Happy Second Birthday my love!

Two

One

Brand New



In a nut shell...

Life is kicking my ass. It has been so hard for me to focus long enough sit down to blog.

Bullet points are my friend right now.

Well, first let me say this. I am watching this stupid show call Big Rich Texas. A size four woman wants to go back into modeling. She met with an agent who told her that she is too big to be a model but that she can be a plus sized model. Are you freaking kidding me? Size 4? You can see her bones and she is a plus sized model? Who decides that someone who weighs oh, 125 pounds is obese? I feel so sorry for all of the young girls out there that are trying to live up to this unrealistic expectations. It is just disgusting. I can say this...even if you are fat you can have a great life. You can be beautiful. You can and will get married to a handsome man. Handsome men actually like women with meat of their bones. You can have children and a wonderful family life. You can be successful!  You can eat a chocolate chip cookie with your kids and still be fabulous and wonderful and loving. Arrgh!!! I'm fired up. Can you tell? Sorry...

• In May, BB and I went on a 5 day cruise with my mother and some friends. We were gone for a total of 2 weeks. It was not relaxing at all! It was fun but taking a toddler on a cruise is just not for the faint of heart. I was terrified that a gust of wind would come and sweep her overboard. We stayed away from the railing if at all possible.
• We were home for about 2 weeks before heading to Kentucky to see the in laws. During that time we put our house on the market and had to get it ready for photos, staging, etc.
• While in Kentucky, H got an amazing job offer in Dallas. Long story short, it was a 6 month contract position that was supposed to become permanent and he accepted the offer. We found a rental house and decided to all move together and leave our house in Austin for sell.
• The kids and I got back from our trip to Kentucky and immediately started packing up the house to move the next week. Oh, and H moved the week before we did.
• After being in the new place and getting settled in (as much as possible without our furniture) H found out that the contract was ending early. The company decided not to do the project and H no longer has a job as of August 12. Fortunately he has found another full time job and will start on August 22.
• We received an offer on our house and decided that we would accept. The market is crap, blah blah blah and it's just a sucky situation all around. Good news is that we are closing next week.
• We LOVE the area where we are living now. I absolutely love it. The school system is amazing and we have no doubts about being here.
• I am pursuing colleges here and trying to get into a nursing program in the near future. Is this ever going to happen?

The kids are doing great.  August 7 marked 2 years that AB has been with us. What an amazing blessing he is. BB is about to have her 2nd birthday. SOB! She's not a baby anymore. She is a late talker and I was really worried. We had her evaluated and she was ahead of her milestones and did not qualify for services. Whew!  She has picked up so many words in the past month and I am so ready for her to start really talking. She jabbers all the time in her own alien language. It is so cute.

The heat has been out of control...108 degrees today. And it's been like this for weeks. We aren't doing too much other than going to the pool from time to time.

I guess that's it for now. My brain just hit the brakes and my thought process came to a screeching halt!

My loves...

Overwhelmed...

With love for this girl....

Never Trust A Quiet Toddler

Yes, that would be yogurt.

And yes, that would be my iPhone



It still works. The speakers are a bit wonky but I think it's because the phone took a swim in a bowl of brownie batter. Yogurt is nothing compared to that!

This girl loves her daddy. She's getting pretty attached to him and prefers him to me when he is home. I'm totally fine with that!

We took the kids to a splash pad/playground today. It was really neat! Although BB had nothing to do with it! And four boys? Four...enough said.

"I think I'll just stand here and look cute"

This is BB's boyfriend. He had a blast. He got a little bit wet.

BB wanted to be all 'Hollywood' with my glasses!!

So, I found this great website a while back where you can print free artwork (I printed on cardstock).

Here is the link:  http://indiefixx.com/Feed_your_soul/downloads.html

I have been looking for something to put over my bed but I didn't want to spend the money. I already have these frames so I repurposed them and voila! 

Oh, an my wonderful mother's day gift from The Vin tage Pearl....Love it!!



Traveling with a little one

BB is about to take her 15th flight in 20 months (and we are going on a cruise next week). At the prompting of  my blog friend Marcia, , I thought I would share what has (and often has not) worked for us.

Our first flight was when BB was 3 months old. It was just the two of us and I stressed out so much that I did not sleep at all the night before. The stress was definitely wasted. It is MUCH easier to fly with a little baby. Once they get mobile?! Forget about it!

Things I've learned:

1. You do not need nearly as much stuff as you think you will. Keep it to a minimum. The less you have to carry on the plane, the better. (blanket, drinks, pacifier, snacks, diapers, wipes, tissue, change of clothes)

2. Toys on a plane are a waste of time. Well, unless you enjoy crawling under the seats to pick them up every five minutes. The scenery alone will keep younger children occupied better than any toy.

3. Offer a pacifier/bottle/sippy cup going up and coming down.  Have it ready in case they are sleeping. The only time BB has ever cried is when she was sleeping as we started to land. Part of me wants to wake her before then. But I haven't done that yet. Oh, and put a strap on the pacifiers and cups and attach to you/baby/seatbelt.  See #2.

2. I have never used a stroller in the airport. I have had her in my Beco carrier every time. It can be a challenge to go to the restroom with a baby attached to your chest. But it CAN be done. When we first started flying, I could leave her in the carrier when we went through security. Now they make me take her out. Presents a bigger challenge, especially when they can't stand up. Of course, when they can stand they will run off! You will wish for 12 arms but I promise you will make do with the two you have.  I will put her on my back next time.

3. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP OR ACCEPT HELP FROM THOSE AROUND YOU. I have been amazed at how helpful total strangers have been. Especially men. Take help if offered. Ask for it if you need it.

4. Get thee an iPad. The end.

5. Seriously, the iPhone/iPad has saved my sanity on our flights. She is so entertained by it and it keeps her still for more than 5 seconds at a time.

6. Just understand that you will feel like you are wrangling an alligator when you fly with a toddler. It is exhausting. There is a reason they make you buy a seat for children over 2 years old. Just expect it and try to roll with it.

7. If possible, have an 11 year old  boy travel with you. They are great at running after and entertaining toddlers. Seriously, AB has been such an amazing help!

8. Get help with your luggage. We have no less than 2 suitcases and a car seat every time we fly. If there is no one around to help you,  find them. Seriously. A $5-$10 tip is worth every penny!!

9. Take snacks but don't go crazy. You are allowed to take bottles of water onto the plane. You can also take milk, juice. They will allow a cooler bag with an ice pack for these items. I have had a few people question me but for the most part, it's been fine. They allow more liquid when your child is a little baby. Be prepared to open every container with liquid in it for inspection.

10. Probably the most important piece of advice: Arrive early and allow your self plenty of time.

11. Well, another important piece of advice in my opinion?  Plan your flights around your baby's schedule. I will not take an early morning flight. 6-7 am? No way. Done that and it sucked and I won't do it again. I will pay the extra $20+ for a later flight.  Flying with a cranky, tired toddler is absolutely not fun. They are cranky enough without adding sleepiness to the equation.


I hope that helps! Please feel free to ask any questions.

She might have a problem...

It might take some serious intervention to get over this addiction. I do not look forward to that day.

But she's still pretty stinkin' adorable!

Life in photos...sort of..

Boulder, CO

AB LOVED the snow

BB tolerated the snow

Washable marker, thankfully

Lots of love between these two

Lots of playing outside in the gorgeous weather!

Hanging out with this cute boy! His gotcha day was February 22. He's been with us for 19 months already!  My how times flies! We celebrated by going to dinner and a movie.

BB is 18 months old, 22 pounds, 32 inches, talking when she feels like it which isn't too often..sigh....
But guess what she is doing? Sleeping through the night! The last 3 weeks have been amazing. Finally, after 17 months, she started sleeping!! She is so much fun. I can't believe that she is 18 months old!!

She also started gymnastics. Her class is called the Waddlers class. So incredibly cute! She screeched most of her first class, but did great today at her second class.

We went to the Kite festival last weekend. We are losers at flying kites...we couldn't get it off the ground!

This was her 3rd time down the same slide. She looks terrified but was laughing when she got to the bottom!
Hysterical!

Their first date! And he's driving! We also celebrated this cutie's 3rd birthday last weekend. Again, where does the time go?

School starts back for me tomorrow. It's gonna be crazy around here, that's for sure!

I am joining my husband in San Francisco week after next. He is going for work and I am going to sightsee alone. Sounds glorious!  My mom is coming to visit and I will leave BB for the first time. Just for 2 nights but I'm already anxious about how I will handle it. I'm sure BB won't even miss me! 

What would you do?

I was in the check out line today, buying hairspray (as if you care what I was buying). If you recall, I've never been one to back away from confrontation. This guy walks by and hisses under his breath, "your shoes are horrible". Now, this "guy" was no prize by any stretch of the imagination. His boyfriend was probably pretty ugly too. He had long scraggly burgundy hair and was just awful looking. So, as he walks by and hisses at me, I turn to him and was all - Excuse me? Were you talking to me? Cuz I don't recall asking for your opinion! And by the way, have you SEEN your hair?

Who does that? Do you have to say everything that comes to mind? Even if you think it, why say it? (Of course, I guess I should take my own advice, huh? I didn't have to insult his hair)

You may or may not recall that my sister and I DO NOT GET ALONG. I told her what happened  and she immediately went into this rant about how I'm always so tightly wound and that I am so rude and that I should have just killed him with kindness. I will say that I have never met one person that tries to kill someone with kindness. They try to kill them with condescension. Anyway, it ended up in a huge fight and her telling me everything that is wrong with me. There is MUCH more to this story but I won't bore you with details.

What would you have done? Let it go? Allow someone to just walk all over you and just take their abuse? Or would you stand up for yourself and not allow it at all?

I know that I am a sucky blogger...blah, blah, blah. : )   Hopefully I will find my voice again soon. I've really been going through a dry spell lately. I'm still reading though. Oh, and if you want a blog to inspire your socks off?  Check out http://www.kellehampton.com/  Why can't I be more like her?

We are going to Boulder, CO this week. I'm pumped because I've always wanted to go and now I get to. Woo hoo! We spent New Year's with my family in Alabama and it was actually enjoyable. Suprised me too.

The kids are awesome and growing and changing so much every day. BB is almost 17 months old. Where does the time go. She is into everything and learning and doing so much every day. She calls her brother "Ah-boo". She goes in for a kiss from the dogs with her mouth wide open (GROSS) and she is definitely letting her opinions be known. She is not a big talker but has a handful of words that she speaks. She is doing well with sign language too. She loves playing outside and with her brother. They love each other so much! 

One of my Christmas gifts was PhotoShop. I am clueless.  I wish I had more time to play with it.  I know just enough to make a photo look horrible. Well, I can make a few look ok.