Sunday, October 31, 2010

Pumpkin Patch & More

We went to the pumpkin patch the day BEFORE Brooke's birthday party. I have been bad at updating since then but there is so much more coming up I figure it is now or never. We went to this pumpkin patch last year with our friends Matt, Randi, and their little girl Teagan, and we all decided it would be fun to go again.

Aren't they adorable?


Molly

Me and my little pumpkin

Playing in the corn pit

On the big chair

Going down the slide

Picking out her pumpkins

I think we found the perfect pumpkin

And for comparison... [nice face Brooke]






On to the more part! My friend Ashley over at The Stauffer Shenanigans [check her out, she is my online twinnie!] is doing a 30 Day Blogging challenge, and I am going to join! The idea is to post a blog entry every day about some fun, pre-decided topic. Kind of like a survey, which as you know, I really enjoying doing. So I will be starting this tomorrow! Sometimes I may add to the post with updates about the girls and fun things we are doing, but I will be sure to include the daily topic as well.

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts

Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name

Day 3-Your first love

Day 4-Your parents

Day 5-Your favorite recipes

Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy

Day 7-Favorite movies

Day 8-A place you've traveled to

Day 9-A picture of your friends

Day 10-Something you're afraid of

Day 11-Favorite tv shows

Day 12-What you believe

Day 13-Goals

Day 14-A picture you love

Day 15-Bible verse

Day 16-Dream house

Day 17-Something you're looking forward to

Day 18-Something you regret

Day 19-Something you miss

Day 20-Nicknames

Day 21-Picture of yourself

Day 22-What's in your makeup bag

Day 23-Favorite vacation

Day 24-Something you've learned

Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs

Day 26-Picture of your family

Day 27-Pets

Day 28-Something that stresses you out

Day 29-3 Wishes

Day 30-a picture

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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Brooke's 2nd Birthday Party

I have sat down at the computer every day since Friday to write this post and each time I have gotten up and walked away less than 5 minutes later. The prospect of uploading and inserting a dozen pictures made me tired just thinking about it! I could write a new post twice a day but they aren't any good without the pictures too accompany them. But today I bit the bullet. The computer is in the room where Molly naps, which poses another problem because that is when I could normally blog, so I am currently feeding her while doing this. Super mom!

We had Brooke's birthday a week ago, on Sunday, and it was a success! I chose to have a zebra print theme with hot pink accents, mainly because she already had the perfect party outfit to match. From there it was easy. I designed the invitations myself using a picture I took of her at 22 months, I ordered the cake from family friends who have an AMAZING cake business, I found zebra print balloons to decorate with, and everything else just fell into place. About a week before the party we started to get anxious about the prospect of fitting everyone into our home. We are in the process of finishing our basement so soon we'll have more room, but until then we have tight living quarters. Thankfully Dustin's parents offered up their home to us to use and since all the party guests knew just where their home was, it was easy to make the switch.

Brooke and her cake

Our little family

Grammy matched the cake!

Molly and her boyfriend Graham

Brooke and Brylee

Opening gifts

The girls

Brooke and her Aunt Jena

Brooke and Teagan

Brooke and James

Her kitchen from Grammy and Poppy!

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Have you voted for Molly Moo?1. Go to the Baby Gizmo Facebook page and LIKE it.2. Go to the Halloween Contest album.3. Find Molly's picture [she is the black and white cow] and click LIKE.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Happy 4 Months Molly!

Happy 4 Months Molly!



Molly turned 4 months on Friday [Brooke's 2nd Birthday] and I wanted to make sure to squeeze in a post for her. We had quite the busy weekend with a trip to the Pumpkin Patch and Brooke's birthday party, so be looking for posts featuring those events! Back to Molly Moo...



Today she weighed in at 12lbs 12oz and is 25 inches long. At 4 months Brooke was 12lbs 14oz and 23 inches long. Molly is such a little flirt out in public. If she makes eye contact with ANYONE she will put on the biggest smile and giggle. She loves to be a part of the party and wants to be sitting up and looking around. She is such a mama's girl though and will cry until she gets into my arms. She can roll from her back to her belly, and belly to back. She loves to be on her belly with her head up looking around. She sucks her thumb when she wants to go to sleep, and I think it is kind of adorable.

She has the most gorgeous blue eyes, which she gets from MY mama. Both of my mom's parents have blue eyes, so my mom and all her siblings have blue eyes. They are the only ones in both of our families with blue eyes so Nonna is happy one of her grandchildren inherited something from her. Her hair also looks red in certain light, just like her daddy's, but time will tell it's true color.

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Have you voted for Molly Moo?

1. Go to the Baby Gizmo Facebook page and LIKE it.

2. Go to the Halloween Contest album.

3. Find Molly's picture [she is the black and white cow] and click LIKE.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Halloween Photo Contest


A few weeks ago I entered Molly's picture into a photo contest. [Like the one above except in black and white] I have never entered a picture into one of these before and I was thrilled to find out that she was chosen as a finalist! SO if you could help us out and vote for her that would be AWESOME! It is through Baby Gizmo and it used to be more simple, just clicking on their site. Now it is a little more complicated...

1. Go to the Facebook page and LIKE it.

2. Go to the Halloween Contest album.

3. Find Molly's picture [she is the black and white cow] and click LIKE.


We would really appreciate it. The winner get a new stroller, and the runner up gets a new diaper bag!

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Friday, October 15, 2010

Happy Birthday Brooke!

Happy Birthday Brooke!

My sweet baby girl turns 2 today! It is hard to believe that this time two years ago I was walking the halls of the hospital trying to start labor. You can read Brooke's birth story here.


Dear Brookie Boo,

My sweet first born. I'll never forget the day your daddy and I found out we were going to be parents. We were scared, anxious, and don't worry, excited to know you were coming into our lives. We talked about our hopes for you and dreamed up who you might be. We talked about names and how we would decorate your nursery. On my 22nd birthday we found out that we would be having a girl. A precious little girl. I told everyone I would be happy with a healthy baby and gender did not matter, but oh how I rejoiced when I found out you were a little girl. I pictured little pink onesies, hair bows, tutus, dance recitals, etc. And on October 15, 2008, almost 4 weeks early, you came into our lives. I remember that day clearly. Daddy and I spent the day watching old One Tree Hill episodes waiting for you to make your appearance. And after you were born and I finally had you in my arms, I kindly asked the nurse to put on the Phillies game. They were playing for the pennant and you know what, they won. On your birthday. I like to believe you brought them a bit of luck that day. Your Grammy, Poppy, Aunt Jena, and Uncle Wes were all is the waiting room, anxious to meet you. Your Nonna and Papa made immediate plans to drive in from Philly to see you. You were so loved, even before you arrived.

Brooke, you have become such a sweet little girl and Daddy and I cannot wait to see who you become. You are so kind and loving and sensitive to those around you. You love to cuddle and watch movies. You love to sit and read books, play pretend with your dolls, and when Daddy needs a little bit of tomboy, you love to build blocks and knock them over. Speaking of Daddy, you are such a Daddy's girl. He is the first person you ask for each morning, I can hear you underneath your door calling for him. And when I open the door and you see it is me you say, "Hi Mommy, Daddy working..." When you hear the garage door open you yell, "Daddy's home!" and suddenly I don't matter for the rest of the night. You only acknowledge me when it is bed time and you need your good night kiss. But that's okay. I have you to myself all day long and we have plenty of fun together. I love how much you love your Daddy, and I know he loves it too.

Brooke, you also love your Grammy, Poppy, Aunt Jena, and Uncle Wes. This past year you have become so aware of who these people are and what they mean to you. You ask several times a week to go see Grammy and Poppy, and many times we are able to take you there. It is nice to have family nearby to share time with, and I hope one day you appreciate this for yourself. They love you dearly and that means the world to me. I also love that you love them dearly, just about as much as you love Daddy and I. It is important to have these close family bonds.

And lastly Brooke, you are such a wonderful big sister. I had some fears when we brought Molly home that you would be jealous and act out. But boy was I wrong. You are nothing but kind and gentle to your little sister and I can see in your eyes that you adore her. And you know what, she adores you too. You don't realize it but when you walk into her line of sight she lights up. One day she will look up to you and want to be just like you, and I know you will be a great example for her. You like to help hold her arms while I change her diaper, you bring me a tissue when she sneezes and a cloth when she spits up, and when Molly is screaming and I can't get to her right away, you put on my nursing cover and pretend to feed her. Because that is what you see and what you have taken in. Your mind is such a little sponge.

Love you forever, Love you for always

Mommy [with special mention from Daddy]


Brand New

1 Year Old

2 Years Old

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Thursday, October 14, 2010

Confession

I'm not perfect.

You're shocked aren't you? I hope not! Everyone needs a little bit of imperfection in their lives, and I have plenty of it. I also think every blog needs a little bit of imperfection. Even though you know I'm not perfect, it can come off that way if all I post about is the joys of my children and the small successes I do have in life. So here is some imperfection for you...

I struggle with anxiety. A lot of it. Anyone who has had a baby knows the hormones are raging after you have a baby and things like anxiety and depression are either triggered or exaggerated. With Brooke I made it through. I pushed past the anxiety that plagued me for 9 months and moved on with my life. But after having Molly I couldn't push past it. I couldn't drive over bridges with out envisioning it collapsing and us all plunging into the cold water. I was afraid to let Brooke go swimming with Dustin in case something happened and I wasn't there. I found myself imagining everything horrible that could possibly happen to my girl... happening. I couldn't fall asleep for hours at night because my mind was plagued with this darkness. After 8 weeks of torment, and encouragement from some of the best e-friends I know, I sought help from my doctor. I am now on anti-depressants and starting to feel much better.

I get lonely. I may live in a house with my husband, a wild toddler, a fussy baby, and a vocal dog... but I get lonely. The main reason I picked up a part time job this past Spring was for adult conversation. You don't realize how important interaction with other functioning adults is until you have spent 5 days straight conversing with a babbling toddler. I moved to Indiana fresh out of college and knew no one. Sometimes I feel like I still don't know anyone. I don't have many friends here.

I stress over my weight. I have always been very conscious of my weight issues and became slightly obsessed with working out in college. Even then I really wasn't all that thin, but I was in shape and felt content. But now, after two babies, I need a lot of work. And sometimes it plagues me. I see pictures of myself from a few years ago, or I watch as people around be get thinner and thinner. I hate having one pairs of jeans that fit me right now. I hate having one or two shirts to wear. I hate that most days I go to the store in yoga pants and old college t-shirts.

So there are my not so perfect confessions. Things that I really shouldn't worry about but I do. For now I just do what I can to be the best me I can me for my husband and my girls.

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Monday, October 11, 2010

McFatty Monday & Updates

Has it almost been two weeks since I have posted? I think that may be a record. September and October always prove to be very busy months for us. We are in the process of finishing our basement, Brooke's birthday is this week, and we have plenty of Fall activities planned before the weather turns too cold to leave the house.

I bring a McFatty Monday update though. I haven't really been working out. Last week I did take a walk almost every week and since this week will be just as night, I plan to do it again. I have also been trying to curb my night time eating and I have been mostly successful. Weekends are the hardest since we tend to eat junk. Good news though! Since the last time I posted I have lost 4 more pounds! That puts me at a total of 9 since I started, and almost 30 total since having Molly. 10 more pounds to go.

And just because it has been awhile, I will put some pictures in this post as well...

My sweet Brooke who will be 2 on Friday!

Miss. Drooly

She is such a little flirt...

And a funny...

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