Day 18

Day 18- What is something that you wish you could change about yourself? There are tons of things I wish I could change about myself, which is probably bad. I wish I could have clearer skin. I used to have amazing skin but as I got older and after I had kids my skin has become a problem area for me. It makes me insecure and holds me back a bit. I also wish my body would go back to what is was like before I had babies, but I still want to have my kids! My tummy sags and my chest is never going to be the same since I have collectively nursed my kids for 28 months. I guess my saggy tummy and stretch marks are just badges of honor! I also wish I had more patience, especially with my kids. I get upset too easily sometimes and overreact. Then I feel bad about how I reacted which then doesn't make any punishment effective.

Day 17

Day 17- Something you crave a lot

I crave Snickers flurries made with chocolate ice cream! Is that weird? haha! When I was pregnant with my son all I could think about was a snickers flurry! Day and night I would think about it and want it. I still think about it weekly! I don't indulge in one weekly, well ok, maybe in the summer I do. Just looking at this picture is making my mouth water!

Mason is 1!

Happy Birthday Mason!

Then...March 29, 2010

Now...March 2011

Where or where has the time gone? Mason's birthday party is this weekend so I will have a longer post next week with pictures but I had to acknoledge his birthday. He goes for his 1 year check tomorrow but he is around 23 lbs. He has started to take some steps but he is way more content to just drop down and crawl. He now has 8 teeth and according to the dr he is working on his molars. My poor baby has been sick with strep but has been on meds since Friday so he is feeling much better. Just a little cranky with his teeth. We are still working on getting him ready for "real" people food instead of baby/toddler food by Gerber. Those are so expensive and I am so ready to be done with those! He has also been doing the sign language that I taught him. He can do the sign for "more", "all done" and I am working on getting him to make the "eat" sign and "thank you". Those are probably the only four I will do. He can say baba, dada, mama, hello (sounds like hewwoo) and bye (which sounds like baah). He is starting to play with his toys more and explore new toys. He has taken an interest in his sister's kitchen set and also her old Little People barn. She is reluctently letting him play with them. For his birthday we got him the Little People Ark with the two extra sets of animals. Sydney picked out a present for him too. She decided he needed a pillow pet like her and picked out the penguin for him. I am sure he will love it! We don't go crazy on presents for the kids because our families do it for us! If there is one larger thing we want to get them we usually do that.

I can not believe that this year has come and gone. I am very emotional about Mason turning one. He's (probably) my last baby and I want to savor every moment. It's not fair how fast time goes once you have kids. It should go slower! I have to say this has been the best year of my life thus far. Adding Mason to our family was the best thing we could have ever done. Sydney loves her baby brother and most of the time plays well with him. I personally can't get enough of him! Mason, Mama loves you so much and can't believe you are 1! Happy Birthday Baby boy! We all love you with everything we have!

Day 16

Day 16- What do you miss most about your childhood? The thing I miss most about childhood is being carefree and unafraid of anything. Life was so much simplier back then. I didn't have to worry about bills or money. I could play outside all day and come home for dinner. I didn't have an responsibilities and I didn't have to worry about anything or anyone else. Now, don't get me wrong, I love my life now and I am so grateful to be able to have my children to worry about and my husband. I just miss being carefree without a care in the world!

Day 15 (halfway!)

Day 15- Something you don't leave the house without. Why?

The one thing I never leave the house without is my cell phone. I always want to have it in an emergency and if my kids aren't with me I need a life line to them through my phone. I always have it not because I am always on it but because it's there incase. We also don't have a home phone line anymore so this is the only way (other than my hubby's phone) for people to get ahold of us. I am not a person who needs needs the newest, most hightech phone, I just need a phone to call people, text and take pictures! That's it! I love my phone and never leave home without it!

Day 14

Day 14- If you had unlimited resources, what would your life look like? I would love to say I don't think our life would look much different. I don't know how realistic that is but I would like to think we wouldn't be too crazy or extravagent. If we won the lottery today I would pay off all our debt, buy a house, get new cars, help out our family, establish a good savings for us and each of the kids and then donate to our church and charities. Of course, the things we would have would be nicer and probably cost more money but I still would't spoil the kids. I think the mistake that some people make is going crazy with their money and spending, spending, spending! I think because we live paycheck to paycheck it makes us appreciate what we have and would in turn help us to be more level headed when it comes to money. I would want a bigger house and a nicer car but I don't need a Range Rover or a Lexus...I know it's silly but I would love a van with TV's in the headrests for the kids. That is my dream car...I know I know, I am such a mom! I would also like to be able to travel more, so if we have unlimited money we would do more of that. There are so many places I want to visit, in this country or abroad, so being able to share those things with my kids would be amazing! Having money would make life a little easier but it sure wouldn't change the love I already have for my kids and husband!

Day 13

Day 13- Where are you spiritually? In a valley or on a mountain?

To start, sorry this post is a day late. Still sick! When I did Day 12 I looked ahead to what was coming for tomorrow, as I did for everyday. When I saw today's topic I actually stopped for a moment. This is probably the hardest post I have had to write yet. There was some soul searching involved. I wish I could say I was on a mountain, but really, I think no one is at the top. I think we are all in the climb. I will say I am not where I want to be spiritually. I have not been making going to church as big of a priority as it needs to be. I pray daily and do try to live my life in the way God would want me to, but I need to make Sundays (or Saturdays) a church day for our family. Once I had children it became very important for me to sit down for dinner together, even when Sydney was a baby. We would pray before every meal. We have gotten away from that a little bit, but our little 3 year old loudly reminds us we need to pray. That makes me very proud! I am honest with her about God and Jesus and what they mean to us and our life. I also tell her about heaven and that people go there when they die. We say our prayers before bed every night. After saying all that, I want to state that I am not a model Catholic, nor do I think I am, but I do think I am a good person and I am trying to become a better Catholic and to become more deeply invested in my faith. I want my kids to know our faith and to understand it. This year we made a point to explain to Sydney that Christmas is not just about presents, it's about Jesus' birth. Sydney and I made a birthday cake for Jesus and sang to him. I wanted to start this tradition in our family in the hopes that our children wouldn't become wrapped up in the present part of Christmas. I would say my faith is a work in progress, I believe what I believe and always have and always will but I think that making church more of a priority and all around becoming more spiritual will make our lives so much more fullfilled!

Day 12

Day 12- A photograph of the town you grew up in. What did you love/hate about it?

This is Oak Harbor, Ohio. The small town, I mean village, I grew up in. There were a lot of things I liked about it. I liked that it was a small town, but on the flip side that is also something I hated about it. I liked that I knew everyone in my graduating class but I didn't like that everyone knew all your business. I had some great close friends growing up and we went to school together all the way through elementary school through high school. Would I ever live in Oak Harbor again? No, but I like to visit! But, I would never have wanted to grow up anywhere else. I think I grew up very sheltered, but that's OK. The town I live in now is similar to the town I grew up in and the things that I like about Leslie are the things that I liked about Oak Harbor. I always thought I would want to go away to a big city because was never anything to do in Oak Harbor, but I ended up in a place just like it, and I love it! Sometimes we don't know how good we had it until we look back, but man I had it good!

Day 11

Day 11- The greatest vacation or trip you have ever had

Let me preface this by saying...I am sicker than a dog. I have no energy to search for pictures or post them. But, I still wanted to stay up to date on my challenge posts

It is really hard to pick just one trip that has been the best. The best trip I took pre-hubby and pre-kids was when I was 16. We went to Florida and stayed in Orlando. My sister took one of our cousins who is close to our age and I got to take on of my good friends Beth. We went to Disney and had a great time! We went at the same time as our High school band so we got to hang out with some of our other friends! Awesome!

My best vacation with my hubby was our honeymoon. We stayed in a cabin up in the mountains in Tennessee. We went to Dollywood (ha ha, I wanted to go!) and shopped and just relaxed. It was such a nice road trip and it was such nice weather.

My favorite vacation with my daughter was when we went to the Wisconsin Dells and stayed in an all inclusive resort with a water park. She was still very little, about 9 months old but she did so well! She started crawling while we were there and she did great on the trip. We went with my mom and dad and sister and her friend and we all stayed in a two bedroom suite. We haven't really gone on a trip with both the kids other than a two day trip up to Frankenmuth, MI. That was very fun too, we went with my mom and dad and sister (are you sensing a theme?)!

Keith and I are going on our first trip together without the kids since they were born. We are going to Vegas with some friends in October. I am super excited but also nervous about leaving the kids! I am also nervous about flying. I have only flown once, on that trip to Florida. But the kids will be in good hands with my in-laws and I know we will have a great time!

Sorry for the rambling! Again, I am sick so if this doesn't make sense, I apologize!

Day 10

Day 10- What is your favorite was to pamper yourself?

Hmmm....my favorite way to pamper myself? I love to get pedicures. I just don't get to do them that often. I actually have a gift certificate for one from my birthday last June! Once it officially gets warm I am cashing it in!

Another way I like to pamper myself is by getting a really big fancy chocolate drink or coffee drink. They tend to be expensive so I don't get to have them all the time and when I do it makes me feel special!

I also love to take baths, with or without bubbles. I usually lock the door (because if I don't a kid will end up in the bath with me!) and watch a movie on the laptop or read a book or magazine. It's a great way to relax at the end of a long day. I usually stay in about an hour.

Day 9

Day 9- A photo of your last significant purchase. Did it satisfy a need or a want?

This a picture of my last two significant purchases. Both of these purchases were needs. Our old bedding was falling apart and my old boots literally did fall apart! Anything I buy for myself is significant because I don't buy anything for myself very much. I just bought that new bedding and I love it. I also had to get some new curtains to go with it but those were not that much!

These boots were another purchase that I agonized over getting. I needed some brown boots very badly. My last pair I had had for about 8 years or so and the bottom split in half. I waited most of the winter before getting these. They were $40 and I never spend that much on shoes for myself since I had kids. But, they only had one pair in my size and I ended up not getting them the first day I found them but went back two days later and that one pair was still there. It was a sign! These boots were made for me!

Day 8

Day 8- The best advice you have ever recieved.

This post took me a long time to do. I really couldn't think of one piece of advice that was the "best". I think the advice that I follow the most is to follow my heart and do what is best for my family. I used to always try and make everyone happy but that just left people disappointed and upset with me no matter how hard I tried. So, I decided that we have to do what is best for our family and my kids and if it upsets some people so be it. This has made my life so much simpler and happier.

Day 7

Day 7- Tell us about your wedding or your dream wedding

My wedding day was awesome! We got married on September 16, 2006. It was a beautiful day and very warm. We were married in my family church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 2 p.m. Our ceremony was very traditional and was a full mass with communion. After that we had our reception at Crystal Arbors in Fremont, OH. Our reception was so much fun. Our cake didn't turn out like we expected and was not what we wanted but I didn't let that ruin my day. We had a chocolate fountain which was awesome! The food was good and the company was even better! I don't have a lot of pictures from that day on this computer nor do I have to picture CD available right now, so these are all the pictures I could find from other people's Facebook's! We had so much fun on our big day and so did everyone else! The dance floor was full the whole time and I don't think I sat down ever! I wish we could have that party every year!

Us in the limo after the ceremony

We were young and thought we were so cool!

My sister and I...we were so tired! She was my maid of honor

True love!

I don't have the picture with my family on here but this is Keith's family. Pretty good looking group if you ask me!

Day 6

Day 6- Tell us about your best friend when you were 16, and where you two stand today

This is my best friend Kelly. We were best friends when we were 16 and we are still today. We have actually known each other our whole lives. Who can say that their first best friend is also their current one? Probably not too many people. If you want to get technical I have known Kelly since I was 1 month and 2 days old! I always have to remind her that I am older and of course wiser! Kelly has been with me through good times, bad times and hard times. We have seen sadness together and great happiness. She was there with me on my wedding day. I will be by her side for hers. We don't get to talk as much as we used to or see each other as much as we used to but we just jump right back in like no time has passed. She is someone I know I can always count on and I know she is always a phone call away. I would like to think I have been as good of a friend to her as she has been to me. I can't imagine not having her in my life and I hope that day never comes. Kelly, I love you and you are my best friend. Thank you for always being there for me and never judging me through all of my mistakes and bad choices! You are the best!

This is Kelly and I deep in a Just Dance battle on the Wii...she won! I think she cheated or my remote was broke! haha!

Day 5

Day 5- Something you definitely could live without

Something that I can definitely live without is seeing my children sick or in pain. I hate when there is nothing I can do for them to make them feel better. My children mean the world to me and when they are hurt or sick it makes me so sad. The world would be so much happier without pain or sickness!

Aren't they just adorable? Who would want to see these babies sick? Not me!

I could also live without bugs! Bugs just freak me out. Birds do too for that matter! At the zoo in Lansing there is this huge (not really but to me HUGE) Kookaburra. I took my daughter into that building and when we got to that bird it moved and I screamed! ha ha! Everyone looked at me like who is this grown adult screaming! I was so embarrassed, but that this is freaky looking!

See what I mean!

Day 4

Day 4- Something or someone you can't live without, because you tried

The person that I can't live without is my husband. We have been together for 10 years this year and married for 5 in September. When we were together for about 2 years we went through a rough patch and broke up. The whole time we were apart I cried and cried. I just wanted to be with him. We didn't stay apart for long because we both can't be away from each other. I know it's pretty cliche for me to write this about my husband but being without him for that short amount of time just solidified in my mind that we were meant to be together and I can not live without him.

Me and my hubby...October 2009 (I know it's old...but not that we have kids we never get our picture taken togther!)

The something that I can't live without because I have tried is my Coca-Cola! haha! I am addicted. In my defense, it is like my morning coffee. I need my Coke to function. I gave it up for Lent once and it was a long 40 days! I LOVE MY COKE!

Day 3

Day 3- A photo of something you ate today. Was it worth the calories?

This is tortilla crusted Tilapia, Spanish Rice and steamed broccoli

This was totally worth the calories! The rice was awesome!

These crab cakes came out later than the rest of the food. These were not worth the calories. The one on the left is a cajun spiced one and that was good but the other two were bland. I only had half the cajun one and a bite of the plain one.

Day 2

Day 2- Something you really don't like about yourself.

I don't like that I have no self control with food and that weight and food issues with be a battle I live with all my life. I wish I could just eat right and be active but I have no self control and I am such an emotional eater. If I am bored I eat, if I am sad I eat, if I am happy I eat...see what I mean! I am working to get this under control because I want to be a healthy mom who can run around with her kids and not sit and watch my family play.

Day 1

Day 1- A picture of you and something you like about yourself

Ok, something I like about myself? I think that I am a good mom and I really like that about myself. I try my hardest to do what is best for my kids and make sure they are happy. I like to think I am raising happy, healthy and polite kids. It makes me happy when we are out in public and someone comments on how well behaved Sydney is. The other day we were at the store and she said, "Excuse us!" to some people and a woman commented on how cute and polite that was. Then she found me later and said it again. That just made me burst with pride!

Some things to remember, a few to forget.

Spring clean your soul with the Happy Life Blog

March 14-April 13

Day 1- A picture of you and something you like about yourself

Day 2- Something you really don't like about yourself

Day 3- A photo of something you ate today. Was it worth the calories?

Day 4- Something or someone you can't live without, because you've tried

Day 5- Something you definitely could live without

Day 6- Tell us about your best friend when you were 16, and where you two stand today

Day 7- Tell us about your wedding or your dream wedding

Day 8- The best advice you've ever received

Day 9- A photo of your last significant purchase. Did it satisfy a need or a want?

Day 10- What is your favorite way to pamper yourself?

Day 11- The greatest vacation or trip you've ever had.

Day 12- A photograph of the town you grew up in. What did you love/hate about it?

Day 13- Where are you spiritually? In a valley or on a mountain?

Day 14- If you had unlimited resources, what would your life look like? (Have fun with this one!)

Day 15- Something you don't leave the house without. Why?

Day 16- What do you miss most about your childhood?

Day 17- Something you crave a lot.

Day 18- What is something you wish you could change about yourself?

Day 19- What is something you hope never changes about yourself?

Day 20- The meaning behind your blog name.

Day 21- A photo of something that consistently makes you happy.

Day 22- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently

Day 23- Tell us something you think no one really knows about you.

Day 24- A photo of something that means a lot to you.

Day 25- Someone who impacts your life regularly

Day 26- How have you changed in the past two years?

Day 27- What is something you need to forgive yourself for?

Day 28- What is something you need to stop blaming yourself for?

Day 29- Something you could never get tired of doing?

Day 30- A photo of you today, and 3 good things that have happened during this blog challenge.

One Year Anniversary!

Well folks, I have made it one year! I just happened to think that my year anniversary would be coming up soon. I looked at my blog and sure as shooting it's today! I have also almost neared 50 posts. For me that is a lot because there are many times I don't have anything to post. So in honor of this post lets take a look back to where I was a year ago and what has changed!

Sydney 1 year ago...March 2010

Sydney today...March 2011

Mason 1 year ago...haha 38 weeks prego

Mason today...March 2011

My how things have changed! This past year has been one of the best of my life if not THE best. I am so happy with my two babies and my wonderful husband. Mason will be one soon, which I am in total denial of, and Sydney is becoming such a little lady! Stay tuned for the what this next year will bring!

11 months!

Well, another month has come and gone. Mason is now 11 months old. Not much has changed from last month. He has gotten a couple more teeth...he is up to 7 now. I am working on getting him on more "real" food. It's hard because he didn't have teeth for a long time and then he got them all at once. But, we are working on it! He is cruising the furniture like a champ! He can also stand without holding on for quite a long time, but no steps taken yet. He will stand up and then when you call for him he drops down and crawls. I am ok with that, keeps him my baby for a little while longer. We are still working on getting him used to a sippy cup. I haven't really found one that he really likes but we have a couple he does ok with. We are just giving him water in them for now and he drinks it well. He still nurses 3 times a day and sometimes just 2.

His schedule goes a little something like this
Between 7 and 8 - wake up and nurse
1/2 to an hour later - one tub of fruit/cereal mixed with oatmeal
10 am - nap
12 - lunch 1 to 2 tubs of baby food
Between 3 and 4 - that second nursing happens around here if it happens at all
5:30 or 6 - dinner 1 to 2 tubs of baby food
8 - nurses and then bed

Pretty standard stuff. I worry he doesn't drink enough or eat enough but he seems happy and he is growing well so I guess that's just me being a mom!

He is talking a lot but isn't saying much! He says, mama, dada, baba and sometimes I think he says Lola (but it sounds kind of like Oooa). He is still my smiley man!

This month marked his first real sickness. He has strep. The antibiotic is causing him to have a wicked diaper rash but he is handling is quite well. I didn't even really know he was sick. Syd and I were sick so I had him checked too, and low and behold he had strep too. You would never know, he was acting totally normal.

Mason also got to go to his first water park this month. He wasn't much for the water. It took him quite a while to warm up to being in the water. He stayed in a splashed for a long time but then he wouldn't get back in once he was out. But he enjoyed watching all the other people around him.

Mason is also quite the dancer! He loves when we play Just Dance on the Wii. He jumps and bounces and moves right along with us. You can tell when it's a song he likes because man he gets moving!

All in all, a good month for Mason. We are not gearing up for his first birthday, which I am in total denial of. I have to get my butt in gear and get stuff bought and get going on his presents. I am so not ready for this!