The Week in Pictures

We had a big week this week

My baby boy turned three months old this week... time flies!
Here he is in his big boy bouncy seat, he is holding up his head so well.

Brookie Bear finally let me put her hair in a pony tail... I think she is learning it is a lot cooler off her neck.

And we had Tammy's shower... we took a belly picture at my shower but apparently we aren't able to do that when one of us isn't pregnant anymore, lol

Doesn't she look GREAT!!! Only a few more weeks until Tayler graces us with her presence. I just hope she doesn't come while I am on vacation!

Someone snapped this picture of Brooke while we were at the shower, she is starting to look more and more like a big girl and less like a toddler. I love my babies!

My family also had a stomach bug that daddy brought home from work. We went to the zoo last Tuesday with Aunt Meagan, Auntie and Davin, I didn't get pictures because I am scared to take my camera somewhere it might get lost. Billie took off yesterday because they were having people working on their house so Brooke went over "to keep her company". I got a lot done around the house. Matt started his new extra job this week so he is even more busy than before. I am trying to get my house totally clean before Friday so I can go over to Tammy's house for a play date.

Why I love you mom.

This is for the four special moms in my life. There are many more that I love and have made an impact on my life but these ladies deserve a BIG thank you.



Meagan, You are such a great mom... and sister. You work so hard and are always on your feet (in heels no less) I wish I could get as much done in one week as you do in one day. Davin loves you so much. Thank you for helping me be a better mommy to my kids and letting me rant and rave when I get frustrated. I am so thankful that you and I have been able to go through this side by side. I love you c-ster!



Tammy, I can't say enough to express how blessed I have been to have your friendship. It isn't always easy being a wife to a cop or a pregnant mother of a toddler/ preschooler, you are the only person who knows exactly how I feel. Thank you for letting me text you at 2 in the morning to vent or helping me to see the light at the end of the tunnel or for fueling the fire when I am right! lol... You are such a great friend, I couldn't ask for better. I will always admire your strength and determination. I promise I will be by your bed to keep you company and make you laugh when Tayler is born. Love you girl!

Billie, Thank you so much for loving me like a daughter. You have come to my rescue countless times when I am dead tired and need some rest. You always drop everything to be a last minute babysitter just so Matt and I can have a night out. Thank you for coming to keep me company when I am lonely. These last three years we have shared many laughs, tears and yes even a little gossip. I couldn't ask for a better mother in law. I love you!

Last and most of all...

Mom, I could say thank you a million times and it wouldn't be enough. You make me the woman I am today. You never realize how much your mother has done for you until you become one. Thank you for holding me even when I cried relentlessly through the night. Thank you for taking my hand and catching me when I fall. Thank you for waking up several time through the night to put cream on me when I had chickenpox. Thank you for holding my hair when I got sick. Thank you for telling me 'no'. Thank you for making me stick with things when I wanted to give up. Thank you for the countless hours you spent at football games, competitions, fund raisers and sitting outside of the dance room when practice ran over. Thank you for taking us to movies, bowling alleys, amusement parks and awana camping trips. Thank you for making every homecoming and prom so special and sticking up for us when dad couldn't understand why we didn't just wear the same dress as last year. Thank you for going to the gym with me at 5 in the morning before practice everyday. Thank you for walking the mall with us every fall for back to school shopping even though that was the last place you wanted to be. Thank you for always trying to find fun new yummy stuff to put on the table for dinner. Thank you for making my wedding so special even though I changed my mind a lot and we went a little over budget. Thank you for coming home early everyday only to drive half way back to the office just to get me to work and then coming back at midnight to pick me up. Thank you for taking us to church even when we put up a fight. Thank you for staying up all night waiting for me to get home from a date. Thank you for teaching me what it means to be a wife, a mom and most of all a woman of God. I can only hope to be as great of a mom to Brooke and Maddux as you have been for me. I love you!



Happy Mother's Day Everybody!

Done and Done

Well we went to the design center today to pick everything out. We got almost all of the upgrades we wanted. The only thing that I really wanted that didn't fit our budget was hardwood floors through the house. We settled for tile in the wet areas and carpet in the rooms that will be used most by the kids. We figure the little ones will have the carpet worn out in about 5 or 6 years so at that time we can put the wood floors down. We got the new front loader washer and dryer which was a big must for me. I was very worried about making such final choices but Matt reminded me that it is our house, we can change whatever we want whenever we want to. Now I can start thinking about paint colors. We are going to just hire painters to come in after we close because the home builder wants to charge too much for doing each room a different color. It is a relief to know that stage is done. All we have to do now is meet with our contractor once a month to make sure everything is to our specs. There were so many choices but it helped that I had a good idea of what I wanted. The consultant was great because she ran the numbers for everything we wanted and from there we decided what was most important to keep. End of August is when we should be moving in, I can hardly wait. I hope everyone has a great weekend! Happy Mothers Day!

Writers Block

I have gotten on my blog everyday since last Monday but when I sit down to post my mind goes blank. The only exciting thing that has happened was Saturday when we went to see Rent but mom already posted about that. Brooke went to the Dr on Wednesday for her 18 month visit, everything went well. She had to have 4 shots and a skin test... I am not sure what it was for, I hope that doesn't make me a bad mom. I have been trying to keep the kiddos home this last week since that baby died here and Houston from the swine flu. Matt took off Saturday and Sunday night to relax. He stayed with the kids while I was at the play and we all had a lazy day on Sunday. We are going on Friday to pick out the stuff for the house at the design center. I am totally nervous about it, being that I have always been a renter I have no clue what my style is. I don't want to get into the house and regret everything that I put into it. When I lived with my parents and finally got my own room, I painted it once or twice a year, beautiful bright colors. I would change my bedding and rearrange my furniture all the time. Now that it is our house I am scared to be that bold. I think it is a combination of wanting it to look like an adult space (not a teenagers) and wanting it to suit every ones taste that comes in. My mother in law likes a more traditional style, my mom has more of a country "lived in" style, Meg has a more contemporary style, I have... no set style. There is a great designer on HGTV named Angelo Surmelis, who's blog I follow, a lot of his designs are very eclectic but in a warm welcoming way. If I could afford to hire him to do my house I would, but I am not going to kid myself. I have been looking at design magazines and cutting out things that catch my eye,but I don't know how to bring it all together. I also have tried to figure out my style by my closet but most of the stuff in there is from pre marriage time when I was a teenager. My biggest worry is the kitchen and the bathrooms, you can easily change paint colors and accessories like light fixtures but flooring, counter tops and cabinets are another story. I guess I better figure it out in the next few days. Well at least I thought I had nothing to write about. Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Celebrating small steps

You know how in elementary school, when you did a good job and the teacher would tell you to pat your back, well I am patting my own back tonight. For the first time in a long time I have felt in control of my home and my life! I straightened up yesterday before Tammy, Meg and Bri came over, so when I woke up this morning there wasn't an overwhelming mess. I got Brooke set up with a glass of milk while I fed Maddux. When he was done he played on the play mat while I made some pancakes. After we finished eating we played a little bit and then laid down for a nap. We woke up around noon so Matt fed Maddux while I made some lunch, for the first time in a long time we ate at the table as a family. What a difference this makes, Brooke is much more calm. Afterwards I unloaded the dishwasher from the night before and washed what was in the sink. Brooke and I read some books while Matt played some video games then it was time for the kids and Matt to take an afternoon nap. I relaxed while the house was quiet. Maddux didn't sleep long but I was still able to check my e-mail and pay bills with him in my lap. When Brooke and Matt woke up I got started on dinner. Brooke helped me pour the can of peas into the pot and stir the potatoes. She has become quite the happy helper in the kitchen. She even loves helping unload the dishwasher, her job is to put away all the Tupperware and hand me the silverware. While everything was cooking Brooke and I sat at the table and played with stickers, Matt and Maddux had male bonding time. We sat at the table again for dinner and when we were done Matt took the kids into the living room while I did the dinner dishes. I finished just in time to watch our shows at 7. I got some laundry folded while we were sitting there. Afterwards Matt gave Brooke a bath while I picked up her room. After she went to bed Matt and I enjoyed a bowl of ice cream with each other and I fed Maddux. He just laid down with his daddy, I have to wake Matt soon so he can go to work. I just felt like everything worked today. I know it can't be perfect everyday but my goal is to have more days like this one. I especially enjoyed our meals at the table instead of in front of the tv. We talked with each other and I wasn't caught up on a tv show when we finished so it was easier to get the dishes done right away. I still got a 2 hour nap in the morning and watched my favorite shows this evening. I am just proud of myself and Matt for working together to get stuff done. Sorry for the long post, I just wanted to write everything down so I could show myself how productive my day was so I will keep it going. Hope your day was as enjoyable!

The wait is over!

We have officially been approved for our loan... up until today we had only pre-qualified for it. We are very excited. It certainly was a tense week around here while we were waiting to hear the final word. The best part is that our monthly payment is going to be less than we had expected. Now all of the fun happens!

Maddux on the move!

My baby boy rolled over for the first time yesterday! I put him down on his tummy for his nap time and when I went to get him up he was on his back. I don't know how he did it, I don't think Brooke rolled over until she was around 4 months. I guess this means no more unattended naps on the couch for him. In other news Brooke is putting everyone on punishment. She spent 10 minutes trying to get Jessie to sit in time out, when she realized that wasn't going to happen she put her favorite stuffed animal Joey on the time out chair. It was funny because she would be playing with him and all of a sudden she would say "No No Joey" and run over to the time out chair, turn her back on him for a few seconds, then pick him up and give him a big hug. I think he went to time out 4 times yesterday evening. I worried at first because she took him over there so many times but at least she gave him a hug when he got up. She also brought my cell phone to me and asked to talk to daddy, so I dialed his number and she talked to him for a few minutes and then he had to get back to work. Both of my babies are growing so fast, Brooke will officially be 18 months in 6 days! Makes you stop and enjoy it while you have them this way. I wouldn't trade staying home with them for any money in the world.