Gatlinburg post && updates.

Gatlinburg was a nice getaway. We didn't do as much as usual but relaxing at the cabin was exactly what I needed. Friday morning, I rode up with Daddy and Cayle. We picked up my brother and his wife at the airport. And rode up to the cabin. Later that day Mom, my younger brother and his friend made it. We just relaxed that day. Saturday, I went and got a manicure. It was very relaxing. Mom and I went to the Carter's outlet and I got Cayle tons of new clothes. Including a saint patty's day shirt. And we went to the outlet mall and I got tons of new shirts from rue 21. And I loved being able to find dressy things. I got troy an Aquarius necklace from this hippy store. He likes the zodiac signs and he has an Aquarius tattoo on his hand. Monday we went to the Bass Pro shop and went on home and I hit the ground running and went to school. Cayle really enjoyed our time in the cabin. We slept in the same bed. That was an interesting experience. He insisted on being awake until 1 a.m. and falling asleep with his feet in my face while sleeping horizontally in the bed. Yeah. That was nice. But I had fun nonetheless.











Troy and I are doing fantastic. We are having our first dinner date this week. And for some reason I'm nervous/excited. I just get to thinking about us so much..and he's just so sweet and sincere and the nice things he does I appreciate so much more after going through everything in my past. I've learned that holding a grudge is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. So I've made peace with all of it. And I've left it where it needs to be...in the past. I'm falling for him. And the more time we spend together the happier I become. I feel very happy for the first time in a long time. And I feel blessed.

Another thing I'm learning is to stand on my own 2 feet when it comes to myself and my decisions. I stood up this weekend. I confessed my decision to get a tattoo on my birthday, my plans to move to Knoxville, and told my parents about Troy. My mom kind of hurt my feelings by not telling me she was happy for me..so I confronted her. And it worked out. I told them of my plans to get a tattoo..and got no response really. The same with my plans to move to Knoxville. And I don't know whether to press them or not. But I am realizing I'm an adult. I'm 20 (almost) years old and I can make my own decisions and don't need mommy and daddy's okay to do so. And it feels good. I need to do what makes me happy and what makes me feel independent and right by my son. And if I want to do something to please myself along the way then so be it. I need to feel more independent and I'm going to do so. As long as I'm not going crazy partying my butt off instead of mothering my kid I think I'll be okay. I'm responsible, mature, and pretty respectful so why not.?

Poor Cayle isn't feeling too hot. He's been throwing up since yesterday. And can't keep much down. So please keep him in your thoughts. And make sure you keep your hands (and your babies hands) clean. There's a bug going around for sure. :/

School is about the same as always. Boring. And I'm glad it's almost over. I do one roller set every week. That's about it. PLEASE let me cut your hair if you like my work.!! Save me from pure boredom.!! My sister-in-law has spilled the beans about my graduation present. She's giving me her old hair cutting shears. They're 200 dollar shears.!! She's getting them fixed up and sharpened and sending them my way.! And if I finish by April 15th she is getting me a pair of notching shears. I want a pair of those SOOOOOOO bad. So my goal is to finish by then. Fingers crossed.!

Picture post of Troy and me. :)

It's time for a new beginning.

LOADS to tell.!

WOW. I've been extremely busy with school and what not. Cayle is doing very well. And we're spending a lot of time together. I am counting down the days until my family vacation. I leave on Friday. Daddy just got back from New Orleans today. He brought me Mardi Gras beads, a masquerade mask, peacock feather jewelry, and some exciting news. He's taking me to New Orleans for a weekend getaway the first weekend in March.!!! I can't wait.!! I can't wait.!! I can't wait.!! I don't think Cayle is going this time though. Mom said she would keep him. So I guess it's just going to be me and Daddy. But it's only for a weekend.

I have some other news...I'm dating again. I am no longer single. I'm dating this guy named Troy. We met on a social networking site. We've spent time together and talked for a while. And I feel ready to date. He's really nice. He's a lot like me. He's 19. He has a job in retail. He's in school to be a machinist. He's in a band called Never Surrender. He plays bass for them. They're really good.! He's very musically inclined. And very smart. He came over while my parents were in New Orleans. We made a pizza and watched movies until 5 a.m. Cayle seemed to like him, but he didn't get to get really acquainted with him considering it was almost his bed time when Troy came over. But Troy and I were up just talking..and really laying everything out on the table. Getting to know each other. And by the way he was with me..I could just tell I wouldn't have to worry about much of anything with him. He doesn't do drug or anything. The other day, I met his mom and the drummer from his band. His mom is such a sweet woman. I have yet to meet his dad. But I'm looking forward to it. We're taking things slow, and I'm hoping everything works out. But I have a feeling it will. So I'm just going day by day.

I don't know how Cayle will feel about having a new person around. But I want for Cayle's relationship with me to continue to grow. We will still have our family traditions just the two of us and go out every Friday like we normally do. Things are good. And they're just getting better. I'm taking things day by day. I love Cayle and I want him to be happy. But he needs a happy mommy too. Right.?

It looks like a new chapter in my life has started. So we'll see how things go.

An update on everything. :)

I did my first yoga session in a long time. And it felt so good to get back into it. I've decided to start doing yoga 3 nights a week starting out. And on weekends maybe going to the gym. But I've been trying to watch what I eat. I'm consciously choosing fruit rather than cookies and staying away from soda. I do need my caffeine so I have tea only occasionally.

Tonight I cleaned up my downstairs apartment/room. It looks pretty good, but I would love it if I could turn the big part of this room into a living room type thing with my own sofa and decorations and the smaller room into my bedroom. But that requires a lot of time and money. And I don't have much of either right now.

Cayle is doing so well. I have been working with him a lot. He got a potty chair for Christmas and surprisingly he loves to sit on it. The flushing handle makes the noise of a car racing. I think that's why he likes it. We haven't officially started potty training, but I am getting him around his potty trying to make him comfortable. I've also learned that he does well with positive reinforcement. I'm trying to teach him to pick up his toys when he's done with them because it's gotten to be so overwhelming cleaning up the house when he comes right behind me to mess it up again. It's almost like an uphill battle with cleaning, but that's part of it I suppose. And if a messy room is all I have to worry about then I guess I'm doing okay.

I can't believe I am going to be finishing my last bit of school. I'll be done around my birthday (if I don't miss any days) if not then it'll definitely be right after that. That's not much at all.! I'll be so happy to be done. There have been so many times where I've just wanted to quit but I've had a lot of support and here I am about to be a college graduate.!!

My annual Gatlinburg trip is in 2 and a half weeks.!! I am so excited.! I look forward to this every year.!! But this time, Cayle gets a shopping spree for new clothes. This is a late Christmas gift. My parents asked what they could get him for Christmas and I just told them he needed clothes. So since we'll be near 2 great carter's outlets I'm gonna go shopping.!! Going to Gatlinburg for me is like...going to the beach for others. I get my nails done and eye brows waxed. And I pack my favorite outfits and dress up every time we go out. It's so relaxing for me. And I'll get to ride through Knoxville.

I've mentioned before about wanting to move to Knoxville..and I know for sure I will. But as far as when...I'm not too sure. I just feel like Chattanooga isn't right for me. And I want to really check out Knoxville before I move. It isn't good for Cayle to be uprooted numerous times. So before we move. I want to make sure I can do it financially, and I don't want to have to worry about daycare. I want to make sure Cayle can be in a good school while I go to work. But being a single mom...that poses a challenge. One income. No helping hand to keep him so I can work extra hours or if I have to stay late. That sucks. I don't know. I guess I still have to hammer out all the details, but I definitely don't want to live in Chattanooga forever. I'm getting to where I can't stand it. I feel almost stuck sometimes you know.?