Big Papa got some new stats................

We went for his 18month check up last week.........And it looks like he's Perfect! Just as we suspected :)

33" in height (50-75%)
27lbs (50-75%)
49 1/2 Head circumference (80%....he so smart!)

His height has steadily increased in percentages and is finally catching up with his weight!
He has changed so much so quickly that I want to freeze time!

He loves to skip & jump and laughs with the best belly laugh ever........And the conversations he has with himself or anyone that will listen are hilarious....We can occasionally pick up on a few words but he is absolutely sure of what he is saying! And says it with such conviction you just wonder what is going on in that (80th percentile) head of his!

Jon & Kate...........Thoughts?

Ok, so after watching the show, although I swore I wouldn't, What do we think??? Check out this blog which has some great links to articles.............

Ok, hold that thought, Big Papa just woke up!!
Be right back..............

Funny.......Not funny!!

This weekend, under a lot of peer pressure from friends and family, I went on a girls trip with some of my sorority sisters! Let's just say we have been going on these trips for many, many years. Not that I am that old, right? Anyway, I was able to work out going very last minute (thank you, jeff and betsy)......

Lives have certainly changed and families have expanded but the friendships are exactly the same as they were just a few years ago (ok, many many years ago).

This trip hasn't always happened every single year and the locations vary depending on who's going but I don't think I realized how important or how much I missed going on these girls trips.

I am very aware that I am not where I thought I would be at this stage of my life. Maybe a few surface things are what I thought. Maybe a small percentage is... I am certainly analyzing how to make some changes and although things won't be easy, I am trying to figure some things out.......I realized on this trip, that friendships are INVALUABLE. What I am starting to realize is that these INVALUABLE friendships are with different people. And these different people help make up maybe not who I am through and through but influence what I have become and what I still can become.

Friendships that need to be between "girl" friends, "guy" friends, my children, my mom, my dad, my husband, my family, my MODS (Moms of Oxford Daughters...this got changed to Darlings when our sons were born and then Devils when appropriate....) and a friendship with myself. Unfortunately, I am learning that without a friendship with some key people in my life, hard times are just that much harder....But if the friendships are nurtured, it just might make the good times better and hopefully, the hard times a little easier to take....

Ok, enough of that, how about a recap of a great weekend with a good bit of alcohol consumption, a lot of sun, tons of chatter and sorry, guys, no pillow fights!! Don't you know that is just in the movies????

Anyhoo...........I titled this "Funny......Not funny" because as stories were told, many about kids and husbands, 4 out of the 5 of us would certainly laugh hysterically, but usually the one that told the story, didn't find as much humor....a little too close to home!!

Thank you girls for a great weekend, many great stories, and lots of beers...I mean laughs!!

Mothers Day.......A little late !!

I know, I know, I am totally behind! No excuse...........just some pics



CHEESE..........




Beautiful flowers for Mothers Day!!




Think these cheeks are a family trait?



SNACKS RULE!!!!!!




Here's a scary "flash forward" moment that suddenly makes me want to be an advocate for no drivers license till the age of 21........is that too young??



Almost sweet.....one would think that was a pucker for a sweet kiss...however, it's just a "pre-jump" move!!



Happy baby girl!



Um, Grandaddy? I don't think that is gonna hold you?



Hmmmm, wonder who is going in the pool first??




True Love.........

I Heart Faces................Laughing........................

This weeks theme on I Heart Faces is all about Laughter!! Something we all love.......and fortunately, something my kids love to do..........The problem was picking just one picture!!




So, the picture above is the one I chose but below are some really cute "laughing" shots!






As you can see, I have really cute kids and really bad camera skills.......but go over to I heart Faces and there are a ton of cute kids AND great photographers!!

Sweet Auburn Avenue........................

Ok, real quick before I forget and before I post about my wonderful Mothers Day.......I wanted to post a few pics from a neat condo complex that used to be an old cotton mill!!

I put these models in the other week and although the pics don't really do them justice, they really turned out neat!

Seems like so long ago................

Here is a picture of both babies on the day we left the hospital! Big Papa (in blue) came home 11/07 and Ems (pink, of course) came home 12/05.............

Weekend recap........

Time flies by so quickly......I am desperate not to blink, not miss a second, and if I could have the video camera on 100% of the time, I would!! It's the little things I know I won't remember........The sound of their giggle, or shriek, or out right belly laugh.....Life gets so busy that it is hard sometimes to just watch....listen.....

I wish I had started this blog years ago.......to truly chronicle our lives!! I am not a journal keeper, although I wish I was.........I am not a letter writer, although I wish I was. My friend, Kim , is amazing in her journaling as well as having beautiful journals to write and treasure. I am the queen of the sticky note......sticking it on some cheap daily calendar I bought that gets buried in the bottom of the car under the stack of crinkled artwork, the empty Starbucks cups, and the winter coat/hat/gloves cause who knows when you just might need them!

We had dinner with some new friends Friday night. Pizza and salad and a great FENCED IN FLAT backyard! It was so nice feeling comfortable with friends and watching the kids play while a little adult conversation was had (in between the normal..stop this, stop that, don't do this, don't do that)!!

Saturday started with early risers.......of course..........and the princess was off to ballet!! Although the parents are banned from the room, I love seeing them all dressed up in their tiny ballet slippers and sweet tutus.....Again, I know I will have pictures to remind me of her little knobby knees and the princess panties shining through but I truly want to freeze time.....The interaction between the little girls is hilarious......Like little mini mommies........The chatter, the laughs, the running, and the "showing off" of whatever latest fashion item someone has...........

Once home it was nap time and then off to watch mommy play tennis......Grandmother and cousin joined us at the courts and fun was had by all.....Until the rain came and brought the party back to the Monkey Pad.....Tennis partner (friend) and family joined us, picked up Mexican for dinner (way too thoughtful for them to pick up the tab, but that is the kind of people they are) and in true 3 year old fashion........They stripped! That's right, they stripped and grabbed the nearest tutu!! I mean, don't we all play hide and seek in our tutus???? OK, I'm not really asking that question!!

Due to the rain delay, tennis began all over again on Sunday........Super dad took kids to a princess birthday party and fortunately, they served cocktails! Think it was needed!! While mommy played tennis, AGAIN!

Hard to remember, but I think the afternoon was spent relaxing.....See, I can't remember day to day what we do, how am I gonna remember how the door creaks first.......then pitter patter footsteps down the hall before........TA DA!! she's eye level with you, staring and begging to climb into "mommy daddy" bed........

Anyway, I know I ramble...............

But Honestly, I will even miss my SUPERNANNY episode.......Don't worry, I'll post that one later :)

Uuuuummmmmm, Urine is sterile, right??

Ok........
I know we have 45,000 bracelets. And the thought of fishing 1 of the 45,000 out of her potty did not thrill me........But you convince a 3 year old that we "just don't need" that one.

It is now soaking in a sanitizing solution.........of course, it could be dissolved by the time we get home.

Oh well!

Really cool new POP Duo.............

Apparently, they are the latest craze in all parts of the world.........

Beyonce & Big Papa




AND because it is your lucky day.........Here is an ENCORE PERFORMANCE (please ignore my background singing, I have since been "voted" off)




(yes, he is wearing his sisters pajamas......it's not worth the fight)

"Not me!" Monday

A blog that I follow has a funny post called "Not me!" Monday..........It helps us superhero MOMS confess things that, well, we may or may NOT do !!
It could NOT have been any more appropriate for my Monday................


I did NOT almost back out of the driveway without strapping my daughter in her car seat. And it did NOT get brought to my attention as she asked if she was going to ride without her "seat belt". And fortunately, I did NOT have to thank her kindly for her friendly reminder that maybe I shouldn't worry about which "lovey" of the day to bring for each child, and which lip gloss "color" of the day had to be brought, and a mad search was NOT occurring for current "boppy" obsession of the day (aka. paci) for screaming one year old. Oh and did I mention that it was NOT pouring down rain, requiring appropriate "outfit matching" rain gear from said 3 year old.............

Thank goodness, I was NOT on the phone discussing a Starbucks visit (sorry, honey)!!


OH, and I am NOT the only one that can't get the "Not me!" Monday button to work right............nope, NOT me!!

***UPDATE*** Do you think we can talk MckMama into having "Not me!" Tuesday, Wednesday, .......Ok,you get the point!!
I think I have too much to confess.......Does that make me a bad mommy ??? NOT!

**UPDATE #2*** I am NOT hoping to increase my "comment" count!! Really, I'm NOT!! (yeh, right!)