Monday, March 28, 2011
Day 18
Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.
Photo obtained from: http://sheswrite.wordpress.com/author/sheswrite/page/2/
My biggest insecurity other than my postpartum midsection haha is that I'm not always great at juggling everything I have going on in my life. I'm always worried that I'm neglecting one aspect and should be putting more effort into this or that or both!
Day 17
Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.
I have been so slacking with my blog lately.
I also totally forgot about my 30 day thing! I have been busy planning our summer away. I hope to squeeze every drop out of this summer and our lives.
Day 17
I have been so slacking with my blog lately.
I also totally forgot about my 30 day thing! I have been busy planning our summer away. I hope to squeeze every drop out of this summer and our lives.
Day 17
The earthquakes in Japan have had a huge impact on my life lately, not only because my brother lives in Japan which was terrifying. My mom is a worrier and she worries about him a lot, but when I heard about this devastating event I couldn't breathe. One of my teachers once told me that there are two great motivators in life: fear and love. These motivators were very true through this event. Not only for my brother, but for my fellow humans as well. I can't imagine the devastation and strength these people have to experience. I'm so grateful for my life and the security of being where we are. I can't do much currently for these people except prayers, but there will be plenty.
Friday, March 25, 2011
I have a lot to say.
I sometimes have trouble getting it all down.
Sometimes I can't find the words, and sometimes I just can't find the time.
It's usually the later.
My life has been packed to the fullest this week, and I just now realized that tomorrow is Friday, because it has gone by that fast.
Raigan had her 15 month check up yesterday and she is 22 lbs 4 ounces which puts her in the 45th percentile for weight and 31 inches which puts her in the 17th percentile for height.
Riley was always super ahead of all developmental delays, and I'm still under the assumption that Raigan and Riley are the same person and will do things at the same times. When will I learn?
Raigan still is not walking. She cruises and pushes walk toys but has yet to take more than a few steps independently. I thought it was a little late, but love that she is still my baby and doing things that babies do. When I told our pediatrician that it was a concern to me she said yeah, if she isn't walking by a month from now that they would begin some physical therapy at our home.
Sounded good, until... she began to ask about Raigan's other development and cognitive abilities. I'm not sure why, but it was like a punch in the stomach. Not that she was asking these question, but the fact that my baby has the same chances of having issues, troubles, struggles- frankly I don't even know what to call it, as any other child.
That motherly instinct/passion/fierceness began to churn within me and all these ideas began to swirl in my mind of ways that I can protect and help my baby.
Very thankfully I was able to respond to our pediatrician that our sweet second born is excelling in every other developmental category. She speaks 3+ word sentences that are not super clear, but definitely identifiable by others, like:
"I want to get down!"
"Thank you"
"I want a dink" (I want a drink)
"Take bath"
Along with these phrases, her vocabulary is very extensive and she will repeat nearly every word you ask her to.
She follows directions and understands language and even follows suit behind her sister of saying "No" when she doesn't want to do something you ask. (I can wait until their both teenager)
She points, climbs, and crawls like mad, faster than I have ever seen any other baby.
We are right on track with everything but the walking thing, which I think may just be a confidence thing for her. I mean this child even knows how to unlock my iPhone and use it to an extent, I think we'll be just fine, but boy is a feeling like no other at the thought that something could possibly be wrong with your child.
I sometimes feel guilty about how I take our girls health and happiness for granted. Especially when I leave Cincinnati Children's Hospital where I'm doing my Leadership Practicum for school. But I squish that thought because I know I am always so grateful for it and that these little girls are apart of my life.
I sometimes have trouble getting it all down.
Sometimes I can't find the words, and sometimes I just can't find the time.
It's usually the later.
My life has been packed to the fullest this week, and I just now realized that tomorrow is Friday, because it has gone by that fast.
Raigan had her 15 month check up yesterday and she is 22 lbs 4 ounces which puts her in the 45th percentile for weight and 31 inches which puts her in the 17th percentile for height.
Riley was always super ahead of all developmental delays, and I'm still under the assumption that Raigan and Riley are the same person and will do things at the same times. When will I learn?
Raigan still is not walking. She cruises and pushes walk toys but has yet to take more than a few steps independently. I thought it was a little late, but love that she is still my baby and doing things that babies do. When I told our pediatrician that it was a concern to me she said yeah, if she isn't walking by a month from now that they would begin some physical therapy at our home.
Sounded good, until... she began to ask about Raigan's other development and cognitive abilities. I'm not sure why, but it was like a punch in the stomach. Not that she was asking these question, but the fact that my baby has the same chances of having issues, troubles, struggles- frankly I don't even know what to call it, as any other child.
That motherly instinct/passion/fierceness began to churn within me and all these ideas began to swirl in my mind of ways that I can protect and help my baby.
Very thankfully I was able to respond to our pediatrician that our sweet second born is excelling in every other developmental category. She speaks 3+ word sentences that are not super clear, but definitely identifiable by others, like:
"I want to get down!"
"Thank you"
"I want a dink" (I want a drink)
"Take bath"
Along with these phrases, her vocabulary is very extensive and she will repeat nearly every word you ask her to.
She follows directions and understands language and even follows suit behind her sister of saying "No" when she doesn't want to do something you ask. (I can wait until their both teenager)
She points, climbs, and crawls like mad, faster than I have ever seen any other baby.
We are right on track with everything but the walking thing, which I think may just be a confidence thing for her. I mean this child even knows how to unlock my iPhone and use it to an extent, I think we'll be just fine, but boy is a feeling like no other at the thought that something could possibly be wrong with your child.
I sometimes feel guilty about how I take our girls health and happiness for granted. Especially when I leave Cincinnati Children's Hospital where I'm doing my Leadership Practicum for school. But I squish that thought because I know I am always so grateful for it and that these little girls are apart of my life.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Last spring my cousin's wife that lives down the street asked me if I wanted to start a garden. I thought she was nuts (sorry if you read here Liz :). I loved her idea and really wish I could have, but I had a newborn and was in full swing of a semester of nursing classes. The last thing I needed was another things to take care of.
But this year?
Since life has slowed down quite a bit, Raigan is 15 months old and the newness of being a mother to two has drastically worn off, I'm taking it on.
I did get a little carried away at the store when picking out seeds and bought pretty much every variety of everything:
I was so unsure of when to plant the seeds because the weather is so unpredictable around these parts. I waited until two weeks ago, thinking and reading on the package that they would take 7-14 days to sprout. Well here they are 3 days later:
You should see them now! (I don't have a picture... yet) They must be super seeds or I'm just the armature gardener that I am and don't know any better. I didn't think they would be so large so fast. I hope the night weather around here continues, because they will soon be too big for these little cells I thought would be there home for a few weeks, at least.
I'll be satisfied even if one little fruit or vegetable is produced in our garden. The real thing that I hope to take home from this is that our children can see where our food truly comes from and the process that it takes. So wish me luck!
But this year?
Since life has slowed down quite a bit, Raigan is 15 months old and the newness of being a mother to two has drastically worn off, I'm taking it on.
I did get a little carried away at the store when picking out seeds and bought pretty much every variety of everything:
I was so unsure of when to plant the seeds because the weather is so unpredictable around these parts. I waited until two weeks ago, thinking and reading on the package that they would take 7-14 days to sprout. Well here they are 3 days later:
You should see them now! (I don't have a picture... yet) They must be super seeds or I'm just the armature gardener that I am and don't know any better. I didn't think they would be so large so fast. I hope the night weather around here continues, because they will soon be too big for these little cells I thought would be there home for a few weeks, at least.
I'll be satisfied even if one little fruit or vegetable is produced in our garden. The real thing that I hope to take home from this is that our children can see where our food truly comes from and the process that it takes. So wish me luck!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Monkey
Monkey
See
Monkey
Do!
I fall in love with this child daily.
The eyelashes.
The tiny messy little piggy tails.
The sweet taps she pats on my back.
The tight squeezy hugs.
The way she yells at her sister.
I'm in love.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
I love Saturday Mornings
There is just something so awesome about a morning where we can all sleep in wake up with Barbies in our hands:
and a four year old begging you to play. Only to realize that you have to be at swim lessons in exactly 8 minutes. I had envisioned the 4 of us waking each Saturday morning and going to the indoor pool at our community center as a family when I signed my first born up for Saturday morning swim lessons.
It has yet to happen.
We are not morning people, at all.
If I had it my way, I would sleep until noon every day. It's not that I'm lazy (but sometimes I am), it's just that I thrive in the evening and night. I feel awake and alert and am more human like in contrast to my morning zombie like state. That's one of the many reasons I chose nursing, you can work any time because nurses are always needed.
Anyway, back to Saturday mornings where linger in bed as long as possible and breakfast is actually closer to lunch time. I just love it. I love that the weekend if ahead, full of possibilities. Empty pages to pack full of memories and getting things accomplished.
and a four year old begging you to play. Only to realize that you have to be at swim lessons in exactly 8 minutes. I had envisioned the 4 of us waking each Saturday morning and going to the indoor pool at our community center as a family when I signed my first born up for Saturday morning swim lessons.
It has yet to happen.
We are not morning people, at all.
If I had it my way, I would sleep until noon every day. It's not that I'm lazy (but sometimes I am), it's just that I thrive in the evening and night. I feel awake and alert and am more human like in contrast to my morning zombie like state. That's one of the many reasons I chose nursing, you can work any time because nurses are always needed.
Anyway, back to Saturday mornings where linger in bed as long as possible and breakfast is actually closer to lunch time. I just love it. I love that the weekend if ahead, full of possibilities. Empty pages to pack full of memories and getting things accomplished.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Today.
Today I'm 24. On one hand I don't feel like I'm a year older at all and on the other hand I feel like I'm 34.
I sent an email to the principle of the school we intend to send Riley for kindergarten and then right after I died. My baby and kindergarten? It can't be happening yet! and luckily it won't be until the end of next year. They register in January though, that's a little ahead of the game isn't it? So in January of 2012 I will be signing my little sugar rump up for her journey through grade school. It's tough to handle that it's less than a year away.
I feel like 24 is the perfect year to fulfill some of my dreams and goals. I will graduate college in my 24th year, which may sound a little later for some, but I did have 2 kids in the mix of it all. I'll be signing my baby up for kindergarten in my 24th year. I'll be loving the heck out of life and breathing in every day of my 24th year.
I'll remind myself (hopefully) that "today is gift!" "today is a gift!" "today if a gift!"
I plan to cross some more things off my bucket list too, I crossed this off my list yesterday:
Get Married to the love of my life
Have childrenBuy a house with a large back yard
I sent an email to the principle of the school we intend to send Riley for kindergarten and then right after I died. My baby and kindergarten? It can't be happening yet! and luckily it won't be until the end of next year. They register in January though, that's a little ahead of the game isn't it? So in January of 2012 I will be signing my little sugar rump up for her journey through grade school. It's tough to handle that it's less than a year away.
I feel like 24 is the perfect year to fulfill some of my dreams and goals. I will graduate college in my 24th year, which may sound a little later for some, but I did have 2 kids in the mix of it all. I'll be signing my baby up for kindergarten in my 24th year. I'll be loving the heck out of life and breathing in every day of my 24th year.
I'll remind myself (hopefully) that "today is gift!" "today is a gift!" "today if a gift!"
I plan to cross some more things off my bucket list too, I crossed this off my list yesterday:
-------------------> Plant a tree
Impact someone's life
Graduate college (almost there!)
Leave the country
Go on an African safari
Visit Paris
Donate my first paycheck as a nurse to St. Jude
Make money taking pictures
Understand organic chemistry
Hike a mountain
Run a marathon
Go white water rafting
Go snorkeling
Shoot a gun
See the seven wonders
Go to carnival in Brazil
Take my girls to Disney World
Visit all 50 states
Be a big sister
Milk a cow
This is the best picture I have of the tree in the ground haha, but it's a red maple and I hope it we will get to watch it grow with our girls and myself in the years to come.
This is the best picture I have of the tree in the ground haha, but it's a red maple and I hope it we will get to watch it grow with our girls and myself in the years to come.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
My spring break ends today since I have to work all weekend.
I'm having a yard sale this morning and I'm even selling my copy of this:
how appropriate right? I just want to have what we need and I'd rather have peace of mind than all this stuff. Sometimes I say we either need a bigger house or less stuff, but our house is plenty big, so I'm getting rid of some of the stuff. I think it really does bring peace when you aren't smothered in junk all the time.
My husband took the girls up to swim lessons while I man the sale, which is dead at the moment. I'm so thankful for him and how much he helps with the house and the girls. He's a great guy.
Yesterday we went to the museum and I did buy a tree to plant. We lived life yesterday and soaked it all in. I soaked in all the smiles, laughs, kisses, and the sunshine. Boy, did I soak the sunshine in. I wish it would stay and never go away.
I forgot a stroller or a baby carrier and since Raigan still isn't walking on her own yet I had to carried her all day. I love getting to snuggle her all day when she wasn't playing in the sand, but my arms are extra sore today.
We explored the cave that they have in the science museum and Riley was terrified of it for whatever reason.
She investigated some rocks and kept telling me that she wants to be a Paleontologist, a pretty impressive word for a 4 year old I think.
We had a great day! and today will be great too!
I'm having a yard sale this morning and I'm even selling my copy of this:
how appropriate right? I just want to have what we need and I'd rather have peace of mind than all this stuff. Sometimes I say we either need a bigger house or less stuff, but our house is plenty big, so I'm getting rid of some of the stuff. I think it really does bring peace when you aren't smothered in junk all the time.
My husband took the girls up to swim lessons while I man the sale, which is dead at the moment. I'm so thankful for him and how much he helps with the house and the girls. He's a great guy.
Yesterday we went to the museum and I did buy a tree to plant. We lived life yesterday and soaked it all in. I soaked in all the smiles, laughs, kisses, and the sunshine. Boy, did I soak the sunshine in. I wish it would stay and never go away.
I forgot a stroller or a baby carrier and since Raigan still isn't walking on her own yet I had to carried her all day. I love getting to snuggle her all day when she wasn't playing in the sand, but my arms are extra sore today.
We explored the cave that they have in the science museum and Riley was terrified of it for whatever reason.
She investigated some rocks and kept telling me that she wants to be a Paleontologist, a pretty impressive word for a 4 year old I think.
We had a great day! and today will be great too!
Day 26
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you.
The relationship my girls share.
Their love.
Their bond.
The way they help each other out.
The way Raigan gives Riley hugs and sits in timeout with her when she gets in trouble.
Their fights.
And everything in between.
I'm so glad they have one another.
I Often Get Asked...
I often get asked...
how I get good pictures of our girls...
Where the lighting is right...
they are both looking at the camera...
where neither of them are crying...
both are smiling...
My trick is to just keep on clicking...
and out of over 100 pictures, I maybe get one good one:
I may be bias, but I think they are all pretty cute. Even this one:
haha I love these girls.
They push me to my limits and force me to love above all else.
how I get good pictures of our girls...
Where the lighting is right...
they are both looking at the camera...
where neither of them are crying...
both are smiling...
My trick is to just keep on clicking...
and out of over 100 pictures, I maybe get one good one:
I may be bias, but I think they are all pretty cute. Even this one:
haha I love these girls.
They push me to my limits and force me to love above all else.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Day 16
Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.
Kelle Hampton.
She is a mommy blogger of Enjoying the Small Things.
She is desperately in love with life and her girls, one of which has down syndrome. Her positive view on life is just contagious and inspiring. Plus her photographs are easy on the eyes.
I Had A Dream
I had a dream last night that the 4th of July and Halloween were on the same day and we were busy celebrating the 4th of July with fireworks and cookouts. We were walking home when we saw a bunch of trick or treaters and it was already too late! We had missed Halloween!
I think this dream could mean a few things. The seasons here in Northern Kentucky are messed up. Some days in October it's 75 degrees and sometimes it's snowing. Recently, it was 70 degrees and now it's snowing.
Either that, or that our lives are moving by way too fast. I love holidays and creating memories. I love it because I want to live every little last drop of life and experience it for what it is... a gift. I have the biggest fear (which is maybe why I'm dreaming about it- isn't it true that we dream about our fears?) of missing out on life. I want to experience everything. I want to be able to say I did that, and I went there, and I lived and loved this and that. I want that for our girls too. I want their lives to be so packed full of, well life.
Tomorrow I'm not going to clean the house or worry about the laundry, although those things are important. We have more important things to do, like buy a tree to plant and hit up the children's museum.
I think this dream could mean a few things. The seasons here in Northern Kentucky are messed up. Some days in October it's 75 degrees and sometimes it's snowing. Recently, it was 70 degrees and now it's snowing.
Either that, or that our lives are moving by way too fast. I love holidays and creating memories. I love it because I want to live every little last drop of life and experience it for what it is... a gift. I have the biggest fear (which is maybe why I'm dreaming about it- isn't it true that we dream about our fears?) of missing out on life. I want to experience everything. I want to be able to say I did that, and I went there, and I lived and loved this and that. I want that for our girls too. I want their lives to be so packed full of, well life.
Tomorrow I'm not going to clean the house or worry about the laundry, although those things are important. We have more important things to do, like buy a tree to plant and hit up the children's museum.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
A Little Secret
I'm going to let you in on one of my deepest darkest secrets....
I do not like to write Thank You cards.
It's horrible, I know. It's not that I'm not grateful, because surely I am. I just think it's a silly concept. Don't people already know that I'm really grateful that people love my kid enough to come and celebrate the day she blessed our lives? I think they do. I mean that's why I put all the work I do into their parties, because it's my small way to show gratitude for these people being apart of my daughters' lives and loving them the way they all do, whatever the relation.
Do they not already know from the many sincere "thanks for comings" "thanks!" and "we hope you had a good time"s? I surely hope so.
Perhaps the thank you card is that last punch that lets the gift givers that you really really are thankful. haha or perhaps not, and they look at it for a split second and then throw it away.
If you are reading this and have ever gifted me or my children anything, please know that I am very grateful, even if I didn't send a Thank You card. I'm even more grateful for the thought than they actual gift.
I do not like to write Thank You cards.
It's horrible, I know. It's not that I'm not grateful, because surely I am. I just think it's a silly concept. Don't people already know that I'm really grateful that people love my kid enough to come and celebrate the day she blessed our lives? I think they do. I mean that's why I put all the work I do into their parties, because it's my small way to show gratitude for these people being apart of my daughters' lives and loving them the way they all do, whatever the relation.
Do they not already know from the many sincere "thanks for comings" "thanks!" and "we hope you had a good time"s? I surely hope so.
Perhaps the thank you card is that last punch that lets the gift givers that you really really are thankful. haha or perhaps not, and they look at it for a split second and then throw it away.
If you are reading this and have ever gifted me or my children anything, please know that I am very grateful, even if I didn't send a Thank You card. I'm even more grateful for the thought than they actual gift.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
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