my little lukie

you are one today. I can't believe it. It seems like yesterday when I found out I was having you. We were really surprised, and totally excited. You were such a blessing to us and are teaching us new things every day. You were a surprise in the beginning, and I think that you will constantly be a surprise to us. I am positive that you will be a daily reminder to our family that God is in charge at all times, and not to worry too much because He has it all under control. You are my youngest of our two complete miracles.

You can make any sound with your mouth. You love to mimic. You have the biggest smile, and you are such a lover. You need mama all the time, and demand that I hold you. You will sit on your knees and throw your little arms in the air and smile. Your daddy says I should leave you there, but I can't help myself. I need you just as much -if not more- than you need me. You are a big eater. There isn't a lot of food that you won't try. You are a great sleeper. (finally) And your big brother Will loves you so much and calls you "dookie". He gives you goodnight kisses and hugs and says " i love you dookie" and you giggle. You love him too. Your daddy adores you. I have a feeling you all are going to have a quiet and unspoken bond. You all are a lot alike.

i thank God every day for my two handsome boys. I am excited to live this life with you, and I am in awe of the amount


that I am learning about myself and about what an awesome God we have, and that is because of what you and Will teach me every minute since your births. Thank you for being you. I love you more than life itself. Happy Birthday to my sweet baby.

xoxo-

mama

Farewell, chocolate cushiness.

Dear Chocolate Recliner,

I first met you in the store when I was 7 months pregnant with the first baby.  I was huge, and he was camping out in my ribs.  I looked at you and imagined a world full of comfort.  So I took you home.  We spent weeks of bed rest together, with me sleeping on your cushy arms, swollen ankles up high.  I brought a baby home to lay in your midst, and you helped me rock him to sleep.

That baby wasn't very nice to you.  He spit up formula on your arms, and may have suffered the occasional leaky diaper.  But eventually, you all became fast friends and that was the only place he would sleep alone.  We would prop you back and place his sweet head on your cushy arms, and off to dream he would go.

You are not a pretty recliner, no, that wasn't your purpose.  Your chocolate micro fiber cushiness was meant for comfort, not for beauty.  Sunday naps, reading books and watching movies are some of your favorite activities.

After the first baby was over you, I was not.  You had a pregnant partner yet again, and I fell in love with you all over again. Another bed rest, another homecoming with yet another sweet baby infant.

He didn't get along with you very well at first either.  He actually threw up all over you, but we got that pretty blanket there and covered you up.  You were happy.  This one was not that fond of napping in your crevices, but he loved to be rocked to sleep by you.  I even bought a fancy pillow for moments when you are feeling jazzy.  You liked this.

You are going to live somewhere else tomorrow, although I am unsure of what your location will be.  I am saddened by this, but I know we both must move on.  Every relationship has this moment, and I have to let you go.  I have decided to send you off in style with a grouping of pictures that showcase your beauty, and your memories.  Bon Voyage, sweet chocolate cushiness.

your jazzy pillow.

all your crooked beauty

pretty sure this is a booger. 

slobber hand print

um, probably a booger too.

the multitude of loveliness.

ciao, my sweet lovely, chocolate cushiness.  May you have all the happiness at your new home, and maybe when I am old and gray, we will meet again.  Thank you for the help with my babies, and thank you for your wonderful memories.  

10 random things

We, like many of you, are bored.  I have been a terrible blogger the last 2 weeks, posting nothing, or rambling about basically nothing.  It has been snowing. There is snow everywhere.  The kids are crazy- the husband hasn't been able to work in almost two weeks and is going bonkers.  Me? Well, I have been a work.  They released us for two days last week, but that ended up being truly torturous.  I loved that time with my babies and I didn't want to go back.

let the randomness begin.

1) I'm watching Idol and wondering if my hair will ever look like JLo's, or if it is starting to get stripper long.

2) I will never have a flat stomach as long as there is ranch dressing and processed cheese.

3) I love shoes but haven't indulged in a while.  My husband will disagree.

4) I thought I could cook until I met my husband.  We had ox tails tonight. They were incredible.

5) I love hearing little kids laugh.

6) There is a solution for every single problem.  There is a cure for cancer, it just hasn't been found quite yet.  There is an answer for everything- some we are supposed to know, some we aren't supposed to know just yet, but that doesn't mean that they don't exist. Be curious.  I am.

7) I paid $30 in shipping for paper plates for the wee one's 1st birthday.  I realize 8 hours later that this was stupid.

8) I wish I weren't as messy as I am.  I desperately want to be an organized person.

9) I go to see my youngest big brother next weekend, and I am so excited. I haven't been to LA since I was a wee kid, and I am ready for warmth and some time with my daddy.

10) Sometimes I think it's funny to make John carry me like he does the kids.  We both usually laugh so hard that I end up crashing to the ground.


That is about it.

ciao.

Snowpacolypse 2011- a recap

I've been at my house since Monday afternoon.  I have eaten my weight in food, and cleaned the house 60 times. I have attempted laundry, but I was over it the minute that I began.  I pondered putting on jeans, but quickly switched for sweats.  I did put on mascara and chap stick.

Last night I took a ride on a rhino and went to a friends house.  She challenged me to a wii game of just dance.  She stomped me.  I'll admit that I am not the best dancer.  I channel my artistic side in other ways, but dancing is not one of them.  I grew up the granddaughter of the best dance teacher in town.  I am the daughter of a ballerina.  I can tap. Thank God that doesn't require much grace.  As I age I realize that my ability to dance must have been passed down through my father's genes.  We have equal dance talent.  My brother, on the other hand, is freaking rico suave on the dance floor.  I'm pretty sure that is how he snagged his hot wife.  Anyway, I lost by thousands of points on both just dance, and Michael Jackson's dance revolution.  I did kick her 7 year old's ass though, and I am okay with bragging about that. I swear the only reason she kept winning is because she is 8 feet tall, and I am 5 feet tall.  I think that makes a huge difference.  That is what I am telling myself.

Today I watched Regis display more signs of dementia when calling Brooke Burke "Brooke Burns" and blaming it on his card.  Poor Reg.  Even if it was a genuine mistake, we will all assume he has old timers just because he is 100 years old.

I then watched Megyn Kelly's coverage on the riots in Cairo.  I feel sorry for those people that aren't directly involved.  They have no money- the ATMs are shut down, and so are banks.  No money=no food.  Makes my heart hurt.  Megyn Kelly is my favorite- I may adore her more than Shep. And I LOVE Shep.

I swear that I will again write something that has some form of substance to it.  As for now, I don't have much to say.  The below picture pretty much describes how the last three days have been, and it screams how I am feeling.  till later...

snowpacalypse 2011

dreaming of a snowy day with power...

Anticipating a snow day is the worst.  Am I going to work? Couldn't tell ya.  Am I leaving my house for the next week? Couldn't tell ya.  Am I going to have electricity when I wake up? I. couldn't. tell. you.

I hate this uncertainty. I hate now knowing what I am doing tomorrow.  I am a planner. I need to know these things.  Should I fill bottles with water just in case? I worked for the freaking Red Cross for crying out loud. You would think I would be prepared, but alas, prepared I am not.  I just kept telling people as they exited their cubes today "See ya Thursday" cause I just have a feeling..... anyway.

So while I am preparing to be unprepared for the "epic snowstorm" (thanks mike collier for that terrifying description), I am being tortured with Orange County Choppers, and Paul Sr's foreclosure, and I am sure basketball will pop up on the screen at some point.   I have canned food. That should suffice.

my big crazy man. he 's so 2 its not even funny.

my personal chef- and full time handsome. 

john gave these to me for christmas in 2005. they are a mess, and I love them with my whole heart.

So tonight I took some pictures.  I don't really have much to say (imagine that) but I do have pictures. The boys are super funny right now. Luke is starting to have a little personality, and Will, well, Will's personality is non freaking stop. He's such a blessing though. They both are. Luke screams and makes pooting noises all the time.  Says mama and dada.  Will is starting to talk more and more, and I am understanding about 40% of what he is trying to say.

my baby- almost 11 months. can't believe it.

Lukie got a walker for Christmas.  We kept a lot of his presents in the garage to break out sporadically when necessary.  Today was necessary.  I bet the little man will be walking in no time. He just rocks this thing all over the house.  He looks like he is about 90.

lukie rockin the walker, looking clueless.

I called a good friend today to talk about her school being closed tomorrow, and she reminded me that school being closed is NOT a good thing.  Not only is school the only place that some kids get to actually eat, but being home with parents causes a super stress that often times leads to abuse.  One day off equals bills not being paid, and being stuck in the house- well, it ends up being really hard on some families.  Please say prayers for these children and for the patience of their parents.  Also, don't forget your neighbors that may be of the elderly nature. (I phrased that well, eh?) They may not have had the ability to go get food and they may not have heat.  Check on them and make sure they are okay. 

Stay safe y'all, and ill leave you with a memorable picture to give you sweet dreams. Ciao.

yes- its a wig.

                          

can i schedule a time to schedule you in?

So I have mentioned that life is crazy being a working mother.  Tonight I had one hour with my kids, and then I had to go to a meeting.  Thank goodness the big one was awake when I got home and I could play with him for a bit before he went down.  Thank goodness he didn't remember that Woody's head had again fallen off and he was on top of the refrigerator "in surgery".

As far as chores go, I got nothing accomplished today.  I take that back, I actually rescheduled 5 appointments for myself and kids because I can't leave work for them like I used to.  Another thank goodness- thank goodness my good friend is the office manager at the pediatricians office.  She has promised that BuzzWoody will be playing upon our arrival, and we were guaranteed the latest appointment. It's hard to take these two anywhere together. The big one is uncontrollable, and the little one wants to crawl.  I find it hard to manage both stages at once. I have the monkey leash for Will (as if) and the sling for Luke.  In a perfect world this will work. I'm sure in my world it will end with me having a monkey tail wrapped around my legs, a baby dangling from a sling, and a knock on the door from child services.

But here I sit, and I can't help but feel like I got nothing accomplished today, and I feel guilty about it.  Laundry is still piled up. The kids clothes, while clean, are still in baskets.  I don't have a clue what I will wear to work tomorrow, partly because I don't know what is clean, and partly because I own only 2 pair of socks, and I'm pretty sure they are both dirty. I imagine I could turn them inside out or wear John's size 12 ones. It has been known to happen. If you tuck the toe in you don't really notice all that much.

My hope for tonight is that I remember to wash my face and set my alarm, and dream of a day when I don't have baby food crusted on my left shoulder, and boogers on my pant legs.

Or maybe it's not.   I think that there is a faint scent of bliss in this stage of life. Maybe that is why everyone says it goes by so fast- we are too busy to just sit back and observe.

My good friend sent me an email about the Bible study I am currently in (and behind on) and it was a blurb from Rick Warren about how to focus your day, and how your quiet time should and can be in the morning.

Rick Warren is a man.  I respect him completely-he is totally inspirational, but he is, in fact, a man. Its like a male OB telling you how labor feels.  Quiet time before the kids get up seems impossible.

My first thought was 'I can totally do this. It will help me get on the treadmill. I can do my Bible study while walking.' light bulb!!!

And then it actually hit me! I missed the whole point. The point is to focus.  How else can we truly get the most out of what we are doing? Whether it's a a short term Bible study or your life, the goal is to focus and appreciate the moment.  That is how you get the most out of it.

 I currently suck at this.

ciao.

random but totally cute pic of my big baby.

scrub a dub

Any mom knows that trying to shower when your kids are around is a nightmare.  Now that Will is a little older he looks at me funny and its starting to make me uncomfortable. I don't know what age I need to stop changing in front of him, but I'm guessing that pointing and laughing at my butt is a subtle sign that it's almost that time.

When I need to get ready on the weekends, I lock my kids in my room with me, turn on Nick Jr, and jump in the shower.  This works for the big one.  He goes into a trance as soon as anything animated comes on.  The little one (who is currently pulling at my pants leg screaming) is not phased by the TV.  So I jump in the shower, and he stands at the glass door banging at me and doing that whine/cry thing. I try and speed up my normal 20 minute shower, and it never fails that I forget something.  Lately, I have been noticing that I have dried conditioner in the folds of my ears.

I couldn't handle it today. I grabbed him- stripped him down and took him in with me. He needed a bath anyway, so I thought that he may like it.  Not so much.

He screamed the whole time (no, the water wasn't too hot) and I tried to wash my hair with one hand. Meanwhile, my left arm was about to fall out from trying to hold an extremely slippery baby. It was literally spasming because it had never been exposed to that much exercise.

I don't work out. Well, I have before, and I intend to do it again some day, but I'm not really consistent in the world of physical activity. My workout today was taking the stairs 4 times.

Needless to say, it didn't go well.  I skipped conditioner all together, and I now have a frizzy puff on top of my head.  He is squeaky clean and smelling of lavender and looking adorable as usual. I look like hell.

The next problem I normally have is drying my hair and doing my makeup. It takes almost 30 minutes to dry all of my hair.  There is a ton of it, and I try not to do it that often, but about every other day it has to be done.  Sometimes if I'm lucky, the kids will play on the floor and watch me or TV, but lately this hasn't been the case.  They have been wanting to sit on the counter in front of me and watch themselves, and slobber up my mirror, turn on my faucet, and chew on my somewhat expensive make up brushes.  The big one brushes his teeth with my toothbrush and toothpaste, and is probably over loaded on fluoride. Whatever- its called picking your battles.  You can eat my toothpaste if you leave my mascara alone.

This used to really stress me out.  After all, I try and keep my things in their place, and when the kids and I leave the bathroom it looks like a tornado went through it.  If they aren't in the bathroom, they are in my closet pulling out all  of my shoes.  Thing I don't get is they never ever touch John's stuff. EVER.

So in my quest to lead a more peaceful and stress free life, I am trying to not let this get under my skin.  I've decided I don't need to go back into my bathroom until this evening, and avoid the whole mess.