Big Birthday Wish List

I have a big birthday coming up.  We have no money...having two kids in daycare and ridiculous student loans, we are lucky we can feed ourselves. :)  But I put together a list of a few things I might like should you feel so inclined.  Or maybe I'm just starting a wishlist for myself so I know what I want and where to find it.  I mean, Christmas is coming up too...

In no particular order...
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

I want a tablet, and shockingly, I want to try something that isn't an Apple product.  This tablet is awesome and comes with a Photoshop program built in.  Yes please.

Sewing Machine

I know this may sound crazy to a lot of people, but I kinda want to learn how to sew well enough that I can make a few things for the kids, myself, Justin or the house.  I already have a few ideas in mind and life would be a lot easier with a simple, relatively inexpensive sewing machine. :)

35mm Nikkor Lens

As you know, I love photography.  Recently, I've been practicing a lot and truly want to try to become good enough I can make a small business on the side.  I love taking pictures of people, my kids in particular.  My kids like my camera and tend to get a little to close to me while trying to take pictures.  This lens will allow me to include a little more in the photographs when they are all up in my grill. :)

Coach Bag

As you all may or may not know, I love Coach.  I love their purses, a lot.  I'm a snob.  So you really can't go wrong with...

This one

Or this one

Or this one

So there it is.  I will also accept money so I can take some more photography classes/workshops.  ;)

Big Finale

...of "Family Birthday Month" which is what I am now dubbing the month of August.  Mom, Justin, Kevin, and finally Liam.

One year ago tomorrow...

I was 8.5 months pregnant, awaiting news of the arrival of my niece or nephew from Wisconsin.  I spent the entire afternoon arguing with Justin about me driving up by myself with Kayla.  I insisted I was fine and I wanted to see my nephew.  If I went into labor, who the hell cares because I'll be at a hospital.  He insisted I wait until he got home.  He won (rare), but we made it to see Liam (and Lauren and Kevin and a bunch of other people).

Happy first birthday Liam Wiley House!  And happy first anniversary of being parents to my little sister and my brother-in-law.  Time goes by crazy fast and only gets faster.  I love you all and am so happy my little man has a built in best friend! :)

Strawberry Pickin'

I have tried very hard to get the kids out of the house this summer.  We have found some really fun things to do with our friends for relatively inexpensive.  It's been great.  And I'm even getting pretty good and dealing with two on my own while out and about now!

At the very end of June we went strawberry picking on a B-E-A-UTIFUL day with our friends K and M (and M's aunt). :)  It was a very nice day, hence not the best lighting for photography (mid day bright shining sun), but I didn't want to not try to get some photos.  And K was even nice enough to try to get a photo of my with my kiddos, even though Kayla was NOT interested. 

We picked tiny lovely strawberries, shopped in the little store and had some lunch together.  It was overall a great day!  

I'm trying to get back to blogging.  I've been busy with my photography lately, but I'm hoping for a Kayla update, Brody's 11 month update and a 101 update soon!

2 Months Away from 9 Years

Dear Justin,

Since your last birthday, we've

Welcomed a nephew:

Welcomed our second baby, our son:

Celebrated an anniversary:

Not from our anniversary, but I'm pretty sure we did nothing.  So here it is. :)

Celebrated the holidays in our own place as a family for the first time (after spreading illness throughout my family):

Took our first family trip to see/meet your family:

Celebrated our first baby's second birthday:

Been through too many sicknesses between our two kids and ourselves to count:

Bought our first home:

Baptized our little man:

And so much more.

We have had some hard times and still continue to have ups and downs, but there is no one I would rather be sitting next to on this crazy ride.

Today (tomorrow because we work and I won't have time to post this :)) is your birthday and in exactly two months, we will have been together for 9 years (minus one week where you were a little confused but we don't mention that).  Nine.  On paper, it sounds like forever.  In reality, I can't believe how quickly it's going and how easy it is to love you.

I hope that today, you not only know how much you are loved, but you feel it from Kayla, Brody and me.  You are so important to us and we thank God every day for another one with you in our lives.

Love,
M, K, & B

Be careful what you wish for...

I've been really hoping and praying that Kayla would be one of those toddlers that learns the lyrics to pop songs and sings them randomly throughout the day.  I thought this was totally possible as she seems to have an excellent memory.  Well the other day I caught her "singing" some pop song lyrics...




From that small little girl's mouth I heard, "I don't care.  I love it.  I love it."  She's going to be trouble.

Brody Lawrence: 10 Month Update

Little late but here we are. :)

Weight: 20 pounds 7 ounces based on most recent MD visit due to sickness (ugh again.)

Length: I did attempt to measure him but honestly, he's too mobile and too quick and too strong.  Cest La Vie.

Head Circumference: Not a chance.

Physical Milestones:  Brody will occasionally stand on his own without support, but almost every time I try to encourage him, his little body goes limp so he can get back to the floor and crawling faster.  He just isn't interested in staying still.  I started using some "walkers" this month and really enjoys being able to walk while holding onto something.  He's become an expert cruiser and will often reach with one hand while barely holding with the other.  I've realized I'm not in a hurry this time around for walking.  He is already crawling up onto everything he can imaginably get onto so I'm not looking forward to the extra work.  Although Kayla is quite a bit of help most of the time.

Eating:  I really only give him purees in those little organic pouches that he can suck out of himself.  He's not interested in anyone helping him with eating.  He's become quite good with the sippy cup and the straw cup and he will often whine when he is thirsty during meals.  We still have yet to encounter anything that he will not eat.   

Sleeping:  We are still doing pretty well here.  He's still only waking up once at night.  Occasionally it will be earlier than 3, but I've learned the later I can feed him, the later he sleeps in the morning, so I'm trying to push it.  I'm considering cutting the night feed altogether, because it is starting to wear on me, but I kinda enjoy me extra 10 minutes just me and my little man.  For now, we are doing fine.

Napping is still pretty good.  Two solid naps 1.5 hours each in the morning and evening and he's becoming less fussy during the awake times.  All in all, we are better in this area.

Likes:  Peek-a-boo, climbing on the little chair and banging his hand on the wall, clapping, walking with my walker, "waving", Kayla