Tornado Season

You know...it is tornado season here in Texas. I just had no idea that it would happen inside my own home. This is not a weather system that I experienced. It is a 2 and 3 year olds path of destruction. OK, so here is what happened. I work from home one day a week (the hardest day of the week for me I might add). I am on the phone with work as that is a major part of my job function. My kids are upstairs playing happily. I think..."that is good. There is nothing that they can get into trouble". All doors are locked to any room they should not go in. WRONG! I go upstairs to check on them and the tornado has hit their room. I find my "EASTER" box that was ready to go to the attic completely torn apart. The have broken several ceramic eggs within the box. So I begin to pick up the room...screaming at them I might add. Then I find a little box...another little box...and another. What is this, I ask? OMG!!! It is the lightbulbs I had brought upstairs earlier to replace in the boy's rooms. There is shards of glass everywhere!!! Both of their feets have tiny cuts and there is drops of blood on the mattress and carpet. OUCH! How could they not cry as they are cutting their feet! I am so lucky that they did not try to eat any of it. I should be happy at this moment that they did not get hurt, but I have to tell you that I have STEAM coming out of my ears! I am furious. If I had owned a camera that worked, I would post the picture for the sake of understanding this mess. All I could do is have them sit in TIME OUT while I clean it up which they did without argument. I think they knew I had met my limit for the day. I manage to cut up my feet a little bit, but I finally get it cleaned up. Let's pray the vacuum works the same after this disaster. I don't know what it is...I just can't work from home in peace. I have to keep my eyes on them at all times. It is NEVER a dull moment!

Robin

I really miss her. I started the evening out reading her blog and am always so impressed with her witty-ness. I miss her being next door. I miss her being less than a phone call away. I miss her Godly advice. I miss that she brings out the best in me and me wanting to be my best. I thank God she entered my life and I pray she will continue to touch lives anywhere she goes. It is a true blessing to know and love her! Thank you, my friend!!!

2008 will be great!

I believe wholeheartedly that 2008 is going to be a great year...though I am entering the terrible 2's. Holden is now ordering us around (go get it, get out of my seat, I want Chicken, etc). Ok, I did not add that to the picture when I set out that 2008 was going to have great things. Regardless, I am excited for the great things that will happen this year. Already, Barrett is saying many words, Holly(not happy about that one), nose (you have to hear it to know how cute that sounds), eyes, no (not a favorite), Bubba (as reference to sweet little Holden). I just hope I can continue to work on not losing control and letting them get the best of me so that they get the 'best' of me!

My marriage is as strong as ever. It did not waiver much during these first couple years of these babies' lives, but it did get strained as it should be. We are working on our 'time' together and trying to make sure it is good. I love him more than ever. We are approaching 10 years this June and it is so hard to believe. It has flown by regardless of the trials we have experienced. I am praying for the next 10 years + to be even better. I have definitely met my soul mate.

Happy Valentines Day, honey! Life is grand!

Sweet slices of life...

A few moments to remember for the past month for me...Holden is referring to Mosquito bites as "Cheeto Bites". He will also unknowingly refer to the two on his chest that are permanently there as Cheeto bites as well. They just don't itch. Barrett is becoming quite the dare devil at his young age. At 16 mos he is climbing up the ladder to slide down the slide. He climbs on chairs, couches, stools, tables, just about anything. The newest thing that he decided to do around the first week of November is climb out of his bed. Ok...just so you know, Branden nor I are ready to fight this fight. Apparently he learns quickly. Holden climbs in and out of his bed to play with him and Barrett just picked up on that technique so quickly. I remedied part of that today...the GATE. I put a gate in front of his door. When he climbs out and opens the door...shabang, he is trapped...well, kind of. He sits up there rocking the gate trying to get it loose. He will throw every belonging in his room out to get my attention. And scream...mmmmooooommmm! Oh well, at least he is not going to get hurt this way. Holden went to a 'big boy bed' during the summer. We have to lay down with him at night until he falls asleep so we have this wonderful pallet by his bed. It IS quite cozy! I don't know of any of us that have laid with him that hasn't fallen asleep at night. Luckily the lunch nap he will go down on his own. This too shall pass!

Barrett is now speaking more words, though not very clearly. He can say Mommmmmm, Dad-uh, Drace (that would be Grace) & JuJu. His imitations of animals leave a lot to your imagination, but he is consistent in his repeating what the sound should be. He can point out all of the family members, just not say their names. I believe his favorite words are 'uh uh uh' while he rubs his hand on his chest asking for more and please at the same time. Thank God for sign language. At least I have been able to communicate the essentials with the boys while they are learning to speak.

Holden on the other hand is quite the chatter box. Most people look to me for translation, but quickly realize he is making complete sentences and sense with his words if you pay attention to the context of the conversation. He is a smart boy...I have the right to say that since I am the Mom. I am not quite sure I like his use of the word NO...hopefully this phase will pass soon.

Wow...i have blinked and we are closing in on Christmas! I am sure there are many moments for me to remember as this year comes to an end! I continue to count my blessings!!!

Balancing Act

Wow! It has been over a year since I last posted. It has been a tremendous whirlwind of a year! Barrett is now 15 months and just started walking (like frankenstein baby, I might add)! He is such a sweet boy! I cut his beautiful curls off this week. The key word here is beautiful. He got called a girl a couple of times so it was time for them to go. Holden is absolutely adorable and so smart! He is a sponge and it is just awesome to watch him grow. I think I am going to use my blog to help me to remember the moments in life that I forget. It is hard to remember yesterday, much less a year ago when Holden was at this stage that Barrett is entering. I just don't want to forget that in the process of trying to balance everything out...job, kids, running the house, social and personal needs that I have a wonderful, healthy family. These are the blessings in the balance.

Here are the moments this week I want to remember:
Barrett walking like Frankenstein and riding his little car by himself. Holden pushing Barrett or Barrett walking behind Holden on the car and squeeling in pure delight of the fun he is having. I had to get that on video. Barrett climbing up on anything he can...mostly on top of the table. Holden is sleeping in his 'big boy bed' with some comforting from Mom and Dad laying with him till he is sleeping sweetly and soundly. Holden grabbing my purse and bringing it to me because he wants to go shopping (OUCH!). Barrett pouring out an entire box of Cheerios on the den floor so he can play in them. Holden learning/singing from church 'If you are happy and you know it!" It just keeps getting better!!

Bye for now...I will post more here as they arise.

How time flies!

It is now almost 12 weeks since my newest bundle of joy arrived! I can't believe it! I just hope we are closer to 'sleeping through the night'. I am counting down the days as if there is a magic specific day that Barrett will sleep through the night. I think that I feel like once that happens, we can get on with life. I am missing my connection with friends. My husband and I try to be social, but find that we are coming up short because it is mostly just connecting with family and you can't replace a 'best friend'. I am feeling somewhat disconnected from my best friend Robin and am looking forward to the time when I can make more of an effort to see her more often. It especially comes to light when I go out walking in our neighborhood and realize I don't have a friend walking beside me to discuss life's events. Though the downpour of rain distracted me near the end of the walk, I really miss that time together. It was beneficial in more than one way...mostly emotional.It is amazing how much more we can handle if we just have an avenue to discuss, sometimes a spouse, but most of the time a friend. As we moved further apart, I don't want the actual friendship to do the same. Praise to friendships...prayer to help me work harder on maintaining them!

Baby Weight

What a struggle...mental that is. I want to be back to my pre-pregnancy weigth...fast! I know I need to give it time, but I just want to see SOME progress. The only thing I see shrinking are my stretch marks. LOL! I went on a search this morning for a diet that I can do. I am not sure I can do any of them...sad story isn't it?! We have given up excess sugars (i.e. desserts) and sodas and still nothing. That was about 4 weeks ago. I need a quick fix and I don't think it exists. How about Weight Watchers...great program..slow results. How about LOW CARB? I am miserable but it works. I even thought about diet pills which I haven't taken in about 10 years. Is Metabolife still even around? What to do...just keep pressing forward I guess. I think I need a support group or something to help motivate and make me accountable.

How peaceful!

my boys