Phone Photos.

I was looking through the pictures on my phone today and I realized I really love some the photos I have taken.

Camera phone apps are so fun and easy to use. I find myself using them more and more lately, especially when we are out and I don't want to lug around the big camera. 

My only problem is that I never take them off the phone and save them to the computer. 

So I did today.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Do you use your phone for photos?

If not, check out some of the free camera apps out there and give them a try.

You'll thank me.

Marking My Calendar.

Well I did it.

I registered for this, sure to be lovely, event.

It's a little ways away but I'm excited.

And my sister Erin is going with me. She just started blogging and I'm happy to have a friend to go with. 

In a few weeks I'll be seeing this pair in concert.

I grew up listening to Rod and Stevie and I can't wait to hear them live. 

It'll be awesome, I'm sure of it.

Then just a few days later I'm going to this.

If you've never heard a song of Mumford & Sons, get on iTunes right now and have a listen. 

I love them.

I listen to them everyday.

Ok, I'm a bit obsessed.

So needless to say, I'm so overly excited about seeing them live.

Plus, the whole concept of this tour is amazing. Check out their website here.

Last but not least, I'm seeing the cast of Glee live.

I imagine my ears will be happy for days and days upon hearing these fine people sing.

So there you have it. 

A few things that are filling up my calendar and making me one happy gal.

My Desk.

Is clean, organized, decorated, and now a functioning work space.

This hasn't happened in about 8 months. 

I'm patting myself on the back.

St. Patty's.

 We wore green shirts, ate green eggs, drank green milk, did green crafts, and had green cookies.

.

It's good to be Irish, even if it's just a little bit.

Wednesday Snapshots.

Today we stayed at home.

Nothing to do, no errands to run, no one to see.

So we just played and enjoyed our relaxing day at home. 

I Heart Faces: Sun Flare.

 This week's challenge is a photo with sun flare. I knew just the one I wanted to use.

I took this photograph months ago when my sister had asked me to help her photograph a wedding with her. 

I fell in love with this photo the instant I took it.

It was a perfect representation of this fun, young couple on their wedding day. 

Check out more I Heart Faces entries.

For Your Viewing Pleasure.

Here's a couple of short videos of the kids. 

I know some of you really don't want to watch videos of my kids but the Grandma's like it.

So this is mainly for them. 

Ethan dancing.

Jacob laughing.

I was trying to get Jacob scooting around on video and this happened. 

Ethan laughs and laughs and asks to watch it over and over.

Jacob on the move.

I love Ethan's little voice as he plays with Jacob. It's so fun to watch them play together.

Happy Friday!

A Few Things.

I'm tired today.

Jacob decided it would be a wonderful idea to start his day a little too early and then once he was down again Ethan decided to wake him up forty minutes later. 

When I asked Ethan why he woke him up he said, "But I love him and I want to play with him."

How can I be mad at that?

Anyway, here's a few random things for you.

I made pasta last night with this...

I don't usually buy stuff that's all organic since the price is just too high for us, but these were on sale so I gave them a try. They're already cooked so all you have to do is just chop them up throw them in with some pasta and sauce and there you have it.

I used whole wheat pasta, regular old tomato sauce, sprinkled some mozzarella cheese on top and baked it. 

Yum! It was a hit!

Ethan liked it but didn't eat the sausages, which is fine by me. 

So, I recommend it to you. 

My sister gave me a recipe for a great make it yourself chex mix.

I've been eating it by the bowlfuls.

I'm contemplating attending Blog Sugar.

It's a blogging event that will be held in September of this year.

It would be out of my comfort zone to go so I'm still thinking about it.

I'm always so nervous to meet new people and put myself out there, but I think it would be good for me. 

I don't know, I talk myself into it and then talk myself out again.

We shall see. 

Sometimes I pretend to be crafty. My sister showed me how to make these cute little flowers the other day.

I've had this little chalk board for some time and I knew I wanted it my fridge but I wasn't sure how to decorate it. These flowers are perfect.
And that's my word of the year up there, which I need a lot of it today.

This my very clean and organized bedroom.

It hasn't looked like this in a very long time.
Ever since Jacob has come into our life this room has been a mess. Everything was just getting thrown in there and I'm tired of it.
Jacob is no longer in our room at night or for naps so there is no reason why we can't make noise and put stuff away. And yes, the pack in play is still up, but it's leaving asap.
I challenged Brett and myself to keeping it tidy for one week.
My hope is that the tidiness will continue into the next week and the next.
Wishful thinking? I hope not.

I came across this photo and love it.

My future soccer player.

That's all for now.
Happy Fat Tuesday!

Confession.

When I woke up this morning I didn’t want to be a mom.

I was awakened to Jacob’s soft little grunting noises at 6am which means only one thing, a dirty diaper.

I didn’t feel like starting my day with a dirty diaper.

So I laid there for a minute wishing I could go back to sleep for at least an hour.

And if I could have “slept in” and woken up with no children, no dirty diaper, no responsibility, I would have taken a long shower. I would have taken the time to fix my hair and apply my makeup. I would have sipped a cup of coffee while reading the paper and checking my favorite blogs. I then would have ventured out of the house alone, carrying a purse, and not having to worry about dirty fingers or spit-up destroying my attire. I would have leisurely walked through the mall, going into the stores that have breakable items at children’s eye levels. I would have eaten a gourmet lunch in peace. I would have listened to the radio loudly on my drive home.

But that is not how I started my day.

I’ve had these thoughts before and I would feel guilty for having them.

I would feel that I was being ungrateful for the healthy kids I have. I would feel that I was taking for granted the opportunity I have at this time to stay home with them. I mean, I should love every part of being a mother every single minute of every day, right?

Honestly, No.

Being a mom is the best thing that has ever happened to me, I really don’t think anything else will ever compare, but it’s a job too. It's a job that never ends, where you never get time off or sick pay. You don't get to clock in and out or have an hour lunch break. There were plenty of days while I was working, that I would wake up and not want to go into the office. I would have the same little wishful dream as the one above.I would have the same feelings as I did this morning.

So the guilt has stopped.

I am grateful for my amazing kids. I am thankful for the opportunity to stay home with them. But I will not feel guilty for sometimes, just every once in a little while, wanting to have a day all to myself.

Saturday Snapshots.

A little glimpse of our day.

 

Hope your Saturday was as relaxing as ours.

155 Days Ago.

155 days ago, approximately six months ago, at around six o'clock at night, I was standing in my kitchen making macaroni and cheese for Ethan.

Not long before then I was at my OB's office. She told me I was dilated to 4 and I would be having my baby any time now.

So as I was making macaroni and cheese I started having contractions. I ignored them and continued making Ethan's dinner.

When Brett walked into the kitchen and saw me standing there with my head on the counter, taking deep breaths, he insisted that I sit down.

I kept making dinner.

I was in denial and truly thought I was not having my second baby, at least not that day.

In just 2 short hours my contractions were only 3 minutes apart and we were off to the hospital, and I was still in denial.

Within minutes of being at the hospital my contractions were a minute apart and I was being wheeled into the delivery room.

As the pain was getting worse and worse, it suddenly hit me, "Oh crap. We're having another baby. I'm actually going to give birth to a baby boy in a few hours. We are going to have two boys. We are responsible for two little people."

My entire pregnancy had gone by so quickly since I was taking care of Ethan, working, cleaning, playing, and just plain living, that I forgot to think about the end result.

I mean I thought about it but I didn't really think about.

So it hit me. I was having another baby.

I started to feel nervous, anxious, excited, sad, happy…all the things that I'm most certain every woman about to give birth feels.

Then ten hours later, we met Jacob Nathan.

When I saw him all my fears and anxiety melted away.

I was in love. Again.

In just the few short six months he has been here our life has changed dramatically.

Some days have been the best I have ever had. Some days have been the worst I have ever had.

I wouldn't change any of it.

I love him tremendously. I love the dynamic that he adds to our family. I love his little face, his little hands, his little scrunched up nose. I love every bit of him.

I'm so very grateful for what took place 155 days ago.