparents stood on during this movement, which should make them question if what they have been taught is what they should believe. But that’s another blog post for another day.

The official “MLK day” won’t be celebrated until January 19th, but I wanted to write this post for his actual birthday. On this day I want to say happy birthday to Dr. King, and acknowledge the fact there will never be a day when what he sacrificed doesn’t mean the world to me and SO many others.

I will leave you with his iconic “I Have A Dream Speech” to watch. All of these years later, and this speech is just as important and needed now as it was then.

Happy Birthday Dr. King!

Brie <3

[01.15.15]

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“Embraceable You”

January 13, 2015 Leave a Comment

I’ve been re-watching older seasons of the show Parenthood on Netflix. There is a scene where Kristina is teaching Max how to dance, and she chooses this particular Ella song I happen to love. Then again, how can you ever go wrong in any situation playing a little Ella? 🙂

Brie <3

[01.14.15]

All Posts, Dear Diary

The Liebster Award

January 11, 2015 Comments : 4

I had the pleasure of being nominated for the Liebster Award by another awesome Mama blogger, The Joy of Momming, last week. I love reading her posts about her little one, and am extremely thankful for the nomination! Here are my questions and answers for the Liebster Award.

Here are my questions to answer:

1. Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging because I love to write. One of my lifelong goals is to write a book or two. One of them being a children’s book. Also, once I started my own family, I realized blogging about the memories is a great way for family and friends who live far away to keep up with us, and for my daughter/future children to read when they get older.

2. What is your favorite food?

I don’t have ONE particular favorite food, but I have three favorite type of food. (Yes, I said THREE. I really loooove food) The three types of food are: Belizean, Jamaican, and Mexican 🙂

3. What was your first job?

I was a “Wireless Expert” at Best Buy.

4. What are you having for dinner tonight?

We’re having tacos and Mexican rice (see answer to question #2) 🙂

5. Pick one word to describe your blog?

Grateful

6. If you could go to any place in the world on a free vacation for a week, where would you go?

I would go to Italy. Everything about Italy looks beautiful, historic, and romantic.

7. Who was your favorite teacher?

This is a tie: My 3rd grade teacher Ms, Coughlin & 4th/5th grade teacher Ms. Israel.

8. Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see myself as a mother to at least 2 children, based in California (my husband is in the Air Force), running my homelessness organization, and a published children’s author.

9.Who would you say has been the most influential person in your life?

The most influential person in my life is my Grandmother. She has taught me and still teaches me the importance of love and forgiveness.

10. If you had to be any animal for the rest of your life , what would you pick?

I would want to be a dog who is part of a loving family. What’s better than sleeping, eating, and playing fetch with awesome people for a lifetime?

11. What is your favorite color?

Cobalt blue

11 random facts about me:

1. My Grandma saw my name on the credits of the show “In the Heat of the Night” and suggested it to my Mom. My Uncle Tony wanted to name me Alexis. So that’s how I got the name Brienne Alexis.

2. My absolute favorite season is Fall, but my favorite time of year is the holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, NYE).

3. I love to do DIY/crafting projects. Pinterest is what got me started and made me realize how much I enjoy it.

4. I am the oldest of 3 girls on my Mom’s side and the oldest of 2 siblings on my Dad’s side. So basically I like to be in charge haha.

5. I come from a HUGE family. My Grandma is one of 13 children (11 girls and 2 boys) I wouldn’t trade it for the world and want to have a fairly large family myself.

6. Speaking of large family, I would love to have one more child of my own, and then adopt two siblings so they don’t have to be split up. I want 4 kids.

7. My husband and I don’t remember how old we were when we met because we were too young to remember. Our families have known each other since our parents were small 🙂

8. I absolutely LOVE food. Outside of wanting to travel to see and explore different places and culture, I want to research and map out the best food places lol.

9. My favorite artist is Stevie Wonder. It’s Stevie Wonder- does he really need an explanation as to why he’s the best?

10. One of my lifelong goals is to start an organization to help clothe, feed, and help the homeless get back on their feet.

11. I am Belizean and Jamaican. My Mom’s family is from Belize and my Dad’s family is from Jamaica 🙂

Here are the blogs I am nominating! (I’m newer to blogging and don’t have many followers/people I follow so your suggested blog may not fit the criteria exactly but it’s OK!)

The Crunchy Chronicles

Inspired By Hyphen LOVE

And here are my 11 questions for you to answer:

1. What encouraged you to start blogging?

2. Who is your favorite music artist?

3. What do you think is your best characteristic?

4. What would be your ideal personal relaxation day?

5. Who would you consider to be your #1 role model and why?

6. What is your favorite season?

7. What would be your dream job?

8. What is your favorite childhood memory?

9. If you could change one thing about your life what would it be?

10. What is your favorite color?

11. If you could take a free trip anywhere in the world where would you go?

All Posts, Dear Diary

Wisdom Wednesday: Maya Angelou

January 7, 2015 Leave a Comment

My January Wisdom Wednesday post is about the one and only, Maya Angelou. (Birth name: Marguerite Annie Johnson) Maya Angelou was an extraordinary woman, many people, from different generations have admired for years. Her list of credentials are nothing short of amazing. From Pulitzer Prize recipient, to well-known activist in multiple countries, Ms. Angelou was a woman who lived by the definition of compassion and courage.

Although Ms. Angelou’s resume trumps a majority of the human race, there was one particular title she held that inspired me when I was in middle school. The title was, poet. Her poetry is what many people know her for, but there was something about the words in the poem “Still I Rise” that gave a younger me such a feeling of empowerment. Which for any young girl in her soon-to-be early teens, couldn’t have enough of at the time. It was at the moment I read “Still I Rise” I realized I wanted to read more of her writing.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is still to this day one of the most emotionally driven, beautifully upsetting, books I have ever read. If you have not read it, I would encourage you to read the book and learn in detail what made Maya Angelou such a remarkable person, at an extremely young age. As many people know, she was raped at the age of eight by her mother’s boyfriend at the time, and when his punishment didn’t fit the crime, (as most of us would say) it is suspected her uncles took matters into their own hands and killed the man days later. Maya became a mute and didn’t speak for over five years, because she believed using her words to name the man who raped her are what had gotten him killed.

By the time I had made it to high school my favorite poem by Ms. Angelou, and still to this day is Phenomenal Woman. The poem makes me love everything about being a woman. It makes me love every curve and flaw on my body, as well as, make me appreciate the difference and beauty of every woman’s body. If for some reason you have not had the pleasure of hearing or reading this poem before, please do so.

Ms. Angelou died on May 28th, 2014. I read the news of her passing as I got off of the plane in Denver Airport from Chicago, IL, to board my next plane back to Great Falls, MT. I remember feeling an instant wave of sadness because the world had lost such a beautiful person. Maya Angelou inspires me because her life journey proves life is about the choices we make, and how we overcome mistakes we make. She is the definition of learning to stand for what we believe in, and how our words can change lives positively if we use them lovingly and wisely. I’m thankful I was alive during the last 25 years of her life to see her work in action. I will be sure to teach my daughter about her so she can learn the same life lessons I did from Ms. Angelou at a young age through her beautiful words.

R.I.P. Maya Angelou

Brie <3

[01.07.15]

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HGTV and Food Network

January 4, 2015 Comments : 2

I could seriously watch HGTV and the Food Network ALL DAY… EVERYDAY. Watching the shows on these channels make me want to tear my house to shreds and remodel every room exactly the way I want it. And as soon as the kitchen is finished being remodeled, I will cook every dish I’ve ever dreamed of eating, while watching someone make it on the food channel.

I legit log-on to Pinterest after watching a few hours of either of these channels to pin to my “Interior/Exterior Designs” and/or “Recipes” boards. These boards allow me to design my dream home and pretend I’m going to be Chef-girl-r-Brie in the kitchen of my dream home for FREE. Because the reality is, unless you have a few grand sitting in your checking account that you would like to spend for fun, this is the only way to design a dream home from scratch…right now.

One day I will have the money to design a home the way I want it. I don’t even want a huge, extravagant, over the top, mansion. I’m actually quite realistic in what I want in a home. I want a normal sized suburbia sized home, with a wrap around porch, a large kitchen with plenty of cabinet space and an island (for all of my new recipes I learned on the Food network), a large pantry, a fire-place/mantel, garage attached to the house, a guest room, and a decent sized backyard for my child(ren) and dog(s) to run around and play. I’m sure you’re wondering “who in the world wants a large pantry on their list of wants in a home?” But this pantry will serve as where I keep a majority of the stock pile of food, and other necessities, for the “Operation Home(less)ness” organization I plan to run one day. Each room in the house will have a different theme, and be painted a color that matches the theme, because white walls bore me. I want to learn how to garden so I can grow fresh fruits and veggies in my own backyard for my awesome meals I will replicate from the Food Network. I may even hold my own personal versions of the show Chopped while I’m cooking so I can feel creative and expert-like (*rolling my eyes* and saying “whatever” to you laughing at me). I would also like this house to be somewhere on the East Coast because Fall is my favorite season, and who can beat the East Coast in the Fall? It would also be cheap(er) to fly back and forth to Chicago to visit family if we lived on the East Coast.

So as you can see, from this semi-elaborate description I just gave you of my future home off of the top of my head, HGTV and Food Network have ruined me. Well, maybe not ruined me, but it’s made me feel like I’m an expert at remodeling and cooking, which means it could one day make my husband insane. Who knows. Either way, it’s highly likely if I keep watching these channels I may spend money I don’t necessarily need to spend at the moment. Thankfully, we live in base housing and I can’t wreck this house to remodel it. However, in the mean time, I can pretend I’m a chef on the Food Network, and make my family eat my random creations 🙂

-Brie <3

[01.04.15]

All Posts, Dear Diary

Goals for 2015

December 31, 2014 Comments : 6

The year 2015 is around the corner which means the “New Year, New Me” posts are about to emerge on every social networking site known to man. In between the flipagram “2014 reflection” videos, of course. However, at the end of every year, I like to make a list of goals I would like to accomplish for the upcoming new year. It is more of a list to keep me on track of the bigger picture for the entire year, in case I forget and need a reminder. I am also a person that LOVES list. I make lists of things just so I can cross them off. Physically crossing completed tasks off of a list makes me feel like I’m accomplishing something in my life. (Whatever. Judge me all you want. I will make as many lists as I want!) Here is my 2015 Goals list. I always list quite a few goals, because I’d rather have more to aim for, and if need be, carry into 2016. Maybe you like to do the opposite and make a short list to focus on. Feel free to share yours :).

1) Read my Bible daily.

2) Have Jordyn baptized/blessed.

3) Consistently write in my gratitude journal.

4) Travel at least 3x.

5) Finish “Operation Home(less)ness business plan.

6) Stay committed to blogging 2-3 times/week.

7) Keep up with my “Fit Girl” lifestyle. (Lose 15-20lbs)

8) Read at least 6 new books.

9) Write a children’s book.

10) Do bi-weekly DIY crafts/projects with Jordyn.

11) Learn how to invest money.

12) Try a new exercise class.

13) Pay it forward at least 5x.

14) Date night with the husband once a month.

15) Don’t sweat the small stuff and ENJOY LIFE.

-Brie <3

[12.31.14]

All Posts, Dear Diary, Travel

My Travel Bucket List

December 28, 2014 Comments : 2

I’m sure you have heard multiple people talk about wanting to travel the world. Now, you can add me to the list of one more person you know who has personally told you, “I want to travel the world.” I have recently started a personal “travel bucket list” I will update over time. For now, these are the countries, states, and cities I would love to visit that are at the top of my list. They are in no particular order, because I am a “depends on the mood” type person when it comes to traveling. Let me know a few places you would like to visit over the next few years 🙂

*Fun fact: I took the picture being used for this post, while on the plane, leaving Belize in June 2010.*

Egypt– I want to see the pyramids in person.

Washington D.C.– Kris has never been and I want to take him.

New York– I’ve been to NY before, but never during Christmas.

Italy– I want to see the Vatican and do romantic stuff.

Tennessee– Eat great food/listen to great music on Beale St.

Belize– I’ve already been but want to take Kris and Jordyn.

Jamaica– Kris and I are both Jamaican descendants and want to go.

France– I want to take a kissing picture in front of the Eiffel tower.

Japan– I would love to explore the country/culture.

Brazil– I must go during Carnival and party with everyone.

Colorado– I feel it’s only right to ski for the first time here.

Canada– I must go to Caribana and party w/ my Caribbean people.

Africa- I really want to go on a safari.

Hawaii– who doesn’t want to learn to authentically hula dance?

Louisiana– I want to eat good food and see “different” people.

All Posts, Dear Diary, Family Love

Merry Christmas- From My Family to Yours

December 25, 2014 Comment : 1

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Today, I pray all of you enjoy what this day is all about. Faith, family, and food. Thank God for his son, Jesus Christ, and everything He has done, is doing, and will do in our lives. Thank God you have family, or friends who have become family, to share this day with. And thank God you have food on your table to eat and share with others. While we are rejoicing in the birth of Jesus Christ, with our loved ones, please remember to pray for those who do not have the luxury of faith, family or food. If you are able to be a blessing to someone else during this season, please do so. Nobody should spend this day alone and/or hungry. So always remember to give thanks for the many blessings we have received in this life, and lets all try our best to pass those blessings onto others.

A very Merry and Blessed Christmas from my family to yours!

P.S.- it’s this beautiful little girl’s first Christmas. The greatest blessing God could have ever given my husband and I! <3

Brie <3

[12.25.14]

All Posts, Music Favorites

My Christmas Playlist

December 22, 2014 Leave a Comment

Tis’ the season to be merry and listen to even more merry music! Here are a few of my favorite Christmas songs, I must listen to, this time of year. They are in no particular order, but these are my favorite versions of each song by various artists. What are some of your favorite songs to get you in the Christmas mood?