Hi from Anthony, Alex, and Talia

First day of 2nd grade! 

Anthony with his teacher Mrs. Dahl.

Alex first day of preschool.

Alex with his teacher Ms. Andrea.

Say, hello to say Miss Talia Claire. We all have fallen in love with her...

Whats mine is yours...

Hi Blogger Friends...
You have held me up, you have made me laugh, and I adore you all.

Please do the same for my friend Erin. You can begin to read her story here. She is also under my favorite blogs.

Please love her and her family, pray for them, and give them the support they need right now. If I was granted just one wish it would be given to her.
Much Love,
Me

Dear Friend

Dear Friend,


Today when you called me I knew things had changed in an instant. I knew that your world was different. I am with you. I may not be be physically sitting next to you but I am walking with you in this journey holding your hand, rubbing your back, and even telling the world to F off in your so delightful way. You are a friend I never knew I would have. I thank God for both of us that I have you. We have been through work drama, relationship bullshit, and have watched each others families grow. You are one of the people I want to share good and bad things with. After we meet for our romantic lunches I always feel better. To see you puts me at ease. I hope I do the same for you. There is something very comfortable about our relationship. I will not smother you with calls or questions. But I vow to simply be your friend. Because I love you, no matter what, even if you just want to tell me to F off. It's okay. Remember you are a strong, beautiful AMAZING mother that can do this. Because you are you and you mean the world to me and him.


Love,
Me

Back in action!

I'm back! You know when you are pregnant and you feel towards the end like you can hardly identify with the swollen person that resembles you looking back at you in the mirror. You lose interest in many of the things that make up who you are. Your focus is entirely on what your next meal is going to be, the lack of sleep you are getting, and how you can see every crumb on each floor of your house.

9 weeks has passed since Talia has arrived. She is amazing and beautiful, a shining star that I cannot imagine my life without. She is the daughter that I have waited to have my entire life. I still daydream about all the mother/daughter things we will get to do as she grows. I love her.

But, I also love myself. I can say that with 100%  honesty. I have missed feeling like myself. The person that is crazy about decorating each room is back. To be able to walk in a room and to vividly see it again, constructing what I want to change, thinking about colors and fabric makes me so happy. To be able to play with my kids on the floor or outside running and jumping. I can carry Alex again when he's sleepy and lazy, I wouldn't say with ease since he is 36 lbs but with much less effort. He is happy, I am happy. Smells no longer make me gag. Jeans button at my waist-even though there is still some work to be done on that. I can reconnect with my husband. I love him so much.

Pregnancy is a beautiful thing but also very binding. I feel like I have broken free from that body and I am becoming whole again. Today, I feel like myself more than I have in awhile.

You gotta have friends!!!

This past weekend was so fun! Starting Thursday night all the way to Sunday afternoon I spent a ton of time with my family and friends. Those lines definitely blur and I am very grateful to have many of those relationships for 15 plus years. A funny story that captured just how far along we have come.
AJ: We will be over in 10 minutes. (9:45 am Sunday morning)
Me: Yay! Can't wait!
I immediately call another friend of ours to have her come over with her daughter so these two can see each other as well.
Me: Come over for to see AJ and family. They will be here in 10 minutes.
Kristi: What are we going to do?
Me: I don't know, just visit and get caught up.
We all gather shortly after. Instead of recovering from Chumley's we are now surrounded by children and requests for juice, not Blood Mary's. We are surrounded by the next generation of us.
Kristi: So, when we did turn into our parents...Melissa said we were all going to "visit".
We all proceeded to laugh hysterically. I proceeded to wave an adult gesture (all kids were outside). I then whipped up some french toast, the kids played outside, and us adults sat together visiting with one another. We talked about our kids, curtains, rugs, recipes, kids activities. The husbands discussed sports and work. It was brought up multiple times how we have become our parents.
But...do you know what the best part is? We are all pretty dang happy! Plus it gave AJ motivation to plan a good old fashioned house party in October for adults only to prove we still got it. Twister anyone?

Today is one of those...

One of those days you feel like you are going to explode. This week has been difficult. Getting us all ready in the morning, loaded up, and happy. 3 year olds stomping around the house and getting upset over any little thing. 7 year olds not listening and thinking they are the boss of the house. Little itty bitty babies going to daycare for the first time. Not sleeping much while there and throwing up on their new daycare provider the first day. Husbands crabby from working long hours and a little checked out when they are around. Moms trying not to yell but not always succeeding. Cooking dinner when all I want to do is order in. Drawing baths when I feel like I am drowning.

Plus a ton of stuff going on behind the scenes has finally caught up with me. I sound like Patsy from the Grandin Truck-stop when I am on the phone with clients. Coughing, spitting up yucky stuff, and sleeping in the recliner so I can breathe.

Life today is one of those days.