Two sisters at about 8 weeks old

backyard adventures

The first Duke camping experience was a success! Jamey and Ansley and Stephen spent the entire night in the tent and had a blast. As they are still sleeping, I haven't heard the stories yet from bedtime in the tent. I can't wait :) 

 Here are a few pictures from the evening. 

Molly James supervises the tent making

Getting set up

The kids hard at work helping Jamey :)

Checking out the inside

Ready to get the inside set up too!

 

 

Smores!

Hot Dogs!

Outside Nighttime picnic

The many faces of Molly James (and modeling a onesie that was Ansley's - a gift from their D-Jo)

Exhausted from taking Stephen to school.

Teasing me with a little smile :)

Still thinking about smiling :)

Stephen says, "Super Baby!"

Night, Night :)

I started this blog a few years ago for the main purpose of keeping my brother up to date on family happenings while he was on the other side of the world for his deployment to Iraq. It was much easier to write here and post pictures than to compose an email and attach multiple images. But I kept up with it even after he returned safely to his sweet wife Sara here in the States - and now I try to update several times a month. I will eventually turn this blog into a book (there are websites just for doing that) and I look forward to having the memories saved. I try to remember things during the week to add, sometimes that works and sometimes I forget things. When Ansley and Stephen were born, I was a scrapbook fiend. I have their baby years scrapbooked out. I will do the first year for Ms. Molly James (that is my goal anyway) but mostly I am just blogging these days, not scrapbooking. I do love to scrapbook, but I just can't keep up. Blogging is super fast and can be done from multiple locations. It just makes things easier.

This morning Molly James and I went for a walk. My goal was two miles. We went before 8am to try and beat the heat. We succeeded for the most part - she was not thrilled with the stroller, but I really want her to be used to going for walks bc eventually, in the fall, she will be in the jogging stroller as I get back into running. I will walk and run as much as I can this summer, but I just can't stand the heat. I much prefer signing up for fall, winter and spring 5ks. My friend Shannan is trying to talk me into the Disney Princess Half Marathon in January :) We will see about that.
I am trying not to be discouraged that most of my clothes don't fit. I think to myself, what would I tell someone else in my position? I would say, "You are only 6 weeks postpartum. You were pregnant for 9 months. Surely you don't expect to lost all that in just 6 weeks. It takes time. Don't be hard on yourself."
Unfortunately saying this to other mamas, and then saying it to myself are two different things. So, in the words of my friend Michele, baby steps (pun intended even though she insisted it wasn't). We started with our walk today ( I was cleared by the dr yesterday to exercise) and we will go from there. Hopefully clothes will start to slowly fit better. And I will do my best to not be hard on myself about getting back to where I want to be.

Baby steps.

The middle of May

Its not as though I a) have nothing to write about or b) don't have time. Because there is plenty going on around here and I also somehow seem to find time to watch three hours of the Today Show each morning. But in my defense, I can spend three hours snuggled up on the couch watching The Today Show with a 5 week old little squishy, snorty, kissable ball of sweetness and frankly that trumps just about everything most morning. I do try to be productive after the Today Show goes off....I swear. This has not been the most fun week so far for me personally as I have now had half a root canal at the endodontist yesterday and today a trip to the oral surgeon for a follow up on a procedure that had to be put on hold once we realized Ms. Molly James was on her way. But both of the dentists yesterday and today are fabulous and I would be glad to recommend either one if you ever have a need ( I hope you don't)

So here are a few highlights:
1. I had the not so fun opportunity to talk to Ansley about what to do if a stranger approached her while she was playing outside. We live in a nice neighborhood, but goodness, I don't think that matters much anymore. The news was reporting that a truck was cruising through neighborhoods near ours trying to entice young girls to get into the truck with him. Ansley watched the news story with me that day (randomly, not on purpose) so I jumped on the chance to talk to her about what she would do if that happened. Mainly, drop her bike, and run like hell back to my house or another house she knows for a fact is safe. But I also talked to her about what someone might say to her, "I know your mom." or "I need help finding my dog." I am glad I talked to her about it, but geez, that is heartbreaking to do. Right before Molly James was born I had to talk with her about what the "middle finger" meant as some boys at school were doing it. She asked if it was bad. I told her yes. I didn't go into much explanation about it, other than it was a very ugly thing to do. I told her when she saw it to look away, ignore it and then tell me about it later. The girl is 8. The conversations to come will not get any easier I know. Goodness growing up is hard.

2. Stephen Jack says some hilarious stuff these days and keeps us laughing. He has been listening to the soundtrack to Tarzan the Disney movie lately in his room. In the car the other day, he told Ansley, "That song is on the 'sound-a-track' that I have." We cracked up in the front seat. He also called his water bottle for soccer his "tank." He knows a tank holds water - and that is what his water bottle does - so a tank it must be. I love this. I don't correct him. He is doing so well at swimming lessons last week and this week. I am proud of him as he was a tad nervous but still put on his brave face and did everything the teacher asked.

3. Ms. Molly James will be 6 weeks on Thursday (6 weeks???!!! How did that happen?) Sweet baby girl. I will write more about her in an update soon.

Here are a few pictures....

Molly James' first trip to church. She was thrilled as you can see.

Molly James will raise her hands in her sleep quite a bit. Stephen thinks it is hilarious! I will say, "Pick me! Pick me!" as if Molly James is saying it and he laughs and laughs.

Grandad and Ansley played a duet together at her piano recital. When Jamey gets it edited, I will post the video. They both did very well!

 We are still getting used to having another little one around, but life is returning to our "new" normal. While I type this, Molly James is having a most excellent morning nap. Key to a most excellent morning nap? (and any other nap and nighttime sleeping?) Swaddle and white noise. When we got just the right combination of these two things, MJ was happy to give us a little more sleep. We are far from "sleeping through the night." but that is fine with me. She is tiny. Her stomach is tiny. And I am happy to nurse her frequently right now. I am an experienced enough mama to know that this newborn stage is fleeting. She is focusing her eyes better and better these days. Turning toward noises. When I look in her eyes, I can almost see a smile wanting to appear while I talk to her. She is four weeks old today. Sweet baby.

My other two sweet babies are doing well also. Ansley and I attempted a short run to Target with MJ after piano this week. MJ was not pleased to say the least. Public places are just not for her. I can feed her right before, wear her, take her in while she is asleep - doesn't matter. The general consensus of people I have talked to is that she feels overstimulated in places like Target or Winn Dixie or even church last night. While Ansley and I were about half way through a very short Target trip, MJ was letting everyone know that she was unhappy about being there. I held, I shushed, I rocked, I whispered. Then, I gave up. Put Ansley is charge of buggy pushing, and she and I completed the shopping in Supermarket Sweep time. I perfected the art of not making eye contact. Ansley, however, was unbothered by the screaming. Completely happy to help me and continue on with our conversation.
"Babies cry, mama."  she told me.
"yes, they do." I replied.
And in my heart I thought, well, there is my lesson for the day, straight out of the mouth of my 8 year old. She didn't care that people were looking (side note- most were kind, I didn't notice many glares.) She was happy to go about her business with Molly James a part of our little shopping team. That is my Ansley. Matter of fact, does what needs to be done, helpful and calm. Sweet Girl.

Stephen had a soccer game Sunday afternoon. There is a quote you hear frequently that becoming a mother means putting your heart outside your body. Oh My Goodness. How true this is with my little man. He was oh so happy to be there. Running, drinking his gatorade, giving us a thumbs up while he is out on the field.... Jumping up and yelling, "YES!" when his little team scored a goal. When I watch him I can feel my heart in my throat.  He is not one to jump in the pile and fight for the ball. He is one to enjoy chasing the ball though. His sweet little attitude about his games makes me want to just freeze him at this age. Jamey and I constantly look at each other when he talks to us - the words go unspoken between us, but we could both easily tear up at the sweetness of his comments and his general happiness to just be who he is.
"Guess what, mama." I hear this a lot. I love it.
 "What, baby?" I ask him.
"Today at school we were walking to lunch and I forgot for a minute and thought we were walking to mass." At this he laughs and laughs. I laugh too - and try to memorize his little face and how he sounded telling me about this little moment in his day.
Sweet Boy.

Here are a few recent pictures....