Snowflake Elegance Noir Christmas
Personalize your Christmas cards at Shutterfly.
View the entire collection of cards.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Let it snow!
As anyone with a heartbeat has heard, it snowed in the DC metro area this week. How fun, our first snow fall! I personally love snow. I grew up in the south, so it has always been a novelty. Additionally, my parents took us skiing from a very young age, so snow always meant lots and lots of fun.
I felt it my motherly obligation to take the kids outside (by myself, I might add because Jimmy was working) and play in the 20 degree weather. This is where most other more wise mothers would have said, "It might be better to wait until tomorrow, which is supposed to be in the 40s." But no.. when I get my mind set on something it is pretty much impossible to redirect me... So we went out in the snow... Ashton had been talking about the snow all day, so I knew he would get a kick out of it. We got all suited up, which is a PROCESS to say the least, and out we went into the white paradise.
Ha. Yeah right... To be fair, Ashton did love the snow. He was jumping around and running in it, and probably could have been out there all day. Reagan on the other hand was in misery. From the start, she hated, hated, hated all of the snow gear. But then I thought if I could just get her outside she would see that all of this was worth it. Not. She just wailed the entire time. And, because I am no longer in the running for mother of the year, I decided, smile or not, we were taking a picture. I kept hoping my neighbors wouldn't look outside and see me forcing the two into a picture because I know I looked like a picture psycho. At least we have it for memory's sake, right?!
I felt it my motherly obligation to take the kids outside (by myself, I might add because Jimmy was working) and play in the 20 degree weather. This is where most other more wise mothers would have said, "It might be better to wait until tomorrow, which is supposed to be in the 40s." But no.. when I get my mind set on something it is pretty much impossible to redirect me... So we went out in the snow... Ashton had been talking about the snow all day, so I knew he would get a kick out of it. We got all suited up, which is a PROCESS to say the least, and out we went into the white paradise.
Ha. Yeah right... To be fair, Ashton did love the snow. He was jumping around and running in it, and probably could have been out there all day. Reagan on the other hand was in misery. From the start, she hated, hated, hated all of the snow gear. But then I thought if I could just get her outside she would see that all of this was worth it. Not. She just wailed the entire time. And, because I am no longer in the running for mother of the year, I decided, smile or not, we were taking a picture. I kept hoping my neighbors wouldn't look outside and see me forcing the two into a picture because I know I looked like a picture psycho. At least we have it for memory's sake, right?!
 |
| Reagan is clearly not jazzed and Ashton is mad because he wants to run around. |
 |
| Ah that's better! Ashton enjoying the snow. |
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Ashton Turns 2
Space Birthday Birthday Invitation
Shop birthday cards and invitations at Shutterfly.com.
View the entire collection of cards.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Reminicing on the old days
With two kids of two different genders being under two years apart, the house has started to fill with stuff without our noticing... until I decided to shampoo our carpets... Our neighbors let us borrow their steam cleaner and I decided to go to town on our basement two nights ago. I had to drag a bouncer, a play mat, a jumper thingy, and countless baby toys to the laundry room and it occurred to me that all of the aforementioned items have since been outgrown by our kids. Humph. Time flies.
Luckily, we have a couple of close friends who have kids who can use these items and the piles and piles of clothes in our kids' closets. So, I have since gone though all of our gently used baby gear and given it to our friends for their children. It feels really good to have it used by another child since baby stuff is expensive and used for a total of 5 minutes.
Tonight while giving a bath to the kids, I wrapped Reagan up in a bath robe, used tonight for the first time, that I plan to give away tomorrow (incidentally, another pricey, very cute, but totally impractical item) and immediately thought of a picture I took of Ashton about one year ago. I think going through all of this baby stuff has made me sentimental. We are so blessed to have such happy and healthy little ones. The stuff we surround ourselves with is just the icing...
Luckily, we have a couple of close friends who have kids who can use these items and the piles and piles of clothes in our kids' closets. So, I have since gone though all of our gently used baby gear and given it to our friends for their children. It feels really good to have it used by another child since baby stuff is expensive and used for a total of 5 minutes.
Tonight while giving a bath to the kids, I wrapped Reagan up in a bath robe, used tonight for the first time, that I plan to give away tomorrow (incidentally, another pricey, very cute, but totally impractical item) and immediately thought of a picture I took of Ashton about one year ago. I think going through all of this baby stuff has made me sentimental. We are so blessed to have such happy and healthy little ones. The stuff we surround ourselves with is just the icing...
 |
| Reagan- December 10, 2010 |
 |
| Ashton- October 14, 2009 |
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Swiper no swiping!
A week ago we learned that Jimmy will be moving to a new position at the beginning of January and relief filled the air. I won't steal his thunder and tell you what exactly he'll be doing, but he will be getting out of police work and we will be able to get off food stamps. (ok, the food stamp part is a joke, but this new job is not only a great opportunity, its pay is a heck of a lot better than being a police officer.) Jimmy is rightfully sad to be saying goodbye to the good people of the New Carrollton City Police Department, his take home car, and beloved gun belt. He'll get over it soon enough. I insisted we celebrate this accomplishment with sushi and a babysitter :)))
Another milestone from last week included my entering the fun category of "late twenties." yay. I was surrounded by birthday wishes and had a chance to exercise my right as the birthday girl and had some good ol' fun. Friday the 3rd I went out for dinner and drinks with former co-workers while Jimmy babysat and Saturday Jimmy and I went out with Kevin, Katie, Justin and Megan for Hibachi and bowling. Both nights were a perfect break from my daily routine and I had a great time with friends. I couldn't think of a better way to ring my next year.
This past week, Ashton has been pant-free as part of potty training and we have had no accidents! We are going to be adding special underwear to the mix in the next day or so, so he can get used to pulling them down. I think we're going to be fully trained by Christmas. We have a little routine after he uses the potty: we do the pee-pee dance, wash our hands (as a little reward, he can wash as LONG as he wants), then we get a sticker. He's so proud of himself. However, according to Ashton, the entire family is in training. You haven't lived until you've seen Ashton run in the bathroom and yell "YAY DADDY!!" and start the pee-pee dance when Jimmy successfully uses the toilet. This never gets old.
Sweet baby Rea doesn't stand idly by with all of the attention on Ashton, so she decided to start pulling up and standing this week. She'll just stand with nothing to hang on to for a couple of seconds, which hasn't given me enough of a chance to grab the camera and snap a shot, but I keep trying. Also as she gets older and more mobile she has started to really get on Ashton's nerves. I call her Swiper because she'll come right over to him and swipe whatever strikes her fancy. He is incredibly tolerant of her, but after a couple swipes of his paci or toy he gets agitated, so I've taught him to say "Swiper, no swiping!" Just like Dora.
Here are some recent videos of the kids:
Video of Ashton showing some tricks
Video of Reagan eating
Ashton washing his hands
Another milestone from last week included my entering the fun category of "late twenties." yay. I was surrounded by birthday wishes and had a chance to exercise my right as the birthday girl and had some good ol' fun. Friday the 3rd I went out for dinner and drinks with former co-workers while Jimmy babysat and Saturday Jimmy and I went out with Kevin, Katie, Justin and Megan for Hibachi and bowling. Both nights were a perfect break from my daily routine and I had a great time with friends. I couldn't think of a better way to ring my next year.
This past week, Ashton has been pant-free as part of potty training and we have had no accidents! We are going to be adding special underwear to the mix in the next day or so, so he can get used to pulling them down. I think we're going to be fully trained by Christmas. We have a little routine after he uses the potty: we do the pee-pee dance, wash our hands (as a little reward, he can wash as LONG as he wants), then we get a sticker. He's so proud of himself. However, according to Ashton, the entire family is in training. You haven't lived until you've seen Ashton run in the bathroom and yell "YAY DADDY!!" and start the pee-pee dance when Jimmy successfully uses the toilet. This never gets old.
 |
| Ashton going potty all by himself! (please ignore lunch all over his shirt) |
Sweet baby Rea doesn't stand idly by with all of the attention on Ashton, so she decided to start pulling up and standing this week. She'll just stand with nothing to hang on to for a couple of seconds, which hasn't given me enough of a chance to grab the camera and snap a shot, but I keep trying. Also as she gets older and more mobile she has started to really get on Ashton's nerves. I call her Swiper because she'll come right over to him and swipe whatever strikes her fancy. He is incredibly tolerant of her, but after a couple swipes of his paci or toy he gets agitated, so I've taught him to say "Swiper, no swiping!" Just like Dora.
 | ||
| Reagan playing with her music table. Just saw the doctor and she's 17 lbs and 9 oz and 26 3/4 in long. Our peanut is getting big! |
Video of Ashton showing some tricks
Video of Reagan eating
Ashton washing his hands
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Everything happens for a reason
In starting this blog only a few short weeks ago, I remember thinking to myself, "why must you continue to add to your already overflowing plate?" I felt overwhelmed by the task of being home with the kids all day and thought this blog was going to be another burden, but I LOVE IT! This is so much fun!
However, transitioning into this new role has not been a walk in the park. I have gained so much more than I ever thought I would, but I have lost a few things in the process: my identity as a trail-blazing working mother, my mostly 9-5 work day, and a few relationships, to name a few. Additionally, a SAHM has alot of pressure, thanks to all of the super women out there... Most of the pressure revolves around the children being a very public display of my parenting skills. I feared that everyone who met them would look at me and think "man, that woman should not have any more children!" Which truth be told, is something I have thought many a time when an unruly child disrupted my dinner/movie/shopping/etc (clearly wasn't a parent when I thought those judgmental thoughts!). Anyway, I come to you tonight refreshed, confident, and very, very happy. I have grown over the past month and am enjoying being home with the kids tremendously and am not worried one bit about them becoming ax murderers. I am seeing them learn right before my eyes, and I might be giving myself too much credit here, but I feel like they both have had huge growth spurts due to my interactive and often embarrassing play with them. We're getting into a little rhythm here and I am really liking how things are going. More than ever, our house is full of laughter and quality time together and for that I am eternally grateful.
However, transitioning into this new role has not been a walk in the park. I have gained so much more than I ever thought I would, but I have lost a few things in the process: my identity as a trail-blazing working mother, my mostly 9-5 work day, and a few relationships, to name a few. Additionally, a SAHM has alot of pressure, thanks to all of the super women out there... Most of the pressure revolves around the children being a very public display of my parenting skills. I feared that everyone who met them would look at me and think "man, that woman should not have any more children!" Which truth be told, is something I have thought many a time when an unruly child disrupted my dinner/movie/shopping/etc (clearly wasn't a parent when I thought those judgmental thoughts!). Anyway, I come to you tonight refreshed, confident, and very, very happy. I have grown over the past month and am enjoying being home with the kids tremendously and am not worried one bit about them becoming ax murderers. I am seeing them learn right before my eyes, and I might be giving myself too much credit here, but I feel like they both have had huge growth spurts due to my interactive and often embarrassing play with them. We're getting into a little rhythm here and I am really liking how things are going. More than ever, our house is full of laughter and quality time together and for that I am eternally grateful.
 |
| Picture with Santa! |
 | |
| Ashton is excited to see Santa... just has a unique way of expressing this... |
 |
| Of course Sweet Rea has no issue with Santa! |
 |
| Ashton is so proud of his ability to put on his own hat! I love how much he enjoys our time together. |
 | |||||||
| It's beginning to look alot like winter.. Reagan's pictured here in the stroller on our walk. |
 |
| Reagan as a bundle of purple (my favorite color on her!) after the walk. |
 |
| Babies this good should be cloned! |
 |
| Mommy will do anything necessary to get Ashton to cover up a minor boo boo that he keeps making worse! |
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Parents' Day Out
Today was the annual Parents Day Out hosted by our former day care. They were kind enough to invite us to participate and since receiving the invite, I have had this date as a bullseye on my calendar. I had visions of doing Christmas shopping and organizing, but not much of that got done. Oh well; at least I'm taking a moment to add a note and pictures to the blog, right?! :)
We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for: a healthy family, first and foremost; a happy family; food in our bellies; and a roof over our heads, just to name the few most important things. I kept thinking that I should make a list of things I am not thankful for because my heart is so heavy with appreciation for all that we have. We are so fortunate.
Anyway, we got a few hours with Jimmy and took a trip to his Grandmother's house to spend Thanksgiving lunch with his extended family. It was a treat to see Grandma and all of his family gathered.
From there we went home and cooked our own feast for the four of us to enjoy as a family. Here are some post-dinner tubby shots!
In other family news, we have had some major kid developments in the last week or so... Reagan is crawling, Reagan's first two teeth came in, and Ashton started potty training himself! SUCH big accomplishments for both kids and I have truly enjoyed being there to witness them all FIRST! Go Mommy, go Mommy, it's your birthday... well, almost!
We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for: a healthy family, first and foremost; a happy family; food in our bellies; and a roof over our heads, just to name the few most important things. I kept thinking that I should make a list of things I am not thankful for because my heart is so heavy with appreciation for all that we have. We are so fortunate.
Anyway, we got a few hours with Jimmy and took a trip to his Grandmother's house to spend Thanksgiving lunch with his extended family. It was a treat to see Grandma and all of his family gathered.
 |
| Grandma Williams, holding Ashton with Reagan and Jimmy. |
 |
| Great family photo except for a little someone's new trick! |
 | ||
| Our little happy snappy! |
 |
| Cheese! |
 |
| Reagan loves bath time with Ashton! |
 |
| LOVE my sister! |
 |
| Reagan surrounded by random toys gathered at will by Ashton. |
In other family news, we have had some major kid developments in the last week or so... Reagan is crawling, Reagan's first two teeth came in, and Ashton started potty training himself! SUCH big accomplishments for both kids and I have truly enjoyed being there to witness them all FIRST! Go Mommy, go Mommy, it's your birthday... well, almost!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)