Friday, May 29, 2009

Big Boy Haircut

Stephen lost a bet and I finally got to cut Brody's hair. I think it looks cute... Stephen says he looks like Gomer Pile but non-the-less the curls are gone for now... I will have to figure out another bet I can win in a few weeks when he need it cut again I guess.


Our Memorial Day Visitor

For memorial day weekend my mom, stepdad, sister and nephew came for the weekend. The weather was pretty yucky so we kind of did a little of this that and the other. The highlight of our weekend was when we found this baby turtle in the lake in our neighborhood. We had taken bread up there to feed the fish and TONS of turtles started swimming from all directions of the lake. There were at least 8 swimming around eating the bread. I spotted this little guy (who had to be pretty new because he wasnt even swimming all that good). My mom found this huge branch and somehow managed to balance the turtle on the end of the branch and get him out of the water. We dug a bucket out of the trash can and brought him home for a few hours to play with him. (play is a relative term since Reagan never did atually hold him. She liked to touch him and look at him but wouldnt hold him. We "took him back to his mommy" a few hours later.







Thursday, May 21, 2009

We all have a Martha Stewart hidden somewhere within us.

Every once in a while I let her come out.

* These are cupcakes I made for Reagans birthday celebration at school tomorrow (her birthday is not until July but at the end of the year they celebrate all the summer birthdays and let the kids bring in cupcakes so everyone can sing happy birthday to them... now I will spend the next month and a half before her birthday trying to explain to her that it is NOT yet her birthday.)

Reagan's Hair

I have had a few people comment on how long Reagan's hair is so I thought I would put a picture up of just how long her hair is. Keep in mind here that it is curly so when she gets out of the tub at night and I comb it out, it is about an inch and a half to two inches longer. She has also already had 2 haicuts where about an inch was cut off both times. Now if I could just get her to let me fix it without a fight.... I wont hold my breath for that.


"Morning Face"

I know its so weird but there is something about the way my kids face smells as soon as they wake up in the morning that I love. Stephen makes fun of me and says I like the dried slobber smell but thats not it... I dont know what it is but it is almost intoxicating to me. It goes away shortly after they wake up but while its there I am constantly snuggling up to them to get a quick whiff or their "morning face".


The Perfect Accessories

I am a huge sucker for hairbows... I am actually a bit obsessive about them. I wont let Reagan leave the house without a hairbow. There is just something about them that completes the outfit...or makes it cuter... she can be wearing a not-so-cute dress and you put hairbows in and it sudeenly looks cuter. I guess that is why I am also a bit of a sucker for Gymboree clothes. They all have hair accessories that match and I LOVE that because it means I dont have to run around finding bows to match. I just cant resist them.





Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Reagans Dream Job



This morning we went to go visit Stephens mom who hasnt been feeling well.... when she asked where Pawpaw (Stephens dad) was I had to explain to her that he was working.


"Where he work?" Reagan asked. I told her that he was painting (he owns a painting company).


After we left Stephens parents house we swung by my dads house since it is just down the road. I had to explain to her that BopBop (my dad) was working too.


"Where he work?" Reagan asked me with almost an annoyed voice like why is everyone working instead of waiting around for me to visit. I told her BopBop was a roofer (he owns a roofing company).


Fast forward to tonight when I was putting Reagan to bed and she says "Where's BopBop?" I told Reagan he was at home and she says "No he's roofing. Thats his job." Then she goes onto tell me that she has a job. When I asked her what it was she said, "Um.... um.... McDonalds."


Hey what can I say the girl has dreams.


I feel the need to interject here that Reagan has never even eaten at McDonalds so I am not sure where that came from.

Steps to Walking

Brody took 5 steps last night!!!! He hasnt done it again despite mine and Stephens valiant efforts but it was so fun to watch him walk... maybe he will figure out that his poor knees will be much less sore if he starts to walk more.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Pool side Summer

We went to the pool for the first time this season and the kids had a blast. I wasnt sure how it would be juggling two kids at the pool, especially since Reagan seems to have no fear of the deep end but she did good staying in the kid area. We really have a great pool for kids. There is a mushroom and a spray gun and its zero entry so its nice because Brody can crawl around in the really shallow part while Reagan plays with it a little deeper. The water was really cold but they didnt seem to mind. I have a feeling we will be going back a lot this summer.









Brody's 1 Year Stats

Weight: 25lbs 4oz - 79th percentile
Height: 32 inches - 95th percentile

I think we are well on our way for the makings of a linebacker. Wont daddy be so proud. =)

Thursday, May 14, 2009

So Little Time

Stephen and I are similar in lots of way... we are also different in many ways. That has never been more apparent to me in the last week. Let me explain.

For my Mothers Day present Stephen gave "us" a trip anywhere I wanted to go (within reason of course). After lots of debate as whether or not to go with or without kids, do we go tropical or big city... we decided that Stephen and I needed a break and that just the two of us would go to Las Vegas. No I do not gamble but Stephen and I both love to shop and go to shows and Las Vegas is a great place for shows.

So we finally decide on a place and that is all Stephen has been talking about since. Dont get me wrong... I am really looking forward to the break... laying out by the pool without worrying if anyone that belongs to me is drowning, sleeping as late as I want, eating at a nice restraunt without having to wolf down my food in 4 minutes flat... it will all be so wonderful...

BUT

I have so much to do before then that I really can think of the trip right now. At any given moment I have 25 things swirling through my head. Granted I know some of it I dont HAVE to do but in order to be super mom I feel like I HAVE to do it all. =)

At the beginning of the week we went to pick strawberries. On Tuesday we made Stephens mom soup and homade bread because she has been a little under the weather. Yesterday my kids had pictures which meant ironing clothes blow drying and curling Reagans hair, driving to meet our photographer and then doing a song and dance to try and get my kids to smile for the camera. Today REagan had school, while she was at school I was running around getting "Teacher Appreciation Week" gifts.Tonight we have gymnastics and I am supposed to go to a Pampered Chef party (I will probably be skipping that).Tomorrow I have to get ready for this dreaded neighborhood garage sale on Saturday (I really hate doing garage sales, I would rather just give stuff away but we have accumulated so much crap that I cant justify giving it all away).

Next week I have to get stuff for Reagans birthday celebration at school (her birthday is not until July but the last month of school they celebrate all the summer birthdays) so I have to figure out what to do for that... oh and there must be a goody bag to go home because what kind of mom would I be if I didn't do goody bags. I know there are several other scheduled things between now and then but on top of all that...

I have to buy some new clothes for Vegas... I dont think my jeans and t-shirts will look so cute when I dont have kids attached to me to cover it all up. I have to get the house and everything ready for my babysitter who will be watching my kids for 5 days. I have to come up with fun activities to help distact Reagan from the fact that I am gone, I have to write and get notarized a medical power of attourney for my babysitter. I need to finish one of my clients scapbooks before I go and the list goes
on....

and on...

and on...........

I need a vacation to get ready for my vacation. And now after reading this... I need a nap.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Strawberry Fields Forever

Today we went to Washington Farms with our mothers group and picked strawberries. Reagan had a lot of fun and Brody was a trooper while I carted him around in the wagon. We got to pick a huge bucket for $10. Now I just need to figure out what to make with all these strawberries.


I had to explain to Reagan that we only pick the really red ones.
Reagan and her friend Averi

She liked carrying the bucket around.


She had to sample at least one (or five).

Our big bucket of strawberries.
There arent any pictures of Brody because it was so sunny that I couldnt really see what I was taking a picture of so the few that I took he has a really goofy face but he was there and as usual he was happy to be along for the ride!!!




Saturday, May 9, 2009

Just How Much

About three years ago, Stephen and I made the monumental decision to start a family. It was an easy decision for me...one I had a lways dreamed of, one I had always hoped for, one that I knew would change my life forever. Nine months later we welcomed our first child into this world and I became a mother.
I will never forget that moment when our new baby was placed in my arms for the first time. I was forever changed. I experienced a love like nothing else, a love that surpasses all boudaries, a love that multiplies as each day passes and a love that never gets tired of giving. Its a love that breaks down all barriers, and builds no walls. It is a love that cannot be duplicated by anyone. It is the strongest, most pure kind of love there is.
I will also never forget that that night, at the hospital, as my mother kissed me goodbye and whispered in my ear, "Now you know just how much I love you." Something about that phrase has never left my mind. I am constantly reminded of it as I look at my children... that they will never really know just how much I love them until they oneday, decide to have children of their own.
They will never know how happy they make me or how much I worry, or how much sleep I will lose throughout their lifetime. They will never know the joy and sorrow that comes from being their mom. They will never know my desire the make them happy and feel completely loved, no matter what decisions they make in life. They will never know that there are days that feel like they will never end and then there are days that I wish would never end. There are moments, precious moments, that I wish I could hold onto forever. They will never know how much they teach me and how much joy they give me in a single smile. They will never know that being there mom is the single most important, life changing thing that I will ever do...
they will never know...
until
oneday, they hold their new baby, fresh from heaven, in their arms for the very first time, and like a flood of emotions rushing through them, they will know "just how much I love them."
Happy Mothers Day Mom.
You are the greatest and I am the mother I am today because of you and your example. I know how to love because of you, I know who I am because of you, I know I can conquer anything because I know "just how much you love me."

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Girls Day Out

Today I took Reagan to a puppet show at The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. It was called The Little Pirate Mermaid (think The Little Mermaid she just wants to be human and a pirate). It was really cute and Reagan thought it was so cool. I told her about it last night and she wouldnt quit talking about it until the show started. I had a babysitter for Brody so it was just the girls. We went and had lunch, did a little shopping... it was a fun day. Its nice every once in a while to spend one on one time with each of my kids. I love being able to give them undivided attention but it was very sweet that Reagan kept asking me about Brody.




Fountain Fun

One of the things I love about visiting my mom is that there are so many fun things to do really close to her house. She has like 5 parks within 10 minutes and there are a lot of outdoor shopping areas with grass in the center of all of it that have music and fun stuff during the summer. Well this is the fountain... it is clearly maked with a sign that says "No wading or swimming in the fountain" but hey... 2 year olds can read right.


Damian was a wild man in the fountain... which would be why you dont see his face in any pictures... he was to quick.
Megan was a trooper and pulled up her pants to get in with the kids. You would never know it(probably because your not supposed to swim in it) but the center of the fountain is really deep and the little ones can touch there so thanks to Megan who kept them out of the center.

Reagan playing in the water.

Contemplating jumping in... it didnt take much convincing.
After the fountain we went to coldstone and got some ice cream... a great end to a fun night.




Tuesday, May 5, 2009

He is getting so close


Grandmas House

We spent the last week in Charlotte with my mom, sister, and nephew. Reagan kept asking me last monday to "Go to D's house" (D is what Reagan call my nephew Damian) so I figured what the heck... we didnt have any plans last week so why not. We had a great time playing and spending time with my mom. She is a great grandma and my kids are so lucky to have her.

I love going to my moms because besided clothes I dont have to bring anything. She has a pack-n-play, a highchair, and toys galore. She has toys that are good for Brody and toys that are good for Reagan. Some of them were my toys when I was a kid, but being the smart woman she is, she held onto the good ones which is really cool because they are toys you cant buy anymore so that means Reagan doesnt have any of them which makes them that much more enticing. Thanks again mom for putting up with us for a week, it was fun despite some CRAZY moments. Here are a few pictures from our week. More to come in another post.

Reagan and my mom made cotton candy... how you ask? My mom owns a cotton candy machine (from when we were kids) and decided to break it out for Reagan. She loved it.

Damians 3rd birthday party was this past weekend and we had planned on going up for that anyway before we decided to go for the whole week. Stephen drove up for the party that weekend. Happy Birthday "D" !!!

I love warm weather... nothing says summer is coming like a big slice of watermelon.

For Damians party they rented a moon bounce and some friends from his school came and kids ran all over my moms yard. Everyone had a blast.
Brody riding a scooter (not really)

Reagan was helping my step-dad Don do some yardwork.


* Shelley- if your reading this and wondering why I spent a whole week in Charlotte and didnt bother to call you... because I am a total space case and it didnt even occur to me until I got home that we should have gotten together. I am sure we will be up there this summer for a week at some point. Sorry... I would have love to have seen you and the girls.


Brody's favorite hang out


Monday, May 4, 2009

A little bit country

I dont know where it came from but Reagan recently aquired a southern accent when she says a few (just a few) words. The funniest is when she says, "Haaaaeeeelp" pronounced with a long drawn out A sound.
How to break it down
By: Reagan
Damian cant keep up with these moves

Raising the roof

Shaken' that booty

*Side Note: Please excuse the boy underwear that Reagan is wearing. They wanted to play in the hose and those were a lot closer to grab then getting her bathing suit.





Brody's 1st Birthday Party

Brody's first birthday party was last weekend and it was a really fun day. The food was good, the company was great and Brody was as cute as always. It was a monkey themed birthday party since I refer to Brody as "Monkey" and I was able to find the cutest supplies online. His cake was custom made to match the theme and it turned out so cute!!!! All in all it was a great day. Thanks to all the friends and family that were able to come... you made this day so special for Brody!!!
All the good food.

It really is kind of funny how much trouble goes into a 1 year olds birthday party. They wont remember it yet somehow every detail has to be perfect.

His adorable cake!!!! I sent his invitation to the cake lady and she made it look just like the monkey on his invitation.

The Birthday Boy

Opening presents
The cake (he really didnt like it all that much... I had to force him to eat what little bit he did so I could get a good picture)

He got a little into it right at the end.








Who says rainy days are no fun?

Today I didn't do any of:
THIS or
THIS...
So that we could do

THIS
and
THIS!!!!!