Love this sweet boy

I can't believe he is almost 12 weeks old.   

23 months

Ashlyn is one month away from turning TWO!  She has learned so many new words and is starting to put some two and three word sentences together.  Her favorite expression is "Oh, my!"  She says it a lot - especially when she is excited about something.  It can also take the place of "Yes."  For example, if I ask her if she wants some goldfish, she usually responds with "Oh, my!"  

She also likes to tell me, "Ooohhhh....mommmy! Baby crying."  All of the time.  Even when he is not crying.  I think she just likes to say it.

Preschool is going great.  She loves her teacher and is so excited to get out of the car in the mornings.  "Bye, mommy, bye!"  She can't wait for me to leave now.  Amazing what a difference a week or two makes.

I love when I pick her up from school and hear her singing as we drive home.  That is, when she is not telling me that the baby is crying.  Because he usually is.  I feel like every time I go to pick her up, its either time for him to eat or I have to wake him up from a nap.  Add that to the fact that he does not seem to like being in his car seat, and I usually end up with a crying baby.

Can't believe it is almost time for another birthday!

Closet Vanity

We had a great weekend.  My parents came to visit from Tennessee and love on sweet Ashlyn and Chase.  And Christopher and I finished my closet vanity.  Remember this?

 

Here is the desk that we used.

So glad this is finally finished - and just in time for me to start back to work in 8 days.  Since I will actually have to fix my hair, put on makeup and wear something on other than running shorts and tank tops.  Typing this made me realize how sad I am to only have one more week of maternity leave.  I have really enjoyed the past couple of months being home with my babies.  It is so hard to think about going back to work right now.  So let's just move on to some pictures before I get teary eyed.

I guess this was several little projects in one. I found the lamp on clearance at Target for $8 and just recovered the shade with fabric I had.  We spray painted the mirror frame white and added some ribbon around the middle.  The makeup board is a piece of $4 sheet metal from Home Depot covered in fabric.

Hope everyone had a great weekend! 

What we are working on.

Here is a little glimpse into our master bedroom closet.  Since there is not a place in our bathroom for me to sit down, put on makeup and fix my hair, Christopher created this little "vanity" in our closet with a piece of plywood.  It has served its purpose well, but we (well, mostly me) are ready to change it up a little bit.

My husband actually suggested searching "closet vanity" on Pinterest.  I wonder if he secretly looks on there and just does not tell me?  Probably not, but it is kind of funny thinking about him perusing the latest fall fashion and home decor ideas. 

Anyway, this was the first picture that popped up.  How cute is this little closet vanity that Liz Marie created?  Oh joyful inspiration.

The sweet hubby already found a desk at a local thrift store.  Two babies equal projects taking longer than they used to.  But that's ok because there is nothing sweeter than time spent with them.

Clean babies

They always smell so good right after their baths.  So sweet.

Let's Cook Giveaway!

If you live in or around Columbia, SC - head over to my dear friend Kitty's blog to enter for your chance to win a free cooking class from Chef John at "Let's Cook."  How fun!

They learn so young...

Our nap time routine has gone like this the past couple of days.

Me:  "Ashlyn, do you know what time it is?"

Ash:  "NAP??"  (she knows because she is already getting sleepy but does not want to admit it.)

Me:  "Yes, sweetheart, let's go pick out a book to read before your nap."

Ashlyn then proceeds to pick out the longest book we have ("Big Words for Little People" - thanks, Danielle, for selling this to us at your yard sale).  We read it.  And then she asks me to read her favorite page again.  So I do.

And then I say, "Ok, its time for your nap."

And Ashlyn looks at me, says "Oh, Mommy!"  and then runs to the bookshelf to return with...

Her BIBLE!

And she says "Bible??  Peeeeaseeeee, Mommy."

Seriously.  I mean, what do I say to that?  Sorry, dear?  We just can't read the Bible today?  It's like she knows she can use it to stay up a couple more minutes.  So we usually read one quick story, and then its off to bed.  

Yeah, she gets me on that one.  But how do you say no to the Bible and this sweet face?

two months.

Sweet Chase was two months old yesterday.  He had a great doctor's appointment weighing in at just under 13 lbs.  He is happy almost all of the time except when he is awake in his car seat.  I can't figure it out.  I thought all babies love being in their car seats.  Not this little guy.

I love those sweet cheeks, and I hope he never gets tired of his momma giving him lots of kisses.  I just can't help it.

A $5 mini makeover

Our main entryway has always been so dark at night because of a terrible light fixture, but we did not want to spend a lot of money to replace it.

Amazing what a little black paint from the garage and a $5 thrift store light fixture can do.

My husband picked this baby out all by himself.  And you can't beat $5.

Labor Day 2011

We spent a wonderful Labor Day weekend with our dear friends the Prikazsky's and the Burns in the mountains of North Carolina.  Lots of laughter, games, football, and of course, yummy food.  The six of us adults ate entirely way too many cookies.  I am slightly embarrassed about it.  2 rolls of Pillsbury cookie dough and an ENTIRE tub of Tollhouse cookie dough in a little over 24 hours.  Today is not the day to see how close I am to fitting back into my work pants.

This was our 5th Annual Trip.  So fun.  But maybe not quite as relaxing as previous years.  I guess that could be because we now have 3 toddlers (14, 18, and 22 months) plus an 8 week old baby between the 3 families.  Crazy.  But still fun.

Here are a few pics of my sweet family before the South Carolina kick-off on Saturday.  I was proudly wearing my Tennessee t-shirt prior to Chase spitting up all over it.  Such is life with an infant.

First Day of Preschool

Ashlyn's first day of preschool was not exactly what I had hoped for.  She cried.  You know, that hysterical crying with big tears rolling down her cheeks.  It broke my heart to leave her in the classroom so upset.

At our preschool, the teacher calls the parent if the child is inconsolable after 20 minutes.  I left her at 8:50am.

Tick...tock...tick...tock.

Once 9:10 came and left without the dreaded phone call, I breathed a sigh of relief. When I picked her up, she looked so happy and kept talking about the "cookies" that they had for a snack.

So we survived Day One.  Hoping the drop off Wednesday goes a little smoother.