Back Again

Hello All! It's been quite sometime since I've posted. Wow, almost a month! It all started when our computer went on the fritz and died. We are currently borrowing my sister Sally's older (not that old) college computer. We have been up and running for about a week or so. I don't know why I haven't written. I think I've just been procrastinating, I'm good at that. So, where to start...

Party goers. Lily's birthday.

Well, on the first Sat. of this month Lily had her 2nd birthday party. She really enjoyed herself, however, I think she was glad to see everyone leave and be alone playing with her new presents. She doesn't like all of the attention. Somewhat like me. We had a great turn out as well. Most of our friends and family came to celebrate another year with Lily. We also set up an old aquarium I had from college in Lily's room since she is sooooo into fish right now. So now she can watch the "shishies" all day long.

Lily and Jack in front of our new aquarium


Tim's been working like crazy. This is a good thing. Unfortunately I don't get to see him as much as I'd like. He works long hours during the week and some Saturdays. I sometimes feel like a single mother. I shouldn't complain, though, others have it worse. I'm just happy he has a job and is able to provide for his family.

Savannah at Lily's party, treat in hand :)

As for me, I haven't been doing too much. Just running the show. Tim and I got to escape from the children for one night to attend a surprise party for our friend Carrie's 30th b-day. Sally and her boyfriend Ryan watched Lily and Jack for us. Thanks guys. It was fun to get out and not worry about diaper changes and potty breaks. Tim really surprised me with his wonderful singing abilities with the karaoke they had at the party. It was great fun. The following night I had a bunco event to go to at my sister Amy's house. It was a bit of a formal event. You see, we wore old bride's maid or prom dresses. Well, most of us. There were a few downers (lame people who decided not to join in on the festivities). I wore one of Sally's dresses from a recent wedding she was in. Only problem I encountered was the zipping it up part. Apparently it was not made for a nursing mother, if you know what I mean. I got about half of it up then covered the rest with a sweater shawl, quite the perfect combo. All in all it was a great success. No winnings for me though :(

Lily and Jack in their halloween costumes for this year. Jack's a chicken and Lily's a lepard/jaguar.

Jack is doing well. He's getting closer and closer to walking. Yesterday he started walking around the furniture and from one piece to another. Growing too fast. :( He has four (almost five) teeth now. Two on the bottom and two on the top. It's amazing how fast time slips away now that there are two to chase after. I remember hearing those same words right after I had Lily, and still do every now and then, and thinking to myself "Yeah right, it seems like it is going so slow." I just wanted to sleep through the night. I don't know if it was because she was my first, but it seems like I wanted to rush through and experience all of her milestones right away. I was so anxious. Now I would love to go back and re-live it all slowly, taking it all in, knowing I'll never have her that small again. She is and will be always growing. Mind you, a little slower at it then my Jack, but still too fast for me. It really reminds you of how fleeting life can be and how important it is to slow down, relax, and enjoy this gift we have all been given, a new day. Take it in!
The birthday girl.

Happy Birthday my sweet little Lily

When I was younger I loved hearing the story from my parents of what happened on my birthday, and still do. I can hear my mother saying, periodically throughout the day, "Let's see... it was about this time when I was on my way to the hospital" or "Right about now, I called your father at work and told him to leave and meet me at the hospital." A birthday never goes by without my dad letting me know how things progressed from his point of view. I undoubtedly will get the story about the goings on after my birth and how it was more exciting then the previous two because the hospitals had lightened up and let the fathers come back to the nursery with the new babies and help with the bath and such. I love and look forward to each story every year. So I am carrying on this tradition with my children. This is for you Lily.

Lets see....it all started when I went to my last Dr. appointment with your father. It was late in the day I think it was the last appointment of the day. They took the usual weight and blood pressure. My blood pressure was and had been on the rise so we decided it would be a good idea to help progress things along by rupturing my membranes. We made an appointment to be induced as well(on your actual birthday too) , just in case nothing happened on its own. This was on Tuesday and you were born on Thursday. So, your dad and I left feeling excited and a little shocked that this momentous nine months was about to end. However, we had no idea how our lives would change and in as little as two days. It was early Thursday morning about 2 o'clock when I got up to use the restroom. I went to lay back in bed, coughed, and my water broke. It was a very odd sensation, we'll just leave it like that. I woke your father up and told him what had happened. He, not being a "rise and shine" kind of guy, sat straight up and with a very serious face looked at me and asked "what do we do now?". This did not surprise me much due to the fact that this very same man fell asleep in our birthing class. Although a little embarrassing, he was working hard long hours and we were lounging on some nice cushy floor mats with our pillows. Any how, I called the hospital and they asked if I was contracting (yes) and how far apart they were (about 7 min.). So they asked us to get our things together and come to the hospital, no rush. We rushed. I can still remember and do often picture in my mind the moment we got into our car. Your father and I looked at each other, he grabbed my hand, and with great endearment said "This is it" and we drove off. We arrived and were checked into our nice labor room at the hospital about 3am. Now, what surprised me was the fact that they never offered the wheel chair to me. I was in labor. Funny thing is, that when I went in with your brother (Jack), not in labor but being induced, they wheeled me right into my room. Oh well, I survived. So there, while laboring, we tried the ball, bath, but ended up laying in bed for most of it due to my still rising blood pressure. I had a few visitors ( I only allowed my sisters and mother) and of course your dad. Fourteen hours later it was time to push. Twenty-two minutes later the Dr. laid you on my chest. I could not believe you came out of me it was very surreal. So there we were, a family of three, for a while. I think I really enjoyed being at the hospital most with you. This was because you were the first. We had nobody at home to think about or rush back to. I had the most fun laying in bed and having people come in to cater to me. It had been quite a long time since I experienced that. After all, it was about a year since we moved out of my parents. There it is Lily, your birth story. I hope you look forward to hearing it every year. Happy 2nd Birthday! I love you.

Good Bye Oli. Hello Lucy.

This weekend we said goodbye to our temporary cat Oliver. My sister Sally picked him up yesterday. And let me tell you, the house has never been so quiet. What a relief not to hear meowing all of the time! It's like he wanted to be fed and let out of his create everyday! Just kidding Sal :) We loved having him here. Feel free to drop him off anytime. I know Lily would love her running mate back. That girl loves to run! And she's good at it too. I guess she would have to be after all of the running around the house she does. She told me the other day that she's fast. I love to hear her when she turns a corner and makes this "vshoo" sound, letting everybody in hearing distance know that she's too fast to make a corner silently. On Saturday Lily received her second haircut. Once again, my sister Amy snipped the back few hairs on her head in our attempt to move Lily's hairstyle from mullet to cute little bob. It's a never ending battle. Her hair seems to naturally gravitate to that oh so adorable mullet style. If only we lived in the hills of West Virginia.

Lily's hair cut, in action. She's very serious about her hair cuts.

We also went to my friend Carly's house for a birthday party on Sat. Lucy, Carly's hound dog, was turning two. It was fun to see Carly and her family. We don't get together as often as we should. We only live minutes apart and yet two people with college degrees and one with a masters (Carly not me) can not figure out how to fix this. I think, or like to believe, that we're just too busy. Any who, it was great fun. We enjoyed yummy adult drinks, badminton, volleyball, and my personal favorite, balls on a string. As always, Carly had a nice spread of food. For dinner she served individual pizzas that we put together and her friend Eric bar-b-qued. This was a big hit! All in all, it was a fun filled weekend. Looking forward to next weekend. We will be traveling down to Ocean Shores for the Labor Day festivities. And of course, Lily's 2nd birthday:) I'm praying for fun in the sun and as always, a safe trip.

No news is good news...right?

I haven't written yet this week due to the lack of events. Not much going on around here to report. Tim is still working regularly, thank God! Lily and Jack are growing like weeds. Well, Jack more then Lily. We weighed them the other day and Lily only has five pounds on her brother. I think he'll pass her up within six months. He's mastered crawling and has now moved on to pulling himself up on everything and standing. Occasionally he thinks it would be a good idea to let go and just start walking. That, however, does not go over too well. Never the less, he presses on. You have to love that baby ambition. If only I had a little of that throughout my day, what I could get done or let alone start. Speaking of things to do, I better get started.

Super Saturday! Sad Sunday.

This weekend was full of ups and downs. On Saturday we had a carnival-like event at our church. Tim and I helped out with the Bar-b-que. We were blessed with wonderful weather. Lily had a blast! What toddler doesn't enjoy large amounts of sugar, games to play and win every time, and music to dance to. This was Lily's run-down: Bounce house, snow cone, beanbag toss (win a toy), bounce house, bite of hot dog, bag of chips, face painting, tic-tac-toe (win candy), ring toss (win toy & candy), lucky wheel spin (you guessed it, more candy), followed by cotton candy, and then finally passing out on the car ride home. Priceless.

Lily getting her "shishy" fishy painted on her face

Averie and Lily enjoying chips on Saturday

Sunday was a little more subdued. We ended up selling our one year old Beagle to a nice family with a little boy. We enjoyed Mr. Hubert for a whole year. Since we bought him for Lily for her first birthday, it was only fitting he went to a little boy for his birthday. I think he will be much loved and get all of the attention he deserves. I am very pleased to see Hubert found a great home. Now we are cat sitting my sister Sally's cat, Oliver. Lily enjoys chasing after him and is completely baffled when he does not share the same enthusiasm towards her! It is very confusing to her. She is always asking "where he go?" After all, all she wants to do is wave his toy right in his face (this toy consists of a few little do-dads of fluff and sparkle on a wand) and, if she gets close enough, squeezing him around his neck, giving him an "ug". Now tell me, what cat doesn't enjoy that? On Sunday we also celebrated our niece Madyson's 7th birthday with another bar-b-que (good food!), cake, ice cream, and presents. It was a lot of fun, however, very hot and muggy feeling. Today we will try to get back to our original schedules and take pleasure in this cooler weather.

Summer Days

My friend Danielle sent me these pictures today. I thought they were pretty funny. We took them quite some time ago and I had forgotten about them. Danielle has a daughter, Averie, 4 months older then Lily and another daughter 7 weeks older then Jack. It's nice to have a friend with children so close.

Today was quite the hotsie-totsie day! It reminded me of those hot days in the summer when I was a kid and had nothing to do but lay around my parents house or out in the sunny backyard. When my biggest decision was whether to chose the orange or red popsicle. Usually I chose both. Oh, how I long for those days sometimes.

The kids and I spent most of our time today indoors. With such nice weather I usually like to take advantage of it, but somehow time escaped me. We did manage to travel to the Grocery Outlet for a few things and ran into my mother there:) I love living so close to my family. It's fun to bump into each other while out and about. That never happened when I was growing up.

Beginings

Well, it's official! I am now a blogger. A word I thought I would never use to describe me. Oh well, there it is. And so now I suppose I'm required to write... It is a little late for me though. Both of my children are sleeping and so I think I might take some much deserved rest myself. Until tommorrow.