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,

Midweek Confessions

Some how or another, I goofed and really messed up my blog. See how all of my side bar is now underneath my posts? Thankfully, I have someone who thinks they can fix it for me. I'm also considering a new heading with pictures. It needs a bit of updating with our family of four :)

Harper came home with his first official school photos and I cried. The teacher told me that he was so good-looking and photogenic and that I would die when I saw the photos. I thought she was just being nice. The pictures make my heart soar. I tried scanning and uploading them, but I'm having problems.

He received a painting kit for his 3rd birthday and I confess that I always cringe over these presents.

I love for him to have a good time, but the mess. Oh, the mess.


I confess that I am about this close to giving up on Photobucket and going with another hosting site. They changed everything about the same time that Blogger changed everything. Too much!!

I am considering trying to get up before Harper in the mornings. With Jimmy's new schedule going from 9am-9pm, I spend my time cooking dinner for us at night instead of just warming up soup and blogging while he (was) at work. The blog has suffered and I don't like that. I have been missing it!

I meant to mention this last week, but my heart nearly stopped when Guiliana and Bill FINALLY announced that they are having a baby!!!!!! I'm so happy for them.


Oh and yes, Jessica Simpson finally had her baby too. I think I just physically feel relieved for that girl. Yay for Maxwell Drew!


The little family and I are heading to the Asheboro Zoo this weekend and I wonder sometimes if I am the only person in the world that has to plan things the way I do. Here is my thought process:

"We have to go this weekend. Jimmy is only off every other weekend. If we don't go now, it'll be too hot by the end of May. If we wait until it's cooler, it'll be around October, but October is busy. Our 5 year anniversary, my birthday, Hollin's 1st birthday. Maybe we can wait until November. But that's only two weekends that he can go and we have to consider Thanksgiving. December is too cold. Should we just wait until next Spring?"

I hope everyone is having a great week! I'm off to research new photo-hosting sites.

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,

Stay right there!

Ladies and gents, I am still here! We have just been super-duper busy and I will be catching up soon. I also seemed to have misplaced my camera cord so I can't upload any pics at the moment. I have lots of those to share.

Stick with me.

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,

Midweek Confessions

I feel like I am SO behind these days! We have been focusing so much on getting the house ready for Harper's party on Saturday that I still haven't taken Hollin's 5 month pictures. So ashamed.

I'm sitting here watching the pre-One Tree Hill finale show. I can't say that I've been a regular watcher. I've seen episodes every now and then, but I'm still kinda sad. They film in the town where I live :)!

We took our first beach trip today with both babies. It was an uber-FAIL. I didn't have my camera, but it was rough. We've decided that we can't go again unless we have one of these.


I ordered a dress for Hollin to wear for Harper's 3rd birthday and I was SO bummed when the shop owner emailed to say that the fabric is no longer available.
It looked kinda like this :(

At the same time though, it's not a tragedy because we are not John Deere clothes-wearing people haha.

I just picked up the Hunger Games while at Costco today. I never read any of the Twilight books. Not against them or anything, I just thought that Hunger Games may be a little more thought-provoking.

I'm afraid to start reading it for fear that I won't be able to put it down. I may wait until next week when things calm down a little :)

That's all for tonight folks. Tired is the story of my life these days:)

Supergirl

Jimmy used to sing the "Superman" anthem to Harper and fly him through the air when he was a baby.

Hollin seems to enjoy it as well :)







Yesterday, I went to Michael's and picked up a few things. I wanted to try and make Hollin a few cute headbands. I ended up making 5 and this one is one of my favorites.


Jimmy and I getting close to finishing our office re-do. I picked a very different color and I am SO excited about it. We just need to finish up the trim, do one more coat on the ceiling and then put all the furniture back. I am definitely on the lookout for a different light fixture, curtains and a rug. I also need something for the walls, but I just haven't decided which way to go. Do I want pics of the family or just landscape-type pics? I don't know yet.

Can't wait to show you all!

Happy Tuesday,

One year ago

Our lives changed forever when we realized we were expecting another baby! (February 25th, 2011 to be exact.)

Words cannot express how happy we are as a family of four and how much joy our sweet Hollin has brought into our lives.



I'm so thankful for that little plastic stick :)

Better Days

Over the past few days, things have been going a lot better! First, our rodent problem has been resolved. (Hubby found not one, but TWO in the ductwork housing.)

Harper and I had a really great day yesterday and today was great too. I always feel like I'm going in circles with my blog posts. I blog about the good the bad and the ugly and sometimes feel guilty for venting via the internet. If I only blogged about the good, then it would seem as if I was trying to make my life look perfect. It definitely isn't. I have so much to be thankful for and even though we definitely struggle some days, I never lose sight of how blessed I really am.

All four of us went out to the beach this afternoon to take a few pictures. I have a ton of pictures of Harper and Hollin, but hardly any of Jimmy and I with them. The following pictures are a little Ashlynn-heavy, but that was the point today :) (Jimmy didn't take very many because he says he is awkward.)










(Look at Hollin's face, haha.)












Happy Tuesday!

Hollin is 3 months old!

Mommy is running a few days late on this update because she couldn't find your monthly onesie stickers. She gave it 2 days of solid-effort searching and then ordered some more. About an hour after she did, daddy came strolling in with them. They had been forgotten in the toolbox of his truck when we moved.

Mommy went ahead and took your photos, but she will take some more with your 3 month sticker tomorrow.

(And here they are! Mommy couldn't get you to smile..)




You were officially 3 months old on January 31st!


You are getting to be such a big girl!

You are great at supporting your head and you still love to be held, but you aren't as frantic about it lately :)

Mommy thinks you weigh just over 12 pounds. You have grown out of several of your 3 month onesies, like this one..

and it makes her sad. She picked up a few new ones for you at Target yesterday though. You are still way too tiny for your 6 month onesies.

Daddy made you laugh out loud for the first time yesterday! I have a video on the Ipad, but I can't upload it on the blog :(

You have also been saying "ah-goo" in the last few days. You make such a sweet face when you say it.


A lot of times when you smile, you keep your tongue at the roof of your mouth for a moment and then make a little "click" sound when you let it down. Mommy thinks everything you do is precious.


Even when you fall out of your pose.


Mommy thought it would be fun for you to take a picture with the first doll (and toy for that matter) she bought you. When she looked back through the pictures, she realized that you two look a little bit alike.


The colic you had a few weeks ago seems to be gone now and you are a much happier baby.

You are getting more formula than mommy would like, but she is still nursing as she can.

You love to hold on to mommy's fingers and hands when she feeds you a bottle.

You are most definitely sleeping through the night! You've grown out of your newborn sleep sack, but you like to sleep swaddled in your Aden and Anais blanket. You don't seem to be too picky anymore and will usually fall asleep swaddled or not.

You have not spent a single night in your nursery, but mommy is ok with that. She just isn't ready yet :)


You still hate getting dressed.

Mommy realized that she doesn't have you on a somewhat predictable schedule. She will start working on that this week.

You light up whenever you see daddy or I and you are starting to smile a lot when you see your big brother. He always says he loves you as part of his nighttime prayers.

In contrast to last month, we have definitely mastered the Moby Wrap and you LOVE it!

You've started making precious squeaky noises. My mom taught you how to stick your tongue out and you always do it when she is around :)

Mommy loves dressing you every day. She never thought she would have this much fun with such little clothes.

Maya loves you and has to check on you every time we do your monthly updates.


Mommy and Daddy love watching you grow every day. We enjoy seeing your personality come out and spend a lot of time just taking you in.

We love you so much!