Lately

I have been trying to take a few minutes every day for me time. Whether it is painting my nails, exercising, running to the store or reading a couple chapters on my Kindle, it makes my day so much better. Even 15 minutes can make such a difference.

I just finished reading 'Room' by Emma Donoghue. It was a quick and easy read and I could not put it down. I highly recommend this book.



I am loving chicken salad lately. I make a big batch and eat it on a bagel or with crackers for lunch. Yummy and quick.



Josh found me some Strawberry Abita while traveling this past weekend. I can not find it anywhere here in town, so I was excited. Definitely worth the wait.



I don't know if it is the heat or what, but D's skin has broken out in a rash all of sudden. We found some all-natural eczema care cream by BabyGanics that has seemed to help a little. I am anxious to ask his ped about it at his appt. in a few days.





I can't believe that tomorrow brings the month of August! I am so over this 100+ weather and glad we are inching towards fall.

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To the one that made me a Mom

This post is all about my sweet oldest girl. She is the best big sister and such a helper to me. I can't believe she is going to be starting 3rd grade in just a few short weeks. I swear she was just graduating preschool.

This past year brought a lot of changes for Hayley. She got a surprise baby brother who was born on her birthday. Yes, you read that right. I was due originally on November 17, but in the early morning hours of November 14th (the day Hayley turned 8) I was on my way to the hospital with my water broken. I have promised Hayley that she will get her own parties and we will do my best to celebrate both their days to the fullest.

Also, we discovered that she has a dairy allergy. Thank goodness we have found dairy free butter, ice cream and for little sis's birthday we even found a strawberry vegan dairy free cake that wasn't half bad. It has taken some getting used to though but she is a trooper and hardly ever complains.

Hayley at 9 months old

2 years old!

Hayley and I

Preschool years

Soccer star, 6 years old

Starting 2nd grade at age 7

Summer 2012 

Thank you, Hayley for being such an amazing little girl. I am one lucky lady to be your Mommy. :) Love you to the moon and back!

Bathing a toddler

When it comes to bath time, my 8 year old and 8 month old are easy. My 8 year old likes to shower now that she's a "big" kid. All I'm needed for at her shower time is to get the water flowing at the right temp and to set out a fresh towel and wash cloth. She knows how to wash, condition and rinse her hair. She washes herself with soap and she does it well. My 8 month sits happily in his baby tub and loves to kick and splash while I wash him. He loves baths.

My newly turned 2 year old is a different story. Bath time is a battle with her. There are no guarantees, she loves baths one day and the very next day she is screaming bloody murder at the mention of a bath. One day she HAS to have her Hello Kitty "special" bubbles and the next day when I go to pour them in and its the end of the world. I can't keep up. When its time to wash her hair...well let's just say it doesn't go well. Baby girl does not like her hair being washed. End of story.

I have bought bubbles, washes, bath crayons, new water toys and those foam alphabet toys. All to no avail. I have had some success bathing her in the kitchen sink. She thinks its great to fill up her snippy cup with the faucet and dump it out.

Am I the only one who has toddler melt downs about baths? Any advice or suggestions that have made bath time easier or more enjoyable for your toddler? This mama is all ears!

Cheesy pictures :)

We all post adorable pictures of our kiddos. I see photos all day long of some of the cutest and most "awww" worthy babies that make my heart skip a beat. Precious, I tell you! 

Well, I was looking through some pictures of my wee ones and could not stop laughing at some of the faces they were making. I mean really...

Durrrrrr

When you have 2 kids under 2

I knew from the moment that I found out that I was pregnant again (Savannah was 8 months old at the time) that it would be hard sometimes. My pregnancy was not planned but it goes without saying that I am so glad it happened! Just FYI, if you are on antibiotics for a kidney infection and take birth control pills you probably want to use a back up birth control method. ;)

I was worried at first how I would divide my time between a newborn and a 16 month old. It has somehow worked. I literally feel like I just had the baby but (hello!) he is 7.5 months old now and my 16 month old is now 2. Whoa time, slow down!! Have I had hard days where I just wanted to lock myself in the bathroom and hide? Oh yeah. Have I lost my temper and gotten snappy and impatient? You betcha. Have I downed an entire bottle of wine after laying them down at night? Yep.

That being said, I have also had amazing days. Days where S walks up to the baby and kisses him on his little head. It absolutely melts my heart. The other day D was sitting in his bumbo and started crying hysterically. I was up to my elbows (literally) in soapy dishes and was rinsing off my sudsy hands so I could console him. He quieted all of sudden and when I looked over my shoulder S was rubbing his head and talking sweet toddler gibberish to him. I about passed out from the sweetness.

You do figure out what works for your family and you become flexible. Somehow it just falls in place. I know it sounds cliche, but it really does. I could not imagine my life without my babies in it and would not want it any other way.

Feeling grateful

Happy Monday! It is another blistering hot day and I have been feeling a little stifled and irritable lately. So, today I am choosing to be grateful and to focus on happy and positive things.

I am grateful for delicious Sonic slushes for half price at happy hour. Yum and yum.

These two fellas sure make me feel blessed and hooray for Josh being off after Tuesday this week!

It makes me so proud that my first baby girl loves reading as much as I do. New books means big smiles.

Also, my second baby girl had her 2 year checkup today and is weighing in at 25.4 lbs and 32". Healthy and happy.

Hope you all have a relaxing and fun filled 4th of July. Remember...