Productivity...

It feels so good.

I've had a busy day (in addition to the busy week and a half preceding). Days like today make me so thankful for being able to do what I love. I spent the morning bustling around the metro area talking to interesting people for various stories. We have a wealth of intriguing people oozing with Southern hospitality here. Like this lady:

You'll have to pick up the February issue of Madison County Magazine to see who this creative, eclectic lady is.

Anyway, in addition to a busy, busy, week, our weekend was busy too (self-inflicted of course). Besides, the Saints game, (yeah, yeah, who dat?, yaddayadda, I could care less about football, but I am glad to see a Southern team in the Super Bowl and my husband happy), we embarked on another project - the girls' room. It's not complete, so I'll only show you bits and pieces before the big reveal.

Project Wonderland Entry #1:

We painted...
Here's the room color before:

(this is my RyBug and two of her friends)

Blah. Fine for my living room, but not nearly special enough for my babies. So here's what we covered it up with.

It's "Window Pane" by Behr. I'm not much for pink, but my oldest daughter is, so this is a compromise. The blue tones down the pink that's everywhere else.

Also, I found this adorable ribbon (Hobby Lobby, what would I do without you?) and grabbed two of the letters that used to be in baby girl's name on her nursery wall (and happen to be the first letter of the girls' names) and made up these contraptions...

Not sure yet if this is where they'll stay, but we'll see. I still have lots to do. I have to find something for the walls and learn how to sew so that I can make bedskirts and curtains. Also, my oldest is dying for a chandelier, so a search has ensued. As soon as I have the time (and the budget allows), I'll get right on that. It's so fun though, I can't wait for the big reveal!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

The Pacifier Diaries

Well, we decided to take baby girl's paci away, or her "dohdoh" as she calls it. We have no idea where "dohdoh" came from, that's just how she has always referred to her pacifier. Before I had kids I always said I would never have a child that had to take their pacifier out to talk. Well, never say never is all I have to say about that. My oldest sucked her thumb when we took her pacifier away around her first birthday and that was a terrible habit to break, so I let baby girl keep her paci a little longer, ok, a lot longer.

The first day without it was pretty rough, but now she does great during the day and hasn't even asked for it. It's bed time that's the kicker. She simply won't go to sleep, but I know it will get better.

Say a prayer for us as we cope!

Be back soon with a longer post - I promise!

Sisters

In case you didn't know yet, my kids are awesome.

I have an older brother, and that's a relationship like no other. Plus, he's always been such a great big brother, so I've ALWAYS loved having a big brother. But, since having two girls, it's been so fun to see how their relationship has evolved. I think that too is a relationship unlike any other.

When we brought baby girl home from the hospital two years ago (what!??!?), big sis was so excited, but confused, to say the least. Now they are just about inseperable. They play together, laugh together, and occasionally pull each other's hair and scream. I think having a sister would have been fun (although I wouldn't trade my brother for anything!), I'm so glad I get to see them grow up together. I can't wait to see how they are when they're grown.

My sweet girls are just that - sweet as sugar.

Bad, Bad Blogger

I've been busy - so shoot me.

Baby girl's birthday party preparations are well under way. Tomorrow she'll be two and we're celebrating with a huge blow up water slide. Should be fun, just hoping it doesn't rain! This morning, she has been "helping" me clean while her sister has been asking over and over who all is coming to the party.

Have a great weekend - I know we will!

Happy Birthday to America

Better late than never, right?


We kicked off the Fourth of July weekend with celebratory pancakes courtesy of Daddy. I even let them eat them while they watched Dora Saves the Mermaids.



We spent the majority of the day at the swimming pool and then cooked out with the neighbors before heading back to the pool for night time swimming and fireworks. The late night resulted in the invevitable terrible two tantrum when we were trying to leave for church the next morning. Welcome to my world...

And that was after I got her dressed. Getting her shoes and hairbow in was nothing short of Divine Intervention. Trust me.

But this makes it all worth it:

I haven't posted much of my writing lately, mainly because of negligence. This month's Portico Jackson magazine featured a story I wrote on the Mustard Seed in Flowood. I've always heard so many amazing things about this place, but had never had the opportunity to visit. My friend Mandy works there and was such a help with the story and arranging a tour.

I hate to say that the Mustard Seed is a "facility" for mentally challenged adults, because it is so much more than that. It's a community, a home, a refuge, and so much more. If you live in the Jackson area, I urge you to find out more about this awesome place. When I was doing the tour, I told the executive director that I had never felt so good about myself as I did walking through those doors, simply because I got so many hugs and the "seedsters" were just so excited that I was there to visit with them.

After my tour, I got an email from Mandy that said - "We drew names at Christmas. Jerry loves High School Musical, especially Troy Bolton! So when Megan drew Jerry's name, she knew the perfect gift. My favorite part isn't Jerry's reaction, it is how genuinely happy everyone else is for him." She sent this YouTube link. Check it out for a taste of the Mustard Seed.

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Fourth!

One of "those" moms

We all know that mom whose house is always clean, she cooks every night, her kids never have snotty noses, her waist stays small and her makeup's always on. Yeah, well, one of "those moms," I am not.



Case in point - my failed attempt to make cupcakes for my kiddos last night.





I think the picture says it all. I'm not Betty Crocker. BUT - they were good (and made from a mix with a can of frosting, I'm proud to say).


I actually enjoy cooking, but need a break about every other night (my husband hates this about me, I'm sure). My kids are lucky to get Cheerios in the morning.




It's 11 a.m., excuse me 11:30 a.m., and I'm still in my pjs. Hey, at least it's a.m., that should count for something! There are toys all over the house, all the pillows from the couch and the beds are in the office where my kids have been making a "clubhouse," and I've finally decided I'm ok with it. I'll clean up later.


So to all "those moms," good for you. I'm jealous at times and sometimes exhaust myself trying to keep up. But the way I see it, I have really amazing, fun kids, despite their mom's baking abilities. I mean, they don't lose any sleep at night.





I'll order cupcakes for birthday parties and I hear Cheerios are good for your heart, that's what the box says anyway!


I'm off to play in the clubhouse! Happy Thursday, everyone!

Drama Queen

My four-year-old and I just had our usual morning argument over what to wear. I said, "Goodness, you're such a drama queen." Her response was shouted at the top of her lungs, hands on hips, "I am NOT a drama queen! Do you see a crown on top of my head?!?!?"

I couldn't help but crack a smile. She never ceases to say something funny in her rage.

Back in the swing of things... sort of.

So the saying goes that you often need a vacation to recover from vacation. I second that.

We arrived back home Saturday night around 9 p.m. and woke up to go to church on Sunday, which was of course Father's Day. So we had to do what we do best - marathon family days - as not to make anyone feel left out. We had lunch with my parents and went to Crystal Springs for dinner - two happy dads (or moms more like it).


Monday was actually a semi-chilled out day, thank goodness. We went to the gym, the grocery store, picked up my two little cousins (ok, they aren't so little any more, being 14 and 18, geez, I'm getting OLD!) and went to the pool. It was very nice.


Yesterday was my turn to host bunco at my house, so an afternoon of cooking ensued. I can't get in the kitchen without hearing this chair slide up to the counter. My little helper just can't let me cook alone. Gosh, I love this kid. She's such a sweetie and wants SO BAD to be grown up. She copies everything I do, which of course, makes me so happy. I'm glad she thinks mom's cool. That will change soon enough, I'm sure.





Baby sister thoroughly enjoyed the fruits of our labor - cookies!

Happy hump day everybody!

Tan and tired...

...that's what we are. We had a blast in Perdido. It was a great time with even greater friends. I took basically next to no pictures, so I don't have much to show for it. The girls adored the beach (and the pool) and managed to reach the point of sheer exhaustion each and every day we were there (score!).

The drive down was not so fun. We left around 10 a.m. and the excitement coming from our back seat was overwhelming (and loud), so we decided to leave around 7:30 p.m. coming home so the girls would sleep. And sleep they did. We finally fell into our beds around 2 a.m. this morning and I'm paying for it. 2 a.m. seems so much later than it used to. I can't handle it.

We leave on beach vacay numero dos on Saturday. We'll be spending the week in Seaside with the Coleys and the Maleniuses and their kiddos. It should be a ball. I miss the beach already!

Summer, Summer time

So we've been swimming... A LOT. My kids are like fish. My oldest is perfectly satisfied at the pool to just splash around and practice her new skill of swimming. My youngest is a daredevil in the water, plunging under the water only to come up coughing and giggling. It's been fun, to say the least.

But, this is what happens when we spend nap time at the pool -

I was changing her diaper and clothes when we got home and she smooth passed out in the process... I love a worn out baby!

My baby...

Is not a baby anymore. Tonight will be her first night in her big girl bed, sharing a room with her sister. Geez, when did this happen? She's growing up so fast! She has always been a baby that LOVES her baby bed up until the last month. She doesn't want to go anywhere near it, so we're giving this a whirl. I'll let you know how it goes.
Although I'm a little sad about the new sleeping situation, I am pretty excited about the nursery becoming an office. As of now our office and playroom are one in the same, not a good idea, by the way. Now I have two new decorating projects - the girls' room (which was just my oldest's and the beds were bunked) and the new office. Exciting or daunting? I can't decide quite yet.

It's hot, y'all...

So we broke out the slip and slide. Summer's here and the girls are enjoying every second of it, as you can see. Last year, my baby was still a baby and just sat around and watched the other kids play, but this year, oh this year... it's no holds barred.



I'm trying to break my oldest of this weird "Disney channel/High School Musical/I think I'm a teenager" pose she strikes each time I take a picture, so this is the only one where she still looks four. Lordy, Lordy, we are in t.r.o.u.b.l.e.

And the sassiness doesn't stop there. She's passing it down to her baby sister. I got out of the shower tonight and found them rummaging through my closet. I was told they were getting ready for their "runway show." What can I say? They get their love of heels honest.

I've had a terribly exhausting day today and my kids are of course the main reason, but as draining as they can be sometimes, they are so much stinking fun!

Happy splashing!

Why gum and four year olds shouldn't mix...

At least it wasn't the carpet this time...

My Sassy Girls

So it's been a while since I posted any fun pics of my sweet girls, so for those of you who are interested - here you go!

Just Chilling

Better safe than sorry - even if you can't move any of your limbs!

Fresh out of the bath - can you tell who is my drama queen???

Unanswered prayers...hopefully

This was my daughter's prayer at breakfast this morning:

Next time my mommy has a baby in her belly, please let it be a girl and two boys, Alexa, Brady, & Austin. And please let them be in there now.

I know full well that God answers prayers, but in this case, I'm hoping for an unanswered prayer.

I love kids

"Get up! You need to marry me!"

This is my daughter and her friend, sometimes "boyfriend." Breaking up is a regular occurrence in their "relationship." They really act like brother and sister. I love kids. They are hilarious.

Halloween Costumes

So my four-year-old changes her mind A LOT. This poses a problem when it comes to Halloween costumes. We have gone from Little Red Riding Hood, to a "scary witch with a purple dress," to Dorothy from Wizard of Oz. I thought we had settled on Dorothy. She said she wanted her baby sister to be Toto. So that was the plan...until this morning.

I mentioned to my husband that I was going to order their costumes today (wish I had time to figure out some cute, creative way to make them myself, but I don't, so I'm paying for someone else's creativity and I'm ok with that). My daughter overheard me mention them and I said, "You still want to be Dorothy, right?" That was met with sure "No!," like I had lost my mind. So she informed me she wanted to be Alice in Wonderland and as a result, baby sister can't be Toto. So #1 is Alice and #2 is now going to be the Cheshire Cat and I think it will all be pretty stinking cute.

Why I love the South - Reason #2

Little girls in big hairbows. Hated it as a kid, love it as a mom. When my oldest daughter and I went on a trip up north, or more north, she was the one and only little girl wearing a bow at the McDonald's playland. Not so on our usual Chick-Fil-A outings - she's one of many. I guess it's another piece of Southern culture.

Luckily, my oldest loves them. #2 has it coming... I'm just waiting on that hair to grow out.

The long, boring days of late summer

My three-year-old and the kids next door have spent all summer going back and forth between our two houses. They have done everything from making "salads" out of grass and sticks to playing sea monsters in the pool. She thinks she is really something being "best friends" with five-year-olds.

But - it was bound to happen. They started kindergarten and her world has turned into nothing but boring and dull. She doesn't go back to preschool until the end of August, so in the meantime, I'm trying to fill some very hard to fill five-year-old shoes. We have played babies, waitress, and dogkeeper. We have baked brownies and made "aquarium" jello. This morning, we painted... a lot. But, alas, she's still bored stiff. Mommy's just not the same as her fun, "cool," big kid friends. Mommy's just Mommy.

So, unless any of you have any great ideas to keep her occupied, I'm in for a few more weeks of very unsatisfactory baking and painting... Post some ideas here!

Sheer exhaustion

I'm really lucky. I mean really, really lucky. I have two precious girls that I am blessed enough to stay at home with. Anyone who has kids knows that they grow all too fast and I'm so thankful that I get to witness all of the firsts and be here with them every day.

With that being said, today has been one of those days where I have almost walked out the door and gone back to work. I'll get over it once they're tucked away in bed.

When I was working full time I would dream about staying home. I had fantasies of long, leisurely strolls every day and reading while babies were peacefully napping. I was delusional. Truly delusional.

Instead, my days are jam packed with the constant sound of slamming pots and pans on the kitchen floor, temper tantrums at their best, dirty diapers, and spilled drinks. I do well to get our one-year-old down for a nap at all - a time that I usually take advantage of by taking a much- needed shower.

The afternoons are the worst. Trying to get supper ready and give baths to two exhausted girls is a task I have yet to master. Clearly, I'm still adjusting to staying at home. Often I feel like I do the same thing all day, every day - change a diaper, fix food, scrape said food (or play-doh, or glitter lipgloss, or melted crayons) off floor, repeat. Hopefully by the time they start school I'll have some sort of handle on the situation. But it's doubtful.

It's 7:30 p.m. and I am covered in peanut butter, sweet potatoes, and bath bubbles. It's the end of one of those "normal" days - the time of day where I realize how fulfilling my days truly are. My sweet girls are clean and have full tummies and a happy, albeit exhausted, mom. The other day my three-year-old randomly said, "Mommy, do you remember when you used to work ALL THE TIME? Well, I missed you then." That did it for me. I know I'm right where I'm supposed to be. Those leisurely strolls and long books will be there when my kids are grown, a time when I'm sure I'll miss that sweet sound of slamming pots and pans.