Life Lately

In case anyone is wondering, no, I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth nor am I being held captive without access to the internet. I have just been consumed with tending to two very needy little people, embarking on a new career path, remembering half of the things I need after I leave the grocery store, folding endless loads of laundry, and constantly shopping for Logan as he continues to outgrow everything I buy him. Life is truly wonderful and I am thankful for every blessing that I have been fortunate enough to receive, but, man, a lot has been going on.

First things first, I took a giant leap of faith in myself and decided to embark upon a new career path earlier this year. Upon returning from maternity leave, I began a series of interviews that ultimately led to a job offer in a field that is vastly different from anything I have done before. Thankfully, I am still with the same organization which has made the transition much easier. It's always nice when you don't have to start completely over and are able to see the same friendly faces day after day. My new role offers more flexibility and allows me to utilize my degree, get involved with the community, and hopefully have an impact in something that I am very passionate about. It really is a win-win. I have successfully survived my first month and have dove in head first with the utmost confidence in my abilities knowing I have a great organization behind me. I feel like the sky is the limit, and I'm incredibly grateful for this new opportunity. Thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated as there is a great deal of (local) travel involved!

Let's see...what else? We traded in my Explorer for a 4Runner this summer, and I am in love! I have always wanted a 4Runner but could never afford one (since they hold their value so well), so when we stumbled upon a fairly new one that was in great condition and in our budget we went to see it immediately. Now, test driving a vehicle with 2 kids is certainly not a fun experience (more like car seat rearranging hell) and waiting for the dealership to work through financing paperwork by yourself with 2 kids is probably even worse, but the rush of accomplishment I felt upon signing those papers was totally worth it. Although we completely destroyed the waiting room, left a trail of Honey Grahams through the main lobby, and walked out of the place looking like the Hot Mess Express, I felt like a total badass pulling off the lot in my brand new-to-me ride. But my moment of glory was quickly shattered by Taylor's screams of hunger and Logan's dirty diaper, and before I knew it my 2 year old was throwing french fries on the floor while I was changing what may have been the worst blowout ever in the back of my brand new car. Ah, motherhood.

We made another slightly larger purchase at the end of the summer when we closed on piece of land in Ashland, Missouri, a small town about 20 minutes from where we currently live, where we plan to build our forever home. We decided early on that we did not want to send our kids to Columbia Public Schools (mostly due to the size and ever-changing district lines) and decided that Ashland would be the perfect place to raise our children based on size, community, school system, safety, and distance to work. After watching every decent house in our price range sell within 24-48 hours of going on the market, we quickly realized that building was going to be our only option. We went back and forth on whether to build on a smaller sized lot within a subdivision (similar to our current home) or buy a few acres out of town to provide ourselves with a little bit of privacy. At the end of the day, we decided that building within a subdivision would allow our children to be closer to school, the park, and their friends. And when we found out that our best friends had purchased a lot in the same subdivision we were interested in, our decision was made. We ended up buying the lot adjacent to their property, so we will literally be next door neighbors to four of our favorite people in the entire world. I couldn't be more excited! Well, I guess I could if we weren't waiting until Spring of 2018 to break ground, but life is expensive and we hope to pay off our land before building which is basically like buying the most delicious looking cheesecake, sitting it on your kitchen counter, and then telling yourself you can't eat it for 18 months. It's just not fair.

Aside from buying things and making big life plans, we have mostly just been enjoying this amazing weather and some bonding time with the kids. Jake is gearing up for his rush season which will completely consume his life in about 5 weeks, so we have been making the most of our weekends by alternating trips to visit friends and family (and pumpkin patches) and spending leisurely weekends at home (complete with neighborhood walks and trips to the park). Jake's mom and step-dad came to visit in late September, and we celebrated not one but THREE birthdays in the same weekend. Of course, Taylor's took top billing with a carnival themed party that she is still thanking us for. The kids and I had our first bout of sickness last week, so that was fun as well. I'm looking forward to a couple weeks of health before the next round hits. Tis the season!

All jokes aside, this life really is oh so good, but if it could slow down for just a moment I would really appreciate it. One thing is certain, 2016 has been very good to us, and I can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store.

Logan 7 Month Update

Seven has been a ground breaking month for Logan. He learned to sit all by himself, roll across a room in a matter of seconds, inhale an entire tub of baby food in one breath, and even added a new word to his vocabulary. He has officially hit his stride. 

Logan's 6 month check up was a couple weeks overdue (as is this blog post and everything else in my life at the moment), so I'm using those stats for the sake of this post. My aching back and bulging biceps can confirm that this boy is as solid as they come, weighing in at 20 lbs 5 oz and measuring 27 1/2" and solidifying his rank at the top of charts for yet another month. Although he continues to grow at warp speed, he continues to consume five 6 oz. bottles each day. The difference this month is that we have increased his solid food intake so that he is eating three actual meals in addition to his formula. His increase in calories has been equally matched with his newfound mobility. This guy can roll/wiggle/squirm his way anywhere he wants to go, including directly into Taylor's dollhouse where she immediately told him, "No, no Logan. You don't go into sissy's dollhouse. It's for pretend babies only!" 

He continues to babble and blow bubbles and has learned how to move his finger up and down against his lips while humming in order to make the most adorable (albeit annoying) sound. He also blurted out a new word while spending some quality time with his uncle Adam during Taylor's birthday party. I walked in his room just in time to hear him say, "Adam," and watch my brother-in-law's face light up with excitement. He was on a roll saying "dada" nonstop but had recently ceased all communication until this past weekend when we were at my sister's house and Adam got him to call him by name once again. I don't know what it is about that guy, but kids absolutely love him! ;c )

I am so happy to report that after three months of teething this boy finally has a tooth (and another one not far behind)! It has been a rough couple of weeks filled with lots of drool and diaper rashes, but that pesky first tooth has finally broken through. Unfortunately, it comes right on the heels of Logan's first sickness so that sense of relief will have to wait until his fever breaks and this virus passes. Fortunately, it hasn't dampened his spirits much. He continues to be as happy as ever but has insisted on a few extra snuggles (which I'll gladly take). 

His sister continues to rule his world as he loves nothing more than to be the center of her attention. She sings him songs and reads him stories, and he babbles and laughs the entire time. They splash their way through bath time and sit side by side on the couch watching cartoons. They get along about 90% of the time, but it isn't uncommon for them to be playing nicely one minute and then screaming and crying the next. No matter how well they may get along now, one this is certain: life will likely get much more interesting with these two over the next couple of years. 

You are the sweetest little love bug but 100% boy. You like to play rough, make growling noises, and read "Little Blue Truck" on repeat. You like being naked, hearing animal noises, and playing on the floor by yourself (as long as one of us is close by). Those chubby cheeks and infectious smile are swoon-worthy on their own, but when you cup your tiny hands around my face and pull my forehead to yours I turn into a big pile of mush. You are light and love wrapped in the most adorable little package. Thank you for being ours!

Taylor 3 Year Update

Where to even begin with this girl? She is equal parts smart, sassy, silly, and sweet, but she's also three and she knows it. One minute she's smiling and cackling with laughter and the next she's throwing herself on the floor with tears streaming down her face. While her emotions and imagination run wild, her heart remains sweet and genuine. She is quick to the rescue when she sees someone in need and can make anyone laugh without even trying. Simply put, she is amazing, and she makes the world a better place just by being in it.

She sings "Who Let The Dogs Out" at the top of her lungs, throws on a tutu over her dirty daycare clothes as soon as we get home each night, and loves her little brother more than anything. She is the girliest tomboy I have ever met, wearing costume jewelry and dresses while climbing trees and looking for rocks. She has the most beautiful long, blonde hair that is constantly covered in sweat, dirt, and a handful of bows and clips. Like most girls her age, she loves to play with her baby dolls and cook in her play kitchen but equally enjoys hiding from Sharp Tooth and playing baseball in the back yard. She has a slight obsession with Doc McStuffins and insists on giving everyone (and everything) a "chep-up" with her doctor's kit. She recently discovered hide & seek and continuously asks us to play (even though she hides in the same spot every time). She loves to sing songs and watch movies. Her favorites include Cinderella, Winnie the Pooh, Curious George, Rapunzel, The Land Before Time, Finding Nemo, and The Little Mermaid. I'm certain she would watch all of them on repeat if we let her.

She has a wide variety of tastes and is always open to trying something new. There isn't a food she won't try and insists that she loves zucchini when in reality there isn't enough Parmesan cheese in the world to make her swallow it. She loves all kinds of fruit (berries being her favorite) and continues to ask for pasta or tuna on a daily basis. Mexican restaurants are her favorite, because she knows it means an endless supply of chips, cheese, and guacamole. Friday nights mean movies and "copcorn" with Taylor eating an entire bag and then polishing off whatever is left in ours. She is the sneakiest little thing, constantly swiping drinks from our tumblers when we aren't looking and climbing into the pantry to steal a package of fruit snacks before dinner. She requires a sippy cup full of milk first thing in the morning and as soon as we get home each evening and acts like she's won the lottery if you put a little chocolate syrup in it. She loves "tookies" and cupcakes and eating the icing off of cake donuts. Her favorite "special treat" is a sucker, and you can get her to do almost anything if you mention the prospect of one. She is a scrawny little thing but can put away more food in one sitting than most grown men. Food is definitely the way to her heart!

Turning three has been a huge milestone for the tot. All throughout the summer, she told everyone she met when her birthday was and how old she was going to be. Three has brought a sense of independence for her, because she has grown so much over the past six months and has really started taking ownership of many different things. She has finally mastered potty training (after a record breaking 18 months) and insists on dressing herself, brushing her own teeth, and combing her own hair. She plays by herself in her room, quietly reading books and assembling puzzles one minute then banging pots and pans and sending her babies to time out the next. She shares her toys with her brother and is quick to fetch diapers and binkies upon request, shushing Logan when he cries and assuring him that "It's otay, sissy's here." She shares her love effortlessly, giving hugs and kisses whenever she feels the need and is quick to remind me that "It's otay, Momma" when things don't go as planned.

But don't let her grown-up persona fool you, she is still the ultimate threenager with meltdowns at every turn. A good day can easily turn sour if she can't get her shoe on or Logan looks at her wrong (which I'm still not sure is even possible). She is a roller coaster of hormones and gets easily frustrated by her limitations. She wants to be five so she can play baseball, go to school, and live in our new house. She wants so badly to be able to ride her bike but hasn't quite figured out how to steer and peddle at the same time. She just wants to GO and BE and DO everything, and I absolutely love her endless sense of adventure. She is the perfect combination of Jake and I, and I couldn't possibly love her more. Her sweet balances the crazy and the combination provides us with an abundance of laughter and more love than we ever thought possible.

You are one of a kind, sweet girl. Don't ever forget that.

Logan 6 Month Update

I know. I can't believe it either.

Logan officially hit the halfway mark this past Saturday and it makes me want to bawl my eyes out. How oh how is this little boy already 6 months old? And how is Taylor almost 3? I just can't...so I won't. Instead I'll ramble on about all of the wonderful things that this amazing little boy is saying and doing and how he continues to be the happiest baby on the planet.

Oh my sweet little blonde-haired boy. Everywhere we go, the first thing people say is "My! He's a big boy."  Girl, you ain't lying. Weighing in at over 20 lbs, he is indeed a healthy boy. He loves to be held and has recently started giving hugs which is the best medicine after a long day. He grabs at our noses, caresses our cheeks, and pulls us in close for smooches. He lets out a high pitched giggle when we toss him in the air and loves to fly around the room like an airplane. His favorite time of the day is bath time where he splashes nonstop until we're all completely drenched and he's gasping for air from laughing so hard. He is the sweetest little love bug, and I hope he stays this way forever.

Favorite past times include rolling his way around the house, sticking things in his mouth, jumping in his exersaucer, and watching his sister for hours on end. He enjoys singing and story time, with his favorite book being "Little Blue Truck" (mostly because of all the animal noises). He loves to sit upright but still needs a little assistance since his balance hasn't fully developed yet. We prop him up in the middle of our bed and he and Taylor take turns playing with baby dolls and dinosaurs. Taylor sings him songs, tells him elaborate stories, and occasionally kisses him and tells him how much she loves him while he pulls at her hair, laughs at her antics, and slobbers all over her toys. Ah, siblings.

Our little Logan has had a lot of firsts this month with the most important being his first word: MAMA! We were at my parents' house just casually hanging out when my sweet baby boy called out for me out of nowhere. I almost didn't even realize it since Taylor says my name approximately 5,000 times a day and I'm basically numb to it at this point, but when I actually processed the fact that it was a different voice and realized that everyone else had heard it as well, I couldn't believe it! Taylor's first word was dada (of course, that girl is crazy for her daddy), so for Log's first word to be mama was completely amazing. Jake doesn't believe that he said it (although he was sitting 5 feet away from him at the time and definitely heard it) and doesn't acknowledge it as his official first word, but I am counting it. Without a doubt.

Another first this month included introducing Logan to baby food. We decided to try solids a little earlier with Logan than we did with Taylor, giving him sweet potatoes just after he turned 5 months old. Initially, he loved them, but over time we noticed that he was developing a tummy ache after each feeding, so we stopped the baby food and reverted back to formula only for a few weeks. This past weekend, we decided to try solids again and haven't had a single issue since. Perhaps his little belly just needed some extra time to prepare for all of that goodness! He doesn't care much for oatmeal or peas, tolerates sweet potatoes and apples, but bananas are his favorite.

I just love this age where every day brings something new. Logan refused to roll from his belly onto his back for months, then out of nowhere he was rolling circles from one end of the living room to the other. He definitely likes to be on the move, and I imagine that by this time next month he'll be sitting and maybe even crawling if his arm strength allows! He is learning and growing at such a fast pace and just when we think we have life as a family of four figured out, something new comes along and reminds us that we have no idea what we're doing (like Taylor refusing to go to bed and Logan waking up at 4:30 AM). It's a never-ending learning curve, but I can't wait to see what the next 6 months will bring.

Stay tuned!