Tuesday, November 30, 2010

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

Well, if you look outside it doesn't. It is currently 56 degrees here and rainy. This has been one of the warmest fall/winter seasons that I can remember. But they are calling for snow tomorrow and I will keep my fingers crossed!

But inside our home...things are looking festive. Christmas time is by far my favorite time of year. The music, lights, food and all the time spent with family. Someone said that being a mom at Christmas time is a lot of responsibility and I agree. I am the one in charge of traditions and the memories my own children will have when they think back to their holidays as children. So I spend hours thinking and planning the traditions I want to start.

Thanksgiving night we started with the tree.

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Kensley helped us out the entire time. To pulling out the lights, hanging the beads to pulling out each and every one of the ornaments and hanging them on the lowest branches.

And just like it does every year as we pull out those ornaments, the memories come flooding back. Our engagement ornament in 2003, First Christmas Together in 2004, Baby's First Christmas in 2008 and now 2010, Kensley's little hand print from her first Christmas. Those ornaments mean the most to us.

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And major kudos to my husband, who always makes our tree look amazing. Glad I married a tall guy ;)

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There is nothing like seeing your favorite holiday come alive again through the eyes of your child.

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Here is to making memories. Lots and lots of 'em.

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Friday, November 26, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!

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From The Barb's

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Nom Nom Nom

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Someone has started eating cereal and sweet potatoes! Rowan didn't seem too interested in food for awhile but lately he has been starting to seem more interested in food and enjoying it more so I have made it part of his daily routine.

This morning I was feeding him cereal and Kensley was so mad that I wasn't letting her have any. I tried to explain that she wouldn't like it. It's not like I am holding out on some super yummy food and only giving it to your brother, but she kept insisting. So I gave her a little taste on her lips

and she instantly gagged. Bahaha!

At least someone likes it!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Hey Babe? Can You Come Here A Minute?

As a mother those are some words that you never want to hear your husband say.

Especially when he says them after walking into your daughter's room.

At 1 a.m.

Either she is really sick or she has done something she really shouldn't. Because well, it is 1 a.m.

Shouldn't she be sleeping?

So when my husband said these words to me last night early this morning. I told him I didn't want to know. I don't even want to know. So he brought her in to me. And this is what I see...

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Can you see it?

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Yeah. That is a whole bottle of lotion in her hair right there.

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I guess Dave went out to check the mail after he got home from work and noticed that the light was on in Kensley's room. When he went in to investigate...well. There you go. She came in to me and said, "Mama, I so pretty?" Oh yeah baby girl. You're gorgeous.

So after her second bath of the evening and clicking the light OFF on her ceiling fan so she can't turn her light on she is now crying herself to sleep for the second time.

Is it bad that I can't stop laughing? Never a dull moment around here...

Monday, November 22, 2010

Weekend at Grandma's

Saturday we bundled up (well, not really. Its been in the 60's all weekend. What is up with this weather?) and headed to grandma and papa's house.

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(Believe me it is much more fun than Rowan's face lets on.)

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We broke out the farm to play with.

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And chased papa all over the house.

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Uncle Colton helped us "fly".

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I promise no roosters were killed in the making of this hat...

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But mostly we got held and loved on, and isn't that the best reason to go to grandma and papa's?

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We think so!


P.S. Head on over to my giveaway blog to see the winner of the $35 CSN gift card!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Giveaway!

Want to win $35 to use at over 200 stores online? Then head on over to my giveaway and review blog to check it out!

Good Thing They Are So Cute...

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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Babywearing Gigi

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Gigi came and babysat the kiddies last night while I went to work. Rowan is a big fan of being held so Gigi wanted to wear him in the baby wrap. We were cracking up so hard so I had to take a picture. I think she wore him for 5 minutes before she told me, "Take him out, he is breaking my back." Haha!

Monday, November 15, 2010

She is SO Brave

On Friday afternoon I headed to the doctor's office with Kensley and Rowan for Rowan's four month check-up. I have never had to take the kids by myself before because we always scheduled it on a day that Dave was home too, but now that Dave is working more there was no way that he could come. Me being the awesome person that I am figured that I could handle it as I have taken them plenty of places on my own before. Those are some famous last words right there.

We arrive at the doctor's office and as soon as we walk into the office Kensley remembers that this is a place that she always gets a sucker at. So immediately the tantrum begins. I am horrified as she starts screaming, "MAMA!!! MAMA!!!" and throws herself down on the ground. Trying to advert this from turning into major crisis mode I go over to the counter and grab her a sucker. Mr. Hyde calms down and eats her sucker and we sit patiently until the nurse calls our name.

Everything is fine at first. Rowan gets weighed and measured, 18lbs 9oz and 26 1/4" long. We head back and wait for the doctor to come in. All is well with the world. Dr. Nyugen comes in and does is assessment on Rowan. He looks good and healthy. He makes some small talk with Kensley and then goes to leave. This is when things start to make a turn for the worst. Kensley wants to go with Dr. Nyugen. He being the nice doctor that he is politely asks her to stay with mommy and brother while he goes alone to do big doctor things. Her 2-year-old brain does not compute this and loses its mind. She throws herself down on the ground, tears running down her cheeks. She screams, "BUH-BYE!!! BUH-BYE!!!", tries to throw a trash can over, punches me in the arm. She basically lost her marbles. I try to tell her that there is nothing I can do, we have to wait for Rowan to get his shots.

But she doesn't get that. She continues to lose it. Snot is shooting out of her nose, she is drooling all over the place. I start thinking that the people in the rooms beside me must be thinking that I am tearing her limbs off one-by-one. For some reason I start laughing. I start and I can't stop. I laugh so hard that I start crying. Tears are rolling down my cheeks. You want to know how to infuriate your two-year-old even more? Start laughing at them when they are having a melt down. It totally works. She begins to freak out even more. She has gone BONKERS. Guys, SHE CLAWED AT HER FACE. She was so insane that she was tearing the flesh off of her body. SHE MADE HERSELF BLEED. Please tell me I am not the only one who has a child like that.

And here I am still laughing. I am laughing so I don't cry. I am waiting for candid camera to pop out of the walls or something. But instead I just get the nurse. She comes back in to give Rowan his shots. This distracts Kensley for all of 5 seconds. Long enough for me to hold my baby down while some strange lady pokes sharp needles into his precious not so little little baby thighs. Cue screams from him, tears from Mama and Kensley latches on to the nurses leg and begs to leave with her. She does this quick maneuver where she detaches Kensley's arms from her leg and scoots out the door at the same time. Leaving me to deal with this 2-foot-tall screaming tornado.

By the time we get up to the cashier to pay on our way out Rowan is snoozing in his car seat and Kensley is quietly sniffling. The cashier looks down at Kensley and then looks at me and says, "She is SO brave." Umm...She didn't get any shots!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Happy 4 Months Rowan!

Dear Rowan,

Yes, I know you turned four months old nine days ago. Give me a break! I am completely honest when I tell you this is the first time I have been able to sit down and write your letter. If there is one word I would use to describe my life right now, crazy comes to mind. Since you showed up there is this thing called "time" and I don't seem to have any of it anymore. Not that I would change a thing about it though!

You have spent this past month smiling and talking to everyone you meet. You coo and make noises all day long. I think you are going to be a very talkative baby. There is a mirror on your swing and you can see yourself in it and you have full-on conversations with that baby in the mirror.

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You finally started drooling. I say that like I am glad you started but really its just a big mess. We go through so many outfits and bibs because you soak yourself. You remind me of that dog in that movie, Turner and Hooch or something like that. Although, I think you are much cuter than that dog ever was. A lot of people have commented that you might be teething. A lot of people said that about your sister too and she didn't get a tooth until she was 11-months-old. So we will just sit back and wait and see when you finally get a tooth. I'm not going to hold my breath.

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You are getting much better with your head control and we could finally set you in your jumper this month. You really seem to like playing with the frog and the beads that are attached to the one side of it. Your sissy always comes by and goes, "Oh no" at the puddle of drool on the floor underneath your jumper. She runs and grabs a towel and wipes it up. What can I say, she is a little type-A. 

You are still waking up several times a night. We are hoping once you start some solid foods that you will sleep a little longer at night but you eat and go right back to sleep at night so it isn't too bad. We took you to the doctor for your check-up and you weighed 18lbs 9oz and you are 26 1/4" long. You are wearing some 6 month clothing but mostly 9 months. You are wearing a size 3 diaper. (Your sister who is 2-years-older wears a size 4). To say you are big would be an understatement. We hear lots of comments about how big you are for your age and we are just so happy that you are healthy.

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You are such a sweet baby boy. You love to cuddle with me and you are constantly looking around the room to find me. I could wear you in the sling all day and you would be perfectly content. The sound of your little voice talking to yourself in the morning brings a smile to my face and your smile melts my heart. I am in love with your big brown eyes and your chunky thighs. I could kiss your cheeks and nibble on your ears all day long if you would let me.

I am so lucky you are mine.

Love,

Mama

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

30 Days of Thankfullness- Day 10

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Today I am thankful for the stranger in Chick-Fil-A who after overhearing me ask the woman at the counter if my daughter could have a balloon, hearing her tell me, "sorry we are all out" and then witnessed my daughter throw herself down on the floor and throw the mother of all tantrums, stood up and proceeded to tear a balloon off one of the "display" areas and hand it to her. He risked getting yelled at, "Sir, those are for display only" just to make my daughter happy. So thank you awesome stranger.

p.s I am pretty sure Kensley thanks you too.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

30 Days of Thankfullness- Day 9

Today I am thankful for nap time and the fact that I might just partake as well.

Monday, November 8, 2010

30 Days of Thankfullness- Day 8

Today I am thankful for movie nights. We are cuddled up on the floor watching elf on a pile of pillows under blankets and there is nowhere else I would rather be.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

30 Days of Thankfullness- Day 7

Today I am thankful for my cousin Chasidy. I just so happen to be lucky enough to live next door to my cousin and for that I am very thankful. I have an instant best friend just steps from my front door and we have spent countless nights talking and laughing and comparing coupon deals and talking about our kids. I have someone who "gets" me. She knows the trials of being a stay at home mom and we often find each other saying, "I can totally relate." Today she came over for a few hours so I could run some errands by myself. I never asked her to do this, she simply volunteered. I ran to the mall, had some coffee and stopped and got lunch. When I got home she had straightened up the house and everything. I hope everyone has someone in their life like my cousin. She is someone I am truly thankful for.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

30 Days of Thankfullness- Day 6

Today I am thankful for Dave's family. When you are a young girl and you dream about what your future husband will be like, I think deep down you also secretly hope you like his family too. I am thankful for the fact that I love his family just as much as I do my own. They are all super caring and wonderful people and I am blessed to have them in my life. Today we got together with some of his family to remember his grandma Barb who passed away this time last year. It was a nice way for everyone to see each other but also to remember his grandma. I am thankful for the fact that I got to know her in the years since Dave and I got together and she was such a sweet woman who loved Kensley so much. We miss her but will always have the memories we shared with her and for that I am thankful.

Friday, November 5, 2010

30 Days of Thankfullness- Day 5

Today I am thankful for my washer and dryer. When you have 70+ loads of laundry to do its great to have a washer and dryer that works and mine plays cute little songs to tell you it is done. I can't imagine getting anything done if we had to wash clothes by hand still. Thank goodness for technology!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

30 Days of Thankfullness- Day 4

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Today I am thankful for my Moby Wrap. I gave birth to what I believe to be one of the most spoiled high maintenance little boys. Bless his heart, he LOVES me holding him all day long. This would normally equal me getting nothing accomplished, but because of my wrap we can now spend hours walking around, dancing and singing in front of the mirror and making big sister snacks with my free hands. Really, how could I not be thankful for a baby who wants to be close to his momma all day? Mama's Boy. ;)

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

30 Days of Thankfullness- Day 3

Today I am thankful for coffee. 'Nuff said.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

30 Days of Thankfullness- Day 2

Today I am thankful for my husband. I am so blessed to have married the man that I did. My husband is a hard worker. He works seven days a week on most weeks while going to school and still comes home and helps with the house and the kids. I have never heard him complain. He is the most thoughtful and caring person I have ever met. I am lucky to have someone by my side who loves me at my best but even more so because he loves me at my worst. He has seen my faults and my imperfections and he loves me anyway. I am thankful that I have someone who has the same hopes and dreams and wishes as me but is also completely different than me in some really great ways. I am thankful for how amazing he is as a father and how he puts his family before everything else in his life. Because I have him, I am truly blessed. Love you babe!

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Monday, November 1, 2010

30 Days of Thankfullness- Day 1

I can't believe it is already November! Seriously, where did this year go? I have been seeing for awhile now people that have dedicated entire blogs to things they are thankful for and I thought, "What better time than now to list what I am thankful for?" So here we go. I plan to post each day in November about something I am thankful for. Today is day one of my 30 day challenge to take a look at my life and remember how blessed I truly am.

It probably comes as no surprise what I am MOST thankful for.

My kids.

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There is so much to be thankful for when it comes to my kids. I am so thankful to have them in my life because they made me a mother. I have wanted to be a mother since I can remember having thoughts. They are the absolute light of my life and they make every day something special. Even on the days where I want to sell them (or give them away for FREE) I know how lucky I am to have these two special people in my life. I am so thankful that they are happy and healthy. I am thankful for Kensley and her laugh. The way she hugs me and how her little voice sounds when she says, "mama." How she comes running to the door when I come home. How sensitive she is and cares about people's feelings. I am thankful for Rowan and his smiles. He gives them so freely. He is such a happy baby and he reminds me about what is truly important- food, sleep and some good cuddles. These two are above all my greatest blessings on this earth. And for that I am forever Thankful.