Midweek Confessions

Ok, I have to admit that I have been a complete slacker on the blog lately and there are many reasons.

1. Mainly, things have just been pretty ordinary (and we have ALL had the stomach flu.) I hate to say that things haven't been "blog-worthy" because even the most ordinary days are always fun to look back on. I can't find the charger cord for my camera, therefore I haven't really taken any pictures.

2. I've also taken the bull by the horns this week with Miss Hollin.

I've talked so much about her fussiness and lack of schedule. I've decided once and for all that I am going to implement a strict schedule with her, even if it means confining myself to my house for days and weeks on end. It has got to be done. Hopefully, once she has adjusted, we can veer a little bit.

3. So, with that, I am going on a bit of a blogging break. I don't mean weeks on end, just a little breather to focus on my little family and get inspired again. Maybe a few days or so.

Be back soon with fun stuff!

Cancelled

I was hoping to be back tonight with great pictures and funny stories about our trip from the zoo, but we didn't go.

It takes four hours to get from where we are to Asheboro and there was a 50% chance of rain all weekend. We just couldn't justify driving all that way on the chance that it would't rain.

It's a good thing we didn't go, because I have come down with a stomach flu. I can't keep anything down and only get relief when I'm sitting or lying on the couch.

I'm so thankful for my SWEET, precious hubby who happened to be off this weekend. He has been Mr. Mom for two days. God Bless him.


So, while I'm battling the plague, I've been watching a marathon of this:

Weekend TV selection is limited folks.

Here's hoping that I feel well by tomorrow because my hubby goes back to work!

Happy Sunday,

Fun in the Sun

Wow. I really don't mean to go so many days between blogging! It's the same old song. Just busy :)

This is not blog or picture-worthy, but yesterday my folks and I cut down majorly overgrown landscaping in front of the house. Our house is painted brick and needs to be painted again.

Now with the foliage gone, all of that sticks out like a sore thumb. It's ok though. One thing at a time. Isn't it so funny how you can fix one thing and then it makes everything else around it look terrible?


Today, we went out on my dad's boat for the first time! There is a history that goes along with this boat. He bought it several months ago from a man near where he works. In the process of cleaning it, he found a huge bag of white, powdery substance. We never really knew what it was. We have an idea though. Now it's called the drug-boat :) Again, no pictures because I had my hands full!

I did manage to snap a few pics after we cleaned up and went to lunch. The weather could not have been more beautiful.



Miss Hollin pretty much never wears shoes.

Harper enjoyed sitting outside and trying to get out of his photo being taken.


He held out until just before his french fries arrived. Pa Pa didn't mind helping him out :)


Hollin has known how to roll over from front to back for sometime now. This week, she really mastered rolling from back to front!

Now, I can't get her to stop sleeping on her side or stomach. I think I am going to buy her a crib bumper. I had one in Harper's crib. This time around, I went with my mommy senses and pediatrician and decided not to have one in hers. They just scare me. I did just get an Angel Care monitor, so that will give me more peace of mind.

She has been the sweetest little thing today. I have learned that this baby loves to be on the go. She seems to do much better if we are out and about. I ran errands all morning yesterday and she was so content. What can I say? Baby girl loves to shop.




Later on, my dad hung a few things in Harper's room. I tried to get him to notice. He is such a little man. Could really have cared less about the pictures on the wall.


Tomorrow, we are off to church to celebrate a baby dedication. Maya has a vet appointment and I'm sure I will be doing more things in the house. I know I promised office pictures some time ago. I have not forgotten. You have my word that I will post them tomorrow! :)

Good night,

Midweek Confessions

Linking up again this week!

1. Poor Jessica Simpson. Is she still pregnant?

I'm pretty sure she announced her pregnancy on Hollin's Halloween birthday. It just seems like she has been pregnant forever. I keep waiting to read that she has finally had that baby.

2. I saw on People.com today that Taylor Hanson and his wife are expecting their 5th child. Phew!

I confess that it's all I can do to handle the two that I have. I can't imagine 5!

3. I confess that today has just been one of those really hard days.

Hollin has not stopped fussing. I just had to let her cry and whine today to be able to get some things done. Harper got into a fight with another little boy at preschool and the teacher actually waved my car out of the regular line-up today so she could talk to me. The director called me last week for the same thing. He FLIPS out when they try to put him in time out. He does it at home too. He kicks, screams and hits the teachers. It's so embarassing and honestly, Jimmy and I don't know what to do. I am seriously considering joining Moms on Call. Advice anyone?

4. On a different note, I bought a really bright color by sinful colors the other day.

(not my nails :)
If there is a color name on it, I didn't see it. I describe it as highlighter pink. I got it at Target for $1.99. Love!

5. I am about 3/4 the way through the Hunger Games and I love it. Now I must go see the movie.

6. Speaking of movies, guess what hubby will begrudgingly take me to see on Friday?

The Lucky One!

Zac Efron just kind of... grew up, didn't he? *Cough*

7. I wore SPF 100 to the beach a few days ago and I still got red. How is that possible?


I hope everyone is having a great Wednesday!

The big DAY and a weekend in pictures

Friday was hubby's first day on his day shift. To make things even sweeter, he is in our area. Meaning, he can come by and eat lunch with us at home or we can meet him somewhere!

I would love to say that I was able to take advantage of his absence and make our bed, clean up upstairs, etc, but I can't. We have been out and about for days and it's been so much fun!

My parents came down this weekend to go with the babies and I to the Azalea Festival. I took tons of pictures, but here are just a few.

Azalea Belles are a tradition for the festival.


They even have little ones! I secretly think it would be so fun if Hollin ever did something like this :)






Harper had his first cotton candy.


My babies :)




On a completely different note, I tried to re-do a few pictures of Hollin with her Easter dress on a few days ago. Harper was so occupied with playing on his new tractor, I knew there was no way I could pry him from it to pose with her.

She did pretty well, but she is wiggle worm.




She is REALLY into sticking her tongue out these days.


She has become such a ham at bath time too.


We also took a trip to the beach on Sunday. Harper wasn't really into it, but he did end up having a good time :)


Hollin is always up for an adventure. This girl is loud and proud.




We went back to the beach today and I took pictures, but my computer is really being a pain. I think it has a major virus :(

Anyway, I hope everyone had a great weekend!!

On the other side

I struggled a little bit over whether to blog about this or not. Ultimately, my blog is how I document my life and I felt that I would regret not sharing what is going on.

We received news yesterday that Jimmy has been moved to a 9am-9pm schedule and will no longer be working nights. He starts on Friday morning and both of us are thrilled beyond words.

The reason I hesitated to share is because I feel slightly guilty that things are finally starting to get a little easier for us. I'm not sure why.

I think a lot of it is because I read so many blogs and see so many people hurting around me. There is a young lady in our Sunday School class that lost her baby last year within 24 hours of her induction. She became pregnant again this year and during her pregnancy found out that she has stage IV lung cancer that has spread throughout her body. Her baby girl was delivered early and is still in the NICU. Please, please pray for them.

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Last year at this time, we were smack in the middle of the terrible twos. I was pregnant, with gestational diabetes and having to go to the Dr. all the time. Jimmy worked nights and I struggled to deal with the tantrums and nighttime routine while dealing with my fatigue. Our little girl was born and after a 5 week stay with us, he headed back to working nights while I recovered from a C-section.

Harper began lashing out terribly at preschool. We literally went nowhere. I simply could not manage my 2 year old for the longest time. When Hollin was born, we stayed in even more. We didn't do anything unless it was one of Jimmy's days off, which were few and far between. By the time we ran all of the errands I had to put off, managed babies and spent time with other family members, Jimmy and I almost zero quality time with each other.

The last 2 years have been outright hard. They have been lonely. I didn't blog about the times I called Jimmy, crying, and told him that I felt as if his job was eating me alive. I didn't blog about the tantrums that Harper would throw every single night when trying to get him ready for bed. I didn't blog about the times I had to get up with Hollin 6 times a night without him here to say, "Will you please take this shift?". I didn't blog about having to get up with Harper the next day, on maybe 2 hours of sleep while Jimmy slept off the night before. There are so many things I didn't say.

I didn't write about it because I tried so hard to stay positive. I didn't see a light at the end of the tunnel. I tried to focus on the good parts of my life. I wanted to document mostly good because blogging about the bad would only make me dwell on it more.

We are finally in our home. My mom just moved here and is living with us temporarily until their home is built. Jimmy has been moved to daytime hours. Harper's behavior is better. I feel like I can handle Hollin better, even though she is still pretty demanding. I have help. We are getting out, going places.

I feel like we are on the other side of things.

I am not trying to make a hero of myself by any means. There have been so many moments when I've caved. When I said, "I can't do this anymore" and wanted to lock myself in my room.

I never thought I'd see today.

I know this change is so desperately needed for my family. At the same time, I know so many of you are struggling. I see it around me and read about it daily.

I'm happy for us, but I'm more excited to start watching things turn around for the friends I've made through this blog! I pray for all of you, every day.

Philippians 4:6-7

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ.

Love,

Our Easter 2012

Easter this year seemed to creep up on us so fast! We decided to go to our church's Sunrise service at 7am. I had my doubts that we could make it, but we did.

The Lord was looking after us this particular morning because I was able to get both babies dressed in 10 minutes. Harper didn't throw a tantrum and Hollin kept on sleeping during wardrobe change, haha. We didn't wake up until 6 and the service started at 7. Needless to say, we were rushing.

Here is my stinker trying to open candy at 6:20am.


I was in such a rush to get out the door, I had to do Hollin's Easter bucket later in the day.


We arrived at the service just as the choir was singing and it was so awesome to hear the message as the sun was coming up. It was held at Airlie Gardens, in front of an oak tree that is estimated to be over 400 years old.

My parents went with us this year, which was so nice. I have photos of them, but my mom is not a fan of being on my blog haha. So here is a picture of Harper and dad.

And here is little Hollin with her wonky bow. I tried 3 times to make a headband with it, but it just didn't work.

After the service, a few Sunday school friends and I organized a little Easter egg hunt. Most of the photos I took were blurry (seriously, I'm so annoyed with myself. My hubby seems to think it's my vision because he takes the clearest pictures ever.) I borrowed these from my friend's facebook.

Here is Harper hugging her little girl, Eliza. She is not quite 2.

Probably one of my favorite pictures to date.

The moment quickly passed when Harper lost his balance. They both went tumbling and well.....


She was a good sport. And so were her parents. Thankfully.

Harper apparently had to use the restroom, so we left not long after.


I wanted a family Easter photo, but this was the best we could get.


We headed over to my father-in-laws house for a quick brunch. Hollin fell asleep so sweetly in Jimmy's arms. Love these two.


I sort of stopped taking pictures as this point. A week of non-stop going and party planning on top of getting up so early kind of hit me all at once. I ate, socialized and then came home to crash.

Every year at this time, I am humbled by the magnitude of Easter's meaning. It makes everything I piddle with seem so insignificant. It doesn't really matter if my photos are blurry or if we can't get a good family photo. As a mom, I absolutely want to preserve these memories in photos the best I can, but ultimately, it isn't that important. What's important is that we recognize what Jesus did for us and to live for Him each day.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter.

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. (NIV)