So Without Further Ado...

I present my Christmas gift from my sweet-n-hot husband!

This is an original oil painting by an uber-talented man named John Diehl. This beautiful piece of art hangs proudly above my bed. It is peaceful, calming, soothing and serene. Just what you want your bedroom to be, right? Check out his website at http://www.diehlart.com/. Maybe you will be drawn to one of his amazing paintings, as I was.
Now I just need a new comforter set that compliments what is now the focal point of my bedroom. my poor husband...

edited to add: This photo of my painting does not do it justice. Just wanted to make that clear.

Ready for a New Day

Do you see the new bible verse in my upper left corner? When I found it this morning, I realized that God must be trying to tell me something. (that seems redundant, I mean of course He is trying to tell us something with the bible!) Anyway, yesterday was a bit of a tough day. Well, truth be told it was a monster of a day. I won't bore you with the details, let's just say that yesterday was one of those days that make you question being a SAHM. Question being a mother period. But today I have to haul myself up by my boot straps, because whether or not I feel like I am a good mother, I am the only mother these little girls have, and they need me. "Be truly glad, there is wonderful joy ahead." I know this is true, I know there are many, many exciting, joyful things to look forward to. My husband coming home from work. A new car. A lunch out with a friend. Another beautiful painting to hang on my wall (my Christmas present came yesterday, more on that later!). A new pair of jeans. Maddie's next belly laugh. Taylor starting school. Seeing my Dad again in heaven. I could go on and on, but I have yogurt to clean up now.

Celebration!!

I have finally reached my pre-Maddie-pregnancy weight!! Today I weigh the same as I did on my first doctor's visit. It only took 13.5 months this time. Jeez. That's not to say my body looks the same as it did, but it at least weighs the same. Funny that I lost that last 5 stubborn pounds during the Christmas holidays. Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?

Now I will go celebrate with a great big piece of pecan pie great big kiss on this beautiful face!

Kohl's

If you have ever been to Kohl's when they are running their "$10 Kohl's Cash for every $50 you spend" special, you'll know that it is a trick.
See, you receive a certificate worth $10 (or however much you earned) to use two weeks later. And that, my dear readers, is where they get you...



I went to Kohl's today to spend my "Kohl's Cash". I came home with this wacky, funky rug for my living room. The price was only 3 times the value of my "Kohl's Cash". I could hear the clerk laughing at me as she rang it up...gotcha!

New Tables

Maddie also received a new doll stroller for Christmas, it may or may not have been a replacement for the one her mom stepped on and broke. Don't let the video fool you, she did get a baby doll to push in it. However, mostly her blankie gets to ride, and I don't think the doll minds one bit!

She Came, She Saw, She Conquered!

Originally, I was concerned that Maddie felt a bit ripped off by receiving a toilet from Santa for Christmas.

Turns out I was wrong, for she loves sitting playing on her new potty. Today, for the first time, she actually used it for the purpose for which it was intended! More simply said, she peed in her potty! Go Madison!

Yippee!!!

Check this out!!!

I am super excited, I have a new (a few years old but in perfect condition) camera!! Many pictures to come!

If Your Christmas Was Half As Wonderful As Ours...

then you would be very lucky indeed. My Prince Charming, my four incredible children, my brother and his beautifully pregnant wife, the truly great father of my first two incredible children, and two close family friends shared a marvelous Christmas with my amazing Mom at her home. Some beloved people were missing for sure, but they were in our hearts (you know who you are, and Dad, I miss you every day).

Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!!

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! I am now done with my Christmas shopping! I don't know if it is blasphemy to use that word in conjunction with the word "shopping", but I am relieved ecstatic that I am done spending money for Christmas. Hallelujah!

****For all those of you who finish your shopping 11.5 months in advance, I don't want to hear it. Christmas Eve Eve is just as good a day as any for Christmas shopping. Just ask the other 15 million people that were there.

Not Me Monday!!

This week, I certainly did not cancel Dezi's appointment to be neutered for the 3rd time. I did not overspend for Christmas presents this past weekend, causing a shortage of money to pay for his surgery. Nope, not me.

Speaking of Christmas presents, I did not set a $50 limit for each child for presents, knowing I have 4 children to buy for, plus stocking stuffers. I most certainly did not blow that limit right out of the water (see above!).

No way would I accept my mother's offer to buy Maddie a new carseat, pick out an awesome one that goes from infant up to 80 lbs as a booster, and then sell my Chicco Keyfit infant carseat on Craigslist. I would never keep that money, and spend it on more Christmas presents, instead of turning it over to her (sorry Mom, I can give you that money after Christmas if you want me to!). Who would do that? Not me.

Want to join the fun? Head on over to http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ and see how many of us do embarassing, shameful things every single day!!

Sorry for the Silence...

It would seem that the bulk of my creative genius posts come from funny moments with the girls, and without a camera to capture them, I have nothing to write about.
That said, if I could have captured the look on Maddie's face right after she received her first ever, er, I mean second light swat on her diapered bottom for continuing to unplug my computer battery from the outlet just now, I would have. And then I would have made some dry, witty comment about said swat. But I can't. You missed out, it was quite a face!!

A Funeral for my Camera

Here are the last two pics you will see for awhile, as my camera has finally pooped out. I guess they can only withstand being dropped on the tile floor by a one year old so many times before they will no longer turn on. Bummer.

As you can see though, the picture quality had deteriorated quite a bit. It was time to upgrade anyway!

Warning Label Included

How is it that no matter how many children you have, each new addition to your family brings a resurgence of pure shock at the enormous amount of work babies require?

I stepped outside for a minute...

and when I came back inside, I couldn't find Maddie. I called to her, and searched in several rooms. Then I heard a giggle...




Found her!

Still Celebrating the Return of My Prince!

Creamed Spinach=Ruined Pink Sweatshirt

Yesterday I went out to lunch with a friend, while Daddy stayed home with the girls. I haven't been somewhere without them in at least 6 months. Pathetic? Maybe. Anywhoo, I had a nice meal with a fantastic friend, my best friend from 9 years ago actually. We have recently reconnected, and my loving, awesome, sweet husband took care of our girls while I took a desperately needed break! The best part? When I got home, this is what I found...

Daddy and the girls had put up the Christmas tree!! All by themselves. And they did a fabulous job. We can't find the tree skirt, so I have to purchase a new one. But it still looks beautiful, doesn't it?

I wish I could say that this is me, after 4 days and 4 nights alone with my children...

But alas, these pictures are far more accurate...

Sick Momma=Sick Baby

My tent is pitched solidly in the Attachment Parenting camp. I am a lifelong member. Last night, however, I would have traded my whole life savings (meager though it is) for a guest pass to the other side. As I rocked-to-sleep-laid-in-crib-got-back-up-rocked-to-sleep-laid-in-crib-got-back-up-rocked-to-sleep-laid-in-crib-got-back-up my Maddie for the 99nth time, I truly wished I had the stomach for letting her cry it out. Or the heart. Or the foot, or finger, really any body part would do.
In other new, Daddy comes home today! Hip hip horay! I think I'm leaving for a week...

Just Call Me Crazy Lady

I have a new found, and profound, respect for single mothers. Seriously, how do you guys do this shit????

Just Call Her Alberta Einstein

Maddie has started saying (or rather repeating, I guess) two word phrases. Today, I told her to sit down, and she said it back to me. After she sat, I said "thank you", and she repeated that. Granted, if I had not just said those two phrases, the words would not have been recognizable. But I had, and they were.
As if that's not enough milestone conquering in one day, my 12 month old told me she needed her diaper changed. You read that correctly folks. She walked into the living room and said, clear as day, "diaper". Then she led me into the bedroom and stopped in front of my bed (where I usually change her diaper). There were two diapers on the floor, pulled off of the bedside table where I keep them. This is not the first time she has said "diaper", she actually added that word to her repertoire several weeks ago. It was the first time she used the word in a request to have her hiney cleaned though!
Seriously people? At 12 months of age? So much for my little baby...

What did Grandma put in her Thanksgiving day cranberry sauce??

Thankful

This post is a day late, maybe a dollar short, but necessary none the less. This year, I am thankful for just about my whole life. But to stop there feels like a cop-out, so I will make this list, mainly for myself so that I can look back on it on a future rough day. You know, remind myself why I am so amazingly blessed when I feel gloomy.

*I am thankful for a man who loves me, holds me, nurtures me, takes care of me despite my bountiful flaws.
*I am thankful for 4 healthy, happy children who came to me easily, when I know that so many women out there struggle just to build their families.
*I am thankful that I can stay home with my girls, instead of paying somebody else to mother them throughout the day.
*I am thankful for a mom who loves me and never abandons me, despite what I have put her through over the years.
*I am thankful for a father who I can no longer hug, but who is in my heart still. I am surely blessed to have had this man teach me responsibility, respectability, honor, and forgiveness--traits I am finding in my own husband.
*I am thankful my husband still has a job in this crazy economy, and that while things are quite tight, we are in no danger of losing the roof over our heads or going without.

Happy Holidays!

Visitor!

Wonderful, delightful Aunt Kylie (Corey's younger sister) is here for a visit, and we are having a grand time!

Both girls love her, and she is super awesome with them! The only problem is that Taylor keeps calling her "grandma". Ahem. I do correct her, every time she says it, "honey, it's Aunt Kylie". Now she also calls her "grandma aunt". Luckily for us, Aunt Kylie just laughs and doesn't take it personally. We love her!

It's A Beautiful Morning

These girls are, without a doubt, morning people. Maddie especially, since she wakes up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed every. single. day. This is the genetic influence of their father. I do not like to wake up, and tend to be quite grumpy in the morning. But it never lasts, because as soon as I open this girl's door, and see this smiling face on this exhuberant little person, I can't help but smile too.

I envy children this. They wake up each day, excited about the new day, thinking only of the new things they get to do and learn. They are not plagued with fear and doubts, with worries about yesterday and tomorrow. They know only of today.

Maddie had her 12 month well check this past week, and the doctor said she is above the curve in both motor skills and intellectual development. I knew she was smart, but wow is it fantastic to have that rather biased opinion collaborated by a medical professional!! We also went ahead and gave her the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccinations. I know there is some disagreement out there about the swine flu vaccine, but I have always been strongly in favor of vaccines. Protect them where we can, I say, since there are so many things we can't protect them from (heartbreak, teasing..."metal mouth", anyone??).

Have a great weekend!!

I wanted to tell you...

that the flowers around Maddie's birthday cake were real, from my grandmother's garden. The best part? The colors exactly matched the flowers on the back of the highchair she was using, the same highchair I used to sit in when I was her age!! How cool is that?

So this is weird...

I have sent out resumes for at least 15 positions. No response. On any of them. In the past, I have had no trouble whatsoever trying to land a job. My experience is varied, my skills are sharp, and I hate to toot my own horn, but I give a kick a** interview. I wonder if employers are not digging the empty space on my resume for the past 1 1/2 years that I have been home? Because I have 2 other intervals of time where I have also stayed home with two of my other children. Do I seem irresponsible? Or noncommitted? Flighty, maybe? I mean, because of my extended maternity leaves, spaced only a couple of years apart, I do not have long work histories with any of the companies I have been employed with. One thing is different this time though, I have shied away from the customer service positions that I used to jump on. We have only one vehicle that can accomodate two carseats, plus I'm not desperate to find a job, so I can't/won't apply for those types of positions that usually have odd hours. Or, maybe my uncertainty and indecision is coming across somehow. I vacillate between wanting to work and, well, not wanting to work yet. I'd say that I need to, for financial reasons, but when I pull out my trusty calculator, with two young children in daycare (plus gas, clothes, etc etc), we are not really coming out ahead.
Hmmm...what a conundrum.

Birthday Pictures

Happy 1st Birthday sweet baby girl!

Welcome Home To Us!

We would like to thank Great Grandpa/Grandma G, BJ, and Great Grandpa/Grandma S for having us, feeding us, and loving on us this past week. We also give thanks for Nana M, for joining us in beautiful MO. We had a wonderful vacation.

Daddy's favorite part was fishing, fishing, and more fishing.

Maddie's and Taylor's favorite part was fish, fish, and more fish!

I was truly shocked (and maybe a little bit appalled??) at both girls' desire to touch and pet the fish their Daddy and I caught. Maddie was even putting her fingers into their mouths (they were large mouth bass). Many thanks to Great Grandpa S for butchering and cleaning them (the fish, not the girls! hehe), we will have a feast later this week!

More pics to come, as Maddie turned 1 this past week and we had much to celebrate!