I guess that I am in the mood to blog this week because I am on #3 for the week and it is just Wednesday. I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about life. Maybe it is the Beth Moore bible study that I am doing or maybe it is just that I feel like time is quickly ticking by. On my way to do a Mary Kay table on Saturday a thought popped into my head that triggered a whole string of thoughts. I do have to warn you that this post is rather random! And this is how it went....
The first thought was about Kellen and instantly it made me smile. Then I started thinking about all the things that he does that makes me smile. When you walk into his room in the morning after he wakes up and he looks at you and gives you the BIGGEST smile! Any time that he spots his daddy he will get a huge smile! When he sees Holly (our poor kitty that he tortures endlessly and she puts up with it for the most part) he smiles and then cries when she runs away from him. The way that he looks so proud when he accomplishes something that we as adults take for granted, like getting up and sitting on a chair or the couch. The way he dances to any kind of music whether is is full on dancing or just bobbing his head like his daddy! I could go on and on, but pretty much any thing he does besides the horrible tantrums that he is throwing these days, but even some of them are funny when he gets his pouty face on! So my #1 thing that makes me smile is Kellen.
Now #2 would have to be Matt, but don't tell him I said that! He tells the corniest jokes and I try so hard not to laugh at them. I know what you are thinking that statement is not very nice, but the more you laugh the more he gets egged on to tell more. Now what is worse is when you are at a dinner table with Matt, his dad and his grandfather. The jokes get pretty bad...like the most recent joke (that he got from the children's show Sid the Science Kid) is "What kind of underwear do storm clouds wear?" "THUNDERWEAR" He was so disappointed when I knew the answer because I had seen the episode before! Then there is his favorite joke of all time...."What is the only bee that produces milk?" "BOO-BEES" When my mom moved in with us when she moved to GA a couple of years ago, it was bad....I mean my mom would laugh and laugh at Matt. Now they text jokes back and forth to each other! Now I know it sounds like that I am totally rolling my eyes as I am writing this, BUT I wouldn't have it any other way! All of the crazy things that Matt does, makes me smile and maybe not always on the outside like it should, because of lately I have been a little bit of a grouch and not that easy to live with.
#3 This one is more thinking about memories if that makes sense. One of the most valued things to me is time with my family and friends. I have some great memories with each of my friends and family member's. So yes those people make me smile, but when I get time to daydream and think back over my life I have so many memories. Like mixing skittles and beer in high school, because I wanted to be cooler than drinking a wine cooler, but hated the taste of beer! Or even just the giggles on the phone with my sister. My sister is about 8 years younger than me and I have been in GA for 12 years, so a lot of our relationship has been built over the phone. Most of conversations consist of giggling! I love her what can I say!
#4 would probably be kids in general. Any baby can make my heart melt and smile nonstop. Many time I catch myself just staring and watching mom's with their babies when we are out in public. One of my favorite things is when I am out shopping and looking at the kids in the carts...they almost always have a BIG smile for me. It was something that I just started to notice...before I was "so busy"...not sure what I was "so busy" with but I missed everything that was happening around me. So just seeing the kids smile and taking the time to notice that is huge to me!
#5 is animals...any animal, but especially my cats. When my cats come and snuggle with me, it makes my heart smile. I still remember the days of hanging out on the couch and ready the entire day while snuggling with my kitties....now I say remember those days because that was before Kellen. Now it is only hanging on the couch and reading well never...during nap time it is make phone calls, blogging, facebook, email, laundry, and then maybe clean up the house if I have time. And there is the days where I say forget it all and nap! :o)
So this ends my random post. I have been struggling with finding the simple things in life. I want to stop and smell the roses and I felt like this random string of thoughts was a good start to finding the simplicity in life. I also thought that putting down on paper would help me take a step back and remember them!
6/22/10
Meeting Gabriella Joy...
Gabriella Joy
Our good friends Glenn & Sarah have received an answered prayer in the last week. Although a little dramatic at times they were chosen to adopt a little girl. After a lot of back and forth of changing her mind the birth mom finally found peace with her decision. So last week Sarah and Glenn welcomed a little girl, Gabriella Joy. She was born on June 13th and is so beautiful. She stole my heart on last Thursday when we got to meet her!
I'm in love!
Matt holding Gabriella ( I think we need a little Girl)!
I could hold her all day long. She is beyond beautiful...her black hair and beautiful skin. She is such a little cuddle bug. She has her days and nights all mixed up, so we were trying to wake her up...needless to say no matter what I did it was not until Mommy changed her diaper that she woke up and boy did she get mad!
We got to hear her test out her lungs!
This was Kellen during the visit!
6/21/10
Happy Daddy's Day!
We enjoyed a wonderful day! We let daddy sleep in (well for 1 hour longer). I made pancakes and we enjoyed a family breakfast! We gave Daddy his presents...he got a polo, a picture frame (that says #1 Dad), and a movie I did of pictures over the last year! I can't believe how much Kellen has changed! There were so many good memories....like the first veggie, when he started crawling, when he started walking, his first holiday season! It was like watching him grow up all over again! I cried (happy tears) a couple of times while making the DVD!
Then Daddy took Kellen to Wal-Mart to get groceries for dinner! I stayed home and cleaned...it is amazing to me how dirty our floors get! :o) Uncle Andy, Cousin Ansley , Papa and Mimi came over for dinner. We grilled out and boy was it yummy! I know, I know it was Father's day and Matt had to cook! But it just wouldn't be right if we did anything else but grill out! It was a wonderful day!
It is so much fun to watch Matt with Kellen. Kellen is now getting to the point where he is starting to copy Matt. It is too cute! Matt is a great daddy! He is a huge help in taking care of Kellen (Kellen is SO busy these days, I am so worn out by the end of the day)! My dad was never very hands on so it is great to see Matt as a father. He is just how I pictured.
I knew pretty much from day one that I wanted to marry Matt, but what solidified it was the fact that was when we were dating and I was working as a nanny, Matt was over visiting and the kids were peeking under the door and giggling. Matt got down on the floor and was looking at them. The giggles were so cute! :o) That was probably the moment that I feel head over heals for Matt and there was no turning back! Fast forward many years to today and I am able to watch the man I fell in love be the father that I knew he would be. He really is a super dad! I know that I don't tell him that enough.
6/7/10
16 Months!
Kellen and uncle Charles playing the drum!
Once again time has ran away with me! I can't believe that our baby (that is not a baby anymore) turned 16 months last week! He is changing so much almost daily now! It amazes me what new things he will do each day! This is what Kellen is up to these days....
- Kellen is still taking two naps a day and will sleep anywhere from 1 1/2 to 2 hours. With the days being longer and the sun coming up earlier so is Kellen...he is waking up around 6:30 am and not really ready for bed till after 8 pm. We went up to the Rehm cabin in Blueridge this last weekend and there were no windows in our room and Kellen never slept better! Nap times were awesome!
- He is still eating whatever we put in front of him. He loves fruit and most veggies! He is getting better about meat so lunch time is a lot easier. :o) The other night I browned some hamburger and added some sauce to it and put it over bow-tie pasta for Matt and Kellen. For myself I made a mixture of olive oil, onions, garlic, and feta cheese. Kellen ate my pasta! I could not believe it! He would not touch the meat mixture (he will eat meat when he wants too)! He is really my child! :o) One of the new things that he learned this month is drinking out of a straw...so none of our drinks are safe....the other day he was drinking my Dr. Pepper! :o) It was time for me to give up soda again anyway! :o)
- He had 12 teeth with 4 more coming in. We could not figure out why he was such a cranky pants...then I saw his little teeth poking through and his gums all red and swollen. I felt so bad for him!
- He is wearing 18 month bottoms and 24 months tops. He is getting so tall and still is pretty skinny! He is getting too big for my lap! He is still in a size 4 diaper. Just in the last month his feet grew and skipped a size. He is now in a size 6 shoe! Poor thing...we were shoving his feet into 4's! I think it is about time for him to stop growing! :o) If I really would have known that he would have grown this fast and become so busy I would have snuggled a lot more when he was a baby! :o)
- He is loving to color right now, but we have to watch him or he will eat the crayons. He is very busy and keeps both Matt and I on our toes! He loves the water...we got him a $10 baby pool at Walmart and it has been the best $10 we have ever! He loves the pool! I have a feeling that is where we will be spending most of the summer! I am hoping to make it to the beach this summer! I think he will love the sand and water!
- My favorite thing he has started to do is just come over to you and give random hugs and kisses. It melts me every time. He can tell you where his nose, eyes, and ears are, but only when he wants too. He is living up to his name (Kellen means "strong willed") He does things on his own time! I am sure that goes for him talking too! I was a little worried about the lack of words, but he understands everything we say! I think he really knows "NO" and loves to ignore it! Haha
What else can I say about Kellen. He has been such a joy! He is a blessing that I give thanks for daily. I know I have said this before, but you really don't know anything about love till you feel the love that you have for your child. It is so amazing and leaves me speechless and teary eyed almost daily!
Mr. Kellen
You are your mommy's joy and her whole life (and daddy's too). It has been a joy to be home with you and watch you learn and grow. You give the greatest hugs and kisses! Don't ever get too old to give your mommy a hug and a kiss! You are growing so fast and before I know it I will open my eyes and you will be 16 and asking to take the car somewhere! I love you boo-boo!
Love Mommy
5/17/10
4 Years (sorry it turned into a LONG one)!!!
May 13, 2006
Before we were married we went through so many ups and downs that today most things don't even compare. Our relationship has survived, multiple job losses, depression, drugs, a $5,000 gambling loss on a single football game, and legal problems that would have changed Matt's career of becoming a CPA. But through it all we always had each other and we both believed that better days were ahead of us. We always continued to laugh and dream about our future! I firmly believe that if we would have married before all this happened that we would not have made it. I feel like we had to go through those things to really know that we were made for each other. On the up side, Matt returned to school, gave up the "recreationals", we got engaged, we sold his house (that was in a not-so-nice neighborhood) and rented a house from his dad. We were able to repair our credit, pay off some credit card debt and both landed great jobs.
Things seemed to be headed in the right direction and soon after that we were married. A year later we were able to buy "our" first house, and a year after that Matt graduated from KSU and we were pregnant with Kellen. Things could not have been more perfect. Since Kellen was born we have hit some more down times, but I believe it is all because God has something bigger and better planned for our lives. In January, I lost my job due to lack of work and have been blessed to be able to be at home with Kellen. I have been able to be there for so many of his "firsts". I have been introduced to Mary Kay and it continues to amaze me in the personal growth that I have seen since starting my business.
A little over a week ago Matt was let go from his job. I was so freaked out, because the last time that he lost his job he went into a deep depression and spent most days smoking the aforementioned "recreationals"and playing Playstation. But Matt had other ideas! He told me very confidently that this is the reason he went back to school and got a degree in accounting. He now had a career that he knew there would always be a job available he just had to find it! So for the last week we have been able to hang out with Daddy. Matt has been so positive through everything. He is now on the hunt for a new job and hoping to get one before his severance runs out! :o) He had not been happy there for some time so we believe that maybe this was God's way of giving Matt a little push to find a job that is closer to home and maybe a little bit more money. But what ever it is, Kellen and I are enjoying having some "daddy time"!!!
So back to Matt's question...."why is our relationship so strong"? I believe it is because we communicate very well....we really do tell each other everything. I don't think there is a such a thing as a "secret" in our house hold. We believe in each other and one of us will always pull the heavy weight when one of us is down. I do have to admit that Matt is the stronger one of the two of us and he does put up with a lot of stuff. Now I am not saying that our relationship is perfect...we argue just as much as the rest of them do, but we believe that that is healthy every now and then! I think Matt knows me better than I know myself. He usually knows something is bothering me before I do! He knows that when I get mad it usually is that I am mad at myself or something else, but he is getting the brunt of it. He just tries to not to take anything to heart! Matt has helped me see that I need to say "I love you" always because you just never know what tomorrow will bring! Even if you are angry at someone you should fix that relationship because you would feel pretty crappy if something happened to them and you didn't at least try! We have been through many hard times and only get stronger. Our faith continues to grow. We have gone from not knowing if there was any form of higher power to believing there is something out there, to believing that there is a God and he does know what he is doing and he has bigger and better plans for us. We have been so blessed that we now know it is not just good Karma! :o) Yes we continue to plan and yes God continues to laugh at us and show us his plans.
So that is where we are today. We have grown SO much in the last 4 years, but I could not have imagined it any other way. Yesterday we took Kellen to the playground and I was reminded of what I have been given. I sat on the swing and watched Kellen and Matt play. I am in awe of the little person that we are raising and how much he changes almost daily. Even though he has no words yet, he is one smart cookie! You can almost see the wheels turning in his head as he is trying to figure things out. He loves to scribble and I am on the search to get him some art supplies! But any time he finds a pencil or pen, he is on the hunt for something to scribble on! :o) We blessed and can not wait to see what God has planned for us next!
5/10/10
Happy Mother's Day!
Me and my little boy!
So I am getting a little bit better....I am only a day behind now! :o) I hope that everyone enjoyed their Mother's day! I know that I did! I felt very spoiled! Matt gave me money to go get a Mani/Pedi, so Deanna and I went on Saturday and enjoyed some girl time. I enjoyed a glass of wine and treated myself to the deluxe Pedicure. Oh it felt so good! :o) Yesterday Matt made me Chocolate French Toast, Maple Bacon, and Mimosa's for breakfast! It was very yummy! At lunch time we headed to Amanda and Kevin's (Step-sister in-law and husband) for brunch. They had crepes, blueberry pancakes, egg bake (sinful), and fruit. Of course I had a few more mimosa's there too! Poor little Kellen decided not to nap at 10 so he was a mess! Then we came home and we thought Kellen would nap for a good bit, but no...1 hour later he was up and ready to go! I got a small nap in and then My mom came over for dinner and Matt and I made steak fajita's! I feel like I ate ALL day! It was so much fun! :o) I just can't even imagine what it was like before I was a mommy! It is just the best!!!
Kellen helping Daddy wash the table!
Mimi opening her plate from Kellen (there was a bug made from Kellen's thumb prints on it)
Kellen & Grandma Dee
4/28/10
15 Months
Where is my baby? Welcome my little toddler! Kellen is growing up so fast and right before my eyes and most days I still expect to wake up and see a little baby that was just born! So what is Kellen up to these days....
Sleeping ~ Kellen is going to bed between 7 and 8 pm most nights and will sleep till about 7 am the next morning! He is still taking two naps and will go down around 10 am and sleep till 11:30 to 12ish. Then he will go down again around 3 and will sleep for another 1 1/2 to 2 hours. I would love to get it to one nap a day, but for right now I won't complain for the quiet time that I have! :o)
Eating ~ Kellen will pretty much eat anything that you put in front of him. He just seems to have moods, which he probably gets from me! :o) He loves all fruit and most veggies. I wish that I was better about the veggies, but the can eat a whole can of green beans if I let him! :o) He loves peas and carrots and even lima beans. He really likes tomatoes, I am wishing I had a garden and could grow some this summer! :o) I am working on him a water. He does not like just plain water so I have been adding a little juice to it to get him to drink it, but I really want to be able to have him drink just water! He loves anything that you are eating and wants to try it! :o)
Wearing ~ He is still wearing a size 4 diaper and size 4 shoe. He is wearing 18 months, but some 24 months shirts since his torso is so tall! I got him some crocs and they are so cute on him! I love summer time there are so many cute outfits for him. Of course most of his shorts and shirts have some kind of plaid on them! :o)
Playing ~ Kellen is very independent these days. He loves to be outside. He is not really saying many words other than "mama" and "dada", but he can get us to do what he wants. He will come over and grab our hand and lead us to where he wants us to go! I know that everyone says once he starts talking he will never stop, but I just can't wait! This month he has learned how to get on to the couch all by himself and has perfected getting down. He has started loving to spin until he is dizzy (this makes me so nervous)! He can go up and now come down the stairs. One day he surprised me by getting on to our bed, for those of you that don't know...we have a really high bed, but we have a bench at the end. He climbed onto the bench and then onto the bed and then I helped him down and he did it again and again! It was like a jungle gym to him! He loves phones, he will put them up to his ear and babble into it (hmmm wonder where he learned that from). Yesterday he was so cute because I ask him where his nose was and he pointed to it and of course I got excited and he starte clapping it was so cute, so he will find his nose and then start clapping! It is so cute! This morning I was checking my email and he was watching Curious George and I looked over and he was laying on the ground so I went and laid next to him and he looked up and me and gave me a kiss. My heart melted. These are the moments that I just don't want to forget! I know that I will wake up tomorrow and he will be 15. He loves his daddy. It is so cute to see him cuddle up to Matt.
15 Month Dr's check up ~ We headed to see Dr Tolkin yesterday. Kellen is a healthy little boy! He is tall and thin, just like most people want to be. He is 22.75 inches and weighing in at 26 lbs 1 oz. He got two shots yesterday and did so good. He cried and looked at the nurse with a look like "what did I do to you" it was cute! As soon as she walked out of the room he was fine! It is so nice that he is healthy. Since being home he has been sick once! It is heaven! It is so hard to have sick little ones.
Mr Kellen ~
You have given mommy such joy since the day your were born. Daddy and I still look at each other and say"I can't believe we have a son". We are in awe of all that you are learning and how much you are growing each day! You are Mommy's little monkey and you keep me on my toes all day long! It has been a blessing to be home with you. Daddy wished that he could stay at home with you too! :o) We love you so much!
Love Mommy
Sleeping ~ Kellen is going to bed between 7 and 8 pm most nights and will sleep till about 7 am the next morning! He is still taking two naps and will go down around 10 am and sleep till 11:30 to 12ish. Then he will go down again around 3 and will sleep for another 1 1/2 to 2 hours. I would love to get it to one nap a day, but for right now I won't complain for the quiet time that I have! :o)
Eating ~ Kellen will pretty much eat anything that you put in front of him. He just seems to have moods, which he probably gets from me! :o) He loves all fruit and most veggies. I wish that I was better about the veggies, but the can eat a whole can of green beans if I let him! :o) He loves peas and carrots and even lima beans. He really likes tomatoes, I am wishing I had a garden and could grow some this summer! :o) I am working on him a water. He does not like just plain water so I have been adding a little juice to it to get him to drink it, but I really want to be able to have him drink just water! He loves anything that you are eating and wants to try it! :o)
Wearing ~ He is still wearing a size 4 diaper and size 4 shoe. He is wearing 18 months, but some 24 months shirts since his torso is so tall! I got him some crocs and they are so cute on him! I love summer time there are so many cute outfits for him. Of course most of his shorts and shirts have some kind of plaid on them! :o)
Playing ~ Kellen is very independent these days. He loves to be outside. He is not really saying many words other than "mama" and "dada", but he can get us to do what he wants. He will come over and grab our hand and lead us to where he wants us to go! I know that everyone says once he starts talking he will never stop, but I just can't wait! This month he has learned how to get on to the couch all by himself and has perfected getting down. He has started loving to spin until he is dizzy (this makes me so nervous)! He can go up and now come down the stairs. One day he surprised me by getting on to our bed, for those of you that don't know...we have a really high bed, but we have a bench at the end. He climbed onto the bench and then onto the bed and then I helped him down and he did it again and again! It was like a jungle gym to him! He loves phones, he will put them up to his ear and babble into it (hmmm wonder where he learned that from). Yesterday he was so cute because I ask him where his nose was and he pointed to it and of course I got excited and he starte clapping it was so cute, so he will find his nose and then start clapping! It is so cute! This morning I was checking my email and he was watching Curious George and I looked over and he was laying on the ground so I went and laid next to him and he looked up and me and gave me a kiss. My heart melted. These are the moments that I just don't want to forget! I know that I will wake up tomorrow and he will be 15. He loves his daddy. It is so cute to see him cuddle up to Matt.
15 Month Dr's check up ~ We headed to see Dr Tolkin yesterday. Kellen is a healthy little boy! He is tall and thin, just like most people want to be. He is 22.75 inches and weighing in at 26 lbs 1 oz. He got two shots yesterday and did so good. He cried and looked at the nurse with a look like "what did I do to you" it was cute! As soon as she walked out of the room he was fine! It is so nice that he is healthy. Since being home he has been sick once! It is heaven! It is so hard to have sick little ones.
Mr Kellen ~
You have given mommy such joy since the day your were born. Daddy and I still look at each other and say"I can't believe we have a son". We are in awe of all that you are learning and how much you are growing each day! You are Mommy's little monkey and you keep me on my toes all day long! It has been a blessing to be home with you. Daddy wished that he could stay at home with you too! :o) We love you so much!
Love Mommy
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