Happy December!

I have been doing a lot of catching up with work. I am really trying hard to get all of my editing DONE by the end of next week. I think it will happen. In the mean time, I feel like the kids and I have been just hanging around the house lately, slightly bored. Let the winter season begin.

I am really realizing, as much as I want to keep track of pictures, I really need to start writing more. Of course, so those of you who like reading will have something to read, and so I can remember this stuff. These kids are only going to be this size today. That's it. I need to enjoy them and remember them at this size. Right now.

We had a nice visit from Caleb's brother Than today. It was nice to have someone come over, since I feel like I have been too busy to play. Still trying to balance it all out. Now my mind is just set on working non stop until it's done. Then I will have lots of time to play.

We got our tree up last weekend. I think it's funny how we really celebrate Christmas for over a month. It gets SO hyped up. Not going to lie, I totally fall for it...and LOVE it.

So Thanksgiving was interesting. We went to Caleb's grandma's house then headed to my Aunt's house. Good times. Poor James. As we are all sitting around eating, James, Ada, and my cousins Violet and Mick were all sitting at the kids table. I walked over to see how everyone was eating. James was just kind of sitting there looking a little uneasy. I asked him if he was OK. No time to reply, he threw up all over the table. Poor little guy.
Here are some pics from the last couple days...

click click click

These pictures are life. They are the everyday. I am not kicking toys to the side to get a good picture to post on Facebook or (rarely) my blog. Play clothes, faces full of dirt from a hard day of play, soap residue covering, well, everything from blowing bubbles until our eyes pop out. Little girls hair NOT neatly tied back by with a clip or pony. It's life. Why lie about it? I was looking at the pics as I uploaded them to my computer.
Maybe I can edit this one? The photographer in me comes out. Not that it ever goes away. Ohhh look at how dirty they look. Isn't that what pictures are all about? Capturing TIME. Yes, CAPTURING TIME! That is how they looked at that particular point. And you bet your socks off that is how I want to remember it. Real. Not doctored, edited, spiffed up. My babies. Bubble lips. Dirty feet. Discovering, learning, being. At this moment. And I get to keep that forever. Yep, I will be that crazy lady in 50 years with all of the photo albums and hundreds of pictures on the walls. I won't deny it either. Take more pictures. There isn't such a thing as too many pictures.

These days

This is a vow to take more pictures of my kids. We have been doing so much fun stuff lately with this beautiful weather, lots of play dates with new friends, BBQs with friends and family, garage sale adventures, fun days in the yard, yummy restaurants, beach days! yep, I just said that!, parks, the list seriously goes on. I leave my camera at home. :( I need to find a happy medium. I take too many pictures of my children sitting on the couch or laying on the floor and nothing of them doing fun things, discovering the world, meeting new people, etc. I think I promise too many things. But this my dears, will happen. Stay tuned for a post tonight. We are going to Lego KidFest this afternoon!

Where is the pause button?

I think there are few types of things you can do to a toddler, that makes them look grown up all of the sudden. This for me was it for Ada. I mean look at her, she is a big girl. For James, it was the first real hair cut. All of the sudden they are little people. All clean cut and ready for work. I know when I do cut Ada's hair that will be another one of these baby to big kid transitions I will have to get used to.

I am not sure I am ready for my baby to grow up. I would prefer to keep them both at the age they are at right now. Before James starts to hit those weird akward ages.

James is in preschool and when I pick him up the parents must wait at the entrance of the building and wait for their kids there. He goes to preschool at our neighborhood public school, so as I wait I watch the other kids in single file lines go to art class, gym, etc. I think they are mostly 1st and 2nd graders that I see. Their hair all matted to their head from static, clothes just don't fit right- to small or too big, teeth just too big for their cute little faces, etc. Of course these kids are still cute and beautiful, but it seems like such an akward age. Now thinking about it, I guess all school aged kids are in some sort of akward stage at any given time.

My kids are still so little and cute and they still cuddle me. I think that is the biggest thing for me. They still cuddle me and eachother. I don't know for how much longer I will be lucky to have kids that actually like eachother. I just have to take it in now, remember, create memories, and take lots of pictures. It will be gone too fast.

Home

Alabama, Arkansas, I do love my Ma & Pa
Not the way that I do love you
Holy moly, me, oh my, you’re the apple of my eye
Girl, I’ve never loved one like you
Man, oh man, you’re my best friend, I scream it to the nothingness
There ain’t nothin’ that I need
Well, hot & heavy, pumpkin pie, chocolate candy, Jesus Christ
There ain’t nothin’ please me more than you
Ahh, Home
Let me come Home
Home is wherever I’m with you
La la la la, take me Home
Baby, I’m coming Home

I was listening to this song when I was uploading these pictures. Thinking about what to write and the words were right there being blasted through the head phones on my head. Very appropriate. Love this song. Also if you are bored take a look at this cover of the song on you tube. It melts my heart.
Have a beautiful Tuesday.

My favorite kind of day

The ones that are lazy.
The ones that are quiet.
The ones where you stay in your jammies or comfy clothes all day.
The ones where the sun is out.
The ones where you can feel the warmth from the sun shining through the windows.
The ones with mostly smiles and fewer tears.
The ones with good coffee and heart warming food.
The ones with lots and lots of snuggles, kisses and hugs.
The ones where we don't have to do a lot of talking, but still greatly enjoy each others company.
The ones where you can really enjoy and appreciate the small things.
The ones where all those small things add up to one big thing.

Love my Goobers

It's such a hoot to see Ada's little personality come out more and more. I love how different 2 kids can be that come from the same parents. I love them both so much and all of their little quirks. James was always really reserved, cautious, soft spoken and a little more serious. Ada is one wild cat. All over the place, no fear. She also has quite a funny sense of humor. Did I mention she is loud? She gets so excited about stuff and gets really loud. We had her 12 mo. check up last week, while we were waiting for the doctor she was running back and forth in that little room and just talking...loud. Her nurse came in before the doc and was actually asking about her loudness. I thought she was just making conversation, until she asked about her hearing and her ears. HA! She's got some pipes on her. The other night while eating dinner I whipped out my camera and she got really excited and started making all of these really exaggerated funny faces. What a ham!

And last but not least, my favorite...

One year ago today

Was hands down the worst day of my life.

That's probably not something you would think one would want to reflect on.

One year ago today I saw my baby sick. Very sick. The few days leading up to this day was not fun at all. Daily visits to the doctor and sleepless nights on the couch frantically trying to be the judge on if my new, just weeks old baby, was breathing. Did she look blue? Where her breaths regular? Did she sound wheezy? At 3:00 in the morning trying to watch for these signs was a nightmare. A living nightmare. I don't recall her showing any of these signs, but I am pretty positive I had all of them.

One year ago today, I was told that she had been fighting so hard and now she is just tired, so tired. She tried so hard to stay healthy and she just can't do it anymore.

Looking back at this now, I think they probably should have worded this better or differently. What would you have taken it as? That is why it was the worst day ever. Looking back, I think they meant she needed more care, specialty care. Up until not too long ago did I come to this realization. You don't say something like that to a new mother who's hormones are already in a tizzy and can loose it at the drop of a dime by anything on a good day.

Luckily for me now, I don't live by the Children's Hospital. Every time I do drive by I get knots in my stomach.

It all makes me SO grateful for healthy happy kids. Ada has yet to have any complications from the RSV and (knock on wood) hopefully will never experience any.

Life is so sweet and short. Too short for some. There has been a lot of people in my life and stories I have come across lately of such heart ache. I can't imagine. It makes me that much more thankful and grateful for all of the love in our little family and for and from our family and friends.

It puts things into perspective. Greatly. What is really important.

That is why I feel the need to reflect on it. I can think and feel what I felt those 4 days in the hospital with my tiny, helpless baby hooked up to all of that stuff, and oxygen dependent. I remember just sitting in the chair next to the bed she was on almost scared to touch her. So scared that the tiniest touch would harm her in some way. I wasn't allowed to nurse her for a whole day or maybe even more, I can't remember. I just remember the moment the nurse came in and told me it was OK to try to nurse. My baby so warm in my arms. Full of love. So much love. Feeling her move against my body reassured me everything was going to be OK. Now being able to look at my big girl 1 year old, definitely not sick. So much personality and spunk. Oh so thankful.

You can read more about Ada's poor baby sickness here and here.

Saturday Mornings

Sometimes on Saturday mornings I feel this desire to make it feel like a Saturday morning for James. Saturday morning cartoons, maybe something a little sweet for breakfast, a cozy spot, hanging out in jammies a little longer than usual. I think it is probably just me that likes that feeling. :)

An organized mess

Just a little look inside my head...
My intentions are great. Print out a nice, crisp, to-do list. And this is what it ends up looking like. I guess it just has multiple uses... Ada's chew toy, coaster, scratch paper, a place to keep my thoughts, oh, and a place to write down things I need to do. I will get there someday...I hope.

She would probably eat a Big Mac if I let her

Ada, Ada, Ada. This girl just wants to eat. None of that sissy baby food shenanigans either. She wants to use her hands and chew. She has absolutely boycotted the jarred stuff. I started making some baby food (nothing complicated) which she seems to take a little bit better than that stinky Gerber baby food. (I have nothing against Gerber, I think they are great. I think Ada is the one with the problem!)

She has mastered the "pinch" to pick up food. She loves those puffs. Actually, I don't think it even matters what it is. Don't tell my mom, but I pulled a small rock out of her mouth the other day. This girl just wants to put stuff in her mouth. I know this is totally the norm for this age. She is a hungry gal though.

The other day, I thought I would try something different. We had some bananas so I cut them up and gave them to her. She had a difficult time picking them up since they are so slimy. Then I thought of something. When James was a peanut I discovered an easier way to feed the little goober those slippery bananas.

James was a big puff eater too. He actually choked on one once. They aren't supposed to choke on them! It was a full on choke. The kind where I had no idea what to do. My immediate response was to fling him out of his highchair, which went flying across the kitchen floor, flip him upside down, and wail on his back. I have no idea if that was the right thing to do, but it worked. Thankfully.

I came to the conclusion that the puffs must have been a bit stale or something. From then on out I always made sure he was eating the freshest of fresh puffs. This resulted in half un-eaten jars of puffs that would take up room in the cupboard. I think I have a slight hoarding problem. ANYWAY! I discovered if I cut up the banana and smashed some of the puffs into a powder I could roll the little banana chunks in the powder and they were way easier to pick up!

I decided to try this with Ada. I put just a few puffs in a bowl and smashed them up, put the banana in and gave them to her. She practically inhaled them. LOVED them. I couldn't keep up smashing those dang puffs. Then I had an absolute brilliant idea.

When we got married a few weeks ago, my lovely Aunt (and uncle) gave me the greatest thing in the world... **Insert angels singing here**

Ah. What a beauty. Am I right? This was my first experience with my new Magic Bullet. And, well, it is magical! Popped the puffs in, pressed it down for a couple seconds and ended up with this...

The finest banana puff powder a mom or dad could ever wish for. Nothing you could ever achieve with a spoon and a bowl. Or a mortar and pestle for that matter. That last sentence makes me feel old for some reason.

So for all of those fellow moms out there here is a little tip. If you are having issues with sticky bananas, smash up some puffs. If you don't have a Magic Bullet, you most certainly can use a spoon, fork, hammer, whatever. However, I highly recommend you get a Magic Bullet...just because.

Cut the banana into tiny cubes. I am pretty sure I am overly obsessive when it comes to cutting up food small. That's my problem though. I don't really think it is much of a problem though, so whatever! :)

Throw your bananas in the heavenly fine puff dust. I like that...puff dust. Stir them up so they are all separated from each other and they are lightly coded.

Ta-da! I call them banana nuggets!

And if you were reading this super long post and the whole time wondering what the heck I was talking about when I said "puffs," there ya go! And just another little tip for those mamas out there. If you shop at Walmart, this is just my opinion, but I like the Parent's Choice brand puffs better. They are smaller so I am less worried about Ada choking. They have fun flavors too!

Please be warned though...

It can get pretty messy.

Like, really messy.

Really, really messy.