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Thanksgiving Pictures

I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving- we did. We went down to south Georgia to visit Derek's family. Below are some photos that were taken during our visit:


Brit & Grani Barks (Derek's Mom)


McKenzie, Tate and Uncle Michael play spin art. Tate says "That is so AWESOME!"


Mama & Bitsy


Tate helps PaPa blow out candles (Derek's Dad)


Brit Plays

Who's WHo?

I was organizing some digital photos and came across these...can you tell which ones are Tate & which ones are Brit? You can leave your answers under "comments".
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Heath Issues Continue

Well, it looks like I just cannot seem to stay well. I will spare my readers the details, but because of some problems I have been having, I will be getting a CT scan on Monday. Let's just call it "girl stuff". I am in a lot of pain, but I am managing with double doses of Aleve. The doctor prescribed Lortab but I am going to try to stay of the real stuff as long as possible. We will know more next week.

We went to have our family pictures taken today. The boys were FABULOUS, the pictures, not so much. There were a few good ones that we purchased though which is all we could really hop for.

Tomorrow the boys will visit Santa Claus. Tate is sooooo excited!! He keeps talking about it and asking me when we are going. We look at pictures of Santa and of Reindeer and he says "I want to go there." We will see what happens though, when he comes face to face with the jolly ol' man.

Blast from the past....Oct. 2005


Be blessed!!

Itsy Bitsy Bites

Here is a narrative of Brit's first run-in with table food today. (Green Beans)

"OK, I think I'll try one of these..."



"Uhhhhhh...is this safe to eat?"



"Chewing..."



"Ughhhh....this isn't so good."



"Chewing, Chewing....still not thrilled"




(Looking over at Tate) "Do you see what she is feeding me!!??!!"



Brit: "HELLO?? Did you hear me? DO YOU SEE WHAT SHE IS MAKING ME EAT???" Tate: "Been there, done that, Buddy. I get to eat anything I want to now."




"Well, it looks like this is all I'm getting today...guess I'll give it another try. Stil not thrilled, Mother."



"Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...."



"...well............."



"Maybe its not so bad after all...."




Me: "Good Job Bitsy!! I am so PROUD OF YOU!!" Brit: "Ohhhh Mooooom....it was nuthin'!"



"Shows over folks, I'm ready for a nap!!"

Comments

Some of you have sent me emails about not being able to post comments. I think I had my security settings too high. I have made some adjustments, so by all means COMMENT!! I would love to hear what you think about my ramblings...

So...have you noticed that I haven't mentioned that "leaf" thing in a few days...well, that stubborn thing just refuses to completely turn over! No matter what I do, the clothes just refuse to fold themselves, the dust won't budge from my furniture and those last few laundry baskets of "stuff" are staging a "sit-in" right there in my living room. THE NERVE!!

Anyway, I am trying and things haven't been totally out of control yet. I am a work in progress. I know some of you must think I am nuts...A housewife who can't "keep house" very well. What can I say, messiness is my nature. I have to make a conscious effort to put the cereal box back in the cabinet after pouring the bowl. I am worse than a man, I know.

I keep telling myself...if only I had a few child-free hours a week, then maybe I could stay on top of it. But I know that is just an excuse. I can be better. I WILL be better. Bless my husband's heart for putting up with me.

Enough of that.

My babies are sleeping sweetly right now so I better get my tail into the kitchen and unload the dishwasher.

Be Blessed!!

Basket of Fun

Hello faithful readers.

Tate has developed a bit of a stutter over the past 4 or 5 days. We looked in our "What to Expect The Toddler Years" and this is apparently very normal, thank goodness. His little brain is just working faster than his mouth can move.

Brit is has FINALLY discovered the joys of food. The little booger hadn't eaten much of anything except breast milk in 3 weeks. Well, I figured out why. I got the idea to put some of our meals in the food processor for him and added a little water and pureed the fool out of them. Brit LOVES my cooking!!! He's been gobbling everything I have offered him since and now he gets all excited when he sees food. He is SO MUCH happier now that he has more than mommy's milk in his belly. Sleeps better too!

We played outside today and then we went an a walk. Brit rode in the stroller and Tate walked (well, more like puttered) along beside me. Two houses down from ours, Tate decides he is tired and wants to ride in the basket underneath the stroller. You know, the one meant for shopping bags and purses. Well, I appeased him and you should have seen my full blown toddler/preschooler packed into that little basket! Needless to say, he enjoyed the ride!

Be Blessed!

The Reward

Some people say they could never do what I do, others would never want to do what I do and some days, I must admit, are harder than others. However, there are so many treasures to be found in the hours I spend with my boys.

I remember the first time I saw Tate after having Britton. He came bounding into the hospital room, eyes wide, wearing his "I'm the Big Brother" t-shirt. I thought my heart would stop right then. There was my baby, who wasn't my baby anymore. He looked at me, waiting to see how he should react to me in a hospital bed. I held out my arms and my mom placed him on the bed with me. It was such a sweet moment but sad too. I hugged him and kissed him and told them I had missed him. Then I asked him if he would like to see his little brother. He knew how to say "Baby Bit". I said yes, "Baby Brit."

From the second Tate saw Brit, he was so happy and excited- he has never had a jealous moment when it comes to his little brother. The pictures below are of big and little brother meeting each other for the first time...


Here he is...Tate, meet Brit.


Checking out the little guy.


Hey..I think I kinda like him.

I recall those sweet moments in January and then flash forward a few months after that when Brit begins to laugh when Tate makes funny noises. Then another time after that they "wrestle" on the floor. And then today, which is the reason I bagan this post. Brit had pulled up in his crib, like he has done before and Tate squeals in delight- "BITSY IS STANDING UP, BITSY IS STANDING UP!!!!" He claps and laughs and jumps onto the railing of the crib to congratulate his little brother on his latest feat. My heart almost popped out of my chest with happiness... There is nothing in the world like the feeling I get when I see the two of them interacting. It is the sweetest reward for diapers times 2, three straight years of uninterrupted sleep, 24 months of nursing (with only a 7 month break in between), pregnant body, post baby body, pregnant body, post baby body again...consecutive.

There were several naysayers that did not hesitate to warn me about raising two kids so close in age but I wouldn't trade it for the world. The struggles have been worth the reward.






THESE moments are why I stay at home with my boys.

Are gluesticks appropriate teethers?

Brit LOOOOOOVES to munch on hot glue-gun sticks. Is that bad?

You Are Mexican Food

Spicy yet dependable. You pull punches, but people still love you.

What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindoffoodareyouquiz/">What Kind of Food Are You?

Ohhhhh...these really ARE the Sleepy Years

When I first started this Blog, I was going to try and write something profound each day. Instead I ramble on about my babies and the normalcies that are my life. I realize now that the purpose of my blog will not be to entertain but to record the daily life of my family. Before blogging, my husband was the key to my past, he and the journals I keep. Derek remembers everything!! He tells me stories of when we were dating, vacations we've had, things about the kids...just a bunch of stuff that I forget. Hopefully I'll recall enough moments through blogging to fill in the gaps of my mind.

Brit was up most of the night with gas pains. The fist solid food he's eaten in two weeks gave him big time tummy troubles. I was sooo tired today but pushed through it. He finally crashed at 3:30 this afternoon and since that was the first nap he'd had all day, he slept until 5:30. he is now at my feet crawling around, playing hide-n-seek with the computer wires. He is usually in bed by 7:30. ...the day drags on....

I am looking forward to tonight when the kids are in bed. I plan on drinking hot cocoa even though its hot outside and sitting on the couch with Derek and watching TV. For some of you, that might seem lame but I am DYING for some downtime when my brain can be on cruise control.

Tomorrow will be good- the weather will be beautiful and the boys will play outside while Derek and I plant some things in the yard.

OAMC & NL Day 3

OK, so...the house is still clean for the most part but I still have those last two laundry baskets full of "stuff" to contend with. How am I feeling? Relaxed, in control and a good deal more peaceful. I love being able to see the floors!!! I am still waiting for my messy-relapse but all is clean for now.

My mom sent me a link to this pretty cool website: www.organizedchristmas.com which led me to its sister site: www.organizedhome.com which in turn led me to several articles on Once A Month Cooking (OAMC). I am definitely intrigued and plan on giving it a try after our next paycheck. The recipes looked good but not low fat like I would want them to be. Still, the aspect of only having to cook once or twice a month is all to appealing. I will let you know how it goes once I begin.

I had my hip x-rays today. The doctor should call next week with the results. It was somewhat of a debacle though. I walked in at 10:30 and by 10:45 I was given a gown and the tech began asking me questions. Well, since I could not tell her that I was 100% sure that I was not pregnant, she had to send me over to the hospital for a pregnancy test!! I was pretty aggravated since I had left the children with my aunt and told her it would take an hour and a half..TOPS!! Well, by 12:30 I was back at the Imaging Center, test taken and waiting. The tech comes out with a solemn look on her face and knelt beside me. I just knew she was going to say :"I'm sorry ,Mrs. Shaw, but we cannot do the x-ray today because you are pregnant." I seriously think I almost passed out and I knew I must have been as white as a ghost. Well, she did in fact say "I'm Sorry.." but it was followed with "We are still waiting for the pregnancy test results, if you need to go get something to eat, then go ahead." WHEW!!!!! Dodged that bullet for sure!!

My brother is coming into town today. Will be nice to visit with him and have him spend some time with the boys. Looking forward to a lazy weekend- NO PLANS!! Yeah!!! (Finally)

NL DAY 2

Still cleaning. Finished going through 3 of 5 laundry baskets yesterday. Cleaned out Tate's closet and Brit's closet is still clean. As soon as the clutter is gone, the projects will begin. There is a lot to be done before the holidays we we will stay busy.

Tate is complaining that his mouth hurts today and he has wanted me to hold him all day long. I hope it isn't strep.

Andi and I worked out yesterday at 5:45. We need to be better at holding each other accountable, we are getting there.

It looks like MOPS planning/voting/education has been put on hold until January. Fine with me since the holidays are crazy anyway.

Brit has done well with sleeping lately though still wakes up for a 5:30 am feeding. Cannot wait til he sleeps until 8!!

"You and Me" and New Leaf Day 1

I got a lot accomplished yesterday and for once every piece of clean clothing is folded and put up. Still have 5 laundry baskets full of all kinds of stuff to sort through. Will start on that today. Derek is really helping me understand that I do not have to take on the whole house at once- just start one task and COMPLETE it and then move on...I feel enlightened!! :-)

Brit does not like to eat food. He is my little nurser who cannot seem to get enough milk. I do not know if it is the ear infection that causes this or does he just like the comfort? I wish I could say that I love to nurse but that is just not me. I mean, it has its sweet moments and really bonded me and both of my boys but I only do it for the health benefits...the fact that it is free is gravy.

So...Tate's favorite thing to do now, besides play football, is to "play" his gutair, sing into his pretend microphone while I "play" the drums and sing back up. We use vacuum cleaners as our microphones- mine is the real one and he uses his pretend vacuum. His favorite song is "You and Me" by Lifehouse. We have the best time. We turn the volume on the CD player Waaaaaaay up and sing at the top of our lungs and headbang like true rockers. It is a riot to see him preforming. Here is a picture of him singing along with someone on TV...