Grateful

What a week! The week before Thanksgiving is so crazy in college! I think professors just want to mess Thanksgiving break up so they pile a million things on you. Or maybe they just want you to appreciate it more! I'm supposed to be studying for a test for tomorrow but I just wanted to take a moment to blog.

I'm so grateful for everything and I know how different that is from the last post. But I'm really just so happy and grateful this week. Last Sunday Melvin, Allie, and I went to go take family Christmas pictures and the two that I've seen so far are precious. It just makes me appreciate my adorable family! I know some people think it is crazy that I have a baby and I'm only 20 but I wouldn't have it any other way! I get to stay home with her every day and get to play with the cutest baby ever. A couple of times this week she just wakes up talking instead of crying and then we just get to snuggle. It's my favorite part of the day!

Another thing I'm grateful for is my bible study girls. I was in 2 bible studies this fall and they made all the difference. I feel so much closer to God and my relationship with him has really strengthened. I originally singed up for these bible studies because Melvin was gone and just needed the Lord to reassure me. Melvin came home a week later. These girls have been with me through everything. They got me through everything and still do. If I need anything I know I can count on them.

I'm also grateful for a book business that I just joined. They are called Usborne books. They are incredible fiction and non-fiction children's books (babies through teens and adults like them too!). Allie's daycare had an open house and at the open house they had a book fair. It was Usborne books. As soon as we get to the table I recognize one of the books. It is Allie's absolute favorite book at the Hoover library. I'm having my first party next Friday and I'm super excited. I've also already had someone book a party with me! Check out my page: https://u3320.myubam.com/

Anyways I'm also grateful for you! I'm grateful for y'all reading my blog. I've reached almost 500 views. Most of the people who read this are my friends and family and I love y'all!
Happy Early Thanksgiving y'all!

A Heavy Heart

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29

Today I am writing with a heavy heart. Recently someone came to my mom telling her that she is there for her if Melvin and I are taking advantage of my mom by living with her. This isn't the first time this has happened but it just breaks my heart  that anyone would even think this. Melvin and I help out with bills and groceries. This is a mutual agreement between my mom and us. It's not like my mom just got stuck with us. It also breaks my heart for the people doing the judging. Judging is not going to help anyone and it just creates a darkness and meanness in you. I guess I'm writing this so you can see the not so pretty part of being a mom living with your mom. And also I just want you to pray that I remember that what's important is not what people think but what my glorious God thinks. Pray also for the people judging. Nothing good comes of judging.
I promise to write a happy post in this up coming week!

*Updated*
Here's a happy post on my other blog!
http://cutestbabygirl.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-little-model.html

Baked Shrimp in Lemony Garlic Sauce

So after everything with Melvin I kind of forgot the whole purpose of this blog. It's a mom blog! So today I'm going to post a recipe today. I know so boring, right? :) Well this is mine and Melvin's favorite dish! It is perfect over yellow rice! And the best part? It's a Weight Watchers recipe so it's not bad for you. Bon appetit!

Ingredients

	1 1/4 pound(s) uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
	1 spray(s) cooking spray
	1/4 cup(s) fresh lemon juice
	2 Tbsp light butter, melted
	3 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), minced
	1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
	3/4 tsp lemon pepper
	1/4 tsp ground red pepper
	2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
  
• Arrange shrimp in a single layer in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Combine lemon juice and next 5 ingredients; pour over shrimp.
  
• Bake at 425°F for 8 to 10 minutes or until shrimp are done. Sprinkle parsley over shrimp; serve immediately. Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 3 ounces shrimp and 2 tablespoons sauce).

Melvin's Homecoming

Oh Goodness, it has been forever since I got a chance to blog! A lot has changed since my last blog as most of you know! Melvin is home!!! I am so happy to have him back. The spent apart and not knowing how long we would be apart was killing me. Here's the details of Melvin's homecoming:
Friday 9/14/2012
One of my best friends and I went to a baby/kids sale at a church. We found a great kitchen for just $40 so we bought it. Later I went back to put it in my car around 4ish. I had to take it apart and it was not an easy task! The entire time I was thinking of how Melvin could do this in like 5 seconds and how I wished he was here to help me and how much I was hating immigration at the moment. I got a call from an unknown number which I ignored because I was taking apart the kitchen and I never answer unknown numbers. It called again. And I by some miracle I answered. "Is Mrs. Banegas there?" Right away I knew it was important because no one really calls me by "Mrs. Banegas." "This is she." "We are trying to release your husband do you think you can come get him?" I almost cried I was so happy! I said of course and we worked it out that I would go get him the next day since Jenna LA is 7-8 hours away and since I had Allie I couldn't just take off at that second. I immediately had to call everyone and let them know. Allie was with my Nana so I got to tell her in person which I thought was perfect because she was the person who was with me when I found out Melvin had been picked up.
Saturday 9/15/2012

I had to be up at and the road on by 4A.M at the latest. I had to be in Jenna LA by 1. I ended up leaving at 3:30A.M. Being on the road that early is not easy...at all! Especially because almost all of the highway lights were not on. I had to stop several times and get some form of caffeine. Melvin would try to call me every hour just to keep me awake. I also called Samantha because I knew she had Habitat for Humanity at 7 that morning so she would be awake. Once the sun came out it was much easier to keep going. The 40mins-1hr of the drive is complete farm land. The Lasalle Facility where was held was in the middle of nowhere. I passed the turn/driveway of the place because the road was so narrow and looked abandoned. The building is huge and intimidating. I have no idea how he still had his sanity intact. I got there at about 11:30 so I thought I would have to wait. Once I finally got through the gates he was already waiting for me. I wanted to tackle him. We got out easily. All I had to do was give them my license. We did not have to pay a bond which is a miracle because most people have to pay $5,000+. As soon as we got out we embraced and then got in the car as quick as we could to get out of there. We stopped to get him so real food because the food was really gross where he was. At the classy restaurant of Popeye's, we got a lot of glares. As I said we were in the middle of the country and they are apparently not welcoming to interracial couples but even that could not ruin our happiness of being together. We were both kind of in a daze, like we couldn't believe this had happened to us. We drove for about 4 hours but then stopped at a motel in Mississippi because I was so sick of driving. The sketchy motel was in a sketchy small town. I mean the Walmart across from our hotel closed at 11P.M! But sketchy motels are always exciting to me so I was OK with it. We planned to leave at about 10 or 11 the next morning since we never get to sleep in.

Reunited

LaSalle

Sunday 9/16/2012

We both woke up at 6A.M because it was so cold and then we couldn't get back to sleep. So we got ready and went to eat the free breakfast at the motel. We are on the road by 7:45AM. We got to Hoover by about 11 or 11:30. The first thing we did was go get Melvin a haircut because it had grown so much in 5 weeks. Then we went home and Melvin finally got to see Allie. She was a little shy at first but then she eventually warmed up to him and went straight into his arms. We were playing in the den for a while and then Melvin started crying because Allie had gotten so big. Melvin never ever cries so of course this was like heart breaking to us. But we were so so so so happy that he was home with us!

Saturday 9/22/2012
We had a welcome home party for Melvin and it was a huge hit! We had about 25 people come and we cooked out and had all kinds of food. It was so sweet to see all the people that cared for Melvin!
Tuesday 10/2/2012
We had to check into immigration so that they could see that Melvin was not trying to run or anything. The building is this creepy building behind all these abandoned buildings in Homewood. When we got there it took forever to find the office. When we finally found it the guy was very nice and gave us another check in date for 2/13/2013. We are taking that as a good sign for his court date on 11/06/12 since they gave a check in date much later than that.

Well that's most of the story! I will try to get on the write another post about just normal life! :)

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"

That verse has been my lifesaver these past four weeks. It has been the hardest past four weeks of my entire life. On August 10th Melvin was arrested for not showing up to court three years ago. The only reason he was arrested the first time was because we had a very racist Hoover cop. Melvin and I were leaving the pool and he was going to throw a beer away but since the trash can he was going to was outside the fence it was now considered "open container in public". Pleasant Officer Cole, the bane of my existence, was the rudest person I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He cussed me out and accused me of doing drugs. Another cop came (because Hoover cops can't do anything by themselves) and Officer Cole told him to search my car without asking me if they could. Of course they did not find anything. The nicer cop informed me that "anytime they see a black or white girl with an Hispanic man they will automatically pull them over because they think it's either prostitution or drugs". That's Hoover cops for ya.

Sorry I got on a tangent. So they arrested Melvin on Friday 8/10 which was two days after his birthday and two days before our second anniversary. Melvin was not doing anything when they pulled him over. He was walking down the road after I dropped him off and they just pulled him over. They informed me that even if I paid the $800 bond that I would not be able to get him because immigration has a hold on him. We got an attorney and he said that we should pay the bond because it would get the process moving because he would be moved to immigration custody anyways. He went into immigration custody in Homewood on Wednesday. They then send him to Louisiana and he got there on Friday. Our attorney said that he has an order of deportation and there is not much we can do. All we can do is file an stay of removal which would allow him to stay here another 6 months while we file the Visa application if they deny it though then he will be going back to Honduras. We wrote letters on his behalf and have been waiting and waiting for an answer but so far all we have gotten is a deportation scare last Sunday. They told him they were going to deport him Sunday night/Monday morning. Then last minute they told him that he was the only one he was not deporting to Honduras. This roller coaster they are putting us through is crazy and tiring.

So that is what my past four weeks has been like. It has been so super hard being a single mom and a full time student. Classes started a week after Melvin left. Not going to lie, Melvin is the main parent. I watch Allie during the day but as soon as he gets home he takes over and does everything. Without him Allie and I are so loss. My heart aches everyday. Especially when Allie looks for Melvin. It just doesn't seem right that someone could rip a family apart like that. 

I will try to post a happier post later and I will keep y'all updated! 

Productive Weekends

This weekend was such a great weekend! It was a little crazy but good! Saturday I hosted a girls luncheon for the girls in my family! My aunt, Nana, great-aunt, and second cousin got to come (and of course my sister and mom). It was so nice. We had this delicious Cajun pasta with chicken that was a new recipe, garlic rolls, and salad. It was perfect. Of course before they came over we had to do some crazy cleaning because we never have that perfectly clean house. It was worth it though. After the familia left I went to pick up Melvin then Melvin, Allie, and I went Next fitness and went swimming. All the details about that will be on Allie's Adventures blog later. :)

I've been wanting to start doing this cleaning chart that I got off Pinterest but your house needs to be somewhat clean in order to start it. :) So since we had people over Saturday the house is now clean enough to start and I'm so excited! I know that sound kind of lame but I always want to have a clean house but get overwhelmed and don't know where to start! Now I have a cleaning guideline! :)

Today I cleaned and re-organized our master bedroom. When Allie plays in our room (which happens a lot) she takes all the DVD cases off of our bookshelf and leaves them everywhere. So I finally did some shifting around and made them all out of her little reach! It is ridiculous how excited this makes me! We are eventually going to redo our bedroom... like as in one month! I'm getting lots of inspiration from Pinterest! I will be sure to keep y'all updated on all the before and after pictures! :)

Well I think I hear a bad baby who is still awake so I gotta go so I can give Melvin a break! Night!

Alleluia! Alleluia!

I'm done with exams! Thank goodness! This has been one crazy semester for me. I'm so grateful it is over! Now I have time to blog, read, cook, clean, organize, redecorate... Wait, who am I kidding? I now have time to play with Allie! I would love to do all those other things but when you have a toddler baby running around (I'm not ready to call her a toddler yet!) you don't have time for those things. So I finished my semester with 2 A's and 1 C. I'm very upset about the C because I should have gotten an A in that class. Last Friday I had an online test to do; I completely forgot about it until 12:35 A.M. It had been a stressful day because Allie was sick and we went to the doctors. I had a complete break down when I realized I had forgotten it. After some comforting from my husband I just realized that everything happens for a reason. I  thought of my favorite verse Jeremiah 29:11 which is: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." It instantly calmed me. I just gave my worries and sadness to God because that Guy knows what He's doing. :) It really does amaze me how incredible my God is!
I plan on blogging more often, well for at least the next 2 weeks until school starts again. But for now I'm exhausted so I'm signing off!

Typical Day of a Young Mom

So most college students think they have a crazy hectic schedule, which they do. Try adding a baby in there. You will never complain again. Here's an example of my weekday schedule.

Wake up at 6:00 a.m and take Melvin to work (we leave baby at home since we live with my mom so she can watch if she wakes up)
Get home by 6:30 then take a shower
Get dressed
Get Allie's bag together
   Get bottle, lunch, diapers, toys, change of clothes together
Get bookbag together
    Books, binders, laptop and charger
Allie wakes up
Change Allie and get her ready for daycare
Go to the car with all the bags and Allie
Leave at 8:30 to make it to Canterbury/Nana's/Helen's by 9
Halfway there realize you forgot something (Hopefully trivial like a hairband)
Drop Allie off and head to school
Get to school by 9:40 or 10:20
Class is over by 11:00 or 12:20
Pick up Allie by 1
Get home and usually Allie is asleep by then so put her in her crib
Eat lunch/Do Homework (Allie ate lunch at daycare)
Allie usually wakes up in an hour
Play with Allie/Go outside/Wait until Melvin gets off
Go get Melvin
(Wednesdays class from 4:50-8:50)
Make Dinner
Do dishes (ok rarely)
Do homework


I'm probably forgetting some things but oh well. Also Melvin usually takes over baby duty when he gets home because he is awesome that way!
Have a Happy Monday! :)

Italian Skillet: So good and easy to make!

This is one of the most delicious recipes I've tried! And it was so easy! I subscribe to emeals which I highly suggest. They give you a meal plan for dinner for the week and give you a shopping list for the store you choose. I absolutely LOVE them! I got this amazing recipe from them!

Italian Skillet
Ingredients: 1lb ground round (I used 1lb ground turkey and it turned out great)
                   1 tsp onion pdr
                   1/2 tsp garlic pdr
                   24oz jar pasta sauce
                   8oz spaghetti, broken into pieces
                   1 c shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions:
      In a lg skillet cook ground beef (or turkey), drain. Add sauce, onion pdr, garlic pdr, and 2 c water; bring to a boil. Stir in spaghetti noodles, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 to 15 min or until spaghetti is tender. Sprinkle with cheese; cover and melt 2 min. Then Serve.
It's that easy!
They also suggest side dishes: Italian bread (Heated) and Steamed Broccoli

A History Lesson on the Life of Katie

For those of you who don't know: My name is Katie Nabors-Banegas and I have a one year old daughter named Allie! Many people were surprised that I got married and had a family when I was so young. So... I just want to give a background on that!

Chapter 1
Pre-Melvin

Just a little Background info on me! I went to private schools until 8th grade when I moved to Hoover city schools. I went to Hoover high school until 2nd semester of senior year. I was in the band all four years and really enjoyed it. I moved to Forest Park private school my 2nd semester due to missing school because I was sick. Forest Park was a joke of a private school because we watched movies all day. I don't mind though because I met my bestest friend and Allie's godmother, Margaret Anne there!

Margaret Anne

Chapter 2

Meeting Melvin

Most people want to know how I met Melvin. Summer of 2009 (summer before senior year) Molly (my sister) hung out at the pool at this apartment complex, Grand at the Galleria, with her friend who lived there. One day I went with her and had a lot of fun. So we started hanging out there at least 5 times a week, usually everyday. Molly made friends with someone named Bayron and Melvin hung out in his group of friends. Basically Melvin was a friend of a friend. We started hanging out and then started dating in August. We spent every second we could together. When I got sick senior year he would come over and take care of me even though we had only been dating a month. It was after that, that I knew he was the one I wanted to spend my life with. I know how cheesy that sounds but it is so true!

Me and Melvin
Fall 2009

Chapter 3
Marrying So Young

A lot of people believe I'm a little crazy to get married so young. Melvin and I moved into an apartment with a friend late July. We really wanted to get married on our one year anniversary, August 12th. So we went to the courthouse late in the afternoon and when we went there was no one there to marry us; we were so sad. But then they called someone and he came and we got married! My mom was there and bought a beautiful bouquet. It wasn't the dream wedding but it was perfect for us at the time. (We are planning on having a wedding ceremony on our 5th anniversary). They day after our wedding we got kicked out of our apartment because my friends dad didn't want us to there anymore. At the time I was of course hurt but now I see that was God's hand because it worked out better.

Wedding Day

Chapter 4

It's a Girl!

So after being kicked out we moved in with my mom. Two days later we found out we were having a baby. That's right, we did not get married because we were pregnant which is what most people think. We honestly had no idea at the time. I was a little nervous but Melvin was so excited that it made me feel so much better and reassured me. But boy I was one grouchy pregnant person. Good Lord I'm amazed I still have friends. I remember going to the beach with my mom (who didn't know that I was pregnant), Margaret Anne, and Melvin. Margaret Anne (who did know, she was the 1st person I told) was so nice to me and I was so awful to her! But she put up with it and she is now Allie's godmommy. :) I had one of the best baby showers in the whole wide world thanks to Covenant Presbyterian ladies! There was 50+ and everyone was so kind! And then baby was born!

Some of the baby shower

Preggo me!

Chapter 5

The Best Chapter

Little Allie was born on 4/18/11. She was 7lbs 12oz of cuteness! She was born at Brookwood hospital which I love! We stayed 3 days in the hospital and everyone was so nice! We took her home and she slept pretty much the entire first 2 weeks but not much after that. :) She is now 15 months old which is just amazing. She has so much energy and I just loved being around her! She is our entire world and we love her so much! If you want to check out more about her go to: http://cutestbabygirl.blogspot.com/

Allie and I

1st Day at Home

Little Baby

The Family

Anyways that is a paraphrase of our life!

What This Blog is All About

Hey guys!

I've finally created a mom blog! I know you are pretty pumped about it! Or maybe that's just me :) I was trying so hard to think of a cool relaxing blog name but then I realized that I don't have a relaxing life! Crazy me! :) The reason for this blog is because I know everyone is just fascinated with my life! Ok, totally kidding. I want to give people an idea of what it is like being a young mom in college. I also want to share new activities I try, recipes, etc...  Anyways... I hope y'all enjoy this blog! Feel free to leave comments!