Christmas....

I am not sure how the time got away from me so quickly. It seems like we were just getting ready for Halloween and now Christmas is this weekend.

Elayna is so excited about Santa and making cookies to leave out for him(he likes pink ones best she told me). Nathan is still way to small to understand Christmas but we are excited to celebrate our first Christmas as a family of 4. Christmas is such a magical time of year with small kids. All the excitement and joy and wonder , makes me think back to Christmas past from my childhood.

In the New Year I am hoping that we can continue to build many many more amazing memories as a family!!

Gone so long

Sorry I have been gone for so long(well that is if anyone even reads this stuff)
But life has been busy and crazy at our house these days. We had halloween, and then Elayna had surgery on top of all the other day to day craziness.

The kids had fun trick or treating on halloween and my Snow White and Dopey where a super cute pair if I do say so myself!

Also just recently Elayna had surgery to correct an umbilical hernia. I have to say as a parent one of the hardest things I have had to deal with so far was watching my poor baby lying on the operating table. It just broke my heart. Luckily my daughter is one brave little girl and did really well and is healing like a champ!!

As they grow

When I dreamed of being a mommy I dreamed about all the stuff I wanted to share with my kids and teach them. Little did I know that they would probably teach me way more then I would ever teach them. They have taught me what it's like to love someone so much it hurts, they have taught me that sometimes the little things mean the most, and they have taught me that I really had know idea what it was like to feel so blessed until I had them.

Being a mom has made me appreciate my own parents more then I could have ever realized. My parents worked HARD to give us a good life. They worked hard to teach us right from wrong and they encouraged us to become independent and strong people.

I hope that some day my kids will look back and appreciate all the little things that don't seem to matter now but some day they will realize we did them out of love.

Lifelong friends

So this past weekend I had a "girls day" with my college roommates. We try to do this a few times a year and it's always a wonderful break!

We went shopping, to the day spa, out to lunch and then back to a friends house for snacks/drinks and some girl talk. We have been through alot of ups and downs together and I know no matter what these girls are always here for me.

This weekend was a last hooray before one more of us becomes a Mommy, just another journey that we are all sharing together.

On my way home that night I thought about how lucky I am to have such wonderful,loyal and caring people in my life. These girls are true lifelong friends and I am forever greatful!

Cooking..

I have always loved to cook, started at a very young age with my grandmother and have loved it since. But now that I am a full time working mommy of 2 it's not as easy to prepare meals as it used to be. I am lucky and my husband is not a picky eater at all and I really like to try new things.

So I have decided that I am going to start the crock pot adventure. So many friends have told me how much they use and love their crock pots, so I am on the hunt to collect, try and perfect as many crock put recipes as I can. So if you have any great ones to share or sites to suggest please let me know. As I find things that work and that i love I will be sharing them.

So happy cooking or maybe it's happy crocking??

Things I am thankful for

Some days I find myself so bogged down with all that has or can go wrong that I forget to reflect on the good things. I have to say I am one lucky lady and I need to focus on that MORE often. So today I decided to list some things that I am very thankful for...

1. A husband that loves me and our children with his whole heart and soul, and who works SO hard for all of us.

2. Two amazing children that bring me more joy then I can even explain.

3. A loving and supportive mother in law who never treats my husband like a "step-son" and loves my kids so very much.

4. Parents who made me who I am today(the good and the bad,lol) who have become amazing grandparents.

5. A sister who takes care of my kids like they were her own while I am at work, who gives me the peace of mind I need to go to work and focus on my day.

6. A job I enjoy and that gives me the opportunity to grow daily

7. Amazing friends(you know who you are) who support me daily and who listen to my crazy rants and raves.

These are just a small sample of things I am thankful for today and every day

The love of books

Since I was a small child I have always LOVED to read and loved books. Even before I was pregnant we started building our collection of children's books for our future children's library. Reading is  something I had always hoped my children would enjoy as well, and from a very young age we have read to Elayna(and now Nathan) every night before bed. And last night I realized that my daughter loves books and reading just as much as I do.

I always thought Elayna asked for "just one more story" as a way to delay bed time, but last night I told her that if she wanted to read a book before bed she had to hurray and clean up her playroom, well the child moved faster then I thought was possible. When I asked her which book was he favorite she responded with "all of them", which just warmed my heart. Any time we are out shopping and I offer her the chance to get a prize, she ALWAYS asks for a book.

I hope and pray that Nathan will develop this love for books and reading some day too. Last night as my baby girl and I snuggled up on her bed to read before bed, i felt tears come to my eyes when she told me that "this is the best part of my day mommy", man that little girl amazes me more and more everyday!!

I look forward to the day that the 4 of us all snuggle in at the end of the night for family story time, it truly is the little things that make life so wonderful.

What are the right words..

Last night my husband and I were trying to figure out how to explain death and dying to our 3 year old, not a fun conversation. There really isn't any way to pleasantly explain to a small child that someone they know and love will no longer be around.

Without going into to much detail, our family is preparing itself for the death of a loved one. The thought of having to explain death to a child, the thought of taking away their innocence is heart breaking no matter how you think about it.

If you are someone that prays, please pray that our loved one does not suffer, and please pray that the news is as painless as possible to deliver to a small child

Love watching them grow

 Now that my daughter is getting older she is starting to develop real friendships. Before now she used to just play with cousins or friends from daycare, but now she is starting to have her own "real" friends. Watching her grow up and develop these friendships is exciting and funny to see. Right now her "besties" are a set of twins we met last year at dancing, Elayna would be happy if she could play with them everyday. This past weekend we took all 5 kids to a local fair and just by coincidence all 3 girls ended up in the same outfits. All day people asked if they were triplets, nope just twins and a bonus I like to say!!

In the blink of an eye

It's amazing how quickly time can pass when life is going at break neck speed. Five years ago today Jim and I became husband and wife and it seems like just yesterday we were planning for our big day.

In the last 5 years we have had our share of ups and downs but the ups out number the downs ten fold. In those short five years we have built our own house, had 2 amazing kids and grown closer and stronger then ever before. Oh don't get me wrong it hasn't been all rainbows and sunshine but we stuck together through thick and thin. And honestly I couldn't have asked for a better husband, partner or father for my kids.

I looking forward to many more years together and if they are anything like the past five years they will be amazing!!

The power of PINK

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and in support of that I am trying to wear a little bit of pink every day. Even if it something small like a pink necklace or a pair of pink earrings. I have never personally lost someone from breast cancer but to many of my friends and loved ones have. My husband lost his aunt/godmother/second mother to breast cancer.  Jim's Aunt Barbara lost her battle with cancer years before we met but I know that he misses her every day.

So in light of the loss of too many wonderful women and men to this disease , please take any chance you have to spread awarness.

Pure love

When Jim and I decided we wanted to add to our family I felt a mix of emotions. On one hand I couldn't wait for Elayna to have a sibling to share her childhood with, but on the other hand I worried if she would feel "less" loved since she was used to being the center of our world.

All through my pregnancy with Nathan we tried to make Elayna a part of everything. She helped us pick his name, helped decorate his room, picked out special clothes and toys for him. We did all that we could to make her feel like this was her baby as much as ours. But can you ever really prepare a 3 year old for a life changing event??

When Nathan was born and Elayna came to the hospital to see us she seemed so nervous and hesitant. Looking back I think it was the actual hospital environment itself that made her so nervous. But soon after we were home we could see that she loved that baby just as we had hoped and dreamed.

As time passes and Nathan grows and changes it's amazing to me how amazing Elayna really is with him. She wants to take care of him and share with him  and be a little mommy to him. He is the first thing she asks about when she wakes up, he is the one she wants when she is sad or hurt. Just the other night she tripped and fell right on her face. When I asked her what I could do to make her feel better she wanted to hug Nathan she said " the baby makes me happy" and it just melted my heart.

She has such pure love for that baby. Makes me so happy to see them together, the love they share is amazing. I am fully aware that they will have their share of fights, arguments and days filled with "I hate yous" but right now the love they share makes me heart happy every day.

I just hope and pray that some day they will share the love and friendship that I feel with my sister.

Growing up

So my baby girl is not such a baby any more =/
She had what I am sure will be the first of many sleepovers with her cousin Hailey last night, and she could have had more fun. They had a perfect girly girl sleepover. They had dinner, got manis/pedis, watched a fairy movie and even took baths is a big jacuzzi tub. Now that I think about it sounds like a pretty good night to me too.
She was so excited all week talking about sleeping over and how much fun they were going to have, and it lived up to her expectations and then some!

We are so lucky that Elayna has a few cousins close in age that she will be able to grow up with and share special times. Makes me so happy to see her and Hailey together, not only are they cousins but they are also the best of friends.

Now would someone please tell my baby to stop growing up so fast!

Family fun day

Yesterday the whole family took the day off (Elayna is officially a school skipper now) and went to the Big E. It was a blast and both of the kids were fantastic all day. We ran into some friends and ate lots of fair food and just had a good time together.

I often forget how much fun the simple things in life are since we are so busy all the time. But watching the pure joy on Elayna's face as she eats an ice cream or went down the BIG slide put it all back into prospective.

I think some times we are all so busy we forget to stop and enjoy the little things, I am going to TRY to remember more often to stop and enjoy life a little more. I mean my kids will only be little for so long, and some day riding on the BIG yellow slide with Mommy won't be so cool.

So i finally did it

I have been talking about dieting and joining Weight Watchers for months(almost 4, since my baby was born) but this saturday I finally did it. And it feels good, I like having a plan and knowing that I have support. I am was not happy when I stepped on that scale but heck that was the whole reason I was there.

While sitting in the meeting I met a really nice woman and she made a comment that really stuck with me "it's not about dieting, it's about loving yourself enough to do something good for you". So I have decided I do love myself enough to make this change. I want to be a happier, healthier me. So here goes nothing, i have nothing to lose but unwanted lbs!!

Friends from far away

When I was pregnant with my oldest child I joined an online group of women who were all due the same month as me. I thought it would be a great place to share ideas, worries and excitement that my non-pregnant friends just didn't understand. When I joined I never thought that almost 4 years later some of these women would be some of my closest friends. I turn to these girls in good times as well as bad times, the support, caring and understanding I have received is amazing.

It's amazing to me that so many women I have never met care so deeply for me and my family. I am truly lucky to be someone that has close friends both near and far. We are planning a BZ July 07 meet up in summer 2011 and I for one can not wait to actually me these women and children who have become such a major part of my daily life in person. I am sure there will be lots of hugs, tears and many many laughs!!

Isn't being a mom hard enough

I often wonder why moms are so critical of one another, isn't being a mom hard enough without constantly feeling judged? I know there are times that I read emails, blogposts,facebook updates or stories online and think "wow, so not something I would do,say or encourage" but that doesn't mean I feel like I am a better mom then anyone else.

I know there are many times I have felt judged for the parenting choices I have made. But in the end as long as my kids are healthy,happy and feel loved that is all that matters to me. So next time I read something that I don't agree with I hope I will take a minute, step back and try to see something from another mother's view.

Being a mom is really hard work, and I feel like we could all do a little more to be supportive of one another and a little less judgemental of one another.

Can I do it..

So last night I realized I need to lose 40 lbs in 8 months. Ideally I would like to lose 60 but I would be happy with 40 at this point. We have a family wedding on May 21,2011(which is also my 32 birthday) and I want to be able to wear something fun and cute and feel comfortable.

So today starts my diet plan, I have been saying this for months but now it's time to stop procrastinating and just do it. When I had my first child I was able to lose the baby weight pretty quickly, but this time around I am at a stand still. I am not comfortable with how I look and I refuse to keep living this way.

I want to set a good example for my kids and yo yo dieting is so not the way. So starting today it's a whole new healthier me, someone please remind me of this in 3 hours when i am craving my afternoon junk food!!

The blessings of babies

Being a mom myself I am always so excited when I find out that friends are expecting. Being a mother is the hardest but the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life.

Yesterday I had the privilege to go to a baby shower for a dear friends 1st baby, nothing as exciting as the expectation of new life. As my close friends start to have babies and our group of friends expands to include all of these little gifts I can't help but be grateful that I have been blessed with such close and caring friends.

My college roommates and I are all still close and that means the world to me. As all of our families start to grow I feel like our kids are so lucky to have so many "aunts, uncles and cousins" to grow up with and share special moments.  Though we may not see each other as often as we would like when we are together it's such a special time for us all, and as the group keeps expanding to include our children I know we have many many more years of amazing memories to build together.

Nothing as sad as a sick baby

My poor baby boy came down with a fever starting on thursday and it has been a long three days for us all. There is nothing so heartbreaking as a parents as when your child is sick and there is nothing you can do to make them better.

I can thankfully say that after 3 visits to the dr's and numerous hours of sitting up worrying that it seems like my precious boy is on the mend. But let me tell you I was a scared mommy when the words e.r. and over night observation were mentioned on thursday night, luckily those things were not needed. We are so lucky to bring our children to a pediatric practice that offers night, weekend and on call services.

I am sure this is only one of many childhood illnesses we will deal, but the first time your precious baby gets sick has got to be one of the hardest things to deal with as a parent.

Five years later..

Next month Jim and I will be married 5 years, when i say it out loud it seems like a short and a long time all at once. One one hand I feel like Jim and I have been a couple/pair/unit for so much longer then 7 years(2 before we were married and 5 years married) and on the other hand I hope we have many many more years together. In those years we have had our fair share ups and downs, but I can say without hesitation that the ups out weigh the downs any day.

I have never met another person who understand,loves and believes in me the way that Jim does. In 5 years we have made our house into a real home, we have had 2 amazing children and built a life I can say for certain that we are both extremely proud of. When I think back over the years there are tons of amazing memories we have made together and I look forward to a future of many more memories as a family of 4.

School already??

My baby girl started preschool this week, and I am filled with mixed emotions. One one hand I am so excited for her and can't wait to see all that she learns this year from her teachers and her new friends. And on the other hand I am so sad that my precious first born is old enough for preschool.

Growing up I always dreamed of being a mommy, it was one of those dreams I always took for granted. Fast forward MANY years later and Jim and I thought having a baby would just happen. It's amazing how you don't realize how important something is to you till you are afraid you might never have it. We struggled to have our AMAZING daughter Elayna but every day I look at her I realize that it was worth every tear, frustration and insurance bill. Thank you Elayna for making all of mommy and daddy's dreams come true!!

No time like the present

I have always thought about starting a blog but never made the time. Well now as a mommy of 2 I realize that if I don't write things down some where I will never remember all of the funny, crazy and amazing things that happen to my family. So this is it, today is the start of my blogging journey....