Wednesday's Quick Words

It's 10:18 on Wednesday, and all day I've been thinking about blogging.  I need a day just to post/edit/print pictures...and more walls than this house has to hang said pictures.  These moments are fleeting...and I keep saying, oh, tomorrow I'll blog about this...or document that.  So, instead, I'm going to just roll with my bullets and learn to love it.

• We hit the pumpkin patch Sunday.  It rocked.  It was HOT...but, awesome.  We went for the 2nd year with Mike, Corey and Miller.  Last year I was pregnant with the babies...can't believe the difference a year makes.

• The babies are both saying Mama and Dada.  Sometimes just babbling, sometimes it seems like they are really saying our names.  
• They are both pulling up and couch surfing...both are starting to get brave and stand more on their own.
• Molly is speaking in PARAGRAPHS.  Tonight, she said, "Daddy, don't take my book from me."  She is so articulate...and has such a broad vocabulary.  Clearly, she's a genius.  I wonder who she takes after? :)
• She loves to sing...about everything...all.the.time.  It's awesome...and exhausting.
• Living in Athens...err..Bogart...rocks.  We love our house...our neighborhood...our town.  There was a greater plan for us, and it is very clear that this was the plan.
• I have a new obsession for Kettle Chips Buffalo Blue chips.  It's terrible for the diet.  
• We have 2 months until we leave for Key West.  The chip obsession is bad in so many ways.
• The kids are going to be pumpkins for Halloween.  A pumpkin patch, if you will.  Best $60 I've spent all year.  It's gonna be adorable :).  
• I'm not biased at all.
• The new nanny ROCKS.  The children are all so happy with her...and she is AMAZE-BALLS with the house - helping me with laundry, dishes, changing the kids beds, the dogs, kitty...you name it...she helps with it.  
• We have pictures this weekend...first family pictures as a party of five.  Pumped.  We are also having pictures this weekend with bulldog puppies.  O.M.G.  I have such high aspirations for these.
• I have a new found love for TV.  Holy relaxation.
• My babies are almost 1.  Like, so close to 1 that we have invitations ordered and are planning their party.  Father Time...PLEASE SLOW DOWN.
• I'm totally freaking out about my babies turning 1.  What am I going to do without any babies in my house?  
• Molly is THRIVING at school.  THRIVING.  I was worried about sending her 5 days/week (9-12), but, she LOVES it and asks to go on Saturday and Sunday, too.  

Needless to say, we are loving this season of life.  The days can be long and challenging, but, are much more rewarding than challenging.  I lose my patience often, but, every single day I stand in awe and amazement and in constant gratitude that I'm blessed with these 3 crazy kids.  BBB.

Waffle house!!!

We went to the bulldawg waffle house this morning - everyone had a blast!! It was a first for the babies and they loved their biscuit, waffle and raisin toast!

10 months in 10 minutes

Because, it seems like 10 minutes are the only minutes I can find these days.  I'd love to write a very thoughtful blog post about how I can't even believe that my babies are almost 1...and my big girl is almost 3. I'd really love to...but, by 8:00 every night when we finally have everyone tucked in and can shove some food into our mouths before our stomachs start growling loud enough for the neighbors to wonder what tigers we have living in our house, I can't hardly hold my head up, much less consider writing anything thoughtful...or thought provoking.  The twins are 10 months old...and that makes Molly 30 months old.  Be.Still.My.Heart.  It isn't all unicorns over here...we have our days where I count the minutes to nap...we yell...we cry...we have time outs.  For the most part, I go to bed every night so thankful for our crazy, insane, loud, exhausting life.  I'm in constant awe of the great responsibility God has trusted Rob and me with...and at the miracles before my eyes.

Molly...
Molly is such a sweet, sweet sister and friend.  She is THRIVING at school and LOVES all of her teachers and friends there.  A few nights ago, I had *finally* gotten her to bed...it hadn't been a bad evening...I was just exhausted...and then, we heard her over the monitor.  I huffed and was so annoyed.  So, we turned up the monitor and listened.  I assumed she was just calling for one of us - she's getting really good at trying to stay up past bedtime.  My sweet girl was singing "Jesus Loves Me".  We usually sing it at night together, but, it's mostly me singing it to her.  I didn't know she'd gotten the words down.  Melt.My.Heart.

Marlin...
Sweet boy.  Our little red head...he has the sweet smile and laugh...and, unless he's hungry, he's happy-go-lucky.  For all of the first few months where he didn't eat/sleep well and made me want to cry/scream...he's made up for it in spades.  I never knew boys would be so sweet and fun.  He is crawling everywhere and totally couch surfing...and pushing the little walker toys around.  20.5 pounds of pure sweetness, that boy is. (Star Wars anyone?)

Madeline...
Our Perfect Little Pixie...is getting to be a PISTOL!!!  Don't get me wrong, she's still perfect ;).  Madeline is going to be my baby who likes to nurse and doesn't want to give it up...ever.  In the race for teeth, she's got Marlin 2:1.  She's a petite little thing (18.5 lbs)...and has more clothes than she could EVER wear.  Like Marlin, she's crawling, couch surfing and pushing toys around.  As good natured as she is, she is definitely expressing her opinions lately, too!

A few random thoughts...because what would a post be without bullet points?

• I had an eat my words moment this morning, as I realized that Molly watches TV in the car...all the time.  Even if we are just running to the store.  Something I said I'd never do.  Ah, well...such is life.
• The new house rocks.  I'm itching to get a can of paint and put some color on the walls.
• Our new nanny is wonderful...we are all so happy with her (read, Molly is happy, which means we don't have any battles and that is the true test!!)!
• Molly isn't interested AT ALL in potty training...some people are seeming judge-y about it...others agree that it's better not to waste our time until she's interested.  
• Madeline doesn't like paci's...unless she's taking one from Molly or Marlin.
• Living in a college town when you are in your 30s is funny...and sort of has induced an identity crisis.  I don't want to dress like I think I'm in college...or like I think I'm 50.  There is a delicate balance, and I'm looking for it.
• It's been way longer than 10 minutes, and I gotta get my power point presentation finished.

 

If you need new jammies in the middle of the night...

You *might* wake up in your sister's pink Christmas pajamas...in October :)

Best buddies

10 months old and best friends...

A year...

Molly has gone from a baby to such a little girl so quickly...I can't believe how much she's changed in so little time.

10 minutes

I recently read a blog post about taking 10 minutes to quickly post a blog.  It occurred to me that all of these posts that are in my head will likely never get out...so, I'm taking a 10 minute break from my day and laying it out there...bullet style, of course...cause that's how I roll.

• We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our new home...and we have *most* of the boxes either unpacked or in the basement...
• Except for the 5 that are in the guest room full of clothes for Madeline.
• Madeline has more clothes than the other 4 of us put together.
• Everyday I am still surprised that we are a family of 5...err...8.  We started out so young...and stupid...and with just 1 dog.
• Molly LOVES her new school - or "sool" as she says (sort of sounds like zoo).
• Every morning when we pass the Waffle House with the Bulldawg mural, she says, 'Good morning Bulldawg.'  Be still my heart.
• We really like our new babysitter, too.  The only drawback is that she's a student and we only have her for one semester.
• A girl that was in my sorority lives next door - totally random! - and she has a little girl Molly's age...they act like they've known each other their entire life.  It's awesome.  I see lifelong friends in those girls!
• I feel like we've lived here forever.  It just FEELS like home - everywhere we go and everything we do.  Our neighborhood, Molly's school.  Our friends - old and new.  I tell ya - the Good Lord had it all planned out.
• I miss our old friends, too, though.
• We acquired a kitty along the way from Canton to Athens...Molly is OBSESSED.  OBSESSED.  Her name is Kitty and I'm really glad she has 9 lives.  I keep trying to explain the concept of gentleness and it's just not seeming to click.
• It's a 3 ring circus around here...
• I'm constantly reminded of how blessed we are that the twins (and Molly) were healthy babies...and eternally grateful for my healthy children.
• I'm grateful for my parents and in-laws health.  My friend said good-bye to her Momma last week...and, as I hugged her she cried and said, 'What am I going to do without her?'  It's the last thing I think of every night before going to sleep now.  My heart breaks for her and she is constantly on my mind and in my prayers.  My prayers to have my parents for many, many, many more years are fervent.  
• I just had to look up the meaning of fervent to make sure I was using it correctly.  
• The timer just went off...I'm totally going to cheat and take 2 more minutes...kind of like hitting the snooze button.
• Our babies are 10 months old this week.  SHUT.THE.FRONT.DOOR.  I can't take it.
• I am joining a book club...and I'm nerdy and very excited.  Mostly, I'm excited for the community of women I will meet (I know 2 of them and they are pretty spectacular).
• I over stayed my 10 minutes...and I really do need to work.