Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Bunk Beds And Babies

So once again I have gotten behind on my posts.  Not that it matters to anyone else, but I do want to use this as journal/scrap book for my kids to be able to look back on and see our life at a time before they can remember.  Anyway, we have had a wonderful summer.  Grandparents have come to visit, we’ve gone to Jersey to see family, lots of BBQing with friends, almost every day is spent in our turtle pool and my belly has continued to grow. 

Here I am literally a week away from a major life change for our family….a new baby.  I wanted to make sure I get some thoughts down before baby comes.  I know it will be crazy for a while and I want to recount these feelings first hand.  Not another 6 months from now when I can’t remember life without the new little one.

Bunk beds:  My current “baby” was just moved to a bunk bed in anticipation of the new baby.  This was hard for me.  I expected it to be hard for TJ, nope.  I have spent many nights over the past few months sneaking into the nursery, picking up my sleeping baby boy from his crib in the middle of the night, and rocking him while I cry.  Crazy, I know.  I have many sad feelings (aka pregnancy hormones) that he is growing too fast and then even more sad feelings that we are moments away from pushing him out of his babyhood and into the “big boy” role.  The problem is with me, he doesn’t seem to mind a bit.  He took to sleeping in a big boy bed, in his new big boy room, just like a big boy would.  There have been zero problems, I mean nothing. We lay him down, he goes to sleep.   I even hesitate to write that because the chaos could be right around the corner.  Twice now we have gone in to check him right before we go to bed and found him on the floor with his blankie and “nigh-night” puppy.  It is so funny to think what he must do/think when we leave the room.  Tim just ordered some nanny cams so we can actually watch what goes on when a 17 month old is left, by himself, in a room. 

Babies:  Babies, babies, babies.  Even now, as I am days away from meeting this baby, I am still wrapping my head around the idea of having another baby!  I find it funny when people say things like “this was a surprise baby”….really?  You know where babies come from so there really isn’t any surprise if you get pregnant.

 I cannot claim to have ever dealt with infertility.  However, before I got pregnant and even before I met Tim, I was told I would have fertility issues.  It would be a long and hard road to a baby.    Being told something like that before you’ve ever tried is beyond devastating.  God and I had many conversations on the topic.  By the time Tim and I were having real conversations about starting a family, God had already put my fears to rest.  This didn’t mean I was promised my own baby, but I knew I would be a mother.  I didn’t know what that looked like.  Maybe I would have my own, maybe we would adopt, maybe we would be foster parents.  I just knew that my desires would be fulfilled to the fullest and only He knew how that would happen.  Doctors gave us “hope” through invasive /expensive options.  Neither of us felt that was the route for us.  We were going to do what people do and if nothing comes of it, we agreed on a time frame to start the process of adoption. We were at peace, God was in control.   Imagine our shock in awe when BOOM pregnant!  We were over a year away from our adoption time frame; it’s not even fair to say we tried.  I know couples who have tried…….for years.  My heart breaks for them.  I know what it felt like to just think that was going to be our story.  I can’t even imagine the heart break of actually living it. 

So, along came TJ.  Perfect and beautiful.  The blessing of getting to be his mother is not lost on me.  Watching him experience the world is far more fulfilling than I thought possible.  In the throes of motherhood I look at his little face and thank God for this short time I have with him…..and sometimes I call Tim and make sure he knows he better get home asap!  My heart was full and life was better than I could have imagined.

And then it happened, again.  The girl who wasn’t supposed to have babies apparently is the girl who always gets pregnant.  My miracle baby was 8 months old and miracle #2 was on its way!  Shocked is an understatement (even though, as I stated earlier, I do know where babies come from).  Yes I wanted more children, yes I hoped God would work another miracle…but gosh, this soon!?

The prospect of having 2 babies at home was/is overwhelming.  I had one already.  I was kill’n it with one.  My house is clean, my child is well behaved, I have dinner on the table every night, the laundry is done, I read to TJ, Tim’s shirts are ironed and his lunches are made, I host play dates and dinner parties, I make my bed, I bake cookies for the neighbors, I babysit my friends kids, I sew, heck I even shower…like every day.   Having 2 under 2 will disrupt my “kill’n it” instead I might look like “they’re kill’n me”……..all of this to say, this pregnancy has been an adjustment.   


The feelings of longing for the smell of that sweet baby curled up on your chest combined with sleepless nights and struggling to breast feed are all mixed together…..joy and horror, excitement and anxiety.  I can't believe in a matter of days we will have a real live person added to our family.  Who is this little person going to be?  Boy or Girl?  How will their little personality fit our family like it was always there?  I am comforted to know God was in control when I thought it would never happen and I know He is in control when it keeps on happening!  I can't wait to introduce our sweet miracle #2!

Tuesday, April 16, 2013


Our sweet boy is 1!  Everyone always says it, but I really can’t believe how fast this year went.  And yes, I did bawl like a baby the night before his birthday.  All I could think about was the next year and the next year and the next year…until he’s all grown up.  I realize that should bring me joy, but instead I thought about when he will no longer wake up crying and just want me to hold him, when giving Mama a snuggle is embarrassing and times when he just won't like me.  So, for now I take all these moments with him and enjoy.  I love watching him stand at the window watching in amazement, I love the way he crosses his feet when he sits in his highchair, I love the joy “peek-a-boo” can bring, I love the sound of his little voice, I love his chubby little wrists, I love his smell, I love his laugh and his awkward teeth.….Pretty much I love it all.

We had friends and family over for his birthday party.  Everything went great!  It was so fun to see him “play” with all of his little friends.  My parents were able to fly in for a visit and some of Tim’s family came from New Jersey.  I am sure T.J. will remember all the details and appreciate all of my hard work for many years to come :)  But just in case, I took some pictures!

Cupcakes :)

 
 
Of course TJ was the one who requested the Chick-fil-A nuggets 








 
 
 

TJ refused to eat or even really touch his smash cake :( 


TJ's new best buddy is Grandpa Mike
 
 

With so many visiting, the party turned into an all day event.   When dinner time came around we all decided to go out Carrabba’s .  Yummy!  We had a huge table full of laughter and babies full of spaghetti.  It was the perfect end to a perfect day. 
 
Oliver loved his spaghetti :)
 
As I look back at this last year, it has been made up of life changing events for our family.    Most of which were stressful and at times hopeless feeling.    However, my heart is joyful and  full of thanks.  God has been steadfast and faithful .  I can't wait to see where we'll be next year!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Cold Weather, Warm(full) Belly

This afternoon was a cooking and baking kind of afternoon.  I was in the mood for some serious comfort food and Tim has been requesting his favorite childhood Christmas cookie, so I put on my apron {literally, my Grandma has made me a few} and got started!

Both of these recipes were easy to make, but had a bit of prep...I was chopping nuts for the Hershey Snowball Cookies and getting the crust ready for Chicken Pot Pie



I have eaten this chicken pot pie on many occasions at the Skoog's house.  I was always excited when I would go to their house to nanny and D would have this little treasure in the fridge.  This was my first time making it.  It was easy and perfect for a cold night.
 I got the filling all ready.....sauteed chicken, veggies and the best part, flaky pie crust soaking in a delicious gravy! 
 




It was picture perfect and tasted even better!  Tim and I {and Baby Love} finished over half of it in one sitting.  I could have kept going, but I wanted to wake up and have something to look forward to at lunch.
While the pot pie was baking I started on the cookies. 


With a little help of course :)

 
Again, these were a first for me.  They remind me of a buttery shortbread cookie.  If it was filled with almonds and a dark chocolate kiss and then rolled in powdered sugar :) 

 
Honestly, I wasn't super impressed with them, but Tim said they were just like when he was little.  So I'd say mission accomplished!











Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Thanksgiving

Our thanksgiving was wonderful!  The week was filled with friends and family and all the things to be thankful for. 

It started the weekend before when one of my nearest and dearest, Skippy, came for a visit.  Tim took over on full-time baby duty so we could kick it like old times {aka: eating late at Applebee's and going to see Twilight....you know the super fancy kind of outings}.  It was the kind of weekend that is good for the soul.  I am so geeked that we now live "close" to each other. 

I had just enough time to change sheets, wash towels and get the final groceries bought before "Poppop" {aka Tim's dad} arrived.  Although T.J. has only seen Popop twice he warmed right up!  I really don't think there is anything sweeter than seeing grandparents {long past the time their body wants to cooperate} crawling around on the floor with grand babies.  Having Poppop with us was such a help!  I was able to get things ready for Thanksgiving and not have to worry about what T.J. put in his mouth or what he was getting into when the house suddenly went quiet.

 
Tim's sister Kim also came for Thanksgiving.  She was in charge of dessert...and did not disappoint!  Kim brought 3 pies for the 4 of us!  Let's just say I am still munching on pie :) 
 
 
Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of Kim with T.J. except for this one...gotta love and Auntie who takes over on diaper duty.
 

The meal turned out great, I realize I am bragging by saying that, but I was really pleased with everything!  I choose a turkey breast instead of a full turkey since there was only the 4 of us.  I used a Barefoot Contessa recipe, best turkey I have ever had!  I grew up always having a large extended family Holidays, so it was a nice change of pace to have a small intimate meal. 


Places got set


 
Bibs where on
 
 
 
Dinner was served
 
 
 
Plates were full
 
All in all, there was a lot to be thankful for!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Halloween Now and Then


When I see my fat little elephant I am filled with love, contentment and thanks.  It's funny to look back and think about life a year ago, or even 2-3 years ago.  I could have never imagined all that God had in store for me and now our family.

  One year ago, Tim and I went to a Halloween party as Dog the Bounty Hunter and his wife.  It looked a little something like this :)


We were crazy excited to meet that little basketball in my belly, nervous about all things first time parents get nervous about, but most of all I think we were both in a bit of shock and awe.  Due to "not so great" news from doctors, we had prepared ourselves to never have biological children and begin to pursue the idea of adoption in the future.  So here we are, 5+ months along and finally showing......this was more real than we could believe!

Two years ago, Tim and I were just settling into married life.  I was adjusting to life in Hawaii and he was adjusting to a woman in his home who kept organizing and moving things around.  Life seemed like a bit of a dream, we had only KNOWN each other less than a year.  Yes, known.  Not dated, not married, but actually met less than a year prior and here we were happily married. 

Three years ago Tim and I didn't exist in each others worlds.  It was about this time that I got a call from Betsy saying she had "met my husband" at a Halloween party. *Insert my eye roll.  Betsy had on many occasions tried to find a proper suitor for me.  She, like any happily married friend wanted to help me.  I will say over the years, her attempts got closer and closer.  However, when she called I was sort of seeing someone and I couldn't imagine that this stranger living across the world could really be "the one".....Well, well, well was I wrong!  After Betsy's persistence and Tim's pursuit of me, a stranger.  I thought, well, I guess I can agree to this date.  After all, he's paying to fly me to visit Betsy and take me on a date....umm, ok!?  Needless to say,  three months later we were engaged and 4 months later we were married.

I am continually in a state of shock in awe when I look at my life.  God has always been faithful. He has been faithful in the little things and in the big things.  Even when I am undeserving of it.  In my best efforts, I  could not have planned my life as perfectly as He has put it together.

Our First Fall

This fall has been absolutely wonderful!  My heart is full of all the things I long for during this time of year.  It has been filled with apple orchards, pumpkin patches, train rides, old friends, new friends, long drives, Amish furniture, quaint small towns, wood burning fires places and lots of baking!  After every adventure I mean to blog, but alas life gets away from me. And if I'm being totally honest, sometimes the addition of T.V. into our lives for the first time in our marriage gets a bit addicting....I'm hoping the novelty wears off really soon or I may be putting my self on restriction.  Anyway, here is the overview in pictures........



Apple Orchard:  On my last post I showed pics of our family outing to an apple orchard, but T.J. and I went a second time with my new friend Marisa and her little one Evie.  This time we went to Larriland Farms.  It was perfect.  A big red barn, petting zoo and orchards on rolling hills as far as the eye could see.  My only disappointment is that I didn't get more of the Mitsu (the apple T.J. is holding) apples.





Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch:  The Coans joined us which meant T.J. got to hangout with his best buddy Oliver!  It is so fun to watch these two together.  They are so delightfully different and it's fun to watch them interact with each other.



 It was so fun to set the boys up for pictures.  I was able to catch one of Oliver when he kept tasting the pumpkin over and over!





Trains and the Amish:  I have decided that driving to Lancaster is my favorite thing to do.  There is something so simple and beautiful about driving through 'Amish country' not to mention totally intriguing (AND the Pottery Barn Outlet is a nice incentive)!!  On this trip we went to the Strasburg Train Museum.  We didn't go to the actual museum, but we did buy tickets for the real train.  It was a really lovely ride with lots of beautiful farm land to look at.

T.J. was completely memorized by the train!



Not sure if you can read this, but the 'General Conditions' were pretty funny; no spitting tabacco, check your pistol and men shoveling and pushing snow :)

This is the Amish treasure we came home with.  I was so excited!  Highchairs are so unsightly and when you only have 4 chairs, you can't give one up for booster, so this was PERFECT!



Cold Weather Alert:  With winter at our door step it was time to start preparing.  How better than a cute knit owl hat and mittens....I mean come on, could this get any better?


Thursday, September 27, 2012

Our New Home


Many of you have asked to see pictures of our new home, so here they are!  Come on in (imagine my hand waving you in)........


The front....which I love!  I have always wanted a brick 2 story



Main Level 

Front entry way


Front living room....yeah we will be painting this room

Dining room...*note: all window treatments must go!
Eat-in kitchen :) *needs to be painted!
Deck off the kitchen


awkward pic...powder room off the kitchen....also needs to be painted!

Main level family room...*ugly window treatments...again




BASEMENT








Full bath in the basement





2nd Floor (bedrooms)

When you are at the top of the stairs to the right is TJ's room, his bathroom and our room




T.J.'s room...needs to be painted AND the window treatment needs to be removed.


Main upstairs bathroom...I love the double sinks!



Master bedroom


Another awkward pic....this is taken form the master bath looking into the bedroom, what I was trying to capture was the 2 walk-in closets!!



Master Bath...double sinks!! *paint


Ok, back to the top of the stairs, to the left we have 2 bedrooms and laundry room


*paint





*paint


So that's the grand tour!  We are so excited about this house.  For those of you who don't know, there are 2 important details that make this move so exciting for our family....First of all, our home in Hawaii was a 2 bedroom 800 sq ft condo.  I now feel like I am living in a mansion!!!  Secondly, we bought this house without EVER seeing it in person!  So it was such a relief to walk in and love it!! 

 We have a ton of space and would love some visitors!  Plan a trip to the east coast and stay with us!  I will post some more pics once we actually get some painting done and our furniture/stuff arrives from Hawaii!!