Running Too Fast.

 Somehow I woke up and am in the middle of my life.  I have 3 kids, I'm 30 and I drive a minivan.  I have a son in kindergarten & I remember when I was in kindergarten.  People rely on me to keep them alive & be responsible in the midst of it.  I have a water bill, a mortgage & require a babysitter to go on a date.


Somehow, I became the adult & I can't for the life of me pinpoint when that happened.  I remember being a 'young' adult.  In college with a job that paid my 'bills' and allowed me the freedom to go & do as I pleased. 

Now my primary description is mom.  And let me tell you something: It's a little nuts.  This might come across as insensitive & selfish, but when I lie in bed at night, my thoughts don't typically revolve around my kids.  Instead, I'm usually thinking about this little spot here...my designs...my business & what I can do with it.  It's kept me up at night more than I'd like to admit, but that is usually the best time for me to think without interruptions.  I come up with all sorts of good ideas & things to do, but then I wake up & I'm mom again.

Mom who is still trying to be Amy at the same time.  Mom who is trying to make dinner & design too.  And I wonder if that is good.  


I caught myself in bed just this week, drumming up all sorts of plans, not for my family, but for my business & then I thought, "I'm really weird.  Is this okay?  Do my friends do this too?  Am I a bad mom for lying in bed thinking about this, instead of them?"

Trust me, I have plenty of family & kid related things I could lay in bed and probably solve after a few nights of deep thoughts, but instead, I'm here.

And every morning when I wake up and become Mom again, I have to re-find my balance & it is frustrating to me.  It's frustrating to have all these thoughts & ideas that have to just sit for a time  because there are not enough hours in the day or gas in the tank. 

I've had a scripture running through my head as I've been frustrated again & again this week.  It is in Doctrine & Covenants and was revelation given to Joseph Smith as he was translating the Book of Mormon.  He we counseled by the Lord:

 "Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means provided to enable you to translate; but be diligent unto the end.^"
  
And so if it was good enough for Joseph Smith, I suppose it is good enough for me.  I know that when I put Mom first, somehow Heavenly Father allows enough time for Amy as well.  Funny how when I try to balance it myself, it never works.


How many times am I going to have to learn this?

Obsessed.

 

With the sock bun.  Probably doesn't sound like that big of a deal, but when you live in 110 degree temperatures, things like this are life-changing.  Yes, that's right, I said life-changing.  Since Scoobs has started school, I feel like my 'get ready' time has to be put on fast forward in order to get everyone up & out the door on time.  I suppose I could wake up earlier, but that would be too easy.  Instead, I find myself constantly going to the sock bun.  

You've probably seen or heard about this 100 times on pinterest.  Me too.  And I thought it was for 18 year-old girls with thick, long hair.  Nope.  Just the opposite...at least on the hair requirements.  My hair is a bit past my shoulders, but thin & fine.  Typical blonde hair.  If you can put your hair into a pony, you can wear the sock bun.

There are a couple of ways to do it.  Find tutorials, here, here & here. The first one is my favorite.

The one thing I learned, was to use a sock that was similar in color to your hair -- this was really obvious when I tried it with a white sock.  So save yourself a pair of socks & use one similar in color to your hair.  My sister told me you can also buy a net-type thing at Claire's that is made for such a bun.  But I'm lazy & its hot, so if I can accomplish something without loading up my kids...I will probably choose that route.

We still have a month {or two...boo} of summer temps, so I am pretty sure I will be sporting it overtime until our fall temps of 75 roll around.

Off to Russia He Goes.

I'm sure this picture has you wondering.  Let me explain.  Over 20 years ago...when I was just a wee girl there is a picture of me.  We were vacationing in Yellowstone with my mom's side of the family and one of the days found us on a canoe.  I actually can't even remember it I was so little.  Apparently it was cold & I was a complainer {shocker!}.  So I am sure in an effort to shut me up & keep me warm my mom or my aunt wrapped a scarf around my ears.  The scarf.  The Coke bottle glasses {remember?} & snaggle teeth were bad enough.  But we were also on a canoe & the wind was blowing & suddenly I looked like a little Russian immigrant crossing the turbulant seas to America.

The pictured has popped up to haunt me on numerous occasions.  One thing you should know about my family is we never forget.  Ever.  You do something stupid & we will be reminding you for 20 years.  So this picture has never gone away.  My wedding dinner?  Oh yes, let's use the 'Russian Immigrant' picture!  It has been immortalized & of course re-surfaced again, when Kevin got his mission call to serve in...you guessed it, Russia.

What are the odds?

And so today, in an effort to bid farewell & good luck I offer an updated version of the 'Russian Immigrant.'  In just a few hours Kevin will begin his journey criss-crossing the globe to land in Russia for 2 years.

I am beyond excited for him, but wracked with nerves.  It just feels so far away & unfamiliar.  My mind wanders & I wonder where he will live.  Will it be clean?  Will he find food he likes?  Will he want to curl up in a ball and bawl?  That is something I would do.

His letters are full of excitement & anticipation & I'm sure that adrenaline will carry him for a bit, but then what?  I don't even know, because I've never done it.  But I assume it is somewhat like having a baby.  9 months of anticipation & excitement & then the baby is born.  You land in Russia.  Uncharted territory & the first 5 weeks are a dreamy breeze. You are tired, but still full of that new-baby adrenaline.  And then you wake up & wonder how the heck you got where you are.  Dazed by the responsibility ahead of you.  Asking who in the world ever trusted you to be in charge of this person?

I'm pretty sure he will have some of those moments.  I just wish I was there to hold his hand through it.  Isn't that what all mothers want to do?  Sit in the back of the kindergarten class & smile at their kids?  Give them the head nod of encouragement?  Be the security blanket for the rest of their lives?


We get to talk to him at the crack of dawn in the morning before he boards that first plane.  Say a little prayer for him?  And my mom, while you are at it. 

Sometimes the best things in life are also the hardest.

By the way, you should have seen the photoshopped composite picture we sent him to bid him farewell.  Just think, me, my mom & Lindsey all dressed in our best 'Russian' gear {what is that even?} & photographed in the blaring sun & then photoshopped into a winter wasteland...that may or may not be Russia.  Quite possibly the most fun I've had wasting the most time on the most useless 'farewell' package...that we had to rush him.  Are we dumb?  yes.  Do we crack ourselves up?  Also, yes. 

Dear Mister.

I almost hate to say it out loud for fear of jinxing it, but we are on night 5 of Little Mister sleeping, not just through the night but, through the night in one long glorious 12 hour stretch.

I can hardly believe it myself.

Remember the Lady? She was 2 YEARS old when she finally slept through that last 4-5 am wake up. Sheesh.

This is a dream baby I tell ya and I am soaking up every little bit of him. I can hardly tell you how much I love this little guy. He has my heart wrapped around his chubby little finger.

Remember how I cried when I found out I was pregnant? I felt so overwhelmed with the thought of a new baby.

Heavenly Father certainly answers prayers. Instead of feeling over-worked & overwhelmed I feel competent, capable & content. This baby has added such a richness to my life that I didn't even know I was missing.

So remind me next time when my life takes an unexpected turn...it might be just the turn I needed.

And Then We Bid Farwell

I'm not going to lie.  The last couple days have been a little rough.  Rough in the sense that my emotions always seem to hover just under the surface, bubbling up at unexpected times & places.  I feel like I am always a moment or glance away from tears & it has thrown me for a loop.  I see something that reminds me of him & the fact that I can't pick up the phone to call him, text him, message him, heck I'd even instagram him to laugh about it is frustrating to me.  I have come to realize just how much I like my instant communication & just how many things jog my memory.  

My family gathered one last time on Tuesday night to say our final goodbyes to Kevin.  This picture is the 'pretty' goodbye.  We still had the whole night ahead of us.  Dinner.  Dessert.  Good friends & even better laughs.

And then, as suddenly as I had finished my Nielsen's Frozen Custard, I was in a parking lot looking like this:

 

Why in the world I was saying goodbye in a parking lot is beyond me, but alas, here is my ugly cry complimented with Kevin's laugh.  Poor guy had to hold it together for all of us.  And so, that was it.  I cried an ugly cry.  Hugged a hug & went home.  Scoobs got to stay out late with me & this is my favorite picture of him saying goodbye...it is pretty awful of just about everyone else, but it reminds me of how he just clung to his legs.  They are such good buddies & similar is so many ways.  I love it.

And so now he is in the MTC {Missionary Training Center} in Provo, UT.  Each night I think of him & hope he is well & once we hear from him, I am sure this will all start to feel so much better & we will settle into our new normal.

He was so ready to go & I am so excited to hear of all his adventures...good & bad.  It has already been such a blessing to our family as we came together to send him off.  And so, with that, I will close the chapter on being sad.

No one Likes a Frowny Face.

And I've been sporting a frowny face for far too long.  I hate to admit it, but it is so very true.  I think my family & friends must be sick of me & this pregnancy.

I had another doctor's appointment today & for whatever reason, doctor's appointments send me into a bit of an emotional tail spin.  I'm not sure what I am expecting...my water to break on the table?  To find out I have indeed been in labor & they need to rush me to the hospital immediately to deliver the baby?  The hospital found out about my man-child and are going to change the 39-week rule just for me?  Super!

Any of those would be welcome, but alas, I usually find out the same.  I am 36-and-a-half weeks & yes, my baby is still big.

And then I leave.

And two hours later when my back is literally throbbing & Scoobs is helping to rub menthol lotion on it & I can't see straight, I bawl my eyes out.  I bawl because my hormones are obviously swinging hard & fast in both directions.  I bawl because I am tired of the back pain.  I bawl because I want to be able to move again.  I bawl because I'm just tired.  It has been days since I have slept, maybe weeks?  I can't really remember.

And then I'm grouchy.  Just ask Scot.  Most nights I'm a real treat by the time he gets home.  And I've decided I have a whole new respect for people that suffer with chronic pain.  It makes me a big pain in the you-know-what.

Then my grouchiness turns to action & I think, "Well, I know what will solve this problem!  We will just get this baby out!"  And then I obsess about this & that & a whole lot of crap that really probably doesn't work.

Pretty good frowny face right?  I bet you want to run right over & hang out with me all day.

Tonight as I was taking my ritual soak -- it is the only way to relieve the weight on my back -- I got to thinking...what do I even want out of this whole experience?

I realize it does not need to be as painful as I am making it.  And I also realize that it does in fact require some literal pain & sacrifice.

After mulling it over a bit I know what I want.  Having had 2 c-sections, I did, in fact, lament with my sister-in-law that I would never know what labor felt like.  I would never have that middle of the night wake up call.  I would never know the pain of the contractions.  I would never have birth out of my control.  I pick the date, I pick the time, clean my house, make arrangements for my kids, pack my bags, show up & bam...there is my baby.  It is kind of great, really great, but again, I longed for the 'labor' experience.  And that, for better or for worse, is what I want.

Even though, you should know, it absolutely terrifies me.  Whether or not my worry is warranted, I've been told for so long that I am 'high-risk' if I go into labor, that the idea is a bit more than scary.  That being said, I also want to know that my body functions normal.  I don't want to pick the date.  I want to feel the contractions & drop whatever it is I am doing.  I want the rush of not knowing exactly when this baby is coming...even though it has been driving me absolutely nuts.

And so, now that I know, I will wait.  I will wait until he is ready to come.  Without a frown.  Maybe not a smile.  But with faith.  Which is so much better than fear.  Fear makes for frowns.  And I'm pretty sure faith makes for fun.

I'll keep you posted.

Baby Update...and then back to work!

 

I am pretty sure this weekend was the last time I will actually 'dress' this body.  My pants fall down, my shirts creep up...it is not pretty.  This is the size I normally am when I deliver...but here we are, housing a man-child & on baby watch.  I never thought I would be on 'baby watch.'  But alas, here we are.

Here is the story in numbers...

At 32 weeks the ultra sound measured the baby at 35 weeks & 5 pounds.

At 35 weeks the ultra sound measured the baby at 39 weeks & 8 pounds.  I may or may not have about fell off the table when I heard that, but in my gut {literally} already knew he was big.

Then I came home a had a mini meltdown.  Years ago I had fibroid tumors, which required a c-section like surgery to remove.  They were removed, benign, left me a pant size smaller & a whole lot of deep scarring on the backside of my uterus.  Thus, making me a great candidate for uterine rupture & requiring all my babies to be born via c-section.  At the time, my doctor & I weren't sure if I'd even be able to carry a baby full term.  But we are 2 for 2 so far & going for the 3rd.  But when I realized just how big he was & added how many more weeks I had to go...I got a little nervous.

Since I've had the Lady the hospitals in my area have changed their 'rules' and will not allow any scheduled c-sections or inductions prior to 39 weeks.  Both my others were born at 38 weeks & weighed 7.5 pounds.  So I may or may not have panicked at the thought of carrying such a big baby an additional week given my history.

But, and here is where baby watch comes in, once I am 36 weeks {today!} if I go into labor they will not stop it, but instead rush me in for my c-section.

If only I knew what 'going into labor' felt like & how to prod myself there.  Really.  I've had 2 kids & have never had a contraction & feel completely clueless about it all.  I figure he will come when he is ready...but let me tell you, my back?  It is ready for him to make an appearance sooner as opposed to later.  Like today?  tomorrow?  please?

Oddly enough, after I had the Lady I was lamenting with a friend that I was disappointed I would never get to experience labor.  Not that I think it is enjoyable, but I do recognize it as a valuable life experience & one that I would likely never have.

I guess sometimes you get what you ask for.

So...give me your best labor inducing ideas! 

Pregnancy Update

 

Consider this the first & last picture you will see of me pregnant.

Here I am in all my pregnant glory.  Right now I am 31 weeks, but according to the doc yesterday, I am measuring 32 weeks...and trust me, I'm feeling it.

This past weekend Scot & I headed out for our Valentine date & left our normal stomping grounds of suburbia & headed to our old stomping grounds around ASU's campus.  Funny how different the demographics shift in a 15 minute drive.  I was a walking ad for birth control amongst all the college co-eds.  The looks & comments were abundant & ever-hilarious.  You had the quiet looks of amazement that scanned me up & down with eyes bulging to the under-the-breath comments in the vein of, "Holy cow, did you see that girl?!?" "She is huge!" "Woah!"

It was funny & then it just got old.  But I am to that point now in pregnancy where everyone has something to say.  My pediatrician told me I looked like I should have had the baby yesterday, another asked if I was having twins & then followed up with seriously? when I told her no.  The guy at Home Depot even put triplets into play.  So...here I am.  Bursting with baby.  My local gas station attendant even offered me some of her old maternity clothes, which may have been the most funny moment of my life.

And sometimes I feel huge & other times, I feel just about normal...for being 31 weeks pregnant.  But now we are in the nitty gritty stages.  The uncomfortable nights & about zero clothes that fit just right.  But I have wished with my other two that I had just enjoyed the last weeks more & then every time I'm pregnant again, I remember why I don't.  I just feel fat, tired & awkward & this go around I feel completely overwhelmed & exhausted.

Yesterday my doctor indicated some minor complications that will require weekly doctor visits, along with weekly ultrasounds, blood tests & non-stress tests to monitor.  I'm grateful for the ability to monitor it & for that fact that it isn't anything overly worrisome, but it does leave my delivery date up in the air...something I've never had to have up in the air.  Both my other kids were scheduled c-sections, 2 weeks early due to prior complications & surgeries that make 'going into labor' dangerous for me & my babies.  And soo...I feel overwhelmed.  I'm sure my pregnancy hormones have nothing to do with these feelings.  Nothing at all.  The baby will probably come sooner than I planned, which really, who can complain about that {assuming all is healthy}?!?  But, now I am in a scramble mode where I feel like I need all my sheets washed, diapers bought & put away & what about the carseat...is it expired?  All these last few little things that I have left lingering on my list, that I now want all wrapped up & I have about zero energy or motivation to actually do them.

oops.

Just for Laughs.

It's Friday & I suppose you could use a laugh.  So, have one at my expense.  If you follow me on Instagram {btw, are you on Instagram?  You should be...find me at amygregory} you've already laughed your guts out.

Instagram is giving a topic-a-day for a photo-a-day.  Tuesday's topic: Blast from the Past.  At first, I thought hmm, and then I thought...should I?  Should I really put this picture out there?  um, yes.  It is way too funny not to put out there.  So here I am.  6th Grade:

 

eat your heart out

You should know the pictures on either end {5th & 7th grade} are much better & that I was actually Student Body President this year...who? who? Who voted for me?  Not sure with this get up.  My husband likes the button covers the very best.  And I am happy to point out that denim shirts are making a comeback.  I can only hope Teva's with socks also make a comeback & then I will be in 6th grade heaven!

My sister read The Ugly Duckling at my wedding dinner...pretty sure this picture served as inspiration!  yeesh!

So the story.  The story behind this edited & digitized 6th grade photo is one worth sharing.  And so I do for your Friday enjoyment.

My mom found herself cleaning some back, neglected closet & happened upon the actual glasses in this photo.  I remember getting these glasses...it was when 'wire rimmed' was all the rave & I was delighted to update my spectacle situation.  My previous ones, had Lucy from Peanuts on the side. They were cute...when I was 5, but I was verging on teenager here!  Although, I do remember, wire rimmed was a close call for me because, yep, you guessed it, my lenses were borderline too thick.  Oh the shame.  Luckily they figured a way to make it work.  phew.

So my mom finds the glasses in this closet last month & what does she do with them?  She holds them out for me so I could keep them.  For what?  I was not sure.  In fact, I balked when she gave them to me & she chided me...just like old times.  Didn't I know they were a keepsake?!?  Um.  no.

So I brought them home & they sat on my desk.  They sat & they sat until White Elephant Christmas parties started coming up.  Husband would rather spend nothing on White Elephants, I'm usually good with any amount so long as it produces a good laugh.  So we were going back & forth what to bring.  We had had the best gift last year & could not think of one thing to top it.  Until he thought of the spectacles.  And then it donned on me...the picture, the specs...a shadow box...perhaps a signature to go with it...Perfect.  Until we told my mom & she again balked at our lack of respect for this treasured keepsake.  Again, I am usually good with any amount, so long as it produces a good laugh & this 'keepsake' was something I was happy to part with.

But again, my mom won {are you seeing a pattern here?} and I didn't give them as a white elephant.  Okay it was my mom & my hesitation in framing this picture...it's a tad embarrassing {yet...here I am}.

So my specs continued to sit.  My digitized pic looked back at my from my desktop.  And then it hit me.

If she was so attached to this keepsake then she should have them.  And so I printed that digitized picture & lovingly encased it in a shadow box along with those treasured spectacles.  Forever together...and off my freaking desk.

You should know I picked up some new glasses this week & after trying on every.single.pair. & having nothing fit {I made my mom come with me} I upped my status from wire rimmed to a Juicy Couture pair that I found...in the kids section.  I'm not sure why I ever try to leave the kids section anymore...even my face is the size of a 12-year-old's!

Happy Friday.  Hope you didn't pee your pants from laughing so hard.  Actually, I take that back...I hope you did pee your pants!

Getting Life on Paper

Can we just chat for a second.  I have about a million things I need to get on paper before I forget, so this might get a bit rambly...I know, not a word, but just stay with me.

First, I have lived to survive what I like to call 'Hell Week.'  Remember that week from college?  The week right before finals?  Or was it only referred to that at rebellious schools like ASU?  All my other siblings have, or will graduate with their undergrads from BYU and, you know, they might not use such vulgar language in those parts.

But Hell Week.  It is the week following my all-night shopping on Black Friday when Christmas is in full swing & the first thing on everyone's list?  Their Christmas card!  I've survived.  And dare might I say, I survived it well...all things considered.  And by survive it well, I mean I think I only had one blubbering breakdown on the phone with my mom...which may or may not happen weekly anyway! Not too shabby considering I busted out 25+ different card orders/designs plus my own, threw in a huge wedding invite suite, had the flu {due to my shopping extravaganza}, am a pregnant emotional wreck anyway & you know 2 kids, dinner, carpool, dr appts, 1 missing husband {working on his MBA}, a big night for my church calling & I'd say we all survived just dandy.

And it feels delightful to have it behind me.  Although, I'm loving all your cute faces this year.

And while I call it Hell Week & at moments it really did feel like I was being pulled in 100 different directions, there were some really great moments within all the crazy.

Some favorites from the last 10 days:

- Scoobs and his friend jumping on the trampoline in 60 degree weather in just basketball shorts.  Their shirts were discarded on the lawn while they practiced their super cool tricks.

- The Lady.  She is my little pocket friend.  She is always happy to run errands & be involved in whatever I am doing.  Met my mom at Toys R Us the other day to help her figure out some grand kid gifts & the Lady about bowled her over she was so excited to see her...as if she hadn't seen her the day before.  I don't know about you, but I could get used to that kind of greeting.

- Scoobs and another friend discarding their shirts on the trampoline, so they could 'tan'...again in 60 degree weather.  I have no idea where this is going or where it came from, but I will keep you posted on how that turns out.

- Elfie.  Our elf on the shelf...really, I love this little guy.  He's built marshmallow forts, blown bubbles with our gum, left reindeer doughnuts for breakfast, left footprints in powdered sugar & scribbled notes on chalkboards...he is keeping us all on our toes! {It was painful to not clean up those footprints all day...}

- The magic of Christmas.  Betwixt emails & card designs, my kids are filled to the brim with Christmas excitement & it is amazing.

- Scoobs askes daily for me to give him a gift...it is a certain something he really wants & he begs me to just go buy it, wrap it & give it to him...as if it is Christmas today.  He's got a lot of me in him on this one...I'm sitting in new Christmas jeans as we speak!

- The Lady has picked up on it and lisps quite regularly, 'give me a prethsent.' It's so cute, I have a hard time not doing just that.

- Santa caroling...The young men & young women {ages 12-18}in our neighborhood have a tradition of caroling on a huge flat bed trailer with hay & a Santa on a stand in the back of a truck - seriously the set up is amazing.  I'm talking Santa raised up on a platform in the back of a truck with a microphone, lights & speakers driving through the neighborhood with 60 kids on the trailer caroling.  They came last night & I may have gotten a little teary at the magic of it all.  Hearing Santa yell my kids names & seeing their faces light up...well it is all pretty awesome.

And I'm so happy to enjoy it all...Hell Week included.

Yesterday Went Like This...

 

5 seconds after getting out of bed, this is how my lap looks.  I should love it.  And I do...for about 5 minutes & then I start to feel claustrophobic.  All the climbing, pushing & pulling get to be too much...but this is typically what it looks like if I sit down. 

 

After breakfast {waffles} we got dressed to head to our last day of Summer Movies.  The Lady got to come today because I was too lazy to make other arrangements for her & frankly, it was kind of a dumb movie, so I didn't really mind her interruptions.

 

Before heading out I had to check on my pillows & my tree {see it in there...it is the one leaning dangerously!}   We had a huge lightning & thunder storm the night before, I am hoping my favorite tree makes it through this last little part of monsoon season.  It has braved 3 other storms -- 1 in which I actually stood out there in the storm bracing it with my butt.  Yes.  You read that right.  It was a sight to see & all the neighbors like to laugh at me about it...because it really was funny.  There are more over-the-top dumb stories about this tree than it possibly deserves, but I am determined to save it because we spend lots of time under it in the winter!

 

Finally.  The cool a/c of the movie theater.  The Lady is a champ {eating more popcorn than I think humanly possible} and I have to wear a jacket to keep cozy.  perfect.  Until I walk outside.  yuck.

 

Invite a friend/cousin over for Scoobs...they play & I work.  perfecto.

 

Pour a Diet Coke & get busy!

 

The Lady wakes up from her nap...and an afternoon dance party ensues.  This is how I get my kids to clean up their toys...pump them up & then dole out assignments.  Their favorite?  Shoe Patrol.  That person has to put away every random shoe strewn from here to Timbuktu. 

 

And then, it is time for dinner.  The children miraculously color {???} while I cook.  I wish they did this everyday, but truthfully?  They are usually rough housing somewhere while I try to pull dinner together.  I'm glad I got this on film...it appears so 'Leave it to Beaver.'

 

Dinner is Served.  Chile Chutney Quesadillas.

I think this recipe might land a spot in one of my favorite things.

I crave it regularly.

 

After dinner, Scot gets home & I head out.  He handled bedtime, while I met with 2 different clients.

Lots of weddings coming up & I can't wait to show you!  

Think pearl paper, oversized {like really big} & vintage stamps...they are going to be my new favorites, I'm sure.

By the time I got home, it was after 11 pm...granted I stopped by my parent's house to say hello after my meetings.  Then I decided I should catch up on SYTYCD and then my kids were randomly up alllll.night.

phew.  I'm tired today.

But Friday is play day.  So we are off to play with friends.

Real Life. In Photos.

 

 A certain someone 'graduated' from preschool {except that he will go again next year} and like all good boys, made sure he had his vampire teeth in his pocket, so he could keep his friends in stitches.  This is him after I have given him the death stare to remove the said teeth.  Secretly, you should know that I loved it.

 Livs is a bona fide 2-year-old.  Spending half her time like this...seriously, how can you be mad at that face?

 

or this...this was my 'mother's day' candy bar from church...

 

and the other half like this.  I took a 4 minute video of her fit throwing antics today.  hilarious.  except that I was out of patience at that point.  But that's usually how it goes, right?  Another great thing I have learned?  She really does not like her picture taken when she is not looking her best {ie throwing a fit} which just makes it all the more fun to take pictures of.  I figure she will have a great montage at her wedding dinner, right?  I am hoping that hers can top mine...we aim high.

gotta love her.   

 

 Scoobs had his last t-ball game on Saturday & I found myself a bit sad that I will not have the Saturday morning social sesh.  Remember how I wasn't going to sign him up?  So glad I did.  He's made new friends & now is a lover  of all things baseball.

 

He even had a chance to check out the big leagues.  He was loving it.

 

He also is drawing like a little boy.  This is the first time I saw him draw the classic sun, grass, tree pic.  Love it & his silly bandz.

 

Both are also wanting to dress themselves.  The Lady refuses almost all help {shocker} & sometimes getting dressed becomes a 45 minute ordeal...because like all girls she has to change a few times before it is 'just right.'  But I figure the faster we get her doing it on her own, the better off we will be.  She screeches, 'no help me' and holds a hand out to ward off any potential helpers.  Scoobs picked out this little number because he was going to his cousins & they were going to shoot hoops.  Notice, the basketball jersey {circa 1993}, the basketball pants & his Nikes.  the Lady got a look at what he was wearing & promptly found her own jersey.

 

Scoobs is also finally becoming a 'helper.' As in he can be told a task & complete said task with minimal help from me. I can't wait for this to grow into vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms & washing dishes.  Baby steps.  As you can see The Lady is not too far behind.  And I am going to go out on a limb & say her attention to detail {which can sometimes be painful} is going to make her awesome in this area.  Because she will know the routine & she will be insistent on following it to a t & will probably insist that Scoobs follow it as well. win-win.

Mothering Moments.

I can already tell these posts are going to become therapeutic for me.  Maybe a bore to you...but very helpful to me as the thought of having to have something to write tonight was on my mind right at 5:40 am when the Lady woke me with a scream.  I love that.  Except I don't.  I think it rude for anyone to be awake prior to 6 am.  Just sayin.

But I got up.  And stayed in a haze all morning.  You see here is my problem & here is my break through.  You can't have it ALL.  I think that is the biggest & easiest lie society has come up with for us as women.  You can have it ALL!  You can have a career.  You can be home with your kids.  You can cook a fab dinner every night with your hair & make up done...all while always fitting into your skinny jeans!

Please tell me I am not the only one that falls into this lie repeatedly?  Please. please. please.

So I was in a haze this morning for a couple reasons -- 1. I am perpetually tired & it is mostly my own fault, but I still haven't made any changes in my behavior to have this problem go away.  2.  I have 4 graduation announcements, 2 weddings & a baby shower that I need to wrap up.  3. I also have 2 real estate listings right now {you probably didn't know I had my license did you?}. 4.  And I have these little people I am responsible for keeping alive...and hopefully enriched & learning & growing...all while they have clean faces, eat their veggies & are always obedient.

3 of the 4 things I can handle.  The real estate thing though is killing me & it has taken me way too long to admit to myself that it doesn't fit in my life right now.  You see, real estate doesn't play nice.  I once used to thrive in that environment & I was thrilled when the opportunity to get back into it came along. Because you know, I could have it all, right?  And frankly, at first it was really fun to put on my tailored pants, with my button up shirt & cardigan & have people ask my opinion. It was fun to go to fancy offices & let people think I was really important.  It was really fun to rub shoulders with my old colleagues & let them have the impression that I was 'doing it all.'  And for awhile it really felt that I was 'doing it all.'

But today it hit me like a ton of bricks.  You can have it all or you can have this:

These little people.  These little moments.  They are not glamorous.  They are not easy, but they are priceless.  They don't include fancy lunches or pressed clothes.  In fact, they don't even require you to get out of your pajamas.  And while sometimes it is easy to fall into the 'have it all' trap I need to remember all I need is right in front of me...and if I'm not careful it will slip away while I am busy pretending to do it all.

So today...I snapped myself out of my funk.  I've decided to hang up my real estate dreams for now {once I am done with these last 2}.  And enjoy these moments of silence...ha!  Silence please.  You know what silence leads to right?

 Yes.  We have a silent sneaky one on our hands {among other things}.  The Lady found an ink pad I'd left out & had herself some fun.  Look at that guilty face! A crafter in the making! hehe.

And today I decided the computer was closed for the afternoon & look what I learned...he can draw a sun, trees & grass.  A classic!  And the sillybandz are awesome, right?  Don't worry he proceed to pull these pages out of his notebook & then cut the frayed edges off -- perhaps a perfectionist in the making?!?

How Tweet.

 Do you remember {almost a year ago!} when I posted about this lovely little shower?  

Well I thought it high time I actually load up all the pictures as well as the invite.  1 year behind...that is what I am on my invite posts.  Anyway, without further adieu...

We carried the 'How Tweet' theme throughout & it was so fun!


We held our little gathering in my parent's backyard.  I thank my lucky stars that my dad insisted on burying & re-digging their pool 4 years ago.   We all thought he was a little nuts {but really knew it was going to be fantastic!}.




The food table -- prior to all of the food.  I can't even remember what we ended up serving!  I was not in charge of food, but I do remember it being divine -- rolls, salads & strawberry lemonade with sugared rims. 


Our guest of honor, thankfully, had a mother in town who is fantastic with flowers -- we roped her into doing all the arrangements.  Incredible.


We also did a TWEET bar with little scoops for everyone to make their own candy favor bags.




Popcorn...Drinks and more great flowers...

 
We had the shower in June & I remember being concerned about the weather being hot, but the evening was instead a delight. 

Another thing we did that I can't find pictures of is we had everyone right down their 'tweet advice' for the mom-to-be.  She wasn't a first time mom, but a first time mom to a girl, so we thought we'd give her a few pointers!  The advice was sweet & the notes serve as a reminder of who was there.



Looking back it makes me want to go & do it all over again -- who is having a baby that needs a party?!?  Who?!

Today.

We spent some time at the farm.  It was a little warmer than I'd like, but fun nonetheless.  1 child was all over it.  The other was pretty gun shy.  I'll let you figure out which is which.

Kinda gross, I know.  And while I like to tease the Lady for being all talk & no action, if I had that thing charging at me, I'd hide behind my mom's legs too.

She pretty much hung like this the whole time.  She was super excited about all the animals, until she actually saw them.  She shrieked at the dog, screamed at the goose & hid from the goat...

 The bunny, however, was right up her alley.  Do you think she thought it was her blanket?!?

And just when I had given up on making her go 1 ounce outside her comfort zone, she went ahead & surprised us all by gladly holding the chicken.  Pretty much par for the course with her so far, not sure why it is still surprising me...but she definitely keeps us on our toes.

More designs tomorrow!  In fact, my new fave.

7 Years & 2 Kids Later...

 Here we are on the day it all started...

 
Broken down to mere numbers between the two of us we've

• brought home 2 babies
• moved 4 times
• bought 2 houses
• sold 1 house
• obtained 2 college degrees & began another 1
• sold 3 cars
• bought 3 cars
• enjoyed our summer beach trip 8 times
• endured 3 surgeries
• had 1 set of wisdom teeth pulled
• traveled to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallerta, Tampa Bay, Dallas, Santa Barbara, Chicago, San Diego, Amsterdam, Hawaii, Orlando, Utah & probably some other places I am forgetting
•  been woken up in the night 896 times...

and woken up the next morning to do it all again.



I am so happy to have him by my side through all the fun & not so fun moments of life.  I'm glad he likes a simple life & finds joy in the small things that matter most.

Happy Wedding Day to you...the original.

xoxo.

Safe to Say...

Spring swimming is the absolute best...and keeping us all very happy indeed.

{except for my dorky facial...what's that?!? haha.}