Carson's 1st Year

We celebrated Carson's first birthday a week ago (more than a week ago, but around that time). Tim and I were so excited to throw a party for our boy and we feel so blessed about the turn-out. That little boy is such a joy in our lives!

Parenting isn't an easy task. I think for Carson, nurturing has been a lot easier and natural than with S, for various reasons. It's still a struggle for me to be a stay at home mommy every. single. day, but I know it's best for my kids and in the long run, for me as well.  If it isn't a challenge, it's probably not worth doing.

As for my boy... he's already running (fast, fast, waddle walk), has 13 teeth, and can say a few words while gibbering all day long.

Happy 1st Birthday, Carson! :)

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes and Dating

I tried a new recipe.  I made those cupcakes in ice cream cones and the kids love them.  I don't really like ice cream cones so I haven't eaten one.  The cones turned came out of the oven a little soggy so I'm going to need to look that up and see if there is a way to prevent it.

S says she wants them for her birthday for her class and I already plan on making a few for Carson's birthday.

Kids love cupcakes in ice cream cones.  It's such a contradiction.  As a child, I would have hated it, it is like mixing food to me. I guess I still wouldn't like it since I won't try one.  I think it's the soggy cone. I dislike soggy things.

I'm making those cowgirl cookies next from Bakerella.

I'm still waiting to hear if S was elected student council.  The other kids running missed school (hello, that should show you who really should be elected) so they postponed their speeches. We are really encouraging her to get as involved as she chooses to, to hopefully keep her on the right path.

Carson got a big boy haircut and boy is he a cutie! He's been so fun lately, playing very well and he's just hilarious. Just looking at parenting differences between children is amazing to me and I finally feel like I'm doing right by my children.

Tim and I mixed things up this morning and went on a breakfast date. We took S to the bus stop, waited, then headed to Waffle House.  Waffle House is my weakness. Every now and again, the idea of greasy breakfast food makes me so happy. The only downside is how early it was.

I have read when you go on dates with your spouse, you aren't supposed to talk about kids, money, or work. Well, that's all we have to talk about.  Actually, this morning we didn't talk very much and it was a great date.

On the way home, we laughed a lot about things the kids are doing and how funny they are.  I'd say it was a success.

Maybe It Was A Cold

Maybe it was a cold!  I am starting to believe that Carson is not only teething, but he has a little cold, too! So sorry to all the friends we went around. :/  He's over the worst part of it and has been almost back to normal today! :)

I have it now.  This is stupid, why do I have to get a cold? I can't breathe, especially at night, I have a huge headache and the list goes on.

That's enough nasty business... I went to Olive Garden to eat lunch with my Sister-in-law, Amanda today.  I got that endless soup and salad. I filled up on salad and could only eat half a bowl of minestrone.  The salad alone it worth it!  I kid you not.  It must have msg in it because I'm addicted.

I also stopped by the dollar tree to get some things for Carson's birthday party.  I ran into a problem  while there: I only have had 4 people R.S.V.P. and none of them are children (unless I'm forgetting someone).  I have some pretty neat party favors in mind but I don't plan on over-buying things and going through the hassle of returning them afterwards. No way!

But, get this...they have the COOLEST wrapping paper. Oh, I lerv it! It's that brown paper bag material, and there is a lot if it to boot for $1.  Heck to the yes.  I love wrapping paper, I do.  I thoroughly enjoy picking out the prettiest paper and curling ribbons and bows to match!  If you have ever gotten a wrapped gift from me (in the past few years) you should know!  I have big plans this year with twine and brown paper. Big plans!

Oh, and remember how I said S was really involved with 4th grade? Well, this remains to be true...  She stepped off the bus today and asked me what I thought about her running for class president.  I told her if that is what she wants to do, then, great!  I can't wait to see if this results in anything or not.

4th Grade and Molars

S started 4th grade last week.  I really like her teacher this year.  He's her first man-teacher... I only point that out because male teachers seem to be strict, cut through the crap, but have a huge heart all at once. That's my stereotype anyway.
I think I have the start of a new girl on my hands.  She is so confident in her studies now.  Tonight she took the initiative herself and read an extra 25 minutes, then wrote 4 1/2 pages in her composition book. She wants to do well this year and that's not something you can make a child do.

While she's earning the gold star, Carson is grumpier than an old man. He's cutting his molars, and already has one through, two more spots are swollen.  This grumpier than grump attitude started yesterday and I'm already really really tired because of it. Lol, but this is the life and I'm not going to complain anymore about that!

I don't think I would be so tired, but Tim's caught a cold and he isn't sleeping at night, causing me to not sleep.  Every time he coughs or sniffles, I wake up.  I have restless leg syndrome when I'm pregnant and if I lay too long without sleeping it gets worse.  If I wake up at night, it gets worse than worse and it's just over. There is no sleep for me.

Worded Wednesday

When he realized I was leaving him for a nap.

Refuses to cry for the camera.

Cheeser

What are you doing? Don't leave me!!

Oh, you're taking a picture!

Happy boy!

First Day of fourth grade 8/22/2012

It's a...

Tests

Without saying much (and I know that's annoying), we have to go to a specialist with this pregnancy. Hopefully it will be a one time thing. We'll see!

We were supposed to find out the sex of this baby on July 3rd, but that has now been postponed.

Frustration level is a little high, just for preparations sake.

We had a nice week down in Kentucky, for a mini vacation. The daughter stayed a week and a half longer than the baby and I. She needed quality time with her grandparents. She rarely gets any.

So now we wait.

Working on the Third

Basically, there is big news in this house!

Tim and I are going to be having another baby towards the end of the year.  I seem to post around my 15th week of pregnancy, and this time is no difference.

We are absolutely thrilled!

I have been through h, e, double hockey sticks up until a few weeks back.  Thankfully with a twist of bittersweet. Tim was off work for an injury, so during the worst of my morning sickness, and night sickness, he was home to help.

To top that off, our son wasn't mobile so I'm going to say that helped a lot.  He's officially a crawler now and he's eight months old with eight teeth! Crazy sauce.

There's also been some other stressed situations, like friendships and some of my past chasing me down.  The kind of stressers you don't need in your first trimester, but petty nonetheless.

We've only been telling a few people here and there because I'm not ready to be pregnant again.  I am not ready for people to make a big deal out of it.  When the baby comes, then and only then, make a big deal because it's a cause for celebration.

Cheers to us and the world for the addition!! Thanks to God for the blessing.

Moving Train

The past two weeks have been dramatic. Some emotional stuff going on and then my past catching up with me.  Really, chasing me down, oh and then I got blasted via text messages.

Anyway, apparently, telling people someone's father is incarcerated is MUCH better than saying he's just a lazy bum deadbeat father.  Apparently.

Someone can explain that to me because I don't get it.  Just crawl back into whatever hole you got out of and leave me and my family alone.

I had to go through all my internet accounts and make them private. I'm not sure if anyone will even be able to read my blog for a while, but I will post anyway.

I was losing some faith in humanity until I was protected and encouraged by so many.  It goes to show that I have been doing good things, even though I feel like I'm failing with every step I take.

Being bitter is no fun and trying to forgive and move on is hard.  Trying to deal with all this, and a few more things that are not easy while watching a friend go crazy at me and trying to stop it is like trying to stop a moving train.

But I have all those people standing in front and around me, holding me up and it helps me more than they could ever know. So, thank you!

Playing Catch-Up

So, I have had a bad day. No, I don't really want to talk about it, but then again maybe I do. I don't want to talk about what's wrong but just know that it caused some sort of breakdown-kinda-day, a ton of tears (caught in action at church...had to leave quick), a lot of long naps, and a huge headache.

Throw in a few fun dip sticks (way better than the loose sugar that comes with them) and a half bag of Chester's flamin' hot fries and my comfort food buried my problems a little deeper.

This is the time where I would run to Kentucky, to my parent's house, but they have their own things going on and I want to visit when Sehara gets out of school.  That's at the end of this month and I can wait that long.

Tim took Carson with him to his brother's apartment so I could get a break from his crying. He just keeps crying and crying and whining.  I don't know if it's his teeth, if I'm not producing enough milk and he's hungry, or if he is just a crybaby.  I hope it is his teeth, but if he's hungry that won't be an issue for long because I plan on weaning him to formula soon.  I might have to hand him over for a day or two or just suck it up and do it myself.  It's going to be horrible.

I've been spending my time lately watching a lot of Private Practice on Netflix, trying to lose weight, trying to get Sehara to behave, feeding Carson new foods, re-evaluating how I feel about people, trying to not post mean facebook statuses about other people, texting and chatting online with good friends I haven't spoken to in a while, debating whether or not to delete my facebook, and watering strawberry plants that I think aren't going to make it.

I really need to find a good recipe for those fried dill pickles. Have you tasted them? Oh, divine.

I have a cradle-roll song STUCK in my head. "I'm glad I am a pretty butterfly..." and I'm thinking it's time for it to get un-stuck, even though it's an adorable song.