{52 Lists} Week 38

Lists, I LOVE lists. I like to write things down on a list so I can see the check mark or line through it. Each week for this year I've been writing a list out on a prompt. I'm hoping over to Paige's site, Moments for the journey, where she has some spectacular prompts for our 52 week lists.

Fears...

... Recovery, the getting hurt part doesn't bother me it's the recovering from it. I guess that goes both for emotionally and physically.
... Stains, Oh I get them but I fear getting them. Once it's happened it's done.
... Mice.
... Bugs that bite.
... Snakes.
... Children getting lost, especially at events.
... Not feeling enough
... Cats, In so so many ways.
... Swimming over rocks or places I can't see below me.

New

I'm joining in on Kate Motaung's 'Five Minute Friday'.
The rules are pretty simple. One word. Five minutes of writing. No editing.

Learning new things excite me.
Well... most of the time.
New activities, new crafts...
Cooking scares me. Something about the unknown of combining two things.
I just don't have that 'let me try this with that and ta-dah', in me at all.
New places are extraordinary. Seeing new sites.

On the flip side of loving new experiences... they terrify me.
New running shoes... horrible. I hate breaking those things in.
New friends... why is that one so hard?

New experiences for my children worry me.
Will they be safe?
Will they understand?
Will they be excited?

New... so many feelings from one little word.

{this moment}

{this moment} -  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{52 Lists} Week 37

Lists, I LOVE lists. I like to write things down on a list so I can see the check mark or line through it. Each week for this year I've been writing a list out on a prompt.

Words that I dislike or drive me bonkers.

-THE R word. Retarded. I cannot stand that word.
-Because
-Colon
-Any words that are used in the length of a pregnancy. Words that didn't bother me before are horrifying now.
-Hate, take this word a little more seriously.
-Really think of all the words that you do or do not want your five year old to say... meanings of words become magnified times a zillion.

{52 Lists} Week 36

Lists, I LOVE lists. I like to write things down on a list so I can see the check mark or line through it. Each week for this year I've been writing a list out on a prompt.

Pregnancy Rants

-People touching your belly.
-Heart burn
-Not being able to sleep due to heart burn, lack of support, finding the right spot, baby wiggles
-People asking what the name is and then giving you the, 'maybe you should reconsider that' look when you tell them what it is.
-Weight related comments, for some reason you're either too big or too small.
-Asking about the delivery plan and then belittling it.
-Asking about how serious you've taken the whole eating for two thing.
-Bending down
-Sneezing.

{52 Lists} Week 35

Lists, I LOVE lists. I like to write things down on a list so I can see the check mark or line through it. Each week for this year I've been writing a list out on a prompt.

Books you just can't get over.  
*As in when you go to quote something you totally get the image of this book in your head or an image of one of it's characters.

-Little House on the Prairie
-Harry Potter
-Outlander
-Narnia
-Sookie Stackhouse series
-Millennium trilogy
-All Souls trilogy
-Spilling Open

Hold

I'm joining in on Kate Motaung's 'Five Minute Friday'.
The rules are pretty simple. One word. Five minutes of writing. No editing.

Your eyes.
I could never make eye contact with you.
When I did it was like my heart started beating faster.
Is that actually medically possible?
I know it is.

When I finally mad the bold move of making eye contact and feeling the racing of my heart.
I know I started blushing.
Blushing.
I lost words.

Did you know?
Did you know you did that to me?
Do you know?
Do you know that you still do that to me?

Because

I'm joining in on Kate Motaung's 'Five Minute Friday'.
The rules are pretty simple. One word. Five minutes of writing. No editing.

This word.
It slips out of my mouth so often.

Because.

It's that one word that I said I wouldn't use.
I do though.
More than I really want to.

Because.

I get throttled with questions from the boys and at some point I break.
Because.

On the flip side, the boys seem to love using this word.

I ask them a question and whether they are in trouble or not they answer with it.
Because.

I loath that word.
It's a handy word, don't get me wrong.

I just... I wish it wasn't.

Just... because.

Ready

I'm joining in on Kate Motaung's 'Five Minute Friday'.
The rules are pretty simple. One word. Five minutes of writing. No editing.

 

The question is pretty common right now. Are you ready? 

We're expecting baby number four. 

And as it stands... he could be coming any day now. 

No. Yes.

We are ready but... we aren't.

Anyone that's ever had a baby hopefully understands this.

Really anyone who has waited for a life changing event and the day is just around the corner understands this though. 

We are ready to meet little one and love on him.

We are ready in the since that we have all that we truly need and then some.

We are ready.

Then the panic of of shnike. This is happening. How did the past nine months fly by? 

We are about to become a family of six.

The laundry that I complain about for a family of five is about to go on a wild up hill battle. 

This is real.

This bump that wiggles and kicks and hiccups.... we are about to meet him.

Are we ready...

I think so....

 

{this moment}

{this moment} -  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{52 Weeks} Week 34

Lists, I LOVE lists. I like to write things down on a list so I can see the check mark or line through it. Each week for this year I've been writing a list out on a prompt.


The bag. We are prepping for Baby Paden and the hospital stay that we will have. So naturally the list of things to pack for a hospital stay is on the fridge. This weeks list:
Hospital bag list

Catch all Bag
-Camera & Charger
-Cell phone & Charger
-iPad & Charger
-List of important calls to make with baby update
-Cash
-Pen & Paper


Momma's Bag
-Chapstick
-Toothbrush
-Toothpaste
-Brush
-Hair ties
-Makeup
-Shampoo/Conditioner
-Face and body wash
-Deodorant
-Razer
-Nursing pads
-Pajamas x 2
-Going home outfit
-Nursing bras
-Nursing scarf
-Granny undies
-Slippers

Dad's Bag
-Pack at least one nights worth of items
(For us we have kiddos that will be at home. I have a feeling Dad might be back and forth between hospital and home so pack at least a stay over bag.)
-Tylenol


Baby's Bag
-Car seat
-Receiving blankets x2
-Onsies x2
-Socks x3
-Pajamas (depending on weather) x2
-Hat
-Going home outfit

Special Bag
-Special big brother bag for Sam
-Special big brother bag for Louis
-Special big brother bag for Rian

September's Ten on Ten

One photo, ten hours, on the tenth. Find out more at a bit of sunshine!!! Then join in on the ten on ten photo project.

Whisper

I'm joining in on Kate Motaung's 'Five Minute Friday'.
The rules are pretty simple. One word. Five minutes of writing. No editing.



Sometimes it happens in the middle of the night.
Sometimes it's early early in the morning.
Those moments where I really really just want to sleep.
It comes though.
It happens.
Sometimes in the late of night instinct kicks in and there at the side of the bed it awaits you.
Two eyes.
These beautiful eyes.
But there is a sadness in them.
Shame.
Maybe scared.
Cold.
And then it happens.
The little boy who those two eyes belong to whispers.

I peed my bed.

It's so easy to make this moment sound to mystical.
But in the dead of night... Errghhh.... it's so frustrating.

Pulling yourself out of bed and stripping down Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sheets.
Throwing them in the washer.
Showering and changing a child.

OR the reality of throwing a sheet over the wet spot wrapping your child up in fresh clothes and having them snuggle with you.

... sometimes only to later wake up in your own bed being soaked by said little snuggler.

It's that whisper though. That moment of choosing do I get mad and frustrated or do I embrace the moment and go with it. I've gone down both paths and I wish so wholeheartedly that I would choose to embrace the moment of that whisper.

That. Makes. Sense.

I was asked what I thought about Ray Rice and his 'punishment'. I'll be honest I had no idea who this Ray Rice was until I had to draft my fantasy football team. Then his story started to unfold. The slimmed down story that I was given was, he punched his then fiance. He got suspended from two games.

The football fan in me says... two games. There are players getting suspended for more games than that for smoking weed.

The domestic violence survivor in me says... she made it out.

With that last statement I was then informed that she was called a then fiance because she married him just a while after the incident.

Janay Palmer married Ray Rice. To a non domestic violence survivor the comment "How dumb is she?" runs rampant. To a domestic violence survivor though the only comment I can make is "Oh, that makes sense".

You heard me right... That. Makes. Sense.

I'm not sure I can put all the right words together for you. I still have terrifying nightmares of what I survived through. Maybe someday I'll be brave enough to hash through all the emotion and jot it down. That's not this moment though.

For now, please watch this TED Talk video. Why Don't Domestic Violence Victims Leave?

When you read all the Facebook statuses or Tweets or other social media updates on Ray Rice and what's happening to him... just stop. It's not happening to him it's happening to her, Janay Palmer. She isn't just that girl who Ray Rice beat. She's part of a statistic now, one that I was once a part of. A statistic that leaves a mark on you for the rest of your life.

To me the NFL and the Ravens did a horrendous job in not dropping Ray Rice once all this was revealed. Now we are doing a horrible job in letting the light continue to shine on him. Take a look at her, her story, her life. Look at Janay Palmer in all these pictures that are being taken. This is a deep dark thing that has happened to her but yet we are bickering over a dudes football carrier.

Take a stand for Janay Palmer. 

{52 Weeks} Week 33

Lists, I LOVE lists. I like to write things down on a list so I can see the check mark or line through it. Each week for this year I've been writing a list out on a prompt.

My obstacles. 

+Fill enough
+Be strong enough
+Be enough
+Be proud of accomplishments
+Know that I have accomplishments
+Not build walls
+Be strong enough to tell people when they've hurt me.
+Be bold.
+Just be me and not care
+Be as strong as I want my children to be.
+Be confident
+Remember the past is the past and it can't hurt me now
+Stop comparing myself to the Martha Stewart mothers.

Reach

I'm joining in on Kate Motaung's 'Five Minute Friday'.
The rules are pretty simple. One word. Five minutes of writing. No editing.

That feeling on the swing.
That moment when I would swing as hard as I could.
If I could only reach a little bit further...
... just to touch the clouds.
I wouldn't think of anything else.
It was pure bliss.
Just to swing.
Back and Forth.
Just a little further and I would be able to reach the stars.
Maybe someday the moon.
Back and Forth.
Back and Forth.
I just want to reach...

{52 Weeks} Week 32

Lists, I LOVE lists. I like to write things down on a list so I can see the check mark or line through it. Each week for this year I've been writing a list out on a prompt.

Things I wish I would just do and not put off"

-Send a letter. Not an email, not a text... an actual letter with a stamp on it.
-Send actual birthday cards or celebratory cards.
-Be able to take a roadtrip.
-Go home.
-Do crafts.
-Plant a beautiful garden... and have it live
-Girls night
-Special time with the boys

{this moment}

{this moment} -  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

August Photo A Day

No rules. Just a prompt and a camera. Check out Chantelle's photo a day challenge.

I'm going to let you know now... I totally slacked off this month. BUT a new month is here!

Tell

I'm joining in on Kate Motaung's 'Five Minute Friday'.
The rules are pretty simple. One word. Five minutes of writing. No editing.



Tell me something.
Something that will sooth my soul.
Tell me anything.
Anything that will make me feel better.
Tell me a story.
A story that ends in happily ever after.
Tell me about a time.
A time that I reminisce in.
Tell me a dream.
A dream that I can daydream in.
Tell me...
... just to take me away from this moment.
Tell me the hurt will go away.
Tell me the pain will stop.
Tell me, please.

{this moment}

{this moment} -  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 

Change

I'm joining in on Kate Motaung's 'Five Minute Friday'.
The rules are pretty simple. One word. Five minutes of writing. No editing.

One of the many glamorous jobs that I get to enjoy is laundry. I know, I know I am one lucky lady. All joking aside I really am a lucky lady. I get to share my life with my best friend and get the honor of calling him my husband. I get to be a part of raising three little boys. I get to carry one more boy to add to that pack (just a few more weeks). That said you might be able to guess the loads and loads of fun laundry doing that I have.

My loving amazing husband... is not so much a laundry do-er. As in it is painful to try and get him to help with folding or putting his clothes away. He is a talented cook though so I guess folding some extra jeans for him is okay.

Through the years I have decided that our boys would most definitely know how to do their laundry. It starts with showing them how to load the washer. This is where I learned that the pods of laundry detergent are well worth the money versus five cups of liquid detergent being 'helpfully' poured in. Then learning to switch to the dryer. Then learning to fold the clothes.

INSERT... I might have an OCD on how shirts, towels... okay, let me rephrase. I have an OCD on how everything is folded. So to I have had to take a deep breath on folding. I've had to relax on towels not being folded to Martha Stewart perfection. I've had to let loose on how I might fold a t-shirt versus a tank top or a long sleeve. Don't even get me started on fitted sheets.
 
The one thing that hasn't changed, is the change. You know the surprise change donation at the bottom of the washer. The extra incentive that I get to use with the boys should the decide to help without throwing a fit.

Oh, the blessed change at the bottom of a washer. It's a little reminder that no matter how much is changing on around us. This, this little thing stays the same. The change in the washer.

{this moment}

{this moment} -  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

School Year 2014

 It's the boys FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL TODAY!

Rian

My teacher’s name is: Ms. J

Grade: Pre-K

My school’s name is: :)

My favorite color is: Green and Purple

My favorite food is: Grapes

My favorite book is: Toy Story

My favorite song is: Gangnam Style

I want to be a: A police officer

Things I’d like to learn: Coloring

My favorite subject is: PLAYING

My favorite movie is: TMNT

I’m most excited about: Learning new things.

My favorite sport is: Soccer

Louis 

My teacher’s name is: Mrs. C

Grade: Second

My school’s name is: :)

My favorite color is: Red

My favorite food is: Waffle fries

My favorite book is: Angry Birds Star Wars

My favorite song is: Happy

I want to be a: An artist

Things I’d like to learn: Reading, drawing

My favorite subject is: Art

My favorite movie is: Star Wars

I’m most excited about: Reading and coloring

My favorite sport is: Soccer

Samual 

My teacher’s name is: Ms. B

Grade: Third

My school’s name is: :)

My favorite color is: Orange

My favorite food is: Ice cream

My favorite book is: Harry Potter

My favorite song is: Cruise

I want to be a: A veterinarian

Things I’d like to learn: More math

My favorite subject is: Math

My favorite movie is: Lego Movie

I’m most excited about: Math

My favorite sport is: Basketball

Praying for all our teachers this year, as every year brings it's challenges. Bless these men and women who are working so diligently with our children.

Ten on Ten {August}

One photo, ten hours, on the tenth. Find out more at a bit of sunshine!!! Then join in on the ten on ten photo project.

{52 Weeks} Week 31

Lists, I LOVE lists. I like to write things down on a list so I can see the check mark or line through it. Each week for this year I've been writing a list out on a prompt. This week, baby names. 

It's not a surprise, we are 31 weeks prego and still baby is nameless. We had our girl name picked out but as it turns out we will need a boy name. The name game is still going strong.

Here's our rules:
 Can't start with: S, L, R... preferable not J or W or A either
 Initials can't spell anything crazy
 Two syllables
 Irish/German/Celtic name
 Funky spelling
 The name can't make us cringe thinking of someone we knew with that name.

Going through the list you will definitely notice why a certain name hasn't been picked. Either due to the initial rule OR as it turns out Northern vs Southern accent. 

- Sawyer
- Chandler
- Walker
- Emmett
- Everette
- Colt
- Marlin
- Paden
- Grant
- Garrett
- Tristan
- Derreck
- Tatum
- Beaux
- Heath
- Finn
- Quinn
- Archer
- Hunter
- Whit
- Joseph
- James
- Ray

What boy names do you like???

{this moment}

{this moment} -  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Fill

For the past few years I've joined Lisa-Jo Baker every Friday and written with an open heart. The torch has been passed along to Kate Motaung.
   
The rules are pretty simple. One word. Five minutes of writing. No editing.

 

Nine weeks. 

In nine weeks I will meet you.

I have carried you for 31 weeks. 

You will fill our arms in nine weeks.

You will make our family complete.

You, little sir, will be baby boy number four.

Nine more weeks.

Will I be enough for you?

Will I be able to fill these Momma shoes?

I don't know that I do enough as it is now.

I want so badly to be the best for you.

Will I?

Nine weeks.

Nine weeks of kicking and hickups.

Nine weeks of feeling like I'm stuffing all my shirts with a watermelon.

Nine weeks. 

I'll see you then little guy.

ABCs of Me

There are a few blogs out there that I follow and they have done this super fun post on the ABCs of Me. Basically each letter describes a little something something about them. So I'm going to play along too!

A~ age: 29

B~ birthday: April

C~ chore I hate: Laundry. It never ever ends.

D~  drink: COFFEE

E~ eyes: Hazel, please note this is not brown! Whenever I fill paperwork out and I put hazel people always seem to think this color is brown. It is in fact not. It's shaded green.

F~ favorite color: Coral, pink, blue, gray, black, purple, green, red... I love colors! I guess if I had to pick coral would be my top though.

G~ gent: My bestest friend, rock, outdoors-man hubby Josh.

H~ hobby: Triathlons, crafting, camping

I~ indulgence: Reading. I love new books!

J~ job: Manager

K~  kids: Samual, Louis, Rian, Baby L and two fur babies Cooper and Lilly

L~ love: Rainy days; cuddling up with a cup of coffee and reading a book.

M~ music: ALL OF IT! Music is fantastic.

N~ nickname: AJ, A, neither of them are really used though... I'm that one friend that you can't quite get a nickname for.

O~ one wish: To travel. I want to see places. I would love to visit other countries Ireland is the top of the list.

P~ pet peeves: The noise that is made with silverware scrapping against teeth.

Q~ quote: Brave on the rocks. -Sabrina Ward Harrison

R~ residence: My heart will always be in Oregon.

S~ siblings: Sam, Shannon, Wayne and Alan

T~ time I wake up: It depends on if it's a work day. Sometimes I get up when hubby leaves, 2am. Other times when I am getting up to run it's around 5am. If I sleep in then we are up at 6:30 or 7am.

U~ university: Currently taking classes from Harvard.

V~ vegetables I dislike: ... I don't know that I've had a vegetable I don't like.

W~ worst habit: Dissing myself. 

X~ x-rays: Ankle and wrist

Y~ yuck: The smell of milk sippy cups that you find behind the couch a week later.

Z~ zoo: ZEBRAS. I love zebras.

{this moment}

{this moment} -  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{52 Weeks} Week 30

Lists, I LOVE lists. I like to write things down on a list so I can see the check mark or line through it. Each week for this year I've been writing a list out on a prompt.


The things I always seem to forget at the store:

-Toilet paper
-Paper towels
-Laundry detergent
-Dryer sheets
-Butter
-Milk
-Dog food
-Tape
-Batteries (sometimes if the batteries are for an annoying toy... they might be forgotten for a while)
-... I know there is something I'm forgetting...

It's not that I don't go back and get the stuff that I forget, it's just that I always seem to forget these things and have to make a special trip for them. SO annoying.

{52 Weeks} Week 29

Lists, I LOVE lists. I like to write things down on a list so I can see the check mark or line through it. Each week for this year I've been writing a list out on a prompt.

Things that make summer summer

- Stretchy capri pants
- Sports bras
- Flip flops
- Summer books
- Sunglasses
- Leave in conditioner
- Lotion
- Tank tops
- Leather braided bracelet
- Ponytails or french braids
- Nail polish
- Iced coffee
- Lawn chair
- Tiki torches
- Baseball games
- No make up days
- Library visits
- Camping
- Fresh fruit
- Sprinklers
- Fresh cut grass
- Flowers

July Photo A day

No rules. Just a prompt and a camera. Check out Chantelle's photo a day challenge.