Happy Birthday Brooklyn

I love you niece, and can hardly believe that you are a year old. What a diva you are already, all though you are so tiny. The day you were born, was a scary one for everyone I think. I waited with your cousins all day in the waiting room at the hospital, worried to death for your mommy and daddy. It didn't seem like your mommy could catch a break, things kept going wrong, so we all kept praying. After a long day of waiting, you were born. We were so happy, my first glimpse of you was awesome, you were so small, and bundled all up, just a little chicken nugget. (I don't know why I call newborns that)  I didn't get to hold you that day, or even see you that much, because I had your little cousins with me and  had to tend to them. Then I had to leave and go home before being able to hold you. That stunk. I had waited all day, and didn't even get to meet you properly. I drove home, and it was dark, and Lainey was screaming and I was still worried sick for your mother. I finally heard that she woke up and was okay, and I could breathe. All though there was some stressful things that happened on your birthday, it turned out to be an amazing day. It was a day that the whole world was changed, just because you came into it.

I remember the first time I got to hold you. You were of course in a pink (and brown) blanket, and just slept, like newborns do. Actually my first few encounters with you I just saw you sleep. But it was sweet to watch you sleep. I was so glad that you were here. Because of you I get to know how awesome it feels to be an aunt. I can love you to pieces and not have the worries that your parents do.  I am glad for my kids, your cousins, because I know ya'll will be close. I was glad for your mommy and daddy, they had wanted you for so long. However, I am most selfishly glad for myself though because I have the honor of being your Aunt "T"

I can't wait for what is to come. Girls trips to the American Doll Store, Atlanta and Chicago, for starters. Vacations together, swimming at the pool, playing til dark.You and Lainey fighting then making up. Spending the night with each other, swapping clothes, checking out boys. Ellis taking ya'll places in the car, ya'll being starry eyed over his friends. Okay that last little bit I am actually not looking forward to, but it is probably a doomed reality.

I hope that I am your favorite Aunt, other than Wendy of course, and that you know that all of us are there for you. Can't wait for this next year when you start walking, talking, and begin the 2 yr old sass. So much is going to change with you, and I can't wait. I look forward to laughing at your parents when you throw a public fit most of all, so I need you to do me a solid and throw down when I am around. Thanks.

Anyway Happy 1st Birthday Brooklyn Jayde. We love you and can't wait to see what this next year brings.

Thankful Thursday

It happened to me today what I try to avoid every year. The Big 98 St. Jude radiothon. I can't handle it and it is very dangerous for me to listen to while driving. I wind up doing the big ugly cry while driving with my children in the car. I was driving along and this mother started talking, and by the time she was done I was bawling, and then they started playing Rascal Flatts "My Wish".  You can't turn the station, because these people want you to hear what they are saying, so you cry. What got me was the mother was just talking about how one day people are going to see her son running around full of energy, and think look at that kid, but right now he has cancer and too weak to do so. My translation was that one day she wants people to think "look at that kid running around like a lunatic" and wonder why he is being naughty, not look at that kid and wonder what is wrong with him because he is sick. The song had parents saying what they wished for their kids all throughout. One wanted their son to be able to play baseball, one dad wanted his daughter to get her first car, go to prom, and to walk her down the aisle when she marries. These parents were so sincere, and as they said what they wished for there kids it almost felt like church, because you can hear in their voice that it is also a prayer.

 Big ugly tears coming down cry. Concerned kids thinking there mother has finally lost it. So I am thankful today for:

1. I am thankful for the blessing of two healthy happy kids. I don't know why some kids get sick, and some don't. It is hard to make sense of it because they are all innocents. It probably isn't meant to make sense at all, it isn't what happens to you in life, it is how you deal with it I guess.
2. I am thankful for the tears I cried this morning, because it always feels good to have a good cry.
3. I am thankful for organizations like St. Jude. They do what is important. It is a charitable organization worth donating to.

"My Wish"

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big

Wordless Wednesday

Don't Ever Grow Up

Today has been an awesome day. One reason is that Lainey and I have recovered from our stomach bug or whatever it was that we had. Not fun. However, it makes me ever so thankful for Brian, and what a help he is. Thirty minutes after I woke up Lainey started and Brian set up with her. Cleaning the mess, and changing her every time she got sick. Oh what a good daddy he is!

The prevalent feeling of the day with the kids, was never grow up. They are just getting to big right before our eyes. Playing together, running around, being independent. My prayer is that we make the most of these days, and that we love and raise them as well as we can.

The weather was beautiful, and sunny, and perfect. We went outside and let the kids play.

Oh sis there is plenty of time to mow the yard, why are you so obsessed with it now?



 Yep that is my 3 year old riding his scooter. He is getting so big. I can't believe it.

Yep that is Ellis driving his sister around by himself. In a few years that might be the real case, and I will need the help of prescription drugs to sleep.

Love you babies, stay that way.

Windy day, no they aren't flying.



Brian was holding Lainey today as she slept. He said "I hope she never gets bigger".

Tickle time, is so much fun when you are little.

Bath time is fun too.

Ellis' masterpiece.

Lainey's masterpiece.




The truth is that we can't keep them from growing up, and when you really think about it you wouldn't want to. It is just hard sometimes when you realize that the time is so short when they laugh at you when you act goofy,  think your kiss makes it better, love painting the bath tub walls, or fit perfectly in your lap.

Thankful Thursday

1. I am thankful for this

2. I am thankful for this

3. I am thankful I have a washer and dryer.

How many loads you may think to yourself, 8. How long since I did laundry. 6 days. I would now like to declare laundry as an act of love. Thankyou.

Wordless Wednesday

Some Perspective

I have been going through a mini crisis this last week. I have gotten into a funk where I feel sorry for myself, and miss the old days of "being useful", or "important". By that I have meant working. I have been missing keeping up to date on things, people wanting my opinion on things, professional meetings, learning new stuff, dressing up, you name it. What really spawned it was that Brian had a dinner last night with an organization that I don't remember the name of to congratulate him on getting his CPA and I went. For a week I worried about people asking me what I do. I thought way too much about my answer, and when most sorry for myself decided I would answer "nothing". Last night when asked, at least 3 times, I said stay at home mom, and then mentioned my degree and previous career. I am a proud person, yes. After leaving dinner I went on and on about how I miss people taking me serious, needing me, consulting me me me me me...

Driving home alone (Brian and I drove separately because he left work to go there), I realized how pathetic I had being in the last week, and decided to give a little prayer for some guidance. The answer came through today with a trip to the zoo.

Today is one of those days where it would be hard to find a person to not call the weather perfect. The temp was just at warm, with a nice breeze. It is sunny, and after a lot of cold mess. I took Ellis, Kennedy, and Lainey to the zoo. It wound up being just us because the friend we were meeting had a blow out on the interstate, thank God they weren't hurt.

For the first hour we walked around. It wasn't very busy so I let the kids walk holding hands. We looked at the animals, pointed things out, pet goats, and then decided to have lunch. We sat under some trees at a picnic table near the zebras. I was still in my rut at this time. Anyway, all 3 kids set by each other on a bench that was much to high up for them to easily get on, and too far from the table for them to easily eat there lunch. Being 1,2, and almost 3, they just aren't quite big enough. But they balanced, and were proud and ate, very happily. I took a second to look at them. Eating peanut butter sandwiches, smiling, laughing, singing songs together, balancing, and they looked so sweet. I was upset I forget my camera for a second, but then I was glad, because I took a moment to take them in. All three of those kiddos, are so different, and amazing, and happy. Ellis is a careful keeper or his freedom, curious, and a rule follower. When I let the kids walk with some freedom today, he obeyed very carefully. He loved walking on his own to look at a exhibit, and pointing out what he saw. He thrives when he has clear cut boundaries, and usually never pushes too hard so that he can keep a privilege. He loves learning, is starting to ask questions, and is quite serious sometimes. Kennedy is a careful keeper of her freedom, a nurturer, and a helper. She listens well, but is also always a cheerleader for her friends. She claps for my kids, cheers, and was the first to volunteer to hold hands to help out Lainey. She plays baby dolls and is always feeding, rocking, and taking care of them. She wants all to be well with those she loves. Lainey is social, loving, and when giving her freedom loses all control. She could not handle walking just holding hands with her brother and Kennedy today. She wanted to look on her own, screamed when I tried to hold her hand, wanted to say hi to others, without our help. When she feels freedom it is like she is intoxicated and goes full speed ahead and loses control. With that she never ate baby food, has always insisted on feeding herself, and is already potty training. She is so fiercely independent.

These children are beautiful, and so fun to be around. They were sitting there on the bench together, giggling, having a blast, and I felt important. My two kids have these different amazing personalities, and it is my privilege to raise them into the people they are going to be. I have to look out for my careful keeper, nurture him, never make him feel stupid, answer all of his questions as best I can,  push him when he is afraid to take a leap of faith. I have to protect my free spirit, never hold her back to hard as to squash her light, but to reign her in when she needs guidance, and let her make some mistakes because that is how she will learn best. And I know I will get to watch Kennedy grow up, and I know she has wonderful parents, and that will be a privilege too. I am so over my week long pity party, I love these kids, I love this day. I am Ellis and Lainey's mother, how could I be anymore important?

Oh the places we go.

We had a wonderful weekend. Regardless of what we did it would've been great just because of the wonderful weather. I didn't work so we decided to go to the aquarium with the passes Mimi got us for Christmas. The trip was actually a good one. Instead of screaming the whole 2 hrs she slept.

Ellis entertained himself with the mobigo.

The kids loved the aquarium especially Ellis. He actually got to pet a snake, sturgeon, and sting ray. The snake thing freaked me out a bit. I explained probably about 15 times that he is not to pet snakes at home, or any other time. I can just see him bringing me a snake saying "look momma" Sis would have nothing to do with petting it. She had the look of ya'll are crazy I am not touching that thing!

We don't have many more pics because the camera battery died. Ellis had a blast. I love that he is so interested and so well behaved when we do stuff like this. He is getting so big, and I can hardly believe that he is about to be 3 yrs old. Lainey did well too, to be so little that is.

After the aquarium we went back to mom and dad's and ate pizza and called it a night. The kids were worn out. Next day we headed home early, Brian mowed the lawn, and we played outside with the kids. Ellis and Lainey rode the power wheels, and played hide and go seek with our neighbor and their daddy. Good times!

Thankful Thursday

1. I am thankful that my husband still thinks to do something nice for me like bring home coffee out of the blue.

(Well and we did run out and he didn't tell me on Monday)
2. I am thankful that the snow is clearing up.
3 I am thankful that sis is still putting up an effort to potty train. Good girl

Wordless Wednesday

I love "us"

I have never been one to like Valentine's day. Boyfriend or not, I never really cared for it. Even after dating Brian and getting married it hasn't been a big deal. Neither one of us is really romantic. But now that I have kids I get excited. V-day parties, handing out Valentines, getting them a gift (nothing commercial though, yuck), crafts. I totally get into it. I was driving down the road the other day wondering why I got into a holiday so much and I never did before. Then of course a Hallmark commercial came on the radio, as if it was inside my brain, and answered. The whole catch phrase was "Valentine's day is not about saying I love you, it is about saying I love us. That is it. I love my kids, but I get excited on vday because I love us, our family. I love that Brian, Ellis, and Lainey are my people, my family. I love that God chose me to be their mother. I love it when Ellis tries to make me laugh kidding around, and when Lainey thinks she is big stuff. I love that when they get hurt they want me, and that when they get sick they want to be held by me. I celebrate vday now because I celebrate the love we all have for each other.

Living on the Edge

Striepling Style

Irritation to Smiles, The happenings of today.

I took Ellis to get his hair cut today, to a very male barber shop. I walked in with my two wild children, and disturbed the manly atmosphere of the place. I had to go there, they cut Ellis' hair the best, and I am very picky. I sat in the corner with the kids in hopes not to ruin the vibe. They were chatting it up, blah blah blah, and somehow got to where it was better for a woman to stay at home for economical reasons. Something along the lines that she would have to make $110,000 to justify working after taxes and child care. I found that irritating.  Either way you look at it, that could be taken the wrong way by me, the mother sitting there listening to them talk.I am pretty obviously no longer a career woman when I show up somewhere on a Monday morning at 9am in a t-shirt and pony tail, but what if I was on vacation that week. What if I worked and made 35k a year, how would that make me feel. That my career is not justified because of how much I make.That I am not doing anybody a service by working. Where they trying to give me some backhanded props? Good for me staying home. Seriously.  Perhaps I should have brought them a pie. Ellis' hair looks good anyway.

What else today. I got up this morning, morning glory that I am, and went to fix some coffee. We had none. Bad husband. Put a roast on, went to get Ellis' hair cut, went to grocery, bought some coffee.

The roast after 3 hrs.

Roast after 7 hrs, yummy.

Cleaned the bathrooms.

Started potty training sis, she went 3 hrs without an accident, and loved her panties.
Played farm with sis.

Made fresh Pico de Gallo

Made guacamole, cleaned some more.

Then I got to take a dear friend dinner, and meet her new baby. That was the best point of the day. There is something sweet about a little newborn. It can't help but to make you smile, and make an alright day a wonderful one.

The end

Simple Saturday

Wake up.
Eat pancakes.
Hang out at the house.
Eat Lunch, pb & j, carrots, oranges, and cheeze-its. (That is what my kids with monstrous appetites ate. Brian and I ate raw veggies, hummus, and cheese bread)
Horse Show.

Lainey loves any animal, and the horse show was so awesome to her.

Ellis was unsure, but still was much better behaved than sis.

Lainey started acting up so we had to go, the little diva.



Target.

Home.

Naps for kiddos.

Dinner soon and then I go to work.

The end.

Thankful Thursday

Sometimes I find that I am so stressed, I don't take the time to stop and to just be thankful. So when I do I go so overboard, and could write 3 pages of what I am thankful for. So I will keep this to 3 things, and lets just say that God, family, and friends are always on this list.

1. I am thankful I have a warm house, working car, and hot coffee on this cold day.
2. I am thankful that although I was a lunatic cranky pants this morning, Brian didn't get ticked at me.
3. I am thankful for some great laughs I have had lately. The after effect of a good laugh can go for days. (It did apparently end this morning though )

Wordless Wednesday