October 9th

Welp, missed a couple days.  :/  I have some videos of my cute kids to make up for not posting every day this month, like I was going to try to do. 

Today is a very good day to sit on the couch and allow Annabelle much more TV than is usually allowed.  We were up a lot last night.  Annabelle had her first ever stomach bug.  It seems to be gone this morning, and she is hungry and thirsty, which is a good sign.  But, she is pretty mellow and doesn't have her usual energy.  Poor kiddo. Since this was the first stomach bug that Craig and I have experienced with one of our children, we got to see yet another side of each other.  Y'all, Craig is an incredible daddy.  He is SO nurturing and took such amazing care of Annabelle.  He is so gentle, and I really think he made her feel safe and settled in the middle of the night.  This daddy/daughter relationship is amazing to watch. 

LOVE!!!!

CUTE Video!!

October 3rd

Look at this cute little girl...

Chasing the geese in the park.  Yep, fearless.  I was ready to kick some geese in the beak if they came after her.  ( I have heard that they can peck.)  They were seriously about the same height.  Pretty adorable.  

 We went jogging again today, and it was great.  The kiddos did great, and I felt pretty good.  Still a ways to go to get close to where I was before, but we are workin on it.  ;)  Annabelle felt the need to relax I guess after sitting in the stroller...

 Check out these cute cousins.  I love these awesome little baby boys.

October 2nd

Before I post a SUPER cute video, I have to brag about my husband real quick.  He is so amazing, and takes such good care of me and the kids.  I am pretty sure I have the husband that most women dream up in their wildest dreams. For real.  I am so blessed.  :)

SO, here is a cute video that totally touches my heart...

Annabelle has some awesome little friends, and they love her for who she is.  It means SO much to me when Annabelle gets an invitation to a friends birthday party, or when I hear that she is talked about at home and remembered by someone.
MOMS of Annabelle's friends,
You have NO idea how much you and your children mean to me and my little family.  THANK YOU!

October 1st

October is one of my most favorite months!  It welcomes FALL, there are birthdays to celebrate, the pumpkin patch, costumes, Oktoberfests, and cooler weather!!!  YES!  October is also Down Syndrome awareness month!  All over the country, Buddy Walk takes place, and this will be our third year to participate.  (More on that later in the month.) 

One way to spread awareness is to do the '31 for 21' blog challenge.  The year Annabelle was born, I did a really good job keeping up with the challenge, blogging every day for the month of October.  Last year, I did my best.  THIS year, I will again, do my best. I will TRY to blog for the next 31 days.  I may not make it every day due to life being a bit busier lately.  ;)  But, for sure, October will have more posts than any other month.

This morning, we celebrated the first of October by a morning in the park!  I haven't been jogging since I was about 16 weeks pregnant with Carter.   Today, I tried to pick back up with one of my favorite things.  It went ok, and I am just glad I did it.  Getting out and moving my feet was my only goal.  ;)  After the jog, I hung out with my kiddos in the park for just a bit, soaking up the awesome weather...

  Happy OCTOBER!

Stories of life with TWO...Lately...

Life with two kids is still an adjustment.  I never realized that it would really be so different.  The other day, I told a friend at MOPS that I was just waiting for it to "click".  Waiting to say, "Oh, ok!  I got this!"  (And I still want at least one more.  ;))

Getting out of the house, even for a quick errand, is sort of a task.  We stay home more than I want to because the thought sometimes of leaving just stresses me out a little bit.  Lately, I have MADE myself just do it.  I gotta figure it out, right? 

Before Carter, Annabelle and I went out a lot.  We had a little schedule, too.  She is, and always has been a pretty "easy" kid.  I didn't worry too much about going places.  She is USUALLY pretty easy to please.  Now that we have Carter, we have to make things pretty quick.  He's a baby, and therefore just has more needs.  I do love it that wherever I go, I carry his food with me.  (Perks of being a nursing momma)  The only thing is, finding a decent place to feed him that food.  I am a total supporter of breastfeeding, and think it is fantastic.  But, I am not one who thinks rippin' out your bare boob in public, for all to see, is appropriate.  It's uncomfortable.  Covered up, sure!  Nurse ANYWHERE covered up.  When Annabelle was a baby, I was still very very timid about nursing her in public, even with a cover.  I would find a very secluded space, which often was the backseat of a car, hoping no one could see in.  Now, I don't worry as much.  If he is fussy, I do know that it will help.  He can get a nice meal, and I can continue on in whatever I was doing....usually.  So, I find a place, cover up, and let him snack.  I had to sneak into a dressing room last week to feed him, and then I was able to finish some shopping.  It's so convenient!  This past weekend, my mom and I went to Target for a quick trip.  While in the clearance shoe aisle, BOTH of my kids started screaming.  No, really, screaming.  I didn't know what to do, and was actually a little embarrassed.  My mom was trying to help, but I didn't let it continue for long..I left a basket in the Clearance aisle at Target, and ran out of the store with a pretty unhappy Carter.  Nothing was soothing him.  So, I jumped in the car, and again, let him snack.  My mom somehow made Annabelle happy, and they had a nice little shopping trip.  ;)  I was thankful that mom was there. 

SO, Anyways, taking care of the needs of not just one, but two children is a little bit of work, and sometimes takes some major planning.  Even at home.  Annabelle is learning some patience these days.  Like today, for example.  We got home from running some errands, and Carter had run out of his own patience, and was hungry, and tired of being out I guess.  I had to sit down and feed him.  Annabelle paced a little bit in the living room before asking to eat. (via sign language)  She was trying to say, "snack".  (a word that maybe only I understand)  Poor girl.  But, she is learning patience.  AND, is having to make her needs known to me, which is very good for her communication development. 

Today, I was digging in my purse, which is actually kind of small.  It often has pacifiers, a diaper, dirty Kleenex, goldfish, or a sippy cup in it.  Today, I found half of a stale peanut butter and honey sandwich wrapped in a paper towel.  Pretty sure from a couple days ago. DON'T tell Craig.  Ha ha!  He would be so sicked out.  But, it is a reflection of how much more busy my life has gotten. My house is often messy.  I have to pick and choose the times to actually sit down, and when to just keep going.  There is just NOT enough hours in the day.  OR in the night. ;)  It will click though, right?

Often when I am in public, I get stopped and told how cute my children are. It happens A LOT with Annabelle.   Just a few days ago, Annabelle literally stopped traffic.  I was leaving the grocery store, and someone stopped in the middle of the parking lot in her car and hollered out of the window to me, " O MY WORD!  SHE IS SO BEAUTIFUL!  LOOK AT HER ADORABLE DRESS AND BIG BOW!"  There were cars behind her who had to stop, so I just waved and hollered back, "THANK YOU!"  Yesterday, she looked quite dirty when we were out.  She has a runny nose, so everything is sticking to her face.  Her hair, food, dirt, whatever.  We had been at the park, so she was pretty dirty.  But still, people stop and tell me how beautiful she is.  She is a ham too, i tell ya!  She waves and cocks her head and puts on quite the grin.  I am glad I am not the only one who sees the beauty in her snotty face.  ;)  She touches people, y'all.  And I knew when she was born that that was a big purpose for her life.  To touch people and change lives.  :)  Did I already tell the story of when I got pulled over for speeding a couple weeks ago?  Well, poor officer had no chance but to give me a verbal warning when he laid his eyes on my two beautiful children in the back seat.  Annabelle was hammin it up again.  She was trying to make friends with the officer, while he was trying to maintain some professionalism.  Need to get out of a ticket?  Take Annabelle with you!  ;)

 When I was leaving Hobby Lobby just a little bit ago, Carter had had just about enough, and was crying.  Like a baby.  A lady in the parking lot walked past my car, and said, "Believe it or not, I miss that sound."  I got in the car, and teared up.  Because as much work as it is to have children, little children, it doesn't last long.  I am all about soaking up every stage of a child's life.  I know I will miss these crazy times.  This loud, messy house.  And I will miss the sweet smell of a newborn and warm snuggles of a sleepy toddler.  And even wiping that snotty little nose.  I might say it every post I write, but I don't take it for granted and would never change a thing.  We are a very blessed little family.  Thank you, Jesus, for my crazy beautiful life. 

Just a couple pictures.

 This picture cracks me up.  The way she is looking at him, while he is screaming in her ear. 

 She was sharing the joy of her favorite toy.  Her purple puppy.

AND...serious cuteness here.  Happy about oatmeal for breakfast!!! 

Hope everyone is having a great week.  :)