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????