As promised

here are the photos i took the past few days with my new lens. enjoy!





These photos are extremely sentimental to me. that is my sassy girl in my grandma's heals and play jewelry. the same heals and jewelry i used to play with when i was a little girl.




and this one. this one is just downright cute.


gracie has dubbed him her prince charmin. oh, and don't worry this is my best buds baby boy. i don't let gracie just go around kissing randoms because that would be weird.

sneak peak

Here is one of the photos i took with my new lens the past couple of days. there are more that i will share tomorrow.



good night moon.

Noah, the extrovert

Noah is just like me, his daddy. He loves people and can't turn away a party. Last night we went to my aunts house for my mom's 50th bday dinner/party. Noah doesn't come out to these night events often, and now we know why. We kept him out till close to 10 PM last night, when his normal bedtime is 6:30-7. He did awesome and was loving everyone. He was dancing and jumping around and of course smiling the whole time. Occasionally he would show his tiredness by putting his thumb in his mouth and cuddling up with someone's shoulder. But then he would see something or hear something and bounce back up for more. Even on the 15 minute ride home he didn't fall asleep, afraid of missing out on something (he usually falls asleep on a 2 minute car ride).

Well, last night, he was up at 2 and 4 AM. Lucky for me, Noah is Joanna's kid during the night : D (Grace slept great!). But I honestly believe that he was only waking up because he was still on a high from the party and was wanting it to continue. Either that or he just didn't want to miss anything.

As I was leaving for work this morning around 8:30 (yes I know I'm lucky) he was finally quieting down in his bed after Joanna laid him down around 7:30 for his first nap since he got up for the morning at 6:30. I am not sure how long he stayed asleep but I do know I received an image of him all dressed for the day at 10:15. And I already knew, after seeing the picture, that Joanna had already forgiven him for last night. But how could she not:


This was from a different house we were at last week:

What is wrong with me.....

Lately I have been obsessed with "upgrading" my life. "what does this mean joanna?" you might ask. it means that i am constantly thinking about adding another baby to our little family of four and that i can't stop looking at new houses and cars, so on and so forth. this morning when i woke up the wheels started turning again with things that i need in my life. suddenly, i thought what is wrong with me? i have a wonderful life. my house while it may be small, is super cute if i do say so myself. my car is seriously only 4yrs old and has a ridicules low millage on it. and hello have you seen my children? they are absolutely perfect.

so what is it that makes me feel so much discontent? why do i feel like i need to constantly improve instead of being thankful for what i have?

while i was contemplating my short comings and surfing the web i came across this post on one of my favorite blogs. after reading this i decided that starting today i am going to focus on enjoying what i have and stop thinking of what i don't. because honestly i don't need anything more. i have a beautiful, healthy family. i have a house to live in and a car to drive. i keep thinking of that raffi song, all i need. do you know the song? here are some of the lyrics:

"All I Really Need is a Song in my Heart
Food in my belly and love in my Family
All I Really Need is a Song in my Heart
And love in my family"

i don't know about you but i think raffi knows his shit.*
*sorry

Surprise

corey surprised me yesterday with a new lens for my camera. i am really excited i have wanted it for a few months now. this is what it looks like.




















the bigger surprise is that corey was able to keep it from me. he usually can't keep a secret.

here are some photos that corey and i took with it.


Sorry about this photo of my naked face but i just can't believe how many freckles i have. crazy. just crazy.

Museum Aerobics

today it rained again for the fourth day in a row. i made the executive decision that we could NOT spend another day in the house. So we went to the museum. we had a ton of fun but let me tell you taking two kids to the childrens museum is a better work-out then any training session i could ever do at the gym.

first you begin with cardio. This entails pushing 50lbs of kid in a double stroller up the hill from the parking lot to the entrance. if you are really lucky, (i always am) a torrential down pore will ensue as soon as you park your car. so instead of a nice leisurely stroll you are forced to sprint all the way to the top of the hill.

next is strength training. all you have to do is carry your 20lb baby in a sleepy wrap while you chase your toddler from exhibit to exhibit. this will really work your core.... just kidding i have no idea what muscles this works. if that seems to easy why don't you go ahead and carry your almost 3yr old on your hip with your baby still in the wrap. sassy, is very serious about me getting the most out of my workouts so she usually makes me carry her as well. her thoughtfulness overwhelms me.

finally, you must end your work out with stretching. this will take place when you squeeze yourself, your baby and newly potty trained toddler into a teeny tiny stall in the restroom. some of the moves that i perform while helping gracie in public restroom would qualify my for cirque-de-solei. i am very fortunate that gracie averages about 10 potty breaks an outing because honestly you can never stretch enough am i right, or am i right ladies.


happy monday!

Obsession

i am sorry i know most of you have seen this photo on my facebook page but i had to share it again. i can't stop looking at it. i think i am going to spend my entire day just drinking in this photo of my sweet boy.

Friday night

corey went out with his family so it is just me and the babes tonight. noah is already in bed and gracie is soon to follow. I am literally counting down the minutes to my alone time. it's going to go something like this ....

1. super warm bubble bath complete with relaxing play list on my iphone, and the "so trashy its bliss," novel i got at the library today.

2. hills marathon.

3. painting my nails in bed.

oh and gracie's new favorite thing is the photo booth thingy on macs. Here are some pics we took.

































hope your friday is just as delicious.

Mommy Guilt

bahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

that is how i feel today. sorry i had to let it out. my Noey baby is not feeling so hot. he got two shots yesterday, boo... so he is running a fever. i have been holding him since the moment he woke up this morning because if i don't, he cries. and not just a little whimper like, "hey mom i am annoyed," no it's a real, "mom i am going to die if you don't pick me up right now," cry. the only break i have is when he naps which praise Jesus, he is doing now.

i just feel so helpless. i hate that he is so miserable. and poor sass she has been basically ignored all morning. She has been so sweet though she hasn't complained and she has been trying everything to make her brother happy. Ughhhh I feel like i am failing today. i can't comfort my baby and if it weren't for Handy Manny my little girl would be all by her lonesome. so to my babies, please forgive me i promise to do better. Gracie i promise to take you on a super fun adventure tomorrow to make up for you being entertained by Disney channel.
love, mommy

Spreading the love

These are a few things I am loving today...

1. Looking for frogs in the "magical forest," aka our backyard.


2. The fact that I can run for an extended period of time withOUT knee pain.

3. That I can run for an extended period of time without dying. *All my thanks to one miss Britney Spears for getting me through with your music videos.*

4. My babies funny faces.


5. Cell phone pictures of babies minutes after they are born. I got one yesterday from my mother-in-law of our brand new cousin! I seriously can't stop looking at it. I am for sure having another baby. Sorry Corey.

6. Popsicles on the front porch with Gracie's main squeeze.


7. My sassy girl playing outside in footy jammies and Crocs, fresh out of the bath tub.


8. Noah's new trick.


That's all the love I have to share tonight. I have a date with my bed and Cougar Town.

Monday Morning

I honestly don't mind Monday mornings. I actually embrace them every week with a big smile and an even bigger cup of coffee. After crazy busy weekends, it is always nice to get back into our routine of watching Disney channel, surfing the web and sipping coffee in our jamma (i.e. jammies its an inside joke sorry ;)). I love the possibilities Monday's bring. We have a whole new week for fun adventures with friends and learning new things. All of last weeks struggles are forgotten because we have a fresh canvas to paint. Even though there will be some not so wonderful times, we will have a great week.


After I put Noah down for his morning nap I couldn't find Gracie for a moment, then I heard Noah giggling over the monitor and I knew someone had interrupted his rest.

Wishing everyone a fabulous Monday!

Thriving to Surviving

We had a good week. The kids and I did lots of fun things including, the Zoo twice, the library, the park and two lunch dates. Not to mention the countless hours we spent playing in the circle and running through the sprinkler. Weeks like this I feel like I am totally thriving as a mother. It makes the wheels in my brain start to turn with thoughts of more kids, new feild trips and fun crafts.

Then I have days like today..... and I am literally only surviving. Noah is crabby because he is getting new teeth and Gracie has spent the better half of the day in time out. I just keep telling my self, "I will make it through this day. I will make it through this day."

It is amazing how motherhood can make you feel like you are on top of the world one day and the bottom of a dirty shoe the next.

Corey, if you are reading this, please come home. It is imperative to my mental health that you return home so I can catch my breath. I would love to go out on the town with my girlfriends but I will settle for a shower, with the bathroom door closed. Thank you.

Randoms

1. My house is a complete disaster right now. I have been neglecting my wifely duties so I can play in the circle with my babies. Sorry Corey.

2. I did something last night that is super secret. I can't talk about it. So stop asking, OK!

3. Corey and I are helping out with benefit tomorrow that is raising money for Walk Now for Autism Speaks, in honor of his brother Jonah. We love Jonah.

4. Gracie is obsessed with this book

















5. We are on the hunt for this one

















She claims she NEEDS it.

6. I love me some Regis and Kelly and Coffee in the Morning. It completes me.

7. Corey and I are taking the babies to Sesame Street Live on Saturday, YAY! We took Gracie last year and she loved it. I hope Noey likes it much as his sister.

Happy Thursday

Side show

The weather lately, has made for some great photos. Because there are so many, I made a slide show of the best. Enjoy!

Tired

I am tired.

We went to Keeneland yesterday, so I am exhausted.

I want to stay in bed and watch Breakfast at Tiffany's.


























I am dreaming.

We will probably go to Zoo or park instead. Do you think I can convince my kids to push me in the stroller? Again, I dream.

Thursday

Ok, so I really have no excuse why I have been lagging on my blogging. Just Lazy. Sorry to you 5 people that read this blog I promise to do better, I promise. It has been such nice weather lately, we have been spending every free moment out in the glorious April sunshine.

-Noah, is doing much better. He was diagnosed with pneumonia last Saturday and on Sunday I noticed he was having a difficult time breathing. So it was off to Childrens we went. After testing him they came to the conclusion that he has a Reactive Airway. He is using an inhaler which has helped greatly. We are hoping he grows out of it and doesn't develop asthma. ((fingers crossed))

-Gracie, does not take naps anymore. Lets all take a moment to morn the loss of afternoon naps.......... I may or may not be crying right now thinking about it. Anyway so we are working on getting into a new grove because that is an extra 3 hrs a day (lord help me) we need to fill. As much as I adored nap time, Gracie's and my own, I am actually enjoying the alone time with her.

-I have lost 5lbs since I started working with my trainer 3.5 weeks ago! Go me!! Now if I could only get this eating clean thing down I would be golden. Side note- Are Peeps considered good for you? Don't answer that.

That is all for now. I am hoping to get some pics of our fun in the sun posted later today. However, I can't guarantee I will not be distracted by loving on my Little's.

Happy Thursday!

Easter Photo's

You may have noticed Noah isn't in any of the photos. That is because he was sick :(. We even ended up at Children's on Easter evening. I will talk about that in another post because right now I need to get the kids out of the house in t-minus 35 minutes and none of us are dressed yet....