Is It Naptime Yet?

Halloween Necklaces

2011-10-14T14:40:00.004-04:00

Today's craft involved dying penne pasta with food coloring and stringing necklaces. We decided to be festive and used black and orange for Halloween. Once the pasta was dry, the kids counted out 13 noodles and strung them on black yarn (we found using a bobby pin or twist tie is a safe alternative to using a needle). The kids had fun, and it was an educational craft as the kids helped identify colors and count.

Mommy and Maddyn

2011-10-14T00:38:00.001-04:00

Lil Pumpkin

2011-10-09T22:51:00.001-04:00

Anne Geddes I am not!

Halloween Door Decor

2011-10-07T15:28:00.003-04:00

Why hello blog.....sorry I have been neglecting you (I only had a baby and all)! I have been busy this month discovering that I am in fact creative (with a little inspiration from friends and pinterest!).....so I am back to share my creations!

Today's craft was super easy and cute. I made a Halloween decoration out of used cds (goodbye hubby's old Nickleback cd!). All you need is cd/dvds, scrapbook paper, letters, ribbon and craft glue!

Evicted!

2011-04-11T09:13:00.004-04:00

Baby #3 has an official eviction date! May 23, 2011 at 9:30am. Countdown is on! And of course, baby #3 is more than welcome to make her exit anytime after May 7th (full-term!) if she so chooses. :)

32 weeks in utero

Score!

2011-02-23T13:54:00.004-05:00

Teething necklaces at Babysteals! I cannot believe I have yet to try Baltic amber jewelry with Ashlyn. She isn't teething right now....but I think she will like a "pretty" to wear that is safe and nontoxic.

Braeden: Future Glue Eater

2011-02-23T13:44:00.004-05:00

Yep, my little man is going to be the glue eater in kindergarten. This is how craft time with watercolors played out:

My little artist ready to paint!

Focused and actually being careful to not make a mess!

Discovered the water dish....

And could not resist a taste!

Mamarazzi strikes again....

2011-02-20T14:33:00.001-05:00

It is quite an achievement when I am actually able to get a decent picture of both kiddos looking at the camera!

Take 1....

Take 2.....

Take 3!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T13:39:00.001-05:00

Rawr!

2011-02-13T14:01:00.001-05:00

Dinosaurs have invaded the Rochester Museum and Science Center! Braeden is a dino-freak and had a blast....so did daddy once B realized the dinosaurs weren't real and relaxed the death grip on his neck.

Mommy and Me

2011-02-13T13:49:00.002-05:00

This was my attempt to get a nice picture of me and my mini-me. Awesome....

Merry Christmas from the fetus : )

2010-12-25T13:59:00.001-05:00

Updated Pictures!

2010-08-17T00:21:00.003-04:00

It's been awhile....here are some updated pics of the kiddos:

Snowbunnies

2010-02-17T16:53:00.004-05:00

Strong National Museum of Play is AWESOME

2010-01-27T23:38:00.002-05:00

Strong National Museum of Play understands kids and does everything to make such a crazy place easier for parents. Parents of toddlers will understand how important having a "Manual Flush Toilet" is!

Speaking of the museum, we have a membership now (thanks MeMe and PaPa!) so we have been going every week....such a fun, educational place. Whenever we drive to downtown, B says "play, play!" If you are in Rochester and have kids, you must go and play!

Blast from the Past!

2010-01-20T22:38:00.006-05:00

I was uploading some old pictures today, and I found this picture of me and Chris back in the day. This was very very early on in our relationship. Chris had just met my parents and was sitting on my childhood bed while my mom took a picture of the two of us....Look how cute and nervous he looks!! And just look at me....all cute with long hair and cleavage! LOL

Mommy of the Year Award

2010-01-20T22:23:00.004-05:00

My Mommy of the Year Award has officially been revoked:

Disclaimer: No toddlers were intoxicated in the making of this photograph. No actual alcohol was ingested. Alcohol was not served to anyone under the age of 21!

I was looking through Christmas pics and found this gem. B chugging a Blue Moon! I promise that the bottle was completely empty, and Chris was right there about to take it from him. I would never serve some underage alcohol...especially when the kid in question is only 21 months! Nevertheless, this pic is pretty funny....

Happy Birthday PaPa!

2010-01-19T11:57:00.002-05:00

Happy birthday PaPa!! WE LOVE YOU!

Slacker Mom

2010-01-09T08:45:00.003-05:00

Yet again, I have proven to be a slacker blogger mom! I have been enjoying my family over the holidays, but I promise to do a complete update very soon. And of course I have lots of cute pictures that I cannot wait to share.

My most recent news: Ashlyn Grace pulled herself up to stand in her crib this morning (which of course I missed because I working my butt off at work)! She is sitting on her own and crawling now. It is hard to believe that one year ago, we were not sure what the outcome of my pregnancy would be. Here we are today with a completely healthy, developmentally normal 7 month old!

Rest In Peace Ginger Pumpkin

2010-01-06T22:52:00.003-05:00

My childhood cat, Ginger Pumpkin, passed away today at the age of 15. She had been sick since Thanksgiving and not eating. Thankfully, she seemed to not be in any pain through her illness and made it through one last holiday season with her family. I'll miss you Ginger...even if you were a little bipolar and attacked my husband for no reason.

Ho Ho Ho

2009-12-23T16:22:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas from the Kellys!

Ashlyn loved meeting Santa for the first time:However, Braeden must have forgotten about how nice Santa was last year:

'Tis the season.....for meltdowns on Santa's lap, ever expanding waist bands from Korie's orgasmic christmas cookies (the only thing she can really bake at all!), and quickly shrinking wallets as Mrs. Clause insists Santa buy the kids every toy at Toys R Us!

Another Neuro Appointment

2009-12-08T12:21:00.003-05:00

Ugh, I have been neglecting the blog again. I still have to update with Thanksgiving pics, Ashlyn's half birthday, and my birthday posts. But right now, I just want to ask for prayers. Braeden has to go to the neurologist today. I typed that right....Braeden, not Ashlyn! There is a concern that he might be having a form of seizures (absence or petit mal). Let's just pray that mama is overly paranoid and neurology obsessed.....

Prayers Please

2009-11-29T02:01:00.004-05:00

I ask that you keep a friend of mine in your thoughts and prayers. During my pregnancy with Braeden, I found a great online message board where I bonded with other women due in March 2008 during pregnancy and beyond. Through facebook and blogging, I have kept in touch my fellow WTE March Mommies. One of these moms is going through a very difficult time. On Thanksgiving, her family came home to find that their home was destroyed by a fire. Their home and most belonging are gone, but luckily no one was hurt. I cannot imagine all the memories lost and stress of trying to rebuild and move on. Did I mention that she is expecting again, and her hubby is in medical school?! This family has a lot on their plate right now....so please please please say a prayer for them.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T00:16:00.004-05:00

This year I am thankful for FAMILY.

I am thankful for Ashlyn who continues to amaze me everyday. Hard to believe that late last December we were told by a doctor to consider termination! She truly is my inspiration.

I am thankful for Braeden who is the sweetest, most loving big brother. He may be entering the terrible twos early, but he is still my favorite little guy in the whole world!

I am thankful for Chris, my husband. He is a wonderful husband and an even better father. I am extremely grateful that he is such an awesome dad. He is very involved in every aspect of their lives. From playtime to doctor's appointments, he is there for the good times and bad, the hugs and the temper tantrums. It is great to have a partner when things get stressful with raising 2 under 2. I don't know how I could do it without him. Single moms out there, I am in awe of you!

I am thankful for my mom. She is my best friend and always so supportive of me. Now that I am a mother, I have come to the realization that I am my mother's daughter. I might joke that I am turning into my mother....but you know what? That is not a bad thing! Although I was not able to spend Thanksgiving with her this year, I am thankful that she was able to be in California instead. She treated herself to a trip to Cali to visit my brother. Speaking of my brother....

I am thankful that my brother (AKA Uncle Chris) is a Young American doing his thing on the West coast. He has a great role in the "new kid show," is making new friends, and seems to be very happy even though he is super busy now. I am very proud of my little brother!

I am thankful for my dad. I am very proud of him because he has finally kicked his nicotine addiction! YAY, no more tobacco!!! Braeden and Ashlyn need "Bop-pa" around afterall. As a nurse, I am know the importance of quitting, but I also understand how hard it is. I am also thanful for Chantix (tobacco users talk to your doctors about trying it...I have heard from quite a few people who finally found success quitting with it).

I am thankful for my in-laws. In-laws don't always get a great rap....but mine are pretty awesome! I feel right at home with them. I remember when I first met them when Chris and I started dating, and I was so shy and timid....not anymore!

Update on Ashlyn

2009-11-25T23:08:00.006-05:00

We have something to be very thankful for this Thanksgiving. Ashlyn had a wonderful appointment with her neurosurgeon yesterday. Dr. S was happy with her progress and says she is doing great. From now on, she will just need to go in for an annual visit to check her shunt (unless complications arise of course). Her head size is 43.5 mm, which puts her at the 75th percentile. Imagine that....my daughter with hydrocephalus who had been off the charts is in the 75th percentile! Absolutely amazing! We feel so blessed that Ashlyn is doing so well despite her rocky start.

Tomorrow, Ashlyn will be introduced to solid food at her first Thanksgiving celebration. I cannot wait, and I will definitely take lots of pics to capture the special day. :)

Sense the Sarcasm?!

2009-11-19T15:20:00.007-05:00

Dear Waterloo Premium Outlets,

Thank you so much for having 50 million mechanical rides throughout the mall. Afterall, I did not really intend on doing any Xmas shopping. My goal for the day was to spend $5 in quarters so that Braeden could happily ride on Batman, Superman, Dumbo, Snoopy, Big Bird, Elmo and Zoey, Pooh Bear, Puma, Mickey, a generic dinosaur, and Bob the Builder. And I just love dealing with a screaming kid whenever I do anything resembling shopping.

Oh and the fact that the rental strollers are shaped like cars and displayed outside of the food court made my day. After all, anything shaped like a car (or "broom broom") is worth trying to pull a Houdini and escape from a boring old stroller.

This sarcastic shopaholic does sincerely thank you for the fact that your design plan aided in our leaving after only spending $40 (well, make that $45 when you count the quarters)!

♥ Korie

Posterchild for Abstinence

2009-11-19T00:12:00.007-05:00

Yesterday, I made the mistake of attempting to Christmas shop with Braeden. I had the elderly shooting us death stares....the young single adults trying to avert their eyes and certainly making a mental note to remember to take their birth control pills and stock up on condoms ASAP....and the fellow moms with their double strollers, messy hair, and bags under their eyes offering me the most empathetic (albeit pathetic) look. Oh the joys of toddlerhood!

Welcome to the Hot Zone

2009-11-14T14:59:00.006-05:00

The Kelly household is officially a hot zone for H1N1 (despite 2 of the 4 members receiving the vaccine!). Everyone expect Ashlyn (thank God!) is sick. I have the oh-so-sexy cough that inevitably accompanies every illness I contract and will undoubtedly last through the holiday season. Blah.....

Before I came down with the flu, I was designated as house nurse. I even gave Chris a cow bell to ring if he needed anything...and to my surprise he did not use it once. If I give my patients their call bell, they will ring it every 5 minutes for trivial matters unrelated to whatever is requiring them to bogart an ICU bed.

My advice: anyone that can, get your H1N1 vaccine....and then hibernate for 2 weeks until you have full immunity. I don't have a bad case of H1N1, but this still sucks!

It's the Most Horrible Time of the Year....

2009-11-11T22:49:00.004-05:00

Flu Season!

H1N1 has officially made its appearance in our household. Braeden has H1N1....despite getting the vaccination! Braeden got his first dose of the H1N1 vaccine on Nov. 3, but he was exposed to the virus over the weekend. My mom was watching him this whole weekend, and on Sunday evening started feeling sick. Come to find out, a coworker had confirmed H1N1. Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, Braeden started exhibiting flu symptoms...fever, chills, cough, etc.

Hopefully, it is just a mild case since he did get the vaccine. And I pray that Ashlyn will not get infected. I was vaccinated and hoping that she gains immunization through the antibodies in my breastmilk. I also pray that my husband doesn't get sick because you know how much of a baby men act like when under the weather!

I must say I am enjoying the more low-key, extra cuddly Braeden! We snuggled and napped most of the day. I love that little guy so much! Please keep him and my mom in your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery!

VOTE VOTE VOTE

2009-11-10T00:03:00.005-05:00

I have put up a poll in regards to Braeden's 2nd birthday party. Right after his pirate-themed 1st birthday party, Chris and I decided his birthday sequel would have a Toy Story theme. But now I am wavering because he is obsessed with Cookie Monster! Forget Elmo and Big Bird. B is all about COOKIE! Help me out here and vote in my poll. Heaven forbid Braeden end up with a crappy theme....or *gasp* no theme at all!

I Heart Freebies

2009-11-09T23:42:00.004-05:00

I may be a self-admitted shop-a-holic and financially impulsive....but I also have a frugal side. And the frugal Korie is jumping for joy right now! You must check out this amazing freebie. You get 50 free photo cards with free shipping. Just in time the holidays!

Now, the only downside is that I am a Rochesterian, which means I am supposed to worship anything Kodak. Fuji film is the enemy here in Rochester, NY....but come on! This deal is too good to pass up. I also returned my week-old Kodak digital camera today because it sucked. So sorry to disappoint you George Eastman! Uh oh, I hope I don't contribute to any more Kodak layoffs....

Ask and You Shall Receive

2009-11-09T22:51:00.004-05:00

About a month ago, I was at Wegmans and stopped by the pharmacy to see if they could order Baby D-Drops. The pharmacist looked at me like I had two heads and said she never heard of D-Drops. Well, just last week I was getting my prenatals when a box caught my eye. There they were right next to the nasty Poly-Vi-Sol drops, which my kids hate and as a result have stained more outfits than I can count. Oh happy day! I didn't even bother looking at the price (checked the receipt later...$15 and totally worth it!). I like to think I had a hand in stocking the D-Drops....Ask and you shall receive!!

Anyway, you are probably wondering what is so special about these vitamin drops. Well, babies, especially breastfed babies, need supplemental vitamin D. Most doctors recommend Poly-Vi-Sol, but they are just disgusting. I have tasted them, and I don't blame babies for spitting them back out at their parents! I did a little research and found an alternate manufacture of vitamin D supplements for babies. They are more concentrated and flavorless. All you need is a tiny drop, which you just put on your nipple before breastfeeding once a day. So much easier and mess-free! Baby D-Drops are officially granted my seal of approval!

Baby Einstein Refund

2009-10-29T02:39:00.005-04:00

I would like to thank the dumbasses out there that actually believed plopping their offspring in front of a TV could alter their genetic predisposition thereby transforming them into a "Baby Einstein." Because of this ignorance, Disney is giving full refunds for up to 4 Baby Einstein DVDs. At $15.99 a DVD, that is $63.96....and just in time for Christmas!

Halloween Party at Strong National Museum of Play

2009-10-24T23:54:00.000-04:00

Please Pray!

2009-10-22T15:45:00.004-04:00

Please everyone keep this little fighter in your thoughts and prayers. He is a preemie going for heart surgery tomorrow.

Nurse Humor

2009-10-21T19:41:00.003-04:00

Let the Holiday Shopping Commence!

2009-10-21T16:42:00.005-04:00

FYI: Toys R Us is having a sale on the Fisher Price toys this week. Buy 2 get 1 free! Here is the loot I got so far.....

Baby Food Recall

2009-10-21T16:32:00.004-04:00

It has been 19 months since I became a mother, and I had yet to have a baby product recalled....until now! I have been stocking up on organic baby food for Ashlyn when she starts solids around 6 months. Turns out, Plum Organics has issued a voluntary recall for the pouch of Apple and Carrot baby food with an exp date of May 21, 2010 and UPC of 890180001221. Thankfully, Toys R Us and Babies R Us will be giving full refunds.

Breast Cancer Awareness

2009-10-21T16:23:00.000-04:00

Sibling Rivalry?

2009-10-21T01:30:00.003-04:00

No way! Braeden has become the most overprotective big brother. We cannot leave a room without him asking for "sissy." Cute, albiet annoying when I end up lugging a napping baby around in her boppy chair throughout the house!

Ashlyn is Absolutely Adorable

2009-10-21T01:24:00.002-04:00

I might be biased, but Ashlyn is the cutest little pain in the butt ever! She might be a drama queen...but she is the most amazing little princess ever.

Bop, Bop, Bop!

2009-10-19T12:46:00.002-04:00

Say Cheese!!

2009-10-13T23:33:00.003-04:00

Braeden says "cheese" for pictures now. At lunch at Sticky Lips on Sunday, he was being extra cheesy! Here are some of the cute pics:

Sophie la Girafe

2009-10-13T22:54:00.003-04:00

I broke down and bought Sophie the giraffe for Ashlyn. I basically spent $20 on a squeky dog toy....but she loves it!

Pumpkin Patch 2009

2009-10-13T22:01:00.010-04:00

On Sunday, my family went to Stokoe Farms Pumpkin Patch and had an afternoon of fun!

Corn maze:

Pumpkin Patch:

My Pumpkin:

Annabelle, the cow, was born on June 1st just like Ashlyn!

Papa and Braeden riding the train:

Now Daddy's turn:

Playing in the hay:

Mommy and B:

Mmmm....Fried dough:

4 Freakin' Months Old!!

2009-10-01T23:51:00.003-04:00

Are you kidding? Ashlyn is 1/3 of a year old! I cannot believe how fast this year is going by, and how much progress she has made. Her development is great, and she is rolling over consistently now and even trying to sit up on her own!

Since it is officially October now, I decided it was not too early to put her in a Halloween onesie.
Love it! Found this onesie at Babies R Us for only $10! I paired it with some warm tights, and she was good to go! Isn't she the cutest little pumpkin ever?!

Road Trip!

2009-10-01T16:16:00.010-04:00

Last week, we took an impromptu drive up to Canada to see the Niagara Falls with the babies. It was our first "day-cation" with the babies, and I must say went quite smoothly!

Chris looks thrilled....

Braeden being a happy camper in the backseat.

Mommy happy to be getting out of the house on a random Thursday! Braeden kicking daddy in the crotch....

We later switched over to the double stroller for fears of future fertility problems!

Checking out the Falls!

The ladies!

Me and my girl

Beautiful!

Whoops....left zoom on!

Take 2....Hershey Store....

We left without buying anything! Yay, willpower!

Starbucks Break

Time for B to stretch his legs!

Awwww....B's first girlfriend!

Okay, he just wanted to steal her juicebox!

The girls!

Daddy's little princess

Crossing the border where we witnessed racial profiling at its finest....

Braeden passed out before we got back to the States!

One random story from our trip.....While Braeden was running around the park, Ashlyn got hungry so I started breastfeeding her right in broad daylight. Now, I normally do not breastfeed in public, and when I do I use a nursing cover. However, I didn't have a cover with me, and I felt liberated being in a different country so I went for it. I was not flashing my boobs around...I was being discreet about it. As Ashlyn is eating, three Muslim men walk into the park to do their afternoon prayers. I felt so awkward and worried I was offending them! Luckily, they didn't seem to care or notice. But I have learned a valuable lesson, I am modest and am not the type that is carefree enough to just whip my boob out without warning! Timed perfectly, the very next day, the babysteal of the day was a hooter hider for 50% off....I snagged on without thinking twice!

Isn't She Lovely?

2009-09-24T22:35:00.001-04:00

Newest Pics

2009-09-24T00:35:00.002-04:00

Ugh, I need a new camera....the quality of these pics sucks.....

A Very Merry Unbirthday....To Braeden!

2009-09-23T23:54:00.012-04:00

Ugh, I cannot keep up with my blog! I will try my best to keep this thing current. After all the babies are growing up way too fast....I feel like I blink, and I'll miss their baby years! Case in point: On September 16th, Braeden turned 1 & 1/2 years old!

Being crazy as I am and loving to spoil the little ones, I threw B a half birthday celebration. Growing up, I loved the Disney movie of Alice and Wonderland. The unbirthday scene was a favorite of mine! Inspiration struck, and I do believe we will celebrate a half birthday or unbirthday every year for our kiddos. What a fun tradition! I know I would have gotten a kick out of it as a kid.....and I must admit Chris and I (probably me more than Chris!) got a kick out throwing the unbirthday party!

The inspiration:

How We Celebrated:

Half a present

Half a cake
(must sign up for a cake decorating class....my attempt was pathetic!)

Half birthday boy who loves any excuse to eat cake!Half Present time! Baby's first Bible storybook
(so it's a whole present!)

Kirch Developmental Visit

2009-09-10T21:47:00.006-04:00

I almost forgot to post....we had an appointment with Kirch Developmental last week. It was our first visit with a developmental pediatrician since Ashlyn was discharged from the NICU.

The appointment seemed to come out of nowhere. As odd as it sounds, I was beginning to stop thinking about Ashlyn having hydrocephalus and the shunt. She is just such a happy and easy baby that you would never know anything is wrong with her. Days go by where I don't even give much thought to it anymore. I never imagined I would be able to relax and enjoy my little girl without stress and worry 24/7. I am at peace with her diagnosis and am confident that her quality of life is and will continue to be wonderful despite her rocky start.

It is great being able to just treat her like a normal baby now. I have stopped measuring her head circumference on a daily basis. I do still feel her fontanel to make sure that it is soft, but I'm not obsessive about it. While I am always on the look-out for symptoms of shunt infection or malfunction, it is no different than how a parent keeps an eye on their child for symptoms of an ear infection or cold.

Because of this new and more carefree approach to my parenting, I was thrown for a loop when I got the call reminding me of our appointment at Kirch. All of a sudden, I was overanalyzing my baby girl. She is 3 months old, and her head is still wobbly.....she can't roll over.....and does not lift her head up very much when on her tummy. Will she need physical therapy? Will they say she is delayed? The night before, I got myself all stressed out worrying about the appointment.

However, the developmental pediatricians we saw said that Ashlyn seems to be right on track. Yay!! They didn't seem to think her head control issues and lack of rolling is anything to be concerned with this early. Besides, it seems like Ashlyn is just a more socially motivated baby than a motor motivated baby. Braeden is the opposite....so advanced with his motor skills but slower when it comes to social and verbal milestones.

It was a full house in the patient room....resident, attending, med student, social worker, nurse....as well as Chris, Ashlyn, myself, Braeden, and our massive double stroller. Kirch does a great job though. They seem very efficient. I am glad that if something were wrong or ever comes up, they will be able to collaborate with PT/OT and social work as necessary.

We have new stats now too:
Weight: 13lbs 12oz
Height: 22 1/2 inches
Head Circumference: 42cm

There was one thing that the attending doctor noticed. Ashlyn still exhibits the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex, but at this point she is not too concerned about it. Many babies don't lose this reflex until around 6 months. It can cause developmental delays and indicate neurological problems if this reflex does not go away though.

Kirch sends out a report of your visit, which I absolutely love. I wish all doctors did that! We are still waiting for our copy, which will go right into Ashlyn's health binder.

We will go back for another appointment when Ashlyn is between 9-12 months to reevaluate her development. Hopefully, by that time, she will be sitting up, crawling, and maybe even walking!

For any other parents out there concerned about developmental issues, here is a great site that I love: Check it out. The developmental pediatricians recommended it at our appointment....but I already had it bookmarked!!

Silly Hat

2009-09-09T00:10:00.003-04:00

Check out this adorable flower hat I got for Ashlyn. Even with hydrocephalus, her head is way too small for the hat. The flower is about the same size as her head!

Naughty Braeden

2009-09-05T00:14:00.001-04:00

Braeden is a climbing machine lately, and it is getting rather old. This is how we have to watch tv now:

3 Months Old!

2009-09-01T00:08:00.002-04:00

Can you believe it? Ashlyn is officially 3 months old!!

Bumbo

2009-08-31T22:35:00.007-04:00

Ashlyn strikes a pose in her bumbo chair:

Braeden in June 2008:

Braeden in August 2009:

The 40 & 8

2009-08-30T00:18:00.001-04:00

Chris and the Kelly Cousins:

Chris and Braeden

(posing just like Chris did with his grandpa when he was little)Chris seems annoyed with picture time now:

Swap Mamas

2009-08-26T23:57:00.003-04:00

I love to swap. I can remember back to my girl scouts days when we had our "swap hats." They were plain hats that we covered in tacky homemade doodads. Girl scouts would swap for said doodads....I of course ended up going overboard and filled my hat to maximum capacity....but I digress. What was I getting at? Oh yeah....I love to swap. And I found a great site that I must plug.....http://www.swapmamas.com/. Basically, it is just one big swap meet for moms!

Goodbye to Great Grandma

2009-08-26T23:17:00.006-04:00

On Wednesday, August 19th, Chris's grandmother passed away after recently being diagnosed with advanced cancer less than a month ago. On Monday, she was given a devastating prognosis that she would only live for another 2 weeks max. She made the decision to go into a hospice/palliative care program.

For the short couple of days in hospice, the staff kept her comfortable. We are thankful she did not suffer and went to be with God and her beloved husband (who passed away in December 2007), rather than suffer on this Earth with her severe illness.

The passing of my children's great grandma is devastating to me. I am saddened to think that my babies will not have memories of their great grandma. Sure Braeden spent a lot of time with her....she was always babysitting him, but he is still so young that I doubt he will carry on those memories of her. We brought him to visit her the night before she died. He started trying to climb into bed with her, and to occupy him, she reached on her bedside table and grabbed a couple crackers. After all, she knew the way to his heart (and to make him behave!) is through food.

On July 4th (before we even knew she was sick), she spent much of the day holding Ashlyn so that I could partake in the family football game. I am so glad that she had that time to bond with her great granddaughter. I am so mad at myself for not taking a picture of them together on that day...She definitely was very found of Ashlyn. When we visited her in hospice care, she was tired and weak, but opened her eyes and held onto Ashlyn's hand. I know that she prayed so hard for Ashlyn when she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and when she had her surgery. She even made sure that Ashlyn was on the Prayers of the Faithful at her church.

The funeral service was hard on me....not only was I emotional about the loss of my husband's grandmother, but I was reminded of my grandmothers who have both passed away. It makes me teary eyed to think that Meme Martin and Meme Herendeen never got to meet their great grandchildren. I know how much they would have loved Braeden and Ashlyn....I hope they are looking down from heaven watching over them. I know how proud they would be to see how I have grown up and started a family of my own.....

It is hard to believe that my babies' only living great grandmother is now gone. The events of the last month or so are surreal and really makes me stop and think how fragile life is. Luckily, with a little faith, we can make sense of this death and see the bigger picture. While, great grandmother is no longer with us physically, she lives on in our memories of her and in the legacy she left behind through her 4 sons, 11 grandchildren, and 8 (I think?) great grandchildren....not to mention all the other lives she was touched.

Slacker Mom

2009-08-23T23:10:00.006-04:00

Sorry I have been MIA lately......This past week has been busy, stressful, and saddening.

I am back working 2 12-hour night shifts during the weekends. While it feels good to get out of the house, the transition back to the real world is not fun!

Also, on Wednesday, Chris's grandmother passed away : ( I'll post an update/tribute to Great Grandma at a later time.

In the meantime, here's some pics to get over my blog withdrawal!

Great Grandma knew how to get down! Electric Slide at our wedding on May 17, 2008.

It's Braeden!
Ashlyn keeps growing up and getting cuter and cuter!

Celebrity Baby Style

2009-08-17T16:56:00.005-04:00

Sheryl Crow's son Wyatt and Braeden have very similar fashion sense and frugal mommies apparently! Check it out.....Both boys have been photographed (Braeden by the mamarazzi, Wyatt by the paparazzi) in $5 Cherokee t-shirts from Target!

About Time!

2009-08-14T18:28:00.007-04:00

Finally, here are the lost JCP portraits.....They were taken back at the end of June, but I had yet to post them because experience with the photographer was not great....it still bums me out thinking about that day.

It was pouring outside before we came in. We were early, but the photographer still rushed us in and out. We weren't given a chance to brush through our hair. I had picture ideas bookmarked, but the photographer didn't even ask to see them. When I asked to try a certain pose I saw hanging on their wall, she gave this exasperated sigh and reluctantly agreed.

She kept saying that Ashlyn looked funny because she was only half opening her eyes. Hello, she was 3 weeks old! You need to be patient with newborns, and then you will get a good picture. Just clicking the camera and moving on will not result in a good photo.....

I was hoping to get a good family picture. Unfortunately, I hated how I (mainly my hair) looked in all of them. No way was I going to get a picture blown up to display in the living room with my hair wet from the rain and in my face!

Despite how horrible I looked and the crappy photographer, we got some very cute pics of the babies. After all, Braeden is so photogenic, and Ashlyn is such a precious angel.

If we return to JCP for portraits, I will make sure to request Teresa, the girl who took all of the photographs of Braeden as a baby. She is so patient and fun during the entire session. She asks me for my opinions, and isn't afraid to tell me to get my hair out of my face! And she does this crazy sound effect that makes Braeden put the happiest smile on his face.

Daddy's Little Girl

2009-08-13T01:16:00.001-04:00

Awwwww

Bye Bye Uncle Chris

2009-08-12T23:08:00.001-04:00

Uncle Chris (my 17 year old brother) is leaving for Corona, California on Saturday. Tonight, we met up for dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings...our last chance to see him until Christmas! He is doing the Young Americans program where he gets to perform, travel, and take college classes. It is a great opportunity for him....and for us too because I am sure at some point, we will want to head out to Cali to visit!!

Good luck Uncle Chris......Keep in touch!

Breast is Best!

2009-08-03T23:09:00.005-04:00

Finally Forward Facing

2009-08-03T22:49:00.006-04:00

I finally got around to turning Braeden's carseat forward. The old recommendation was over 20lbs and 1 year, and you were all set to turn the carseat forward. But at 1 year, B was not 20 lbs so I left him as he was.

Once, he reached 20 lbs, I kept hearing all this hoopla about the recommendation changing to rear facing as long as possible. Well, I thought, that's easy....B is on the smaller side, he should do just fine having rear facing for another year or so. Or so I thought....

B recently figured out how to wiggle out of his shoulder straps. After many readjustments, I realized that it was not my fault or the carseat's fault. B is too smart for his own good! Whenever he wanted to turn around to see me or grab a toy or sippy cup that fell, he would figure out how to move the clip down in order for him to slip his arms out....My little houdini left me no choice....After all a buckled forward facing toddler is a whole lot safer than an unbuckled rear facing toddler!

I turned the carseat around today and am not looking back (and neither is Braeden anymore!). He seemed to enjoy the new view, and I could found it much easier to pass him a toy or sippy cup whenever he started fussing. I could turn around and look right at him at stop lights, and he got a big kick out of that!

New Ashlyn Pics

2009-08-03T22:12:00.005-04:00

Here are some recent pictures of my beautiful, silly little girl:

Semi-wink!

Stretch!

Crazy Lady!

Tummy Time!

She is getting so big....
Happy in Daddy's arms

Little Class at the Little Gym

2009-08-03T21:59:00.005-04:00

Summer session at the Little Gym is pathetic....only 3 kids in the Birdie class (ages 10-19 months) on Saturday!

B still had fun...that is until he realized that mommy and baby sister were on the other side of the glass window.....

Balloons! One of B's first words....

Braeden and Daddy's bottom half!

Count the kiddies....1....2.....3.....
Uh oh....B saw me!!

Mr. Dramatic trying to climb up the wall....

Bad Mommy Moment

2009-08-03T21:43:00.004-04:00

I am having more and more of these bad mommy moment posts lately! Here is the latest:

Braeden fell asleep in Ashlyn's Boppy Cradle in Comfort Bouncer (love love love this baby product by the way!) with her binky and sans shirt, and I just let him sleep for over 1 1/2 hours. He is still under the max weight limit of 25lbs so at least he won't break one of Ashlyn's favorite baby toys.....

9 Weeks....

2009-08-03T21:33:00.003-04:00

9 weeks old! We're almost in double digits people!!

Time for a Change

2009-08-03T21:10:00.003-04:00

New blog layout courtesy of:

Any feedback on the new changes?

Brother and Sister

2009-07-31T23:00:00.002-04:00

Both my babies love their playmats!

(Braeden May 2008....around 10 weeks old)

(Ashlyn July 2009....around 8 weeks old)

More Scrapblog Fun!

2009-07-31T21:59:00.002-04:00

Wedding Pics

2009-07-31T21:53:00.007-04:00

I finally got the cd of our wedding pics a couple weeks ago. Today, I decided to have some fun with them!

Did I mention that I LOVE scrapblog.com?!

Ashlyn's 2 Month Checkup

2009-07-30T13:06:00.009-04:00

Ashlyn had a couple of doctor's appointments on Tuesday. First, she got up bright and early to go see her neurosurgeon, Dr. S. We were in the examination room for 5 minutes max (gotta love those specialists)! Dr. S. looked at her incisions, felt her fontanelle, measured her head circumference, and inspected the fluid accumulation around her shunt.

He said everything looks great right now, and she is back to the 98% on her head circumference chart (she had been off the charts). He told me not to worry about the ridge along her coronal suture that it is nothing to be concerned about right now. Phew! He did mention that the fluid accumulation around her shunt is not necessarily a bad thing, but he usually sees it decreasing by this point. If the fluid continues to increase around the shunt, he mentioned he might consider a shunt revision in the future. But for now, everything is going just as it should be! We don't have to go back to see Dr. S. for 4 months. And if everything is still going so well, we will just have to have a checkup with him once a year.

Later we went to Ashlyn's 2 month checkup with her pediatrician, Dr. A. Drumroll please......

Here are her most recent stats:
Height: 22 1/4 inches (55%)
Weight: 11lbs 12oz (75%)
Head: 40.8 cm (98%)

In 3 weeks, she gained 1lb 4oz and 3/4 inches. My baby is growing up way too fast!!

The rest of the appointment went well. Dr. A did an assessment, which was completely normal. After talking with me, Dr. A decided to increase Gracie's dose of Zantac to 0.6ml twice a day. At the very end of the appointment, my sweet baby girl had to get 4 shots and 1 oral vaccine! Her reaction to the injections broke my heart....it is so sad to see your baby cry out in pain. Poor girl...but she was brave and only cried for a minute after the nurse was all done.

I cannot get over that my little angel is 2 months old.....And I cannot believe how great she is doing! I feel so blessed that everything is going so much better than I could have ever expected. Ashlyn Grace truly is my amazing little miracle. I feel so grateful that God has blessed us with her. Okay, I need to stop typing because I am already starting to get teary eyed!

2 Months Old Already?!

2009-07-27T14:50:00.002-04:00

I cannot believe that my baby girl is 8 weeks old today!!

And It's Not Even Tax Season!

2009-07-27T13:25:00.007-04:00

I headed to the mall last Friday because Gracie, my little boob-aholic, is growing like a weed. She has a long torso, and right now, 0-3 month size onesies fit perfectly, which means that in a week they will probably be too small.

While browsing the sale racks at Bon Ton (at least 70% off!), I came across this tacky onesie:
Some people might find this to be hilarious. I do not. I think any mother who thinks of their baby as a "tax deduction" should not be allowed to reproduce. Babies are a blessing because of their sweet innocence, the unconditional love they make a mother feel, and the joy they bring a family. Babies can make your life feel complete when all along you didn't think anything was missing.

It's no big secret that Braeden was not a planned pregnancy. I didn't imagine myself having babies for a long time, but as soon as I got pregnant with him, I could not bear to think about my life without my little guy. It's not because I get a break and don't have to pay Uncle Sam as much money each year on taxes....

It's because of how he smiles at me with his adorable dimples, how he says "mama," how he wakes up in the morning with so much life and energy, how he can carry on a whole conversation with himself in gibberish, how he pats my back during hugs....

And now we have Ashlyn Grace who continues to amaze me everyday, who has been through so much already but done so with strength and grace, who smiles at me and melts my heart, who is meeting milestones on time and making me so thankful that my prayers have been answered, who has taught me so much in such a short period of time about what is really important in life...

I could go on and on about how my babies makes me feel lucky to be alive and have a loving family. What they have to offer goes so much deeper than a couple thousand dollars more on my tax rebate check.

The sad thing is that there are mothers who keep popping out kids left and right for the benefits they can be given financially. I'm talking about mothers who abuse the welfare system. I'm talking about mothers who exploit their little ones for their own monetary gain (Jon and Kate....I'm talking about you!). I'm talking about mothers who dress their children in such attire making a mockery of what being a mother should be all about!

Phew, I think I am done venting.....Wow, it is funny how much one tacky onesie can throw me into a frenzy!

P.S. If you do actually find the onesies funny and think it is cute to dress you children up in them, I don't think you are a bad parent! I understand that sense of humors differ, and that an article of clothing does not define what kind of parent you are. But if you seriously think of your child as a tax deduction that is where I stop understanding and start judging.

Our Black Hole....AKA Playroom

2009-07-27T00:53:00.000-04:00

Family Planning

2009-07-22T12:32:00.003-04:00

Found this online and thought it was too hilarious not to post:

Sorry if this offends anyone!

200th

2009-07-21T14:19:00.011-04:00

So this is my 200th post....better make it good, right? Hmmmm.....How about an overabundance of pictures post? After all, that is how I blog best! Here are pictures from this past Saturday at my cousin's graduation party:

Ashlyn all dolled up in her Janie and Jack bathing suit cover up that I transformed into an adorable tunic.Such a cutie pie!

Braeden and Papa Braeden and MeMe Braeden and BuggyBraeden trying to play shuffleboard like the big boys!

Braeden, Daddy, and Travis

Ashlyn cuddles with MeMe

Braeden, Daddy, and Balloon

Braeden, MeMe, and MeMe's Keys

Braeden and Mommy

Cousins!

(well, technically 2nd cousins)

Bad Mommy Moment

2009-07-21T14:05:00.005-04:00

Apparently, Braeden is trying to tell me that I do not put him down for a nap early enough. Here are pictures from today and yesterday:

So naptime will be moved up to 1:30pm tomorrow. Now WWGMD (What would good mommies do?)....move him or let a sleeping baby lie? Yesterday I actually left him on the carpet! Today, he was on hardwood so I transferred him two feet to the couch....Tomorrow, I will try to get him to nap in bed for a change!

Also, these pictures show how Braeden is not dressed nearly as cute (or completely for that matter!) when we are stuck home all day! Although, the matching t-shirt and binky in the first picture is a nice touch....even though he is sans pants!

Happy Baby

2009-07-18T23:23:00.001-04:00

Ashlyn Grace showing off her big smiles!

Portrait Simple

2009-07-18T10:39:00.003-04:00

I am usually very good about not making eye contact with those people in the mall at little kiosks trying to bait you in and sell something. However, on Wednesday, I looked up too soon and made direct eye contact with one of those people. It turned out to be some divine intervention because he wasa new photographer with Portrait Simple . He still needed to do a training session with a newborn baby and would give me two free photos when he was done!

I haven't even blogged yet about my crappy experience at JCPenny's for portraits last month.....I will rant later and post those pictures. They came out cute....no thanks to the photographer who acted like we were wasting her time or something. Unfortunately, my hope of a beautiful family portrait was unfounded.

Anyway, the Portrait Simple photographer took pose after pose of Ashlyn. I just wished he could have taken Braeden's photo too! I could not rationally buy more than the free pictures especially since we spent so much money on the JCP pics. Here are the two free portraits I choose:

I love the simple look and will definitely be returning....and hopefully get a beautiful family portrait! They are more pricey than the department stores, but for the quality it is worth it. Plus, each session is 1 1/2 hours long as opposed to 20 minutes. Yay, no more rushing to photograph a baby and toddler who are unable to follow complex directions!

Another Problem or Just Paranoid?

2009-07-17T23:23:00.007-04:00

I don't know if I just am looking for things to be wrong with Ashlyn or what. The pediatrician's office must be getting sick and tired of my incessant phone calls with my motherly concerns. I swear I do not have Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome!

Most recently, I have noticed a ridge along Ashlyn's skull. It looks like the parietal bone is overlapping the frontal bone at the coronal sutures:

(FYI: Shunt is NOT on this side of head)

Now, I know that the sutures allow the bones to move during childbirth. But I thought the skull pretty quickly recovers after birth (most babies don't have a cone head for long!). Plus, she is over 6 weeks now, and I didn't notice this overlapping until 5 days ago. I also had a c-section so I wouldn't expect her skull to have to go through too much molding...although, it sounded like it was a tight squeeze to get her out of my transverse incision. I overheard the doctor asking for a vacuum retractor, but they never used it.

I read that when the sutures close too early (called craniosynostosis), problems can arise so I decided to call our doctor to let her know about the ridge. The nurse called back and gave me a quick response that it is "probably nothing." She told me that they would follow up on it at her next appointment unless I wanted to schedule it sooner. We go to see our neurosurgeon on July 28th so I decided I could wait to see him.

In the meantime, I have been google happy trying to find out if there is a connection with hydrocephalus/VP shunts and craniosynostosis. I can't find a great deal of information as of yet, but I should step away from the computer as over researching every little detail has driven me crazy in the past. Now, I have myself concerned that my Gracie might need to get a helmet or have another surgery in the future for cranial remodeling...Ugh, the worry never ends!

Money Well Spent (for once!)

2009-07-17T22:35:00.007-04:00

The price tags on most baby products are ridiculous. Rarely, do I feel that anything I buy for the babies is worth the money. My son used his $40 Bumbo chair for like 2 days before he was climbing out of it....so not worth it in my mind. The fancy crib bedding collects dust as Braeden has refused to step one foot near his crib for the last, oh I don't know...16 months! But today I am proud to say that I have splurged on a baby item and turns out it was money very well spent!

The Graco Sweetpeace Newborn Soothing Center arrived earlier than expected (thank you Site to Store!), and we picked it up yesterday. With the easy to understand instructions, I was able to put it together all by myself (much better than the double stroller assembly....I will blog about that later) in record time.

You can see all the great features (from music to motion...heck, there is even an iPod dock!) at their website. However, what is the best testament to the quality of this product is how Ashlyn responded to it. While she isn't a fussy baby at all (knock on wood!), she was soothed right to sleep.

I put her in the swing at her most alert, wide awake time in the evening:

Within five minutes, she was passed out!

One thing about this "Soothing Center" (fancy code word for swing) weirds me out. Mom is supposed to sleep with the swaddle blanket and bear headrest to transfer her scent. I get the concept....the "Soothing Center" addresses all of the senses in a way that makes baby feel like she is back in the womb. I have yet to snuggle up with the swing yet...but it is so soft and cozy, I might just "transfer my scent."

I hearby give the Graco Sweetpeace Newborn Soothing Center my stamp of approval! Totally worth the hefty price tag. Check out Walmart.com for the best deal and free shipping to the store of your choice!

Another BabyLeg Post

2009-07-17T22:19:00.006-04:00

I have posted a couple other times about my obsession with BabyLegs. Throw on a onesie and pair of BabyLeg, and your little one is good to go!

Mama Must Haves is doing an Affordable Baby Organics giveaway....you can choose either a sling or BabyLegs. Tough decision....but I would take the BabyLegs (in the Natural Organic Cotton pictured). Even though the kiddies already have a zillion, I cannot get enough!

I also noticed that Affordable Baby Organics will give you a free pair of BabyLegs with any purchase over $60 if you use the coupon code "FreeBabyLegs60."

Shhhhhh......

2009-07-12T16:14:00.002-04:00

Gracie Girl is sleeping.....

Such a cute belly!

What an angel!

Spray Park

2009-07-10T20:52:00.017-04:00

I had been worrying that it was time to start consider building an ark....but alas God gave us a break from all the rain today! And even better, it was around 85 degrees and sunny.

Despite the chaos that I imagined would ensue, I decided to take Braeden to his first spray park (which I did not know even existed around here until yesterday...I was about to venture out to Geneva until I had the foresight to google "spray parks in Rochester"!).

We actually ended up going to two different spray parks. First, I made the mistake of going by myself with both babies....to a very crowded one on the "West side".....with an even more impressive playground that included barkchips that held B's attention much better.

After an hour of chasing after B and maneuvering my Graco travel system on various terrains it is not made for, we took a much needed lunch break. Afterwards, I picked up Aunt Sarah (my sister in law) to accompany us to another "East side" spray park that was just as cute but half as crowded with no ostentatious playgrounds and barkchips to distract my future ADHD diagnosed child (I am convinced I will have to make the decision whether or not to put him on Ritalin...but I digress).

Here is an excessive amount of pics from today....including some I had fun editing on picnik.com

I Heart Site to Store.....

2009-07-08T11:46:00.010-04:00

So I love Walmart.com for their free site to store shipping option. Yesterday, I finally got around to ordering the Graco Sweatpeace Swing for Ashlyn and our double stroller.

I decided to use Walmart online because:
A. Their prices are almost always much cheaper.
B. Our local Babies R Us never had the Contours Options Double Stroller in stock, and the waiting list was crazy long.
C. If we ordered from other stores, the shipping costs would be crazy high.

The drawbacks:
A. It takes a little longer for the products to arrive than if I chose to have them shipped to my house.
B. I will have to deal with the Walmart workers when I go to pick up the items. In my experience, their employees have been less than friendly or helpful. In order to avoid this, I decided to ship to the regular Walmart and not the SuperWalmart in the city since the smaller ones tend to have nicer employees.

And because no post is ever complete without a picture....Here is what I am expecting to arrive between July 17 and July 24:

I decided to get the Graco Sweatpeace Swing because Braeden torments Ashlyn when she is in her bouncer chair or travel swing. Plus, she is a cuddler so she will love how cozy this is when we aren't able to hold her.

The double stroller was a big debate and a decision that we kept procrastinating on. Ideally, we would have had the stroller before Ashlyn was born....but we couldn't decide if we wanted one like this or a side by side one. After many stops at Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby to "test drive" double strollers, this one came out victorious. I love the various seating options...check out all the features here.

Baby Straight Jackets

2009-07-06T22:41:00.004-04:00

Have I mentioned how much I love swaddle blankets? They are a lifesaver....Ashlyn sleeps best when she is all cuddled up in her Halo swaddle blanket. She is a bit of a wiggle worm and manages to get her arms out of other brands...but the Halo ones are like baby straight jackets! So I give Halo my stamp of approval.....plus, they are doing great work spreading the news about Back to Sleep (from what I understand the creator lost a child to SIDS).

Today, http://www.babysteals.com/ had Halo swaddle blankets up for sale for 50% off! Of course, I snatched one up! I don't think they are sold out either if anyone is in need of a baby straight jacket/most wonderful baby product ever!

Ashlyn, sleeping like an angel in her Halo swaddle blanket:

My little Houdini isn't getting out of this contraption!

5 Weeks Old!?!?

2009-07-06T21:45:00.006-04:00

That's right....Ashlyn is 5 weeks old. Why is the time flying by?!

We had a check-up today at the pediatrician's office. Drumroll please......

Weight.....10 lbs 8 oz

Height......21 1/2 inches

Head.........41 centimeters

My little girl is getting so big!! She gained one whole pound in two weeks. And only with her mommy's milk (I am pretty proud of myself!). Her growth curves are looking good....she is staying right on track in the 75-90% for height and weight. Her head circumference is still bigger than normal and up 1/2 centimeter, but at least her head is not getting much bigger. The shunt seems to be working very well!

Ashlyn continues to have problems with spitting up and occasionally projectile vomits. She gets fussy at times, looks uncomfortable, and arches her back. Just like Braeden, it looks like she has developed a bad case of acid reflux/GERD. Our pediatrician and I decided to start her on Zantac, an H2 blocker. If the medication doesn't work, Ashlyn might need to get a procedure done to take a look at her esophagus and digestive tract to see if something else is going on. But right now, it seems most likely that she has GERD, which the medication will help, and she will grow out of.

One other issue with Ashlyn is that over the weekend, I noticed her tongue had a white patch on it. At first, it just looked like leftover milk...but this morning, it started looking like thrush. I had our pediatrician take a look, and she agreed that Ashlyn has the early stages of thrush. So we got a second prescription for Nystatin.

All and all, her check up went well. She did get another Hep B shot, which she did very well with....just cried for 15 seconds and then was fine when I cuddled her. She is such a good baby!

Does this make me a bad mommy?

2009-07-06T20:58:00.001-04:00

So Braeden was being a brat all day (I can call him that...he is my baby!). In attempts to entertain him, I blew up a beer decoration and let him play with it. Let me tell you....it kept him entertained for quite awhile, which in turn helped me keep my sanity this afternoon. It's not like I gave him a real Red Stripe...I know where to draw the line!

Family Football Frenzy

2009-07-05T22:14:00.003-04:00

I know Braeden looks super cute in that picture....but the real MVP of our touch football game was ME!! Can you believe it? Who knew football was my calling in life? I scored 3 touchdowns!

I had so much fun playing too! I missed out on the memorial day game because I was "too pregnant" (I showed all the naysayers by doing a cartwheel while 38 weeks preggers!). I was looking forward to the opportunity to play and hoped that I would be healed enough to play this tiem around. Well, my c-section incision is a little sore now...but the pain was worth the fun afternoon I had with my family!

And now for some Friends quotes (Ooooo....I should add Friends quotes to my blog more often!).

Monica-"We have to pick captains."

Chandler-"And Tenniels."

Rachel-"Maybe there's some kind of league that we can join."

Phoebe-"Isn't there a national football league or something?"

Joey-"Yeah, but they only play on Mondays and Tuesdays."

Rachel-"Oh shoot, I have to work Mondays."

My Little Patriots!

2009-07-04T22:11:00.001-04:00

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-04T21:43:00.000-04:00

My Patriotic Babes!

The Standoff......

2009-07-04T17:11:00.002-04:00

Braeden and Ginger Pumpkin (my parent's....well at one time MY cat) got into a pretty intense staring contest......Don't worry, the crazy cat (my hubby is convinced she has kitty cat bipolar disorder) did not gouge out B's beautiful brown eyes!

So Corny

2009-07-02T20:28:00.000-04:00

B's first taste of corn on the cob!

Surrender to the Mamarazzi

2009-07-02T20:24:00.004-04:00

"Don't shoot! I surrender!"

Look What B Found at the Park

2009-07-02T20:00:00.001-04:00

Seriously...who does that?!

My Guys Love the Playground

2009-07-01T20:34:00.001-04:00

"Hey, guys...Wait for me!"

Braeden's favorite part of the park: barkchips!
"But Mom, I don't wanna wear my shoes..."
My baby behind bars!

Apparently I was supposed to be ready to catch B...Whoops!

SWING!

My husband, the swinger (in his dreams!)

Barkchips

Such a cutie

My guys throwing barkchips at me....

I can't wait until Ashlyn is older and we can retaliate!

So excited...

That's a far as he got...

B loved this swing...but it was too big for him!

And the shoes never stay on long....

Postpartum Random Ramblings....

2009-07-01T14:30:00.008-04:00

After one month, I finally worked up the courage and tried on my pre-preggo jeans. Miraculously, they fit perfectly! I was kind of hoping they wouldn't because I love the oh-so-comfy elastic waistpants of maternity jeans and pajama pants.

My postpartum support band (pictured above) deserves come credit I suppose!

After initial celebration that my jeans fit once again, I am now mourning the loss of my baby bump. The flab in place of where Ashlyn used reside is not nearly as cute and does not kick back. As much as I would complain towards the end, I love being pregnant....love the belly that comes along with it and all the attention that big pregnant belly brings.

The aftermath of pregnancy is not nearly as exciting. Sure my jeans fit, but my skinny jeans....now that is another story. And my belly is still tender and feels numb from the c-section. The only attention I get is random strangers wondering "hmmm...is she pregnant or just fat?"

Sure, stretch marks fade and ab muscles can get their tone back....but why must it take months to accomplish? If I am not allowed to have another baby for a long time (per my hubby and my rationale side), I want my body back dammit...and I want it back NOW!

I probably should be hitting the gym instead of sitting on my booty blogging ranting. If I get into a routine and get a chance to have a daily shower while raising my two babies, then I will consider heading back to the RAC. After all, they still debit my checking account roughly $40 each month, and I seriously have not been to the gym in at least 300 days. That is $480 that goes to waste annually......

Yeah, I think I definitely need to start making an effort. I don't even care about the skinny jeans anymore. In this economy, I am going to get my money's worth from that gym membership. Yoga....sign me up! Pilates....I could get into that! Spinning....let's do it! I can stop showering at home and use their facilities everyday. They offer cheap babysitting for babies 4 months and older...I definitely will need to hit up those services! And instead of buying my trashy gossip mags at the Wegmans check-outs, I will leisurely use an elliptical and borrow a big stack of their collection. Hell, maybe I could cancel our cable and just watch my favorite TV shows at the gym (I don't think Chris will be on board with that one!). Sounds like a plan.....

And yet here I am still online........Now, if only they replaced the TV sets on the exercise bikes with laptops. I wonder if the RAC has a suggestion box?!