Happy Halloween!!

On the first anniversary of 90210...

I know this blog is horribly neglected.  I think about posting something almost daily, but it's kind of like when you haven't talked to someone in a really long time and you know you should call but it will just be weird, so you put it off even longer.  Well, this is me saying "hello".  

Today is Cooper's first birthday.  Already.  I miss my baby but I know even better times are ahead.  I fully plan to take some photos of Cooper to document "1", so hopefully I'll be posting them soon.  Cooper truly is my baby, but he loves his daddy because to him, Daddy = Play.  He's already caught on!  

Words can't describe how much these boys love each other- especially how much Cooper loves Carter.  Carter can kick him and Cooper laughs and laughs.  I love it and hope their love only grows.

They also love their ravioli's - when I can get Carter to eat them.  

C bought an old Bronco to fix up-- this is Carter's inaugural ride (around the yard).  

The BEST big brother.

Coop is crawling and pulling up everywhere-- steps can't be far behind.

Because it's Thursday (and I was asked)...

This is silly, but the hardest part of posting pictures is downloading the darn things from the camera.  I'll snap photos and then put the camera down and even though it take less than a minute or two, I'll put off downloading them.  Why?  I have no idea other than it's a chore and I flat don't like chores.

But, because I was asked by the lovely Scottie, whose hair I covet, I made an exception and did my "chore" today.  :)

There's been lots of nakedness in our house lately, as Carter is potty training.  He does great and hasn't had any accidents except that time C was tickling him and he said, "Oh no!  My tee-tee!"-- he dripped a little on C but then ran to his potty and finished the job.  He's also going on the potty at school, but he's also wearing diapers full time.  Should I just make the leap to underwear?  What's the next step?

Cooper's still not crawling.  In the last month, we've had a double ear infection and he's thisclose to cutting his two front teeth.  I just know when he's feeling good again, he's going to take off.  Or not.  Whatever.  Just as long as he starts sleeping past 5:30am!!

My beautiful water bug.

Carter and his Moo making meatballs.

Who needs to crawl when all you have to do is reeeeeeeach?

My baby.

Because it's Wednesday...

To remember

In the car this morning on the way to school, I told Carter we had to go night-night and wake up two more times and then we get to go to the zoo with his friends.  He said, "I go nigh-night".  I'm so completely in love with that boy.

And Cooper?  He slept til 6:35.  HEAVEN!


Also, hi.

My young-un's, on Easter

If we're friends on Facebook, you've likely seen these already, but I do have some others on my camera I need to import and share.  Where does time go when it comes to kids?  In my mind, Cooper is still 3 months old and then I wonder why his clothes don't fit.

He turned 8 months old on Monday.

Big boy!

Just hanging out, ya know... having some lunch.

Hunting eggs is serious business

Papa and all his grandsons

And here's a never before seen bonus

My blue-eyed baby

Drool.

My poor Cooper.  We're teething.  I say "we" because the whole family is feeling the pain.  He's not sleeping well at all-- we do Tylenol before bed and again in the middle of the night.  He's chewing and drooling and fussy as can be.

There's been a lot of this.

And this.

But yesterday, I gave him a new teething toy.

An apple slice, his first taste of real food.

He didn't really know what it was.

But it must've been ok.

Nom.

Maybe he'll like it better next time, but for now, it gets one "toe" up.

Hi! Remember me?

I know, I know, I got a new job and fell off the map.  Sound familiar?

I'm officially a teleworker- aka, one who works 100% from home.  Sweet! I think I've dreamed of this setup since, oh, day one of my working life.  In my dreams, I had SO MUCH TIME to do stuff around the house.  I'd do laundry and have a clean house and clean dishes and WOW was I ever wrong?

I WORK from the time I get back from dropping the kids at daycare (no, they can't stay here with me... I have to work!) until the time I leave to get them in the afternoon.  I work through lunch daily because I have to leave to get them by 4:45, usually 4:30.  Also, I have mandatory overtime, so I also have to log extra hours, usually some on the weekend, too.  I realize, that we're all paid to WORK all day, but I don't have any bs'ing in the hallway or chatting about American Idol.  In addition, I have a bit of a guilt complex that if someone from the office tries to reach me via instant message or phone and I'm not RIGHT THERE, then they must be dreaming of what I'm off doing.  My nails?  Watching daytime tv?  Napping?  I wish.

As far as the actual work, I love it.  Every day is something new and challenging and I really enjoy it.  I had no doubts about that, though.

My "office" is carved out of the playroom and I have a very nice baby fence in place to keep curious fingers away.  Last week I finally got my monitor and printer setup which made a tremendous difference.

Sometimes I miss having people to talk to and sometimes I realize I'm stunting myself when I find myself stumbling over words when I do speak.  Am I regressing?

This is boring, I realize, but it's what's going on with me.  I'm going to get a haircut on Thursday which I need desperately since I'm approaching mullet status.  My husband's co-workers are having a crawfish boil this weekend and I think I'm going to go childless so lookout!  Mama's gonna have a beer or maybe even three!

I joked with C that Carter's baby-hood was documented with a real camera, and Cooper's all via cell phone. That's how I feel sometimes so I've been trying to make more of an effort since he's already SIX MONTHS OLD.  If you're on my facebook, you've seen the most of him.

I'll try to do better, dear blog.  Honest.

Happy Valentine's Day!

the Joy of Love - Day 4

I skipped day 3... I have an idea, I just need more time to execute.

 

04 what they wear

I love these sock monkey footie sleep 'n plays.  Old Navy out did themselves this fall...

the Joy of Love - Day 2

02: how they look

 

 

Brothers.

the Joy of Love - Day 1

So I'm attempting another photo journey.  Keep me accountable, will you?

(click the badge for info or if you'd like to join)

01: what they do

 

 

 

Jump.



Already, my tiny baby is gone.  But just look at the JOY.



I Heart Faces | Winter Wonderland

Since I did resolve to take and share more photos, I guess participating in another I Heart Faces challenge counts as succeeding. 




We got a little bit of snow a week ago and finally Carter was old enough to check it out.  He was in AWE.

Ebay Sales

I've got a couple of things for sale on Ebay-- feel free to spread the word.

• A pair of Frye Harness Boots, size 8, Burnt Red (brown)
• A Beaba Babycook (baby food maker), brand new in box.  (We have two) Thanks, Josh!
  

Greener Pastures

Hello Monday.  How are you?  Me?  I'm fine.  I just put in my two week's notice at my current gig.  How's that for kicking off the week?

I have been offered and have accepted a familiar position which will allow me to work from home and have fairly flexible hours.  What does this mean for me?  No more hour long commutes to/from work.  No more getting up at 5:20am.  No more running to Walmart during lunch.  No more fast food.  It's a trade off, but one I think I can certainly live with. 

My last day here is January 28.  My first day at home is February 7, although half of my first week will be eaten up by orientation. 

Here's to 2011 and change.  *deep breath* annnnnnnnnnd RELEASE.

For my boy.

Oh my Carter. 

Everything about you has been a surprise.

We were surprised to find out you were coming, growing perfectly inside me.  We were surprised by your kicks and movements, silently making your presence known.  We were surprised to find out you were breech, quite content to stay with mama.  We were surprised when my water broke 3 weeks early, announcing your arrival.

And since then, we've continued to be so surprised by your every move.  You came first and everything is new.  Your smiles and cries and dirty diapers.  Your eyes, surprise, they're just like mine.  Your sitting then crawling, then finally walking.  Surprise!  Look at me!  I did it!

My beautiful boy.

Today, you're two years old.  What a surprise.  Where does time go when it is flying by so quickly?  You have brought us such joy in your surprises.  And I do not expect them to end anytime soon.  You surprise me with your gentle love of your brother.  You surprise me with your giggles and squeals when you play with your daddy.  You surprise me with the way you love us all so purely and easily and the way you forgive so sweetly.  You are the epitome of a boy, but one with so much heart and love.

You taught me how to be a mother, showed me where I needed improvement and rewarded me with more joy than I ever could have imagined.

You are my heart. My surprise baby.  My wonderful baby.  My perfect angel boy.  You will be loved forever and ever and ever.

Happy Birthday! Surprise!

2010 in crappy cell phone pictures

I stole this idea from my dear friend Cristal.  Below is a review of 2010- some pretty amazing transformations happen in the year of a young child.

January

 

Hard to believe he was barely a year old one year ago.

Having Chik-Fil-A with mama at the mall.

February

Small Fry, for the first time.

And snow! Lots of it!

Look at those lashes!

 March

I got a haircut!

The line into Mud Nationals in Jacksonville (Tx).

We practiced sharing.

I went home to my two (blinking) light town.

April

Cool dude!

Hello?

It's a boy!

 May

He learned "uh-oh!" and had an adorable follow-up.

Haircuts have never been a priority.... neither have clothes.

Man, this truck is the epitome of east Texas.

June

The a/c broke at work.

Happy Birthday to me!

I'm pretty sure I was already "done".

 July

We adopted a stray kitten and fell in love.  He didn't last long and we were heartbroken.

The town where I work voted in alcohol sales.

Carter got bit (again & again) so we left daycare for loving home care.

August

I LOVE BLUEBERRY DONUTS!

Man, was I ever miserable. 

He found ways to curl around the belly.  Always my baby.

September

Sweet boy, your life will change forever tomorrow.

Cooper's here!

No. More.  BABY.

October

These two can nap like nobody's business.

C went hunting for a week in Colorado, so there was a lot of this.  Crying/sleeping babies all piled up with mama.  I needed a vacation after that week.

And then, on Halloween, we went to the World Series. 

 November

Carter got a haircut by a professional.  His first by someone other than me.  How handsome is he?!

On the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cooper and I made a flying trip to Dallas so I could have my rings inspected and cleaned as per the warranty.  I wish I could keep them that pretty.

 December

Cooper started grasping things and rolling.

My husband told me to go take a shower and I wondered why.

Christmas happened and there was one happy toddler in our house.

Happy 2010, bring it on, 2011.  Otherwise known as 

THE YEAR I WILL NOT BE PREGNANT!