Our living room, before and after

Every night after we put the kids to bed, our living room looks like a tornado hit it!

I don't mind it at all because I know the kids have fun. However I need the house to return to normalcy before I lay my head to rest. Call me OCD. Or neurotic, like my husband. Whatever! I like clean. Of course after the kids go to sleep.

Ahhhhh! That's better! It's funny to know that these tiny little critters can do so much damage. Luckily mom-to-the-rescue to clean up and make living rooms clean again! HA!

Slept the day away..well sort of..

So for about a week now, off and on I've been feeling sick. One day I would have the worst sore throat. The next, I would be totally fine. Then I'd feel congested, the next day, like a million bucks. You catch my drift.

Then yesterday morning I woke up with the worst, I mean worst sore throat ever. I couldn't swallow without it being painful! I had my tonsils taken out in 2007 because I would get strep throat about 4 times a year and I felt like they were never even taken out. I was certain I had strep again. So I had a phone appointment with a doctor and he called in a antibiotic for me. I went to get my throat swabbed to confirm the diagnosis but this morning I got an email saying I was negative. Oh well, I still feel like shit.

Today was my day off work and I asked my Aunt if she wouldn't mind watching the kids for me while I slept. And I did just that. On my way home from dropping them off I grabbed some not-so-good-for-you-but-oh-so-delicious food and curled up on the couch with one of my favorite shows on. Can you guess?

I LOVE LUCY!!

I neglected everything. The mounds of laundry that I have to do. The dishes in the sink. The abundant amount of toys scattered throughout the house. I didn't care. I just wanted to sleep. And aside from the check-up phone calls from family, I slept.

Thinking about all that I do everyday I'm not surprised really by how much I have been getting sick lately. I don't get enough rest. Period. I'm always on the "go." I literally don't stop unless I sit down for dinner and then not again until a little bit after we put the kids to bed. I don't ever stop to realize how hard it is to work full time, take care of two kids, be a wife, and run a household. I just do it. It's a natural instinct that I carry to want to get everything done right then and there. And it's not until I'm forced (like today) to get the rest I need and think about how important it truly is to be a good wife, mom, friend, employee.

So I'm granting myself the day (and probably the rest of the weekend) to take it easy.

side note: I lost another two pounds this week so I may or may not have regretted this meal.

Runner's high

Yep! You read that right!
Runner's high.


And I experienced it! First hand. Never thought I'd get here. Mind you I'm far from where I want to be. But I'm on my way. I usually make Tuesday's, Thursday's and some Saturday's my run days. This last Thursday I brought my clothes with me to work so I could just drive to wherever it was that I would run and push it out really quick before I had to pick up the kids. I ended up going to a park near our house that has a paved path all around. I quickly (and I use this word very loose) ran around four times and it barely made two miles. I was bummed. I felt like I was wrapped up in counting and keeping track of how "far" I was running.

side note: I don't really regret that run because I felt good after. But I definitely regretted what I decided to wear (yoga pants and a big t, and I may or may not have worn the wrong underwear and was dying of a weggie the ENTIRE time. I forgot a jacket so I built up some congestion and was down for the weekend. So Saturday's run was cancelled.) I also regret running at this park and made a note not to run at any park with a paved trail that runs around. Only because I hated that I didn't enjoy my run and was more concerned with how far I was going. How many times around I had left to go before I barely reached two miles. I felt like I was running for P.E. in high school and wanted to give up. Plus the weggie problem was not able to be fixed as I was in public.

Today I forgot to pack my clothes so I drove like a maniac to get home to change. The entire car ride my legs were feeling anxious. My heart was racing. I blasted my music to get me in the right frame of mind for my run. I didn't plan on going "x" amount of miles or even how long I would run. I was just excited to get out and do it.

Two of my favorites! They always get me pumped up!

I got these really cute (can you use that word when describing running shoes?) Nikes.

I feel like they call my name to slip on and work my ass off! I vowed to only wear them for workouts. That's it! So because they are so adorable I want to kick ass in them!

Another awkward picture of myself!

I changed and headed out. I drove to a nearby soccer field, parked and ran the back half to a bike trail. Ran/walked 3/4 of the way to the halfway mark of the trail. (Does that make sense?)

Parts of the trail were amazing. Like when I crossed over this little creek and had to stop to take a breath. I felt comforted for a second.

another side note: right after my grandpa died a friend told me that when I see something beautiful enough to take my breath away or make my heart feel warm, it's him, letting me know he's there. So in this moment I thought of him.

I ran some more. Then I ran some more. Then I realized I still had to make it back to my car. 

 

 

That and I came across this little lovely patch of "forest of potential abduction and body decomposition" area. I watch way too much SVU to keep running in this direction.

 

yet another side note: I'm making my husband go out and buy me some pepper spray tonight since I don't have a permit to carry a concealed weapon. A 38 special sounds nice but I guess I'll settle for some spray.

 

All in all I got back to my car safe and sound. I checked my Mapmyrun and it said 3 miles! Mind you I ran and walked it in 40 minutes. But I still did it! Here's my proof.

I blurred out the streets for obvious reasons. But there you have it ladies and (gents?) if guys even read my blog. haha

 

 

 As I drove to pick up my kids I felt like I've never felt before after a run. I felt accomplished. I felt great. I felt..like a runner. And it felt fantastic! 

I've out smarted you, little one!

For the past, I'd say, few weeks now, getting Nicolas to bed and staying in bed has been a bit of a struggle. HA! More than just a bit, a I'mgoingtogonutsliterally struggle! (Just being honest)

When we first changed his bed into a toddler bed, he did fine with his naps and bedtime. I extended his going to bed time by 30-45 minutes just to be sure he was tired. He did fine with that. No problems. There was the occasional get up once or twice but with a simple walk back to his room and telling him to go back to bed was enough.This would happen anywhere from the second we put him to bed to 4am. (Mind you I wake up for the day between 5:15-5:30am!)

It started to get more frequent and for longer durations of trying to get him to go back to sleep. I was losing my mind. My husband sleeps like a rock but I on the other hand, wake up to every sound.

It got to the point just the other day that would not stay in bed from the second we closed the door. I counted probably 20-30 times he got out of bed. And every time it was a different excuse. I give him a sippy of milk to go to bed with (I know! I'm trying to master one change at a time but taking that away is next on my list) and he would whine it was all gone and he wanted more when the cup was still full. He would roll it under his bed and whine that he lost it. He would hide it under his blankets and act like it was gone. He would even place it under his pillow just to get me to come in his room to look for it. I'm not dealing with the average two year old here! He thinks he's sly and it takes all my being not to laugh at his little pranks.

We tried explaining that it's bed time, we tried spanking him, we tried talking stern to him but nothing seemed to work. He was destined to stay awake. From the second we would close his door after laying him back in his bed he was right there to open it again. Frustrated does not even cover how I felt. It was truly exhausting. It would be a totally different story if I was a stay at home mom and could catch up on sleep the next day during nap time. But I'm not. Like I said I wake up in the 5am hour and don't go to sleep until close to 11-11:30pm. Insert driving to and from work for a total of an hour each day, working a full 8 hours, coming home to clean, cook dinner, play with the kids, and working out. HE NEEDS TO SLEEP SO I CAN SLEEP!

So...after he watched his night time cartoon, taking a bath, brushing his teeth, and reading a 4 in 1 story book, I did this..

Yep! I caged the animal in his room! And I have no shame about it! He needs to learn that bed time is in fact that, BED TIME!

After about 25 minutes of screaming bloody murder, low and behold you know what he did?

CRAWLED INTO BED AND WENT TO SLEEP!

Last night, this mom, felt like I had conquered the tireless two year old! I could accomplish ANYTHING! (maybe not but you know what I mean)

We'll see how tonight goes. Nicolas, make momma proud will ya?

I have a love/hate relationship with the age of 2..

What I mean by this is simple...

Some days I love the age where my son can talk and play and interact with me more than he ever has.

Then, there are other days where I hate the attitude and uncontrollable emotions that also come along with this age..

Over the weekend we had my side of the family's pre-Thanksgiving dinner at my Uncle's house. Beforehand I knew that my husband wouldn't be able to come with me because he ended up having to work. I was fully prepared (both mentally and with books and toys and whatever else that would be of interest for my toddler to stay tantrum free) to handle this on my own.

The drive there was fine. I was hoping that Nicolas would nap in the car because it was about a 45 minute drive. No such luck until I was close to my exit.

That was my indicator. I was "in" for it. I know my son like the back of my hand. If he doesn't get his nap, it's his way or no way! PERIOD! There's no reasoning with him, there's no bribing him, nothing.

When we got there we immediately ate. Well, I ate. Nicolas wanted to go outside and play. Not normally a huge deal except for the fact that my Uncle has a pool. I hurried and scarfed my food down so I could grab Raegan and head outside. On my way to the door, my little cousin's run up to me telling me that Nicolas almost just fell in the pool!

GREEEEAAAAATT!

I continue to head outside so I can watch him and keep him clear of the water. But of course whatever his cousin's were playing with, he wanted. So at that point I had to watch and make sure he didn't chuck something at them. (His latest discovery, he knows that by throwing something at someone stirs up a reaction, JOY!)

Then it happened. Meltdown city. Over what? I couldn't even tell you aside from him not being able to play with something or other.

Let me tell you, if you've never had to discipline a toddler while holding a 5 month old, I can only tell you that's it's quite the sight I'm sure!

Luckily, right in that moment my wonderful cousin offered to hold Raegan for a bit and her husband offered to watch my (in the moment) monster of a child.

Thank the Lord!

I went and regrouped.

The rest of the gathering didn't go without more tantrums or crying but at least I have the best family in the world who understand. And, have "been there" with their own kids. And weren't shy to offer help. I also have a very very awesome best friend/ sister who I can text in the middle of hiding my emotion from everyone because I feel super overwhelmed. I can count on her to talk me through anything, anytime.

She sent me this text and it was just what I needed in that very moment.

Although this age is notoriously known for being hard to handle, I've come to realize it will never just stop at the age. The problems may get greater or more elaborate and it's a matter of how I handle them. How I keep sane, how to look at the bigger picture if there is one, and how to not be afraid to ask for help.

This is a learning experience for me as a parent as well as for Nicolas as a person. We're both in the mindset of "how do we get our point across?" It may not be easy but the more calm I remain the more efficient we are able to take control of the situation.

Communication is key in any relationship and with a 2 year old that may be sometimes hard. I just have to keep in mind that we will survive and get through this stage together.

I love my son more than anything and from that day forward all I can do as his mom is be patient and try to maintain vision of the greater picture instead of the tantrum at hand. 

My running buddy

Well not really..I run by myself, in my living room, on my treadmill. So any kind of "buddy" would be anyone else in the living room same time as my workouts. That being said usually every time I run my kids are present. Raegan is 9 time out of 10 in her swing sleeping away and Nicolas is running amuck playing but usually sticking to the living room. During this time he'll look at me and giggle or say "hi momma" which in a sense gives me more motivation to do my best. Once I'm done I usually stretch my legs while still on the treadmill (don't worry it's off) and Nicolas runs over and sits down next to me and sometimes even pretends to run also. The first few times he did it made me laugh so now it's a standard thing he does. It normally lasts only a few short minutes and I've never been fast enough to catch a picture but today I was determined.

Tell me that's not cute!

Outing with ONE child!!

I often forget what it was like before I had TWO children. I take them practically everywhere with me (aside from when I go to Zumba and work). They are literally with me all the time. And if I was being completely honest, I wouldn't want it any other way.

However.......there are times when I reminisce back to the time when I had no children and it was easy to make a quick trip to the store. Or even stop at an ATM. Even grabbing a bite to eat at someplace other than anywhere with a drive thru was a simple task. Those days are long gone and after having my first child, I adjusted my time to sneak in little stops before I went into work or before I picked him up from daycare. Slowly (after Nicolas was big enough to just take him out of the car seat in to where ever I went) I got used to having a baby with me wherever I went.

Then..I had another..and quick trips, ANYWHERE, are out of the question. Lately, I've been scheduling my grocery shopping time during hours when my husband is home and can stay with the kids so I can have peace and quiet while gathering my listed items. I also wouldn't have ANY room in the cart for much seeing as I have a toddler and an infant in a car seat.

The other day I needed to stop at Target for a few things and instead of making the trip before I picked up the kids I decided to get them and then go. Raegan now has a set schedule from the time she gets home to the time she goes down for the night. So I knew that she would nap within minutes of coming home so instead of lugging her around with me in the cold, I decided to leave her at home with my husband. (Which is not a big deal usually but my husband injured himself over the weekend and I wanted to make sure she wouldn't fuss for him).

So Nicolas and I left. And? It was easier than I remember! We had such a pleasant momma/son date that we haven't had in a while. So that got me thinking that I should start implementing little trips like these individually for my babies. I want them to feel like they get that extra special time alone with both my husband and I. Of course we would do more fun dates other than go to Target. But if that happens to be on the agenda I'll make sure to do something special for them.

This trip..Nicolas got popcorn. Which we don't usually get. He was a super happy boy!

We have a "roller" on our hands

Raegan,
Yesterday (Sunday, October 14, 2012) you rolled over! I had set you down on your play mat so I could build your brother's early birthday gift from Auntie Darlene. One minute I hear you kicking the piano like a mad woman and the next minute it's quiet. I glance over at you and you're on your tummy. So no, I didn't actually see this milestone take place but I've seen you roll to your side a number of times. Thankfully you decided to do this while on the floor and not on the couch or bed. I can't believe how much you are growing. I love watching your excitement when you accomplish new milestones. I left you on your tummy for just a bit after you rolled just to see if you would continue to play but instead you started to make your shrieking cat sounds so I laid you down on your back again and you jammed away kicking your piano again. You make me laugh and I am so happy I get to witness you learning new things on your own.

Also yesterday, you really wanted to cuddle with me. Of course I did not deny this request. Usually you prefer to fall asleep on your own but for some reason for your afternoon nap (your longest one of the day) you wanted me to rock you. Which I had no objection to. We had been on the go all morning so maybe you just wanted to be held. Whatever the reason, I soaked in the warmth of you in my arms. I probably stared at you for a good 30 minutes before I put you down in your bed. I just stood there in the living room, rocking you. With only the sound of your breathing filling our space, I was quiet content in that moment.

Days like today make me very grateful that you chose me to be your momma.

Love you mi hijita!
Momma

Due date

Today two years ago I was due to have my first child, my son, my baby. You would think that by this time in my pregnancy I was uncomfortable and nervous and feeling "first-mom" jitters. But no, not me. I was overjoyed to be pregnant and although I loved being pregnant I was anxious as to when I would finally meet my prince. This day would have marked a very cool date to be born as it would have been 10.10.10, I hoped he would arrive on this day but I remember thinking in the back of my mind that I knew he wasn't ready. I didn't feel like I would have a baby this day. I remember feeling so happy and excited that I would soon have a wonderful boy to love and hold and cherish forever! This day, no matter the year, I will always remember that I was due to have my first child, my son, my baby.

(although I do not expect I would have him 10 days later!)

Family Update 2 of 4

MOM {me}

I am use to this mom of two lifestyle. It's like it was meant to be. In the back of my mind I hear a whisper that our family is not yet complete though. Which is fine by me bring on the babies! ..In a few years though. I like the space between Nicolas and Raegan but we shall see what life is like when she hits a year and a half. Having two hasn't always been easy getting use to but now that I'm back work and on a regular schedule, things are falling into place. Some days I miss being at home with my babies but then it's always nice to have a break and be able to talk to people. Plus coming home to two little smiling faces warms my heart every day!

When I am home with them, I try to soak in every ounce of loving I can. After all, I am a bit obsessed with these little critters!

momma's girl

so glad i decided to save money and cut his hair at home now! 

I know! Eat your heart out!

I finally updated my desk with pictures of the cutest kids on the block! I miss them terribly throughout the day but having their pictures plastered everywhere really helps!

I've adopted the habits of eating clean and working out during every chance I get. Two to three days a week I go to a Zumba class that I am obsessed with! Then on the nights I don't go to class, I do one of these three plans along with running.

I am so motivated. More than I ever have been before. Yes, I have slip ups but nothing compared to how much I failed in the past. If I have a craving for something that would set me off track, I try to eat as little of it or make it as healthy as possible. Currently I've cut out all fruit just so I could get the sugar craving out of my system. I've also limited my carb (even complex) intake more than a normal eating clean diet just so I can try and drop as many pounds as I can to jump start my progress. Annnnnd, I'm happy to report that so far I've lost 10 pounds! What did I do to celebrate?

That's right! I indulged in a little sparkling wine! With frozen raspberries..ya know because I'm classy. With this I had a side of dark chocolate. (which by the way, I never really liked before now, but after not having sugary foods for a few weeks, it tastes wonderful!)

Along with all this new found love for exercising came the worst pain of all. Shin splints! I'm still learning how to treat them because I get them when I run and Zumba. I've heard a few different ways to help ease the pain but yesterday I decided to try some Flector patches (a perk of working in a Pain Management office) and I must say, they really didn't bother me throughout the day.

I think that does it for my mom update.

Back to work..

My last morning on maternity leave. I took this picture so I could remember what this looked like.

Well the first week back to work has come and gone and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I made sure to pack the kids' backpack way ahead of time. I prepared my meals ahead of time and did all the little things like pick out the kids' clothes the night before. Also the night before, after I put Nicolas to bed and I fed and played with Raegan for the last time before bed, I started to cry. Not because I felt she wouldn't handle being at daycare well, but just for the simple fact that up until that day, I hadn't spent more than an hour or so away from her. I knew that I would miss her. Seeing her smile all throughout the day. Watching her sleep so peacefully during her mid day nap. I did surprisingly well emotional wise. I didn't cry or get upset, I just kept in mind that it's harder on me than it is on her. She was fine and I had nothing to worry about. Don't get me wrong, I could totally live the stay at home mom life, however I feel better when I know that I am contributing to our household income. (It doesn't make me feel so bad when I spend it, lol)

My first day back went by super fast. It didn't even feel like 8 hours. I was busy getting things back in order I guess. Which reminds me I need to get my desk up to date. Because this time coming back from maternity leave, I have TWO babies that I miss terribly and often would like to stare at while I'm on the phone.

Not having any pictures of Raegan will be changing very soon!

She did wonderfully at daycare, not that I worried because Raegan is the best behaved baby I have ever come across. And Nicolas? Well he was ecstatic to be back playing with his friends. In fact, every day when I picked him up it was meltdown city! Always makes for a pleasant ride home. I'm so grateful to not have had any problems with this transition.

Goodbye Breastfeeding, Hello Bottles

One of the things I had to do to prepare myself for going back to work after having Nicolas was pumping since I had decided to continue to breastfeed. I'm not going to lie it was tough. My job was more than accommodating when it came to covering my desk when I had to step away. I actually got a routine down to where I knew how much I had to pump in order to keep my supply up for daycare. However, there does come a time when your body (naturally) dwindles down. I know that there are supplements and teas you can take and all sorts of other remedies you can do to keep producing but I had gone on for 8 strong months and I felt like this was God's way of telling me to try something new. I remember being so stressed out when I realized my supply wasn't what it used to be and when I finally came to terms with the fact I'd be using formula, I cried and cried for days. There was something so special about breastfeeding and I really enjoyed it. So when I had Raegan, there was no doubt that I would breastfeed again. Luckily I had no problems and she took to it right away.

However, I did notice that this time around, I didn't feel like I produced as much as I did when I had Nicolas. That being said, I made the decision to start pumping a little early and every time I pumped I would supplement formula for her. I did this so that way she could get used to the bottle. When I first started to give her milk in a bottle she was not happy and wanted nothing to do with it. So one day, this might have played a huge part, I decided to pump for every feeding and give her a bottle instead. I added a huge amount to my stock and also got her used to bottles so it wasn't a complete waste. After that day, I noticed that I wasn't producing enough for her and she would no longer be satisfied after feedings. 

After pep talking myself into realizing this is okay and she and I will survive. I decided to just give her formula. 

I could try to produce again. But I remember how attached I became with Nicolas and how stressed I would get if I didn't pump enough for a days worth of feedings and now being a mom of two under two, I decided that wasn't something I wanted to go through again. Breastfeeding is a LOT of work and I figure the less I have to stress about the more I can enjoy my time with my babies. I know there are a lot of wonderful benefits to breastfeeding but I figure if formula was bad, the manufactures wouldn't make it. I've done a lot of going back and forth with this and I feel like I've made the very best decision for myself and my family.

She is now a bottle fed baby and I couldn't be happier!

When I really sit and think about it, there are actually a ton of pros to changing her to formula and bottles. Daddy can now feed her. I know he could have fed her pumped milk before but now I don't have to pump in order for him to feed her. Which also means, not only can daddy feed her, anyone can feed her. And that means implementing DATE NIGHTS without worrying about "filling" up! When I go places I can now feed her without worrying if people are staring. I mean I am pro breastfeeding but I'm not one to just bust out my boob for all to see. Probably the biggest downside is that formula is not cheap but hey, babies aren't cheap! Oh well! 

Pinspired!

One thing I collect is crosses. I love them. To me they are just beautiful and I have a wall dedicated to my collection. I'm obsessed with Pinterest (who isn't?). So when I came across a DIY cross [original site here.] made from magazine strips (which I had a ton of unread magazines laying around) I decided I'd take a shot at it. Turned out, it was a little longer of a project than I was hoping for and didn't come out exactly like the one I found but I love the finished product anyhow.

 I'm planning on making another one only the second will be much smaller.

Everyone needs a lazy day..

I've been a little MIA from blogging for a few days and I have so much I want to post but honestly, today, that's not going to happen. Why? Because today, I want to be lazy. I don't want to go anywhere and not necessarily do anything except play with my babies of course. Today will consist of cleaning (minimal), coloring, watching a little cartoons, reading kid books, eating, resting from an intense workout from yesterday and finishing up some arts and crafts I've been meaning to get done. Sounds like a good day to me. Tomorrow, I'll get back on track. I'll make sure I have a more interesting post prepared..a recap of our wonderful weekend in San Francisco! Tomorrow, I'll resume with my workout activities. We'll go to the park and maybe stop by the craft store, because this momma can never have too many projects going on at one time! So until then..I'll be resuming my lazy status. See you tomorrow :)

Random Thursday (just a few things I'm loving)

These days I'm trying to smile more and be stressed less. Not that I'm stressed out a lot or anything but I know I have an abnormal anxiety level at times. So lately, I've been trying to keep it under sontrol so I can enjoy the little things.

For instance..

Raegan is trying her darnedest to laugh and it is the sweetest sound I have heard since I heard Nicolas laugh for the first time!

Nicolas is really REALLY into trains these days. I "made" him a train table. More like I just set up the tracks with all his trains on a table we no longer use. He plays with it ALL morning! And best of all? He says "choooo choooo" and (tries) to do the "chugga chugga" before also! Pure entertainment! I see a trip to the train museum in our very near future!

Something I'm really not a big fan of but I have to appreciate is daddy has become the greatest thing since sliced bread to Nicolas. Anytime he hears a honk from someone locking their car he runs to the front window yelling daddy! Anytime we go "byebye" he always asks "daddy?" I can't be mad because it is super sweet that he already idolizes him.

Raegan's blue eyes are still here and I think they are permanent. I love love LOVE them! I'm still so astonished she came out with blue eyes and I could stare into them all day long!

This weekend we are taking a family trip to San Francisco! I am so excited! Ryan will be participating in a bow shooting tournament with his mom's boyfriend and I must say, my man looks pretty sexy with a bow in hand! We (the kids, my mother in law and I) probably won't be staying to watch but at least we get to tag along! Yay for cooler weather and a mini vacation!

The other night I decided to (finally) make Nicolas a cape. I pinned it a long time ago but haven't done it until just now. He looks adorable running around the house with his cape on. It's nothing special just made from a blue t-shirt so I think I'll spruce it up this coming week by adding a lightening bolt or something.

In a previous post I showed how I made Nicolas his chalk table and let me just say I'm so happy I finally finished it! We literally draw on it every night. Ryan and I have yet to have a tic-tack-toe tournament..he knows I'd whoop him! We (ryan and I) have so much fun drawing pictures, shapes, letters and numbers for Nicolas to learn but he has more fun scribbling over them. Oh well..

I love to cook (not super confident but I do love a good recipe) and the other day I made a casserole I found on the (yet again) wonderful Pinterest. It was amazing! Definitely going in our rotation of dinner dishes!

Yesterday I talked to my sister for a bit on the phone. (we went for a long stretch of not talking on te phone and I don't know why but we text probably everyday) we had some laughs and caught up each other with the latest in our lives. I always enjoy chatting it up with her..after all she IS my best friend!

I have so many events to look forward to..Nicolas' second birthday. Raegan's baptism. Thanksgiving. Christmas. Our wedding anniversary (3 years!!) oh I need to start planning!

No pictures this time because I'm being lazy!

Our walks

One of our favorite things to do (almost) on a daily basis, is take a walk. Anywhere. For long periods of time. We all love it for different reasons..I'll start from oldest to youngest.

I LOVE..seeing all the houses and how the front yards are kept. I love the flowers that are in planters sprucing up the lawns. I love the freshly cut grass. I love the neat little garden accessories like stone walkways or bird feeders or built in ponds. I love the beautiful accents like wind chimes and decorative animals like frogs and butterflies. I do have some dislikes also though. I am deathly afraid of bees and they seem to be everywhere! (Duh! with all the flowers.) I don't like seeing houses with lawns where you can tell the resident really doesn't care. But most of all I dislike walking past side fences like this...

 This is because if the owner of the house has a dog, as soon as we walk past, you can't tell if the dog will charge at the fence barking their head off. So far in our neighborhood, I haven't run into that problem. But since we walk everywhere within a decent radius, I'm sure we will encounter that scenario.

NICOLAS LOVES...looking and pointing at all the cars as we walk by. He loves seeing people outside and saying "hiiii" and "byyye byyye" as we walk past. He loves seeing airplanes fly in the sky because he gets to say "byyye byyye" again. He loves seeing other kids outside playing especially if they have a ball or are on a bike because then he points and says "ooh mama oook (look)."

And then there's Raegan darling. And well..she loves walks because she gets to sleep soundly from all the outside noises.

Going for walks are very necessary!

Car seat canopy

Lately I've been on the hunt for a tutorial for a car seat canopy for little miss and I found one that was pretty simple here. My first thought when I registered for Nicolas was to look for gender neutral items (for the big things like stroller and car seat) however, once I had that little scanner in my hand (actually that was the hubs job) I decided that I would go with "boy" designs. Why? Because he was my first child and I wanted to look back and know that I chose stuff with just him in mind. He was my only thought and my only concern. Not future children or what I would "recycle."

Then I found out I was having a girl...(I rethought the whole "boy" patterns and knew we couldn't just purchase a "girly" car seat.) I know, I know, it doesn't matter. But I do like to see my little girl surrounded by sweet pinks and purples and all the other lovely prints they have for girls. So off I went to get some fabric so I could spruce up baby girl's seat.

Things I used for this project::

Two different cotton fabrics 1 1/4 yard each (I chose one print and one matching solid)

I grabbed a spool of thick ribbon in a matching color (don't ask what size or measurements I used with the ribbon because I "eyeballed" it)

After I went to Hobby Lobby to select my fabric, I came home and got to work! First I lined the fabric and trimmed the edges so they matched perfectly.

After that, I draped the fabric over the car seat and pinned up the sides corresponding to the handle then cut off the excess fabric.

I traced the corners with a bowl and cut off the excess.

After running it through the sewing machine I yet again cut off the excess fabric

(side note: I left one corner open so I could turn the fabric right side out) Once that was done, I ironed out the edges and ran it through the sewing machine again to get a nice clean look around the edges.

After placing the fabric over the car seat, I "eyeballed" where I wanted the ribbon to go for the handle. Pinned them in place and ran them through the sewing machine. (not perfect but I'm not too worried about it.)

I pinned the sewed (is that the correct word??) the edges of the ribbon so they wouldn't fray.

I draped it over and tied the ribbon and there you have it my little lady, your canopy!

I AM SO HAPPY WITH HOW MY PROJECT CAME OUT! (and not to toot my own horn but I did get this done during nap time today!) 

Mail time

Am I alone in the fact that I used to get excited if I got mail when I was younger? It made me feel important even if it was just coupons to my favorite store or a birthday card from out of town relatives. Now that I'm an adult, getting mail usually is not so fun because most of the time it's either junk or bills! On the occasion, I do get something that makes me feel excited. Yesterday was one of those days not only did I get one package, I got two! And both happened to be from my sister.

The first was addressed to Raegan but of course I accepted it on her behalf. A friend of my sister's gave her a bunch (and when I say a bunch I mean a ton!) of flowers and headbands, one to match every possible outfit! It literally filled the box to the brim!

The second package was a late birthday present. I was excited because I sort of picked it out. My sister had an idea of what she wanted to get me Snd I narrowed down the color options. I was eager to find out which one she decided to go with. I love my new sugar skull bracelet! It was one of the best gifts I got!

random city

I was just looking through my phone pictures (because I use that as my main camera.. =/ ) and there are a few (too many) that I would LOVE to share.

A few weeks ago, my brother-in-law was in town from Hawaii for his birthday and the arrival of our little princess. I was so happy that he was in visiting because Nicolas got to play (rough) with his Uncle/Godfather.

Everyone warned me before I had Raegan, that there would be a chance Nicolas would get jealous. I feared that with all my heart. I didn't want him to feel like I just pushed him aside. I'm glad to say I haven't noticed any major differences except for the fact that when I feed Raegan, he loves to be next to me also (sometimes). I'm ok with that..even when there is just a smidgen of room, he's welcome to claim it! Anything for my baby boy!

Nicolas is at the stage where he dislikes standing still, posing, or even sitting with me to take a picture. So when I get a chance to snap a shot, him looking or not, I grab the chance!

I am filled with joy to report that little miss' nasty umbillical cord fell of finally! She, by the way, has a cute little button!

The other day I realized just how curious my son is getting. Everyday since then, he's wanted to watch Cars, but I don't think he understands that it's jammed in there.

I've only given Raegan a handful of baths since she's been home and every time I do, I realize just how tiny she really is! Sweet little thing!

She also spent a few minutes in the swing for the first time yesterday..she started to squirm and grunt so daddy took her out and rocked both him and her to sleep. It was actually pretty precious and I am kicking myself for not getting a picture of the two of them snoozing!

This swing is normal sized my baby is not! haha

This last picture was taken a few days ago and I love it to pieces! Even though my oldest is not paying any attention and my youngest is fussy as ever, I still find it to be precious!