2 in 1 week... wha, wha, WHAT???

I know!! I can't believe it either!! 2 in one week! I'm just *that* good... (Or I am avoiding doing other things on my 'Spring Break To-Do List!') Probably the latter!

But at any rate, here is the latest...

We started the week with a visit from Jodie & Grace! It was soooo good to see my sweet friend. With 3 kiddos and no 'spare bedroom' and Cory working nights and Grace not sleeping well... we had our fair share of lack of sleep, grumpies, and wine! ;) But we did enjoy Moody Gardens and when the sun decided to come out of hiding we played outside on the trampoline and their last night here Cory grilled steaks! We had a delicious meal and a busy 3 days!

Yesterday was the only day I had nothing really going on... It was nice. We just played and hung out. Klaire practiced pushing up on her belly, sitting up and rolling over! She likes to sit in her 'chair' ON the table and watch her brother! He makes her crack up!

Today we had a 'photo shoot' at a little duck pond by our house. I COULD NOT believe how great the kids did- which is good because we are all 4 taking *real* pictures at jcp tomorrow!! Then we went to Bay Brook Mall and did a little shopping!!

Cory is only off these last 3 days of my break... We haven't seen much of him and miss him a lot! We are looking forward to hanging out and working outside this weekend!

Until Next Time...

HAPPY SPRING BREAK!

Spring Break...

"Finally... Maybe *now* I will have a chance to update the blog! "

They were talking back and forth at the breakfast table- precious moment!

OK- Let's see... we've missed a few Birthdays, Dr. visits, other holidays and SO MUCH more... Where to begin?!?!?

Everyone is doing well and we have all adjusted much more easily than I'd thought we would to our busy schedule! Casey and Klaire go to Ms. Debbi 2-3 times a week and Cory keeps them the other days and I get the weekends. We make a great team, but rarely get to hang out all together! (That will change once SUMMER gets here!) Only 11 more weeks of school left!

Cory is SO good with the kiddos and I think he has a new found appreciation for Moms! I'm off for Spring Break and very much looking forward to these days with my babies! Jodie and Grace are coming for a visit and we are excited about that, too! Cory is not scheduled off a single day of it, but he is thinking about taking a day or 2 of vacation so we can hang out! We plan on feeding the ducks at the pond, doing a Moody Gardens trip, going to see Granny, taking family pictures, hanging out, playing at home and vegging out some, too! As usual, Spring Break in SETX is starting with a COLD, RAINY weekend!

Here is what we've been up to...

Casey... turned 4 Feb 5th! It is just SO hard to believe that our little man is 4!!!! He had his first 'kid' party- at Chuck E Cheese, none the less!! (Per HIS request!!) It was wild and crazy and SO much fun! It was nice to NOT have to clean up afterwards or cook...etc, but it just really marked a turning point for me. Casey is a big boy now. He got a HUGE trampoline for our backyard that I know he'll enjoy for years to come, as will we all!! He is just growing and growing. He is SO tall and still skinny! He is a bit of a picky eater, unfortunately. But we are trying to combat that. His imagination is in full bloom. I love to listen to him playing with his toys. He still LOVES animals- ALL kinds. He is into dinosaurs now and he loves puzzles, books, and games. He is hilarious!! I'll be deciding on a pre-school for him very soon. Next Fall, he'll be going to 'school' full time. I can't wait to see how much he learns then, as he is already showing various signs of early emergent reading skills... etc. He is SO smart and very perceptive. He doesn't miss a beat or forget ANYTHING!! He is the kindest most gentle big brother, ever. He has never once been ugly or shown any signs of jealousy. He knows we are a family and he is a VERY important part of it! We are a team. He is always making Klaire laugh and smile. He is such a big help, too! He has such a kind heart- I hope he stays this sweet always.

Valentine's Love

Klaire... is the cutest thing ever! She is 4 1/2 months old already! She weighs almost 15lbs and is over 24inches long! (That's a little over 50% on weight and a little under on height... short and chubby, like Momma!) ;)

It is odd getting used to having a 'chubby' baby. Casey did go through a little chubby phase but it was around 1 yr old. Seems sister is already starting hers! She is already wearing 6 month clothes! Earlier this month she got her first little illness. It turned out to be just a cold and possibly the beginning of an ear infection, but we caught it quickly and although her little cough was pretty pitiful, she was never grumpy and never had fever! She laughs and smiles ALL the time. Once it is time to eat you have to feed her pretty quickly- or she will show you her temper! She is on the perfect schedule. She eat 4 times a day, (8ish, noon-ish, 4ish & 8ish) She sleeps from her last feeding until morning. Usually about 10-12hrs. (All that hard work pays off!) She is almost sitting up AND rolling over (As I type) She loves music and her brother and her DADDY! She lights up when she sees or hears Daddy! He can make her giggle and chuckle and squeal- its priceless! She keeps hers eyes on Casey and is usually content playing on a mat or with her toys, as long as she is close to us. She eats cereal, oatmeal and sweet potatoes and sweet peas, so far. I think she is going to be our messy, care-free, eat anything, make a mess kid!! I can't wait until this summer! She will be in that fun 6 month stage and I'll be OFF!!! We are going to have so much fun!

Cory... is working, being 'Mr. Mom,' and loosing tons of weight. What started as a contest at work has turned into a complete life style change! He has lost around 30lbs since January 1st! Plus, he is just overall healthier! We even did a 5K, as a family!! (I have to admit... I LOVE it!) It is SO much easier for me to maintain my healthy lifestyle when he isn't gorging on fast food, beer and little Debbie's!! LOL

He is SO good with the kids, but I know he is also VERY ready for summer. His next big project is a HUGE garden. He cleaned out a spot on the side of our house and has already started preparing to plant lots of veggies! We are all looking forward to working on it together!

Me... Just wearing all these 'hats!' School is good. I have a GREAT class!! We are just in crunch/stress out time as the STAAR test is looming nearer and nearer. We've also had a lot going on after school, plus meetings, tutoring, open house...etc. I'm also working hard to lose weight. Although I'm no Cory, (NOT FAIR HOW MEN CAN DROP LBS SO FAST!), I've lost about 26lbs and have about 14lbs more to go to have lost all the 'baby-weight.' That will be accomplished by June 1 and then I hope to lose about 5 or 10lbs more and tone up this Summer. It is a slow process and at times very frustrating, but slow and steady, I see progress. (Plus, when I look at sweet Klaire- it's all worth it!) I'll get there. I celebrated my 32nd Birthday last week. It was nice. My parents came the weekend before and Cory and I celebrated the weekend after! The actual 'day' of' was business as usual. It was a great week though! I'm very blessed. I need to try to post smaller, more frequent posts... Finding the time is just tough!! I'll try to do better!!

It's a little crazy... but it's our life!! :)

Until Next time...

"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men."

~ Willy Wonka

2 months, 3 months

Klaire is 3 months old!!!

2 months...

Pics...

I'm Baaack!

Wow- No excuses...
Blogging has been the LAST thing on my mind lately! Thank goodness for the 3 day weekend (MLK) so I can get caught up on some things I have been neglecting...
Where to even begin?? December was a blur! We REALLY enjoyed my last month at home... A lot of time was spent dreading my return and in hind-sight, that is silly because it has worked out great! We did the normal Christmas stuff- Santa was TOO kind to ALL of us!
We enjoyed family time, ate delicious goodies (IN MASS QUANTITIES) and went on several 'adventures.' Cory and I also celebrated our 6Th Wedding Anniversary! (Awwwww)
So here is what's been up...

Cory... has been working a TON. However, that is changing because he now stays home with the kids a few days a week. The plus side of shift work is that he is often off during the week... He keeps Klaire 2 or 3 days a week and our sitter (Ms. Debbi- who we LOVE) keeps her/them the other 2 or 3 days and I get the weekends! :) So far it is working out great. It is just the plan to get us through the rest of the school year. He keeps getting pesky little illnesses but hopefully he is done with that! He has been a HUGE help with the house and with the kids! He even had to give up a little hunting this year... and we love and appreciate him TONS!

Casey... I don't even know where to begin. Despite certain people's fears, he LOVES having a baby sister and NEVER shows signs of feeling left out. He is still SO excited about her and extremely helpful! He loves having her at Ms. Debbi's with him! (And he reports back to me!) He is kind and gentle... always covering her up or showing her toys, etc... Very sweet. He kisses her and talks baby talk to her... so cute. He got TONS of cool toys for Christmas. We've been enjoying his new games, puzzles and other toys. I can't believe how smart he is!! Tomorrow we are going to the pyramids at Moody Gardens- his favorite!! He is growing like a weed- VERY tall, going through a VERY picky eating stage, and about to turn 4. I can't believe my baby will be 4. He decided he wants a 'big boy' party at Chuck E. Cheese. Whoa. This outta be fun! It is in 3 weeks!! I'm sure he will enjoy it and we will enjoy having the nice people there do all the work! :) He is a joy. Simple as that... Don't get me wrong- he is an almost 4 yr old boy so we have our moments... but overall- a pure delight and funny as heck!

Klaire... She is the best baby ever! She is growing like a weed. We don't go to the Dr. until next month but we are pretty sure she weighs over 12 lbs!! She eats 4 times a day... and sleeps between 8-12 hrs at night. So far she seems to be adjusting well to Debbi's... We just have to make it to May. She smiles and cooos now and is VERY alert. She never really gets 'fussy' only if it is time to eat. She still has her dark hair, but it is growing in lighter now. She is SO close to full out laughing! She is just a doll. She already adores her big brother. She turns her head when she hears him and follows him with her eyes! I can't get over how blessed we were with her- from conception to this very moment. The pregnancy and delivery were truly 2 of the best moments of my life.

Me... I am doing well. I slid right back into work without skipping a beat. It was like riding a bike. It was made easier by the fact that my class this year is one of the best I've ever had! 24 wonderful students- all eager to succeed and do the right thing! I'm very lucky to have such a great group! I missed teaching, and being around friends, and being active. It's almost like a break!! (SAHMs know what I mean!) Juggling it all is tough... getting home in the evenings/ dinner/ feeding her/ baths/ pumping twice/ bedtime/ getting everything ready to do it again the next day.... all this in about 4 hrs... now that is what has proven to be the hardest!
I am also pumping in an un-used room at work during recess and conference period- also fun! These past 2 weeks I've started eating healthy again and trying to lose weight. We did a 2 week 'cleanse.' No sugar/ carbs. I lost 5 lbs (He lost 10... men!) However, it has gotten me back to focusing on what I'm putting in my body and why. I'm now trying to incorporate working out back into my routine. I'm planning to do a 5K next Saturday. Although, I doubt I can run it entirely. There is another in late Feb that I should be able to run. Yesterday I was running- alone- and it was beautiful- and I really had a 'moment.' It felt good, feels good, to be getting back in touch/ in control of my body. I have a long way to go, but I've done it before and I know I'll reach my goals by June. At times it is frustrating b/c it is a slow process and b/c I worked so hard to get into shape and now I'm at ground 0... but then I look at her and know it is ALL worth it.


SO, we are doing great. Busy, Busy. Adjusting to our new life, new routines, etc... I feel such a sense of being complete when I look at the 4 of us... It really is a special feeling.
Hope all is well...
Until Next Time... (PICS to come...)

“When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses.”
-Joyce Brothers

Pics...

Here are a few pics to go with the latest post...

My Puppies, on Halloween

Visit From Garce & Braden

Kalire- 1 month old

Thanksgiving Day

Plenty of time... not too busy...

The truth is... I coulda/ woulda/ shoulda updated this blog a zillion times by now!


I'm supposed to say how I'm SO tired and up all night and way too busy to worry about blogging... Well, actually... I'm just lazy. I just haven't felt like doing much except playing with the kiddos and enjoying this precious family time!!

Here is what we've been up to, in a nut-shell.



Klaire... is the best baby ever. (No... Seriously.)
At her 1 month check up she had gained around 3 lbs! She is about 8 1/2 lbs and 20 inches long. (Prob closer to 9lbs now!)
The Dr. says she is probably going to be petite! She is pretty short for her age! She is SO alert and happy! She smiles and is starting to 'talk' already! She is on a great schedule! I feed her about every 3 hours during the day. At night I let her sleep until she wakes... for the past few weeks she is already sleeping for around 5 to 7 hours!! NICE! By the time I go back to work it will be ironed out so that she sleeps through the night and I can feed her before work. I know everyone says this, but she really is the cutest thing ever and so good!! She hardly ever fusses. It's either feed me or change me...
Sometimes I just hold her and stare at her and thank God for this precious gift! We can't tell yet who she looks like. We see different people at different times... But there is no doubt that her deep blue eyes, silky smooth ivory complexion and dark hair (For now) are stunning!

Casey... ohhhh Casey. What a sweet boy. Poor thing, his 'schedule' hasn't been consistent since June! (When I got out of school!) He has been nothing but wonderful! He ADORES Klaire! He plays with her, reads her books, kisses her, burps her and even wipes her spit up!
He has been a busy boy... We still try to take him to Debbi's (OUR WONDERFUL BABYSITTER) a couple of times a week... so he can learn and play with his friends. He has had parties for the holidays, special time with his Nana, fun outings with Daddy, quality time with Granny Joan & Paw-Paw, and lots of playtime at with Mommy! He is getting super excited about Christmas!! Santa sent us an 'Elf on a Shelf!' Casey named him Ernie. He watches over the kids and then flies to the North Pole at Night to report to Santa whether they've been Naughty OR Nice! So cute! He helped us decorate the Christmas tree and is enjoying the great movies and shows played during this season. It's going to be a FUN Christmas!

Mommy & Daddy... I have actually gotten to leave the house- alone- once to get a mani / pedi and do a Walmart trip!! We did get to go to my cousin Doug's house for Thanksgiving!! Our first family outing and a day I ALWAYS enjoy! Jodie and Grace came for a visit and so did Heidi and Braden!! It was so wonderful having my sweet friends here and with OUR kids... crazy! (All that was missing was Kelli!) I think I'm doing well in the recovery department. Today is 6 weeks... and I am still pretty sore, if I do too much! I go to the Dr. next week and hopefully all is well. I've adjusted pretty well, I'd say, to having 2 kiddos. Now- (OK, Jan) Time to get the rest of this weight (and then some extra) OFF- FOR GOOD! I'm maintaining through the holidays but ready to get back in shape after the new year! I found a little Galveston 5K I'd like to be ready for in late Jan! (That's my goal... Plus to have reached my goal weight by the end of the school year!) Cory has been bust working. When he isn't working , he is hunting. He is actually under the weather right now. A few years ago he got walking pneumonia and every since when he gets the 'cruds'... they hang around for a long time!
We are thankful that someone switched with him at work, so he will be off Christmas day!! He is crazy about his baby girl and has been a HUGE HELP with Casey... even when he comes home tired from a long day at work! We know that Jan- June will be a challenge for us and we are beginning to gear up for that! On December 22, we celebrate our 6th Wedding Anniversary! Although there will be no trip this year, I'm sure we'll do something special!


I've really been overwhelmed with such a wonderfully blessed feeling lately... It is just so awesome looking at my boys and my sweet baby girl and knowing.. I'm complete... this is my family... What I've always wanted!



I'll try to post more pictures and updates more often!
I'll post pictures from the last month on another Blog.

Hope all is well with you and yours... Happy December!

Until Next time...

"Family is not an important thing, it's everything!"
~Michael J. Fox