Kids.

I just wanted to share some recent photos of some of the kids I love. 

My friend from high school had a little boy just five days after Jacob was born.

They had met once before but this was the first time they actually got to check each other out.

I love how they held hands, stared at one another and had a full on conversation. 

They are destined to be great friends.

This is by far not the greatest picture in the world but this is where little Jacob and baby Lucy are at in their lives right now. I told my sister today that before we know they will almost be the same size. It goes by so fast.

One of Ethan's recent outfits of choice. 

And the second shot reminds me of how badly I want his hair, oh and eyelashes. 

Miss Abby loves Jacob. He's not quite as fond of her yet but he's getting there. 

 I honestly don't think I've ever seen two cuter boys in my life. 

Nope, never.

Sunday Randomness.

The boys were sick yesterday with what seems to have just been a 24 hour bug.

I'm pretty sure I have changed more diapers in the last 48 hours than I have in 2 weeks.

Oh and Ethan's description of being sick, "my eggs jumped out of his mouth and went in the chair". 

Enough said.

For most of the day Jacob and I hung out like this...

 See his little hand tucked in my shirt. So adorable.

Ethan ate a ton of chicken noodle soup and made a huge mess.

 

I told Brett that I needed a lot of caffeine to get me through the day and a big iced latte would do the trick.

He returned with this...

It's 32 ounces. I didn't exactly mean that huge. 

The boys are much better today, thank goodness, but we've still just been hanging around the house having a lazy Sunday. The house is clean and tonight we're having a fabulous dinner with my parents. That makes for a great Sunday if you ask me. 

Jacob has recently discovered his feet which keeps him entertained for quite some time. 

Who needs toys, right? 

He's also discovered TV.

I am fine with him watching some TV throughout the day if it lets me change Ethan's clothes, fix lunch and go to the bathroom. It keeps me from going crazy. 

Ethan had a friend over for lunch today. 

Do you see him?

He gave him a bite of his apples, some of his PB&J and kissed him a couple of times. 

It was a nice little lunch date. 

Have a wonderful rest of your Sunday!

Talking and Dancing.

I have two sick little guys on my hands today. Bummer! Not really how I had anticipated spending my Saturday, but what can you do. 

So while everyone is taking a nap, I decided to finally upload some video I had recently taken.

I got the flip video camera for Christmas and I love it. It's so small and easy to use, right up my alley.

So enjoy a few videos of the kids.

Look who's talking.

Ok, well maybe not talking, but he sure is making a whole lotta noise these days.

Here's a little video to make you laugh.

 

For Christmas Ethan got these mini turntables and he's in love.

(The video's a little long, but hilarious)

And no, we do not still have our tree up. 

Aren't they the cutest? Hope you enjoyed them.

Happy Weekend!

The Mess.

On most days my house looks like this...

Dishes to be done, laundry to fold, bottles to be washed. 

I can't always be on top of it and I can't always get it all done. 

I'm learning to live with the mess.

My house can't be perfect everyday although I would like it to be.

So I look for the things around the house that make me smile and forget about the mess, for at least a couple of minutes.

A clean fridge stocked full.

A bowl full of lemons.

The best smelling candle ever.

 

The current book I am reading.

The mess can wait.

Because really I would much rather be playing with boys, eating, or reading instead of folding the laundry. 

Wouldn't you?

You'd Never Know...

it's January if you came to my house today since,

we've been playing the water,

wearing shorts and splashing in the puddles,

sportin' our "flippies",

and having a "pic-mick" in the backyard.

But it is and we're loving it.

Jacob.

I realized that I don't have very many posts that are solely devoted to my little guy. 

Today, it's all about him. 

He's four and half months old now and I have no idea where those months have gone. 

I literally can't remember the tiny little baby we brought home from the hospital. 

He's about 15 pounds now and I think around 23 inches long. He's a big boy.

He can roll over from his belly to his back and just today he rolled from his back to his belly.

He's strong.

He holds his head up very well and can now use toys that assist him in being upright. It's making life better for everyone.

He's already a Mama's boy, which is extremely sweet and aggravating all at once.

He's happiest when he's riding in one of my baby carriers or when I'm on the floor with him right in his face.

I think he would eat my face if he could. 

 

He's becoming happier and happier every day. I've been saying since the day he was born that eventually he would like it out in this world and I think he's starting to. 

He's got the cutest smiley face I have ever laid eyes on and the best little giggle to go with it. 

 I love him more and more each day and I'm so happy he's all mine.

Well Hello Again...

It's been awhile since I have posted. 

We've been a little busy around here these days.

The boys aren't really napping at the same time which mean I get less computer time, hence fewer posts. 

So while I've been away this is what has been happening...

Ethan got new kicks. You can't tell but they're the high tops and I love them. 

We started Jacob on rice cereal.

 He's eating it like a champ and I was hoping it would make him sleep longer during night but that hasn't happened so far. I'm still keeping my hopes up.


Ethan's been doing his chores around the house.

 Jacob loves his bumbo chair. It's one of the few things he actually likes and will stay in for more than 5 minutes. I'm so glad he's able to sit up now. 

Jacob's getting better with not having to be held all the time, but sometimes in order for him to nap this is how we roll.

 

I let the kids play in the crib together. I'm sure some mom somewhere is cringing.

 

It's very warm and cozy outside today so we've been riding bikes and had lunch outside. Makes for one very happy 2 year old.

 

Oh, and while outside, my dog was going crazy behind our garage. I go back there and hello...

I'm not a fan of big dogs. They terrify me actually. I'm sure he can't jump over the fence but I freaked out and called Brett. He said there was nothing to worry about but I still want a taller fence. 

 

And the best thing that has happened to us in the last couple of weeks...

my niece Lucy Ann was born. 

She's so precious and tiny and perfect. 

I'm really hoping to get some good photos of her with the kids tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed.

It's crazy that in just 3 years my sisters and I have added 5 kids to the family. 

I love that they're all so close in age and will grow up being the best of friends. 

It makes me smile. 

Now I'm off to read for a bit, in a messy house that needs to be cleaned, but I'm not doing it since I'm having a rare moment of both kids being asleep. Ta-Ta!

My Handy Man.

A piece of our bathroom tile has unfortunately chipped. 

Ethan made the discovery this morning and was quick with a solution. 

He ran out of my bedroom, down the hall and said, "I get my tools."

He emptied out his toolbox and went to work. 

 He measured, sawed and hammered. 

He has officially become my little handy man.

Word of the Year.

At the beginning of 2010 I came across several blogs that had the wonderful idea of choosing a word as a theme for the year. I loved this idea, but I never picked a word because nothing seemed to stick. I thought of a lot of different words to signify our life as a family, but nothing really rang true. 

This year is different for me. Over the last few months the same word keeps coming to mind and I feel that 2011 will be my year of...

Patience.

I have very little of it. 

I want things right now. A solution right this minute. I want an instant outcome. I don't like to wait. When I don't like the way things are going I want it to change right then and there.
I'm not proud of my lack of patience and I truly want to improve.

I want to have more patience with Brett. We are two very different people who move at different paces and with that comes some conflict. I need to learn to be more patient with him as we come to a compromise, which sometimes takes more time than two minutes.

I need to have patience with my boys. I'm finding that being a stay at home mom of two young boys is not so easy and it requires more patience than I ever imagined.

I need to have patience when I go outside of my house, and the checker isn't fast enough, or the lady in front of me isn't driving quickly enough. I need to slow it down and be patient.

I need to be patient when it comes to losing the baby weight. I would have loved for all of it to melt off with little effort these last four months, but that's just not going to happen. It's going to take some time and work,  and as much as I would love to be wearing my old jeans right now, it's just not going to happen for awhile. 

I need to have more patience in my daily routine. I'm always looking ahead and planning in order to be on top of the next curve ball that is thrown my way. Instead I need to relax and be patient, and trust that everything will work out in the end, planned or not.

I need to have patience in knowing that God has a plan for me and I don't get to know it. When I don't understand why certain things are taking place, I need to be patient in knowing the outcome will result in what is best for me and my family.

My hope for the year 2011 is that I will grow into a better more patient person (and possibly a little smaller too).

Happy 2011!