tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29544584508060985952024-03-12T22:27:32.852-05:00Life with Ana, Maddie, & Mia......and a boy they call Daddy.lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.comBlogger216125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-72926613219111137872012-04-14T21:31:00.008-05:002012-04-15T00:33:51.438-05:00Dear Mia...Dear Mia,<br /><br />Was the last time I wrote here really when you were only 6 weeks old?? And now you're 6 MONTHS old?? I could apologize endlessly but the fact is, you and your sisters have made me one busy little mama. I guess it doesn't really matter though how long it's been, right? What matters is that I'm here now and I have sooo much to say to you.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpH1SddGzoJUmjkX91-h0a04wrB6K3kw481uKm-9xXwzzOLyqDnjohAukQgmlCQVqVTnyi8alQdI-mf5iJRjA4pEuYHF0yIo-Sh3DAcCnkLs60XQwxzvNl_1NC5LGgn8Dupio78i1zcs/s1600/DSC_4335.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 310px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpH1SddGzoJUmjkX91-h0a04wrB6K3kw481uKm-9xXwzzOLyqDnjohAukQgmlCQVqVTnyi8alQdI-mf5iJRjA4pEuYHF0yIo-Sh3DAcCnkLs60XQwxzvNl_1NC5LGgn8Dupio78i1zcs/s320/DSC_4335.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731483271490404034" border="0" /></a><br />Even though I'm just now writing this letter to you let me tell you that I've been writing it in my head for months. Every time you do something new and every morning I get you out of bed and you look like you've grown over night I try desperately to freeze those moments in my mind. I try to convince myself that I'll remember everything but that gets tougher and tougher every day. I hold you close, shut my eyes, and it's like we just met yesterday. But we didn't meet yesterday. We've had 6.5 beautiful months with you already. So in an effort to freeze time I want to tell you all about you in these last 6 months.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5M8nFM-4MealbOCqqvRGHKahnCk974C7wFPsgI1q9_laosCIRgxYtLUVnsEZkK67lkKYguLZPZbqgq7BI9ENsXntzDDFHb2noqGRPqnoejXCD7OV5qDchygWEBZ3u9-3wdqjU0KRstk/s1600/IMG_2657.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5M8nFM-4MealbOCqqvRGHKahnCk974C7wFPsgI1q9_laosCIRgxYtLUVnsEZkK67lkKYguLZPZbqgq7BI9ENsXntzDDFHb2noqGRPqnoejXCD7OV5qDchygWEBZ3u9-3wdqjU0KRstk/s320/IMG_2657.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731485777448678658" border="0" /></a><br />You are incredibly sweet. And I mean <span style="font-style: italic;">incredibly sweet.</span> When your sisters were babies I found that each of them could be summed up almost completely in a word. Ana was an "angel". She slept, ate, behaved like an angel. Maddie was utterly "happy". She made me and everyone around her incredibly happy. And you, my sweet sweet girl, are just that - incredibly "sweet". You can be so quiet but are always paying attention. You smile at everyone that has the pleasure of looking your way. And that smile, oh that smile, it will turn even the grumpiest person into a pile of giddy mush. Sometimes you smile with your entire body - arms go up, legs kick out, and you're big ol' eyes get so squinty they almost close. And sometimes, which are Mommy's favorites, you give just the faintest little smirk that makes you appear so much older than your 6 little months.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcExY6SvbfBZ3M0pMgYDdw_b2TLLuhH0HTqmF12lGXY0A9omvQEODb7hlR8d3QNI1qGEjBWW6qk3vjnfPrQkr6_9VPLXMe02PUSinQEWAL9YiCipLGga3M-P5QDXyGvqFHQ3SiDj8d6Mo/s1600/IMG_1110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcExY6SvbfBZ3M0pMgYDdw_b2TLLuhH0HTqmF12lGXY0A9omvQEODb7hlR8d3QNI1qGEjBWW6qk3vjnfPrQkr6_9VPLXMe02PUSinQEWAL9YiCipLGga3M-P5QDXyGvqFHQ3SiDj8d6Mo/s320/IMG_1110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731483280760466738" border="0" /></a><br />And while you are certainly the sweetest, let me tell you, baby, that when you are unhappy about something - anything - you don't shy away from letting us know. In fact, I think you're convinced that you not only have to let us know there's something wrong but you must scream it at the top of your lungs. You can go from your sweet, calm little self to quite the demanding little girl in a matter of seconds. But even then your cuteness doesn't fade in the least bit. Because as quickly as you get upset it's never anything a simply hug and smooch can't just as quickly fix.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiervdlNWO8pGMRcTjwvqXJMvxhKhqxx6TTIyiGeY3Tx-BdOy062fXF5ulaEBFuj2WD5zwIcRITGCFIyubwCHF4x4IV8U0Tj70lrOZuMv6KYoOMY64478MaDsDNC5rK03lQCPMM-lWBXXw/s1600/IMG_2668.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiervdlNWO8pGMRcTjwvqXJMvxhKhqxx6TTIyiGeY3Tx-BdOy062fXF5ulaEBFuj2WD5zwIcRITGCFIyubwCHF4x4IV8U0Tj70lrOZuMv6KYoOMY64478MaDsDNC5rK03lQCPMM-lWBXXw/s320/IMG_2668.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731485796984665298" border="0" /></a><br />You've been my worst sleeper :). That said, any baby book would still put you in the "great sleeper" category for sure. Your sisters spoiled me by sleeping 12 hours through the night very early on and, though you were sleeping 7 hours straight by 3 months, it wasn't until 5 months that you gave me the 12 hours. With that you brought a patience to my heart that wasn't there before. We're a family of sleepers and going over 6 months without a solid 8 hours of sleep wore on me. But each night, as I would nurse you back to sleep after you inevitably woke up between 3 and 4, with heavy eyes and tired arms, I would sink into your rocking chair and just watch you. I would watch you nurse and then drift back to sleep. Most nights I would sit with you long after you were already asleep just to hold you and have it be just you and me (something we don't get much around here :).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglgsUvAjgrs9wBsK-T67avWZSVBwaZjSm6MpKuMM1h9fsBHoTzbu63sYML8jqN-LReGh5kSHrf1_9Vu6YiS3rXwgalnaIA8AnFQR2qy5_8U-RY_NphpBYQ4LZTiXpeoHbbnEu10N0HnQ/s1600/IMG_0726.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglgsUvAjgrs9wBsK-T67avWZSVBwaZjSm6MpKuMM1h9fsBHoTzbu63sYML8jqN-LReGh5kSHrf1_9Vu6YiS3rXwgalnaIA8AnFQR2qy5_8U-RY_NphpBYQ4LZTiXpeoHbbnEu10N0HnQ/s320/IMG_0726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731483276820870658" border="0" /></a><br />Speaking of...let's talk about your big sisters. They love to dance and sing and yell and run. And they LOVE to do all of that for you :). In fact, there is nothing those two little girls wouldn't do for a chance to see you smile at them. And smile you do! Maddie can crack you up like no one else. She dances and makes funny faces that you apparently find hi-larious. Pretty much anything Maddie does makes you laugh. You love to watch her and I swear I can see you taking mental notes on how to entertain. I have a feeling that the two of you are going to be putting on some pretty fun shows in the future and getting into your share of trouble together :).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GWTDms072iMMhSHPdny4cRMipu7q1pED3CnrvhyphenhyphengNLHs6c-OCMs6AamwA6PkGfzHs8oZPbiEWbV-8BF9P7onF_9n5cgHT32pEbnOApLvQMVPbamMddUpVPKD8d8F6_vJkgLjPCg3Vjk/s1600/IMG_1341.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GWTDms072iMMhSHPdny4cRMipu7q1pED3CnrvhyphenhyphengNLHs6c-OCMs6AamwA6PkGfzHs8oZPbiEWbV-8BF9P7onF_9n5cgHT32pEbnOApLvQMVPbamMddUpVPKD8d8F6_vJkgLjPCg3Vjk/s320/IMG_1341.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731485816286730802" border="0" /></a><br />And then there's Ana...oh Ana. You and her have already developed the sweetest little relationship. When she walks into a room you light up. You love to watch her and listen to her voice. Your relationship with her is the first one I really noticed. From very early on you were smitten with her. And vice versa all the way. She ADORES you, sweetpea. Like nobody's business. She calls you "our baby" because to her you're not her sister, you're her baby. She says things like "I feel like I've waited my whole life for this baby" and "Mia! You need to stop with all of this cuteness because I just cannot handle it!" Yeah, she's a pretty sweet and funny one.<br /><br />Now let's talk about what I don't want to forget and you're sure to want to know:<br /><ul><li>your first smile came on the day you turn 1 month</li><li>your first giggle happened just a couple weeks later as I was kissing your sweet chin</li><li>from your very first giggles you started getting the hiccups every time you laugh and I LOVE it! It is, hands down, one of the cutest things everrrrr!<br /></li><li>by 3 months you were sleeping 7 hrs at night</li><li>at 3 months you rolled all the way over</li><li>at 4 months you could find your pacifier in your crib and put it back in your mouth (something that doesn't "normally" happen until 8 months)</li></ul><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-0U-b6nIVryMnmplGVwvFdV2bgFd652Xo6nGV4n2YWL0sl7PE7QSMpdI0vC6hoS9yAxPpQ5_YmGiROvpbYr2vQ5_2mitqGMS3rgVpmoeKzbqxO8S-3VpW-vIEctEEtO0v5eERJYFhLY/s1600/IMG_1234.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-0U-b6nIVryMnmplGVwvFdV2bgFd652Xo6nGV4n2YWL0sl7PE7QSMpdI0vC6hoS9yAxPpQ5_YmGiROvpbYr2vQ5_2mitqGMS3rgVpmoeKzbqxO8S-3VpW-vIEctEEtO0v5eERJYFhLY/s320/IMG_1234.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731483299883401298" border="0" /></a></p><ul><li>at 4.5 months you started sitting up<br /></li><li>at 5 months you started sleeping 12 hours through the night<br /></li><li>just after you turned 5 months you reached for me for the first time {looooove}<br /></li><li>at 6 months you started giving me, and only me, hugs and big, open-mouthed kisses and I can't get enough of them!<br /></li><li>at 6.5 months (on Easter, actually!) you sat yourself up from laying down</li></ul><p>And today, at 6 months and 3 weeks you did the army crawl for the first time AND you said your first word.<br /></p><p>And your first word would be....</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Dada :)</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiyxVMOH4XU5t_UHyN0rERRJANjFSvgq-W1ZkeGQu4WK28gtZDNJVkHineMbrmAi_8w9zNmbjGVllGvd6HSNIIfGt_OMPhXpqz59wWMvWOjz82dT_HwrqlgaL7B11rdVi_N8QsnF4KVoM/s1600/IMG_2736.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiyxVMOH4XU5t_UHyN0rERRJANjFSvgq-W1ZkeGQu4WK28gtZDNJVkHineMbrmAi_8w9zNmbjGVllGvd6HSNIIfGt_OMPhXpqz59wWMvWOjz82dT_HwrqlgaL7B11rdVi_N8QsnF4KVoM/s320/IMG_2736.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731485803791948658" border="0" /></a></p><p>Oh that Dada of yours. He is kind. He is patient. He is so in love with his third little girl. You melt his heart with every smile and every cuddle you give him. And although you're more of a mama's girl than a daddy's, the moment you see him come home from work may very well be the happiest you look all day! Every single day you great him with an ear to ear toothless smile that's something for the books. And if he walks away those bright brown eyes will follow him wherever he goes. Even though he's not Mommy, he's found his own special way to calm you down when you get upset. If you fuss or cry he will sing "Miss Mia Mack" to you and it calms you down every.single.time. It's awesome. You have managed to steal away a heart that's been stolen 3 other times already. Oh yes, sweetpea, you're <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> good :).</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPuaMug2aU-UqrU4tVatkhV9SU3c-VjlmBJb3qyShgJjv5NroEiCsMS2IUgccjGsN_TaAN25xA69SlRrOvh0C73TJTza2Y5hEA5uMEevTweVEGHj8W97U82l8f0c9VRFabYRR44jUh9U/s1600/IMG_1365.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPuaMug2aU-UqrU4tVatkhV9SU3c-VjlmBJb3qyShgJjv5NroEiCsMS2IUgccjGsN_TaAN25xA69SlRrOvh0C73TJTza2Y5hEA5uMEevTweVEGHj8W97U82l8f0c9VRFabYRR44jUh9U/s320/IMG_1365.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731483284545074258" border="0" /></a></p><p>My sweet girl, of all my girls you are the most attached to mama. So long as you're in my arms, you rarely cry. If you are upset it usually takes little more than my attention to turn your little tears into a smile almost instantly. Even for Daddy, until recently if you were in his arms you were fine as long as you could see me :). I calm you down like nobody else and I'm the sole recipient of your hugs and kisses. How lucky am I that I get to be loved by another one of God's miracles? I couldn't possibly explain to you the blessing that you've been to me, sweetpea. I feel as though you are an extension of me and I of you. This attachment you have to me, it certainly isn't one-sided. You were 10 weeks old before I left the house without you (even only for a couple of hours) and 12 weeks before I could leave you even after you were already in bed for the night. When you cry it hurts me. If you're upset I can't calm down until you're happy. So much of this I know comes from the mama that your sisters have made me - one that's softer and loves like I didn't know was possible. But so much comes from you. You're a sensitive little soul and it's made me a different kind of mama. I don't worry about the "right thing to do" anymore and I don't have my nose glued in a book like I did when you're sisters were babies. My only concern is what's right for you. You teach me every day how to be more patient, more loving, and more present. How lucky I am to have you. How lucky our little family is to have had you for these last 6 beautiful months of your life.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtltrrwimfHbipr408g7oSzE-Ux89GiK7nEWRlhAtIZh3OuS1ty3ZNjfV9hiUujO4W0jx2EdmzIjkht32MPsRPSDjmsdTWFus9rj2H0l5gZJnSMwHwPqyoNg3FS_LT7GxQZGyfBbjQ4Hg/s1600/IMG_2627.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtltrrwimfHbipr408g7oSzE-Ux89GiK7nEWRlhAtIZh3OuS1ty3ZNjfV9hiUujO4W0jx2EdmzIjkht32MPsRPSDjmsdTWFus9rj2H0l5gZJnSMwHwPqyoNg3FS_LT7GxQZGyfBbjQ4Hg/s320/IMG_2627.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731485768722091522" border="0" /></a></p><p>We love you to the moon and back, sweet girl!</p><p>Love,</p><p>Mama xoxo<br /></p><p><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-50611516890899894032011-10-31T20:43:00.005-06:002011-10-31T21:42:11.698-06:003...part deux<div style="text-align: center;">Our sweet Mia Gabrielle<br /><br />Born on September 19th, 2011<br /><br />9 lbs 11 oz ~ 20 inches<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPipmeYwpgXeqbTlpFvb-hetSZXvNIrhhsfIUt7cRS40Zmog_vZ7voihBzF82ifyaAPQdb6R_GSpazxgwcoysk0dtS1LcNU8dtYB6xtWQFc0rdscaRGlCOJ-cN7rXFVUsgJa9UeLVeT4/s1600/Baby+Mia.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPipmeYwpgXeqbTlpFvb-hetSZXvNIrhhsfIUt7cRS40Zmog_vZ7voihBzF82ifyaAPQdb6R_GSpazxgwcoysk0dtS1LcNU8dtYB6xtWQFc0rdscaRGlCOJ-cN7rXFVUsgJa9UeLVeT4/s320/Baby+Mia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669863605269445010" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />And now there are 3 beautiful little girls in our house, in our lives, and in our hearts. And I could not be happier!<br /><br />She's 6 weeks today so clearly her birth didn't bring with it any kind of miraculous time management skills that would allow me to sit down and actually write on this blog within any kind of reasonable time period ;). Oh wellz...<br /><br />Our newest little sweetpea, like her sisters, was created with her own share of stubborness and ended up needing a bit of a nudge out of the warm and comfy home she had known for 9 months and into the warm and comfy arms of Mommy and Daddy.<br /><br />So at 40 weeks and 6 days I was induced. Throughout this entire pregnancy I had committed myself to having the natural birth I had wanted with each of my pregnancies. I was ready. I got informed. I was <span style="font-style: italic;">going to do it</span>. And truth be told, the doctor would've allowed me to wait it out another 4 days. But that was it. And this sweet baby refused to drop. At 40 weeks she wasn't even low enough to have my membranes stripped in the hopes of progressing things. I was 2-3 cm dilated for weeks but this little one refused to scoot down which was keeping my cervix from thinning out. So given the option to be induced just 4 days before the "deadline" and my out of control desire to meet the little caboose that would complete our family, I gave in - with conditions.<br /><br />Monday morning, September 19th the Mr. and I checked into the hospital. I was like a little girl on Christmas morning. So completely excited. Not nervous at all and 100% ready to meet this sweet baby. BUT I was still holding on to my dream of a natural birth. And so I requested that the doctor break my water in hopes of that getting things moving along. So he agreed - and said he would give me 2 hours. If nothing happened they would start Pitocin (argh!). When he went to break my water I was 3-4 cm and she was still so high that, for a moment, he almost couldn't reach my bag of waters! Sweetpea STILL hadn't dropped! But he did reach it. And so we waited. I could feel my contractions getting a bit more intense but they were completely manageable. When my (awesome) nurse came in to check on me I asked how my contractions looked and she said they were the same as when I had come in. No change! What the?? So at 10:30 on the dot in she came with the bag of pain..err, I mean Pitocin. I asked that she start it very slow so she infused it at only 2 drops an hour. Within minutes the contractions HIT. I won't lie - it was awful. They were on top of each other, leaving me little room to rest between them. They were strong, they were painful, and the were long. I hated it. There was nothing that felt natural about them. They were forced. They <span style="font-style: italic;">felt</span> forced. They took away from what I had wanted to experience and feel. The next two hours went like this...<br /><br />10:30 - Pitocin started. <br />11:15 - 5 to 6 cm. Anesthesiologist called.<br />11:40 - Epidural given.<br />11:55 - 8 to 9 cm. Dr. Josupait called.<br />12:25 - The tell me to push half way through a contraction (??? no idea I was about to start pushing. Anthony wasn't even standing next to me!)<br />12:31 pm - we have a beautiful baby GIRL!<br /><br />2 hours of active labor. 1.5 really tough hours, the rest not so bad (meds!). Was it what I wanted? Not at all. Do I regret any of it? Not even a moment. At the end of it all we got the only thing that really mattered - a beautiful, healthy baby girl that only God could've created put safely in our arms. At the end of the day I didn't care how she got here. All that mattered was that she was here and we were complete. And so in love.<br /><br />The last 6 weeks have been unreal. She's so beautiful and sweet and she smells so good! My life has been soooo good for so long time that I honestly had no clue that it could even get this much better. Her sisters are in love with her, her daddy is the most patient I've ever seen him, and I'm pretty sure it was a solid 4 weeks before I put her down, for what that's worth :).<br /><br />This life with 3 is amazing. And so completely how it was always meant to be.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJKKhTtzuFqt_DLK207hT075_Ui7EvJzMQOsAHZqAcVwgSS3x1Io85eNWqIs0-eHv7NuM0U4yAt9MJZBSmsqsua8nJXAbEAUd3J1ebNNwBtDwf8mD6dvI78WagUWaKu43o8FygFkUYdg/s1600/IMG_1351.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJKKhTtzuFqt_DLK207hT075_Ui7EvJzMQOsAHZqAcVwgSS3x1Io85eNWqIs0-eHv7NuM0U4yAt9MJZBSmsqsua8nJXAbEAUd3J1ebNNwBtDwf8mD6dvI78WagUWaKu43o8FygFkUYdg/s320/IMG_1351.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669863607563862930" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div>lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-2348866533753105462011-08-28T21:42:00.005-05:002011-08-28T22:18:57.739-05:003.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8HLrdOelB5Vp4jCVsUST77kmwQr0Q1JOx4ohe8z_2AJqK9VjJ6kXbww4BD74TsY6uRRlXJik7dnGixN9GE4IRx_Ne3NHhhZHwPulAwwXyRAb4Tz5LF4A7RowC3wr3fbLJuwplM4hZG4/s1600/_DSC0215.NEF.jpg">
<br /></a>In less than <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">3</span> weeks I'm due to be the mommy of <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">3</span>.
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<br />In less than <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">3</span> weeks I'm due to give birth to my <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">3</span><span style="font-style: italic;">rd</span> sweet baby.
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<br />In less than <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">3</span> weeks I will quite possibly have <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">3</span> girls (or my very 1st little boy).
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<br />I've been waiting well over <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">3</span> years for this sweet baby.
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<br />I share a due date with 2 of my friends. All <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">3</span> of us are due on the same day. <span style="font-style: italic;"> Crazy</span>.
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<br />Last week I was supposed to have started my <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">3</span><span style="font-style: italic;">rd</span> semester of Nursing School but instead I'll be lucky enough to be spending that time at home with this little one.
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<br />It's hard for me to wrap my brain around it - around the idea that I'm so close to seeing this sweet baby's face and meeting the little one that gets the hiccups and break dances inside my belly. When I found out we were pregnant back in January I thought I'd document this entire pregnancy here. And then life happened. School and our business and the Mr. and our busy little girls and <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">3</span> solid months of not feeling so hot happened.
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<br />And now it's almost here. And I'm so excited I can barely stand it. Come one sweet baby #<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">3</span>, Mommy can't wait to meet you!
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8HLrdOelB5Vp4jCVsUST77kmwQr0Q1JOx4ohe8z_2AJqK9VjJ6kXbww4BD74TsY6uRRlXJik7dnGixN9GE4IRx_Ne3NHhhZHwPulAwwXyRAb4Tz5LF4A7RowC3wr3fbLJuwplM4hZG4/s1600/_DSC0215.NEF.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8HLrdOelB5Vp4jCVsUST77kmwQr0Q1JOx4ohe8z_2AJqK9VjJ6kXbww4BD74TsY6uRRlXJik7dnGixN9GE4IRx_Ne3NHhhZHwPulAwwXyRAb4Tz5LF4A7RowC3wr3fbLJuwplM4hZG4/s320/_DSC0215.NEF.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646109217907443618" border="0" /></a>
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<br />lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-77046521378748600172011-01-02T08:43:00.011-06:002011-01-02T22:06:58.962-06:00Farewell, 2010Omgosh it's been so long.<br /><br />I feel like it seems pointless to make myself any kind of promises or offer up any kind of apologies for not blogging more. I can't do it. I want to do it. But then I don't. And I'm pretty ok with that. I think. And then I come on here and realize I haven't put up a picture of my girls in FOREVER. And I'm not scrapbookin' on this end. And I'm not writin' in any baby/toddler/big girl books all of the hilarious/silly/outrageous things they say. And then it bugs me. And I tell myself I HAVE GOT to get on here more. So we'll see. No promises. No apologies. Just a hope that I'll do it.<br /><br />Good? Good.<br /><br />So now. On to my very first post of 2011 {holy crapola. 2011. when in the world did THAT happen?!?!}<br /><br />A couple year ago I did a recap of my year and, while I thought I had done it every year, apparently it's been a long time - like, over-a-year long time. So here goes - the very best of 2010!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;">January...<br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;">broug</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;">ht new friendships and a feeling of hope for the year. Going into our 2nd year with the new company, things looked promising.<br /><br /></span></span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOrwrRRwn9zQK_FmJL7lJRpAf1WlapVPtGYC_grmookbqa4IxGdJPL8mTqpT6EbZpcp_lDdp6uzZAWrE6vA2F_V2ga1LDdBwUF8dulQlqPenDB0Z5APqwUgva4b1L1-hasujaDWTRGSo/s1600/DSC03223.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOrwrRRwn9zQK_FmJL7lJRpAf1WlapVPtGYC_grmookbqa4IxGdJPL8mTqpT6EbZpcp_lDdp6uzZAWrE6vA2F_V2ga1LDdBwUF8dulQlqPenDB0Z5APqwUgva4b1L1-hasujaDWTRGSo/s320/DSC03223.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557604645151462434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">And we took the girls to Florida for the the first time. It was our first vacation as a family and, in a word, Disney World was...MAGICAL. No joke. They don't mess around. Everything is so well done and so incredibly whimsical and, well, magical. Totally deserves it's own post. Ahem...</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRP-E9obJ5XA-X75MfRSAAukGwM1_hcHg2AWV3Qh0p_cUt2fcXaVEXX_Ly2EZlFzAm7rpAK21NsY5kAq2Hr4mYuBZX9LbOVSMLrchgeJqFIfKYQM8SjCYNNvQlOUuXF-RHx896T1QPeSc/s1600/DSC04081.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRP-E9obJ5XA-X75MfRSAAukGwM1_hcHg2AWV3Qh0p_cUt2fcXaVEXX_Ly2EZlFzAm7rpAK21NsY5kAq2Hr4mYuBZX9LbOVSMLrchgeJqFIfKYQM8SjCYNNvQlOUuXF-RHx896T1QPeSc/s320/DSC04081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557799509403690722" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;">February...<br />came with one determined little toddler deciding to give up diapers! Can I get a hollerrr!!! Maddie did so well and she did it when she was ready {in true Maddie fashion}. We celebrated with, what else but a Potty Party :).<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLuH3sGPfmOGGeKqnN_SjI0KXFysKABIKH83fDDJWiUugrXTtwZhBZPdHzsQ3A1NFLZMqAID9Nnz1wfRrQb-YY0n_28fz_iMMFu1J6NgLxtYjhobfaH0j1JSQ3rsrQToxxgDSr7UwgTQ/s1600/DSC04325.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLuH3sGPfmOGGeKqnN_SjI0KXFysKABIKH83fDDJWiUugrXTtwZhBZPdHzsQ3A1NFLZMqAID9Nnz1wfRrQb-YY0n_28fz_iMMFu1J6NgLxtYjhobfaH0j1JSQ3rsrQToxxgDSr7UwgTQ/s320/DSC04325.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557604635380060514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;">March...<br />oh March. This was a big month for our family. After not getting accepted into the Nursing program last Fall, I got the news that I was accepted into this Fall's program. This is going to change our life. Oh yeah, I don't think I mentioned I decided to go to Nursing School last year ;)<br /><br />April...<br />aside from our everyday blessings, I can't think of a milestone. I guess it's the price I pay for not writing stuff down!<br /><br />May...<br />in May our sweet, and tough little Maddie turned 3. She wanted a race car party. Yes, my princess wanted a RACE CAR party. But of course, this princess decided on a PINK race car party. THAT I could do. And we did. And it was super fun! Super hot out but super fun.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyJ4IcWOqi7bY8rN6VBzfwBeAiU8AqiqL2p-0TAlsfIlIGIGLPmHsySsZud_8q3RYCNpdNYAA5K4D-PUyaRd_1ebnchlLtxh7hbHlb4PbCMWlaS9Ft7oKHlJBX-yc-Mg_L89zO7jvhmo/s1600/100_0342.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyJ4IcWOqi7bY8rN6VBzfwBeAiU8AqiqL2p-0TAlsfIlIGIGLPmHsySsZud_8q3RYCNpdNYAA5K4D-PUyaRd_1ebnchlLtxh7hbHlb4PbCMWlaS9Ft7oKHlJBX-yc-Mg_L89zO7jvhmo/s320/100_0342.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557799504261207666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This was the month that our big girl danced on the big stage for the first time. Ana was the cutest elegant elephant out there {totally unbiased, I swear!}. Tears, people. Tears and tears and tears! It was beautiful :)<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaHGpUFrLcrdxIljDAZO8kYW6SjTr_4lgWeCK9qLe5TOoZzZ5pZU0XbAMg9yNMTwQ1UOfHjXJ3tigiqgrLQK6_ORt5gvzD8C-XG84aqNtf2VnK9I7yKoJH9tfK5h2jy8xY-fm0NRvf1Y/s1600/100_0323.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaHGpUFrLcrdxIljDAZO8kYW6SjTr_4lgWeCK9qLe5TOoZzZ5pZU0XbAMg9yNMTwQ1UOfHjXJ3tigiqgrLQK6_ORt5gvzD8C-XG84aqNtf2VnK9I7yKoJH9tfK5h2jy8xY-fm0NRvf1Y/s320/100_0323.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557798091501121858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />June...<br />June...June...June...no idea. Please see "April" for explanation :).<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpHD8Ogp3Hcay_HhgkhXVkt4o6YjHtofgcv6soDQRaHbGnD5sSeScFFiF96w-u3ZafKTaOvnRaO1ZcbBir25YlLL_aT9XLJFrZdxJJFjlpckbRfWMx1jTKrxPQw_hd26EnGgQufO4U-g/s1600/DSC04136.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpHD8Ogp3Hcay_HhgkhXVkt4o6YjHtofgcv6soDQRaHbGnD5sSeScFFiF96w-u3ZafKTaOvnRaO1ZcbBir25YlLL_aT9XLJFrZdxJJFjlpckbRfWMx1jTKrxPQw_hd26EnGgQufO4U-g/s320/DSC04136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557604626135321858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />July...<br />well, July brought us the newest member of our family. Little Baby Eva was born on the 19th. Ana and Maddie were THRILLED to have a baby around! Little Eva made Maddie a big cousin for the first time and Ana has oh-so-affectionately dubbed her "Eva the Diva" :).<br /><br />July also brought me my first 5K. Yeppers! I ran a 5K! I've wondered in the past what exactly people got out of physical challenges and I tell ya, I get it. What a sense of accomplishment I got crossing that finish line! I ran the entire race without walking once and finished it in 32 minutes. Unfortunately, that was pretty much the last time I ran but am absolutely looking forward to my next!<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZTOOvh_Ep-m3Y_3il1onYtvNP72b1sXG2TWq9jCisGxyDd14jtdZKFOJmCXCI9JDAKE-Vr1UMTG9cdepI37TVnODV0cn4G-My8AM5xrEuEdVlfg1r3C7my-CfHK0y2xXlpR4DsH0Au4/s1600/image_server-3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 122px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZTOOvh_Ep-m3Y_3il1onYtvNP72b1sXG2TWq9jCisGxyDd14jtdZKFOJmCXCI9JDAKE-Vr1UMTG9cdepI37TVnODV0cn4G-My8AM5xrEuEdVlfg1r3C7my-CfHK0y2xXlpR4DsH0Au4/s320/image_server-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557794724982310722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />August...<br />August brought two very big changes. The first was the news that Dana was offered {and accepted} a job too many states away. I won't lie. I don't like not having her here. Even though she's been back twice already it's just different. But it's good for her. Really good, I think. And so this is how it'll be. Til August at least. Maybe longer. Hopefully not.<br /><br />And I started Nursing School. And leaving the girls with a sitter for the first time {outside of family}. They love it. Dropping them off on the last day of the semester wasn't any easier for me than the first was but there are no words to express how thankful I am for the situation we were handed. Their sitter, Aimee, is one of the kindest people I've ever met. She's so incredibly warm and patient and has taken my girls in like she's known them their entire life. The girls ADORE her, her hubby, their 3 kiddies, and even their big dog, Cherry. How blessed we are that God put them into our life. Dramatic as it may sound, I honestly don't think I could keep going to school if this situation were any different. Thank God for her. Thank God for answered prayers.<br /><br />September...<br />our very first baby turned 5. FIVE!!! When did that happen?! And she is every bit of it. Sassy and smart as can be. She keeps us on our toes, cracks us up, and turns me to mush with the love she offers so completely unconditionally. Her big 5th birthday bash was, per request, a red cowgirl party. The weather played a bunch of tricks on us but all in all she loved it!<br /><br />September also brought the start of a new school year for my sweet girls - Ana's 2nd year and my big girl Maddie's first. I was a mess. But filled with pride. They walked in, hand in hand, and took another step towards independence. An unbelievable mom moment for me, for sure, and one I'll never forget.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlv3mxs7p6yRJ1uw2NoM1826PqE9RViLoLw-gH9SGnj3Fi2iNU5L8nML4utux4Rkf20UEx_L-fpEDMfONUQKRJANvVrwTjSPOj_wMYTgGUW3ZhvyWZ4A_cNwNRRtWBSyHkRj4vRFdA6A/s1600/102_1809.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlv3mxs7p6yRJ1uw2NoM1826PqE9RViLoLw-gH9SGnj3Fi2iNU5L8nML4utux4Rkf20UEx_L-fpEDMfONUQKRJANvVrwTjSPOj_wMYTgGUW3ZhvyWZ4A_cNwNRRtWBSyHkRj4vRFdA6A/s320/102_1809.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557604651811519554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;">October...<br />and yet another baby was born. Sweet little Dorothy Patricia was born to my sweet friend Sharon. After a worrisome pregnancy, everything was great and that little girl was born as perfect as could be.<br /><br />November...<br />an amazing Thanksgiving full of blessings. So many times throughout the year I sit and wonder how we got so lucky - what we did to deserve the enormous blessings we've been given.<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnY1JGbp-t9fL6mig8_KcLJ5qQt7qLTAGScxsC17fJNx0nOFPWM08sIAIHsEG6pmCF7seQ1FkrubP4GKRTgU9MT8KsGQKuQcgQGZtbhBHpr1Q7mG2CAVficb0iWR2sEGLILZO9GBAJvbo/s1600/100_2439.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnY1JGbp-t9fL6mig8_KcLJ5qQt7qLTAGScxsC17fJNx0nOFPWM08sIAIHsEG6pmCF7seQ1FkrubP4GKRTgU9MT8KsGQKuQcgQGZtbhBHpr1Q7mG2CAVficb0iWR2sEGLILZO9GBAJvbo/s320/100_2439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557794737627541170" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXnVbL5FatJzHr9JJo_R1cQF8JI5GKm-X0nS5mRupWXRIbcLY7_HdZeQdb1mcLmgljJKYngGsmkVJON7XbQqJlt60ipj_xW9Ew1m5eG-Fgpji9uksD3DOAj5s5ZHfhhKsknHxxrw9c3s/s1600/100_2457.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXnVbL5FatJzHr9JJo_R1cQF8JI5GKm-X0nS5mRupWXRIbcLY7_HdZeQdb1mcLmgljJKYngGsmkVJON7XbQqJlt60ipj_xW9Ew1m5eG-Fgpji9uksD3DOAj5s5ZHfhhKsknHxxrw9c3s/s320/100_2457.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557794726791039090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;">December...<br />amazing. Amazing. A house fuller than ever and seeping with love. A Christmas that just keeps getting better and better each year with these beautiful girls and a revolving door of parties. I loved it. Every second of it. I love that the girls love having our friends and family over. And I love that our friends and family want to be here. Blessed? Sometimes I feel like that's not even a big enough word anymore.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauHx2biktycJuWCA0OWyspUifADz8INCG-_PhOLfPqSXAndawtt0J_u6PMk_efaVPL0QzunHUPNxHmpRKq-UxpENr4MktRag9A7j86ufuF9Jvk4sVwitWq8CVh3CYjRw4wZeb6QsRJhA/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauHx2biktycJuWCA0OWyspUifADz8INCG-_PhOLfPqSXAndawtt0J_u6PMk_efaVPL0QzunHUPNxHmpRKq-UxpENr4MktRag9A7j86ufuF9Jvk4sVwitWq8CVh3CYjRw4wZeb6QsRJhA/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557794721542876162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This year was incredible. I saw friend go through a lot of downs but fate never failed to pick them back up. I watched the girls go from being sisters to really becoming friends. I felt the sincerity of true friendship as my life adjusted to the challenges of going to school full-time. I felt our family get closer with the addition of sweet Eva. And I felt our little family of four stronger than ever.<br /><br />Thank you, 2010. For everything you've given us this year and the hope you're sending us into 2011 with. So incredibly thankful. And so incredibly looking forward to what 2011 will bring.<br /><br />Happy New Year!!!<br /><br />xoxo,<br />me :)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /></span></span></div><br /><br /></div>lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-60346614801585201902010-11-23T21:43:00.005-06:002010-11-23T22:49:29.119-06:00Once more..And I'm back! Two days in a row! Why? To win somethin'! I told ya...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVubWs6YAeZDJDUKQxuMEVC-GQ56-IQ4AbI2PfQtKLnOijeP9kfah4dviVYBNNF1vgAYfECjyhwdYgI6EahcNVRhFaU3sfgK9rcXxPAwquF6ne3mdL6HNSNLL03wGDtD3iKNxtDSPnS30/s1600/SILHOUETTE-22.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVubWs6YAeZDJDUKQxuMEVC-GQ56-IQ4AbI2PfQtKLnOijeP9kfah4dviVYBNNF1vgAYfECjyhwdYgI6EahcNVRhFaU3sfgK9rcXxPAwquF6ne3mdL6HNSNLL03wGDtD3iKNxtDSPnS30/s320/SILHOUETTE-22.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542957015556544130" /></a><br /><br />Yep, I can win one of these babies from <a href="http://shanty2chic.blogspot.com">here</a>! and <a href="http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2010/11/just-in-time-for-christmas-silhouette.html">here</a> and <a href="http://www.theidearoom.net/2010/11/giveaway.html">here</a> aaaand <a href="http://www.justagirlblog.com/2010/11/free-silhouette.html">here</a> :)lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-61782629869868242672010-11-22T19:18:00.003-06:002010-11-23T21:50:14.139-06:00Hmmm...What a bad blogger, I know. <br /><br />BUT offer me the chance to win something and that'll sure get me on here! <br /><br />Fingers crossed that this beauty become M.I.N.E!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9d-oQTSGa6kIInFtfZ6vZagfVVvkrhaJxY4ZCMgZ-AOlxTdAXMvnBupTqkP3rQjC1ER6BzAK1liERSgNTDORGKjD1F5myWIFKipyy2My9v4jrGSfoP0A1rFAIPIU4YbeC5MKGTnxCrQ/s1600/SILHOUETTE-22.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9d-oQTSGa6kIInFtfZ6vZagfVVvkrhaJxY4ZCMgZ-AOlxTdAXMvnBupTqkP3rQjC1ER6BzAK1liERSgNTDORGKjD1F5myWIFKipyy2My9v4jrGSfoP0A1rFAIPIU4YbeC5MKGTnxCrQ/s320/SILHOUETTE-22.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542549127320231314" /></a><br /><br />I could win one of these from <a href="http://karaspartyideas.blogspot.com/2010/11/another-silhouette-craft-cutter.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+KarasPartyIdeas+%28kara%27s+party+ideas%29&utm_content=Google+Reader">HERE</a> or even <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/11/silhouette-craft-cutter-giveaway.html">HERE</a>!!!lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-83042565694205419252010-09-10T09:26:00.004-05:002010-09-10T09:37:40.525-05:00Overwhelmed Much?Full school schedule<br />Full homework schedule <br />Girls' dance class<br />Girls' preschool 3 days a week <br />Junior Women's Club at church <br />Volunteer cook for Daybreak <br />Sunday School <br />My two little ladies <br />One husband that works too much to do much around the house <br />A house to clean <br />4 mouths to feed <br />Grocery shopping to do <br />Friends to keep in touch with <br />Family to visit with<br />A best friend to miss :(...<br /><br />What in the world have I gotten myself into...<br /><br />Tomorrow's another day but today...well, today I am wondering how I'll do it all.lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-64296611011143711012010-07-14T06:26:00.010-05:002010-07-14T07:13:02.205-05:00Summer!!!Ok, so Summer is half way through. Already! Can't believe it but every. single. person. says that every. single. year.<br /><br />I have to say, without a doubt, this has been one of the most fun, most eventful, best summers I can remember in a long time. Maybe it's the fact that the girls are at a great age where we can do a lot more together. Maybe it's the fact that I feel like I'm on a countdown 'til I start school full-time in August so I want to make the most of every moment I have with them without "real responsibility" or a "real schedule". Or maybe it's that they've become such cool little chicks that they have fun doing pretty much anything and are awesome to hang with. Either way, this summer has already rocked it for sure.<br /><br />Already we've.....gone to camp, swam, eaten outside almost everyday, and lost track of all the parties and bbq's and get-togethers. It's been good people. Goooood.<br /><br />At the first sign of warm weather, as I do every year, I made a list of the things I wanted to do with them, and everyone else, this summer. But, unlike most years, this year we're doing something different and actually crossing stuff off the list! Hollerrrrr! And so I totally meant to write that list down months ago just to keep us on track but, um, I totally didn't so I will now. Aaaand, just to make me happy, I'll even cross off the stuff we've done! Here goes...<br /><br />SUMMER 2010 LIST O' FUN<br /><ul><li>go to a baseball game</li><li>have a picnic</li><li><s>throw a 4th of July bash</s></li><li><s>throw a baby shower for our sweet little niece-to-be</s></li><li>go to Navy Pier</li><li>go to Millenium Park</li><li>hit the Sears Willis Tower</li><li><s>eat outside. A LOT.</s></li><li><s>have friends over</s></li><li>go to the water pads<br /></li><li>teach Ana how to read</li><li><s>buy a bigger pool and swim in it. A LOT.</s></li><li><s>go to the Bolingbrook Promenade. Eat outside. Go to the hippos.</s></li><li><s>go to the zoo</s></li><li>get to the Arboretum</li><li><s>see Toy Story 3</s></li><li>have a camping day</li><li><s>go to the beach</s></li><li>head up to Lake Geneva for the day</li><li>hit the Dells</li><li>maybe St Louis?</li><li><s>make smoothies</s><s></s></li><li>make popsicles</li><li>make ice cream</li><li>do a movie in the park</li><li><s>catch fireflies</s></li><li><s>go to Starved Rock</s></li><li><s>go wine tasting</s></li><li>make outdoor paint</li><li><s>go to camp</s><br /></li><li>movie night</li><li>game night</li><li><s>blow bubbles</s></li><li>shopping date at an outdoor mall</li><li>have a swim party</li><li>make lemonade</li><li><s>take swim lessons</s><br /></li><li><s>eat snow cones</s><br /></li><li>slumber party with cousins? (Haven't tried this quite yet so I'm not sure if they're ready)</li><li>Chicago overnight with the girls (my big girls!)</li><li>Plainfield pub crawl (again, with my big girls!)</li><li>Lake Geneva overnight with the hubsy</li></ul>It's long, right!? My list?? But I'm determined to make this the best summer yet! And so far it has been. But there's still a lot left on that list!<br /><br />I love it. I love summer. I love that I have these two little girls to spend it with. I love that I have such great friends to spend it with. I love it all.<br /><br />So here's to the rest of the summer being even better than the first half!!!lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-10264287865193041062010-07-13T06:15:00.003-05:002010-07-13T06:20:51.594-05:00DreamI had a dream last night.<br /><br />It woke me up [literally] smiling.<br /><br />Not sure that's ever happened before.<br /><br />This was the face in my dream.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIvddbPneY4QN31lcGi9c1oZ2ZtW94wxKgyjgt6U9AoLzQ6TGgCVcc_FlG26RX-LWQ4Jm5_IHQl_Jme3Uwxohpnbpy_uSzSo368b7GjG7_7y1Hjp9iOg5xtodmVJldIqt_YxJFLTa6bc/s1600/DSC03753.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIvddbPneY4QN31lcGi9c1oZ2ZtW94wxKgyjgt6U9AoLzQ6TGgCVcc_FlG26RX-LWQ4Jm5_IHQl_Jme3Uwxohpnbpy_uSzSo368b7GjG7_7y1Hjp9iOg5xtodmVJldIqt_YxJFLTa6bc/s320/DSC03753.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493348882074331842" border="0" /></a><br />It's gonna be a good day :).lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-61541131152288945372010-07-06T19:59:00.002-05:002010-07-06T20:02:40.390-05:00Happy 8 Year Anniversary, Babe!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl_ygS7GdTQ9XEJ5fWgitk762PINyCyAFIbo53iJO2dbuY-ZZ5_OIEaq0RgsF_xwnQPPDQVhliiYhZm6TdnPr16ZDphu2j4OmlflZPshHigmT1xMGhAA8u81wW-kFjQkVOyp13X8vgBo/s1600/All+thath+we+will+ever+need.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl_ygS7GdTQ9XEJ5fWgitk762PINyCyAFIbo53iJO2dbuY-ZZ5_OIEaq0RgsF_xwnQPPDQVhliiYhZm6TdnPr16ZDphu2j4OmlflZPshHigmT1xMGhAA8u81wW-kFjQkVOyp13X8vgBo/s320/All+thath+we+will+ever+need.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490962908720197426" border="0" /></a>I love you.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="file:///Users/massielullsmith/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" /><img src="file:///Users/massielullsmith/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot-1.png" alt="" />lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-7061868258573078832010-06-27T19:44:00.004-05:002010-06-27T20:00:30.274-05:00PerfectionIt's so easy to get wrapped up in the "wrong" and the "if onlys".<br /><br />I don't think I do very often but surely it happens.<br /><br />Funny though how much easier it is to look at all the rest, all of the "right". <br /><br />A husband that has adored me, a home we have created, a spunky 3 year old and an ahead of her years 4 year old. A husband that thanks me for the life I've given him. A 3 year old that dances around singing "I LOVE being a princess" and a 4 year old that has said to me that she's the happiest girl ever.<br /><br />A sink full of dirty dishes that tell me we have eaten. A messy playroom that tells the stories of two brown-eyed little girls. A car that's beginning to rust from all the trips it's taken. And a face that's beginning to wrinkle so deeply around the mouth from all of the smiles it has shown.<br /><br />It's perfection.<br /><br />My perfection.<br /><br />And I don't ever want to look away.lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-35576965074816854882010-06-14T22:10:00.003-05:002010-06-14T22:13:49.146-05:00MaybeOh boy....I swear I think of writing here *almost* every. single. day.<br /><br />There's so much; so much new with the girls, the house, the life. <br /><br />And I thinking about maybe changing things up a bit.<br /><br />I don't know.<br /><br />I'd like to promise I'll be back soon but that surely secures my failure.<br /><br />So maybe I'll be back. Maybe not.<br /><br />And maybe in the time it took me to write this I could've written and actual post. <br /><br />Maybe.lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-63647206081355834802010-01-07T18:35:00.003-06:002010-01-07T18:38:25.134-06:00BlueI'm pretty sure I have the post-Holiday blues :(. Is there such a thing? If there isn't, I've just invented it. I have so much to write about - resolutions, 2009, my baby turning 4, going to Disney World for the first time with the girls! - but I have no motivation.<br /><br />I will though. I'll shake this thing. I've gotta.lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-25735115751725522632009-12-29T15:55:00.002-06:002009-12-29T15:57:09.388-06:00Really?!Oh my word. It's really been this long since I was here?! I feel a New Year's resolution coming oooonnnnn!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/396/CEBDFC67F859A71F05C685DBC4BD8E63.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a>lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-28547564326396713082009-11-13T17:43:00.008-06:002009-11-13T18:19:35.351-06:00ThankfulToday I am thankful for the big, squishy, attitude-y, stinkerella, funny, loveable, huggable character that is our Maddie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wR7v0r6gQ5Td7Eof28aQtFMZuvo5whSMShsLGtoZSahFK3yV4MtDiMWAE5T1W7aynXlTJKLELsLQcWK_VAPjbBbbF8lqN5tw9jXNIe46aW8CVfiLQg8nknFdBZVMRa6VEJijgwND3As/s1600-h/DSCN3320.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wR7v0r6gQ5Td7Eof28aQtFMZuvo5whSMShsLGtoZSahFK3yV4MtDiMWAE5T1W7aynXlTJKLELsLQcWK_VAPjbBbbF8lqN5tw9jXNIe46aW8CVfiLQg8nknFdBZVMRa6VEJijgwND3As/s320/DSCN3320.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403741907482971234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8cVy39Me68kSvRSvpBbYIjwxQWWpAhkmbcR_4Ecq0BQJjbjrcyCuxadr8qNeFwge1ULXr2gYenWKM9_-srIsCG4ptp27BJGV2zsnSaUag4xMHn1XECgRnByutoom_9U9nk2gWiUD0p4/s1600-h/DSCN4983.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8cVy39Me68kSvRSvpBbYIjwxQWWpAhkmbcR_4Ecq0BQJjbjrcyCuxadr8qNeFwge1ULXr2gYenWKM9_-srIsCG4ptp27BJGV2zsnSaUag4xMHn1XECgRnByutoom_9U9nk2gWiUD0p4/s320/DSCN4983.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403741897990958322" border="0" /></a>She's that little bit of spice that every life needs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FyRGg4XNOxt0n1g7yt1aU1yP9dKzo-7FaPOmzFlLfBvrDr7YM1xUPs-PKQcEdDCXnn0nyYo2pr8zVvym76nFWQs7gb-vRrIyaowAMGzBahFcO2Mux5P12QQpOQ8DJja1BlafQyrZ3Yw/s1600-h/DSCN6496.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FyRGg4XNOxt0n1g7yt1aU1yP9dKzo-7FaPOmzFlLfBvrDr7YM1xUPs-PKQcEdDCXnn0nyYo2pr8zVvym76nFWQs7gb-vRrIyaowAMGzBahFcO2Mux5P12QQpOQ8DJja1BlafQyrZ3Yw/s320/DSCN6496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403741913913361282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyj7gq98SfRsHXi2TGoGoR9KEByOwidEwKHq3DbU_cjPdYT0CnMDKLMH2TbcRsb5jMIIL96sks5H6b3-baAk8_nwWkQFtlAu7DXm5NBfoDzhe_K1ItK50zLweNIBBc-ZDFrU8ze4SWSQ0/s1600-h/DSC00329.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyj7gq98SfRsHXi2TGoGoR9KEByOwidEwKHq3DbU_cjPdYT0CnMDKLMH2TbcRsb5jMIIL96sks5H6b3-baAk8_nwWkQFtlAu7DXm5NBfoDzhe_K1ItK50zLweNIBBc-ZDFrU8ze4SWSQ0/s320/DSC00329.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403741921122599874" border="0" /></a>She's that whole lot of attitude that keeps us in check.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbM6SZsxe0I7x1KJWaElcVmduvqMEOYYhjFwXZDWsNyuQjBpRFqIE6AsC7vrYeSYd0PtzDmtDZfuZa8rNj_iWMk-XxwFu6jCYEbjFunvmicU-FtHou6Vfh_dzJEz1ezO9utoX7E_7ucB8/s1600-h/DSC00415.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbM6SZsxe0I7x1KJWaElcVmduvqMEOYYhjFwXZDWsNyuQjBpRFqIE6AsC7vrYeSYd0PtzDmtDZfuZa8rNj_iWMk-XxwFu6jCYEbjFunvmicU-FtHou6Vfh_dzJEz1ezO9utoX7E_7ucB8/s320/DSC00415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403741930993037826" border="0" /></a><br />And she's the lovebug that can lift up our hearts without warning.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXVNkhIAml-Vmmi-MP3efotvgQ9YdXSuEaM7HrDzqfm9zTw-6AIH7K50VzVt5KcR6YiX2Wd6em-dp__55o_ajQCzZzntX0PmxCYsvwl_AmITNsmAhHb2li4tV2W8pbTnvmvHkb83ZgEY/s1600-h/DSC02877.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXVNkhIAml-Vmmi-MP3efotvgQ9YdXSuEaM7HrDzqfm9zTw-6AIH7K50VzVt5KcR6YiX2Wd6em-dp__55o_ajQCzZzntX0PmxCYsvwl_AmITNsmAhHb2li4tV2W8pbTnvmvHkb83ZgEY/s320/DSC02877.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403745358196111314" border="0" /></a>Not in a million years could I have ordered up a little girl so perfectly cut out for our little family.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHBQokLWHLwEUuneUSHlC4KG4PaX5G0LG9I0JB4NjQKR8trLq4q3DeLlDuccMJMlfoTxV4PsFwlHy52Ahhdp1CHC3CBE94vXv_Oo9JezznXbw4JUG_X-m1LpowsAqXtLuV3pn4jNFTeU/s1600-h/DSC02915.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHBQokLWHLwEUuneUSHlC4KG4PaX5G0LG9I0JB4NjQKR8trLq4q3DeLlDuccMJMlfoTxV4PsFwlHy52Ahhdp1CHC3CBE94vXv_Oo9JezznXbw4JUG_X-m1LpowsAqXtLuV3pn4jNFTeU/s320/DSC02915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403747169133762226" border="0" /></a>I promise you I thank God for her every single day.lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-79777194917486983142009-11-12T07:49:00.003-06:002009-11-12T07:53:58.594-06:00ThankfulOh. My. GOD. Almost 2 months since my last post!? Really?!?!? Wow. How did THAT happen? Hmmmmm....<br /><br />Oh well.<br /><br />I saw this little thang on Facebook that people are doing where they share something they're thankful for every day in November. I like it. I think I do it privately every day but I like the idea of writing it down and sharing it. Yes, November's almost halfway through but who cares. Maybe later I'll go back and do the days I've missed. But for today, I am grateful...<br /><br />That I have friends that miss me when I'm not around. I think it's a gift.lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-21343934215615801082009-09-16T08:19:00.001-05:002009-09-16T08:30:12.898-05:00Ana's Big Day, cont...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQ3C5kWXNxIlQI6enRykl9cfqgu3VZp0EhsxpdwBZqrORXVmy_gRd-hRUsuQutdP7wPfoYBZRxbygl79HCuv88Tcx7YC4_rdWn7MTUvGXnoxGsu64hCai49UPialcGvrJfJtL3SLWNUo/s1600-h/DSC02256.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQ3C5kWXNxIlQI6enRykl9cfqgu3VZp0EhsxpdwBZqrORXVmy_gRd-hRUsuQutdP7wPfoYBZRxbygl79HCuv88Tcx7YC4_rdWn7MTUvGXnoxGsu64hCai49UPialcGvrJfJtL3SLWNUo/s320/DSC02256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382055119664040610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDM01QQfdI3Vt2C_jcAhbRQWKhFx09bs8a29zH_AWhwtmvdDhSkZGqop6zDDHiElNjILek3-Kh3BDfepNMxsDojVySJKF2SfHW-Hpdm1F7NI0zTGMIstbSYjLa02ds2b0Fllx4zwvJug/s1600-h/DSC02255.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDM01QQfdI3Vt2C_jcAhbRQWKhFx09bs8a29zH_AWhwtmvdDhSkZGqop6zDDHiElNjILek3-Kh3BDfepNMxsDojVySJKF2SfHW-Hpdm1F7NI0zTGMIstbSYjLa02ds2b0Fllx4zwvJug/s320/DSC02255.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382055111682038450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_l85ZPheXWqWEmola8N059BzKa4XwhrjqzY7V4e6MfrDUYldoA4B7W60qDW49RAfu2TFJqB76V1KtMPFil578Ox8ZZgd01tR38wRyOWRKZl0jRFEgodxWLCQMQFkzF14wAzfNto2znM/s1600-h/DSC02253.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_l85ZPheXWqWEmola8N059BzKa4XwhrjqzY7V4e6MfrDUYldoA4B7W60qDW49RAfu2TFJqB76V1KtMPFil578Ox8ZZgd01tR38wRyOWRKZl0jRFEgodxWLCQMQFkzF14wAzfNto2znM/s320/DSC02253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382055098798448194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVzsjpHN0Xp2siGojozsGJvyVMcW3QMbisULjGCWTSAJijhO1CgFuiiK2J2XAa3q-XVLuh8lQlxTVwbHHkoNKGSIlUxNZLTeYHG3lxlgDZxvgadEwdST3LiHjPWp-q-zbjK12FaW-Uds/s1600-h/DSC02243.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVzsjpHN0Xp2siGojozsGJvyVMcW3QMbisULjGCWTSAJijhO1CgFuiiK2J2XAa3q-XVLuh8lQlxTVwbHHkoNKGSIlUxNZLTeYHG3lxlgDZxvgadEwdST3LiHjPWp-q-zbjK12FaW-Uds/s320/DSC02243.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382055087961966530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlLn-VvrrMuL4pv-VIFxs6dTDfEIxmeCS90T4FzRuL28jNb0wDFpIreR7wlkNAHCEpmMm19yDoXsLTJiyq0V33YIiaHil2l2n2SkZk6wlIzHmaNWLSftSYgbnqo3SI8SzB3cSGtDORfk/s1600-h/DSC02242.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlLn-VvrrMuL4pv-VIFxs6dTDfEIxmeCS90T4FzRuL28jNb0wDFpIreR7wlkNAHCEpmMm19yDoXsLTJiyq0V33YIiaHil2l2n2SkZk6wlIzHmaNWLSftSYgbnqo3SI8SzB3cSGtDORfk/s320/DSC02242.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382055079676487954" border="0" /></a>lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-76668259657351915112009-09-15T22:25:00.002-05:002009-09-15T22:40:25.752-05:00Ana's 1st Day of Pre-School!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Our super big baby girl, so happy to finally go to school...<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiWinTz59x9jY2J3xDmaO1J3poLiP9Zae7Ua_LSzYFxNXt1VhXYhY4Dj2DFJctOVv39eAt72oUQYC5Q2uMnJyOQHV44ooyMnPnttZdfkfiPSljzG6aGuxQRRI6jlqTbK2Eo58z2VN11U/s1600-h/DSC02238.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiWinTz59x9jY2J3xDmaO1J3poLiP9Zae7Ua_LSzYFxNXt1VhXYhY4Dj2DFJctOVv39eAt72oUQYC5Q2uMnJyOQHV44ooyMnPnttZdfkfiPSljzG6aGuxQRRI6jlqTbK2Eo58z2VN11U/s320/DSC02238.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381902533733121378" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Yep, I let her get a character backpack. And so the relinquishing of control begins...<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7etKifVud5Q8DrVkpeUEaVusWSTp1eoigkYt-aHSGWzd4hbr79DS3-dRgvA-H_LuB2kezoMugl4Rn2ZTw4LhO8lbjfWCMX02QENkURd7HIXR16y4tFR36evPX5XESQvIo_LMVQNuHfk/s1600-h/DSC02234.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7etKifVud5Q8DrVkpeUEaVusWSTp1eoigkYt-aHSGWzd4hbr79DS3-dRgvA-H_LuB2kezoMugl4Rn2ZTw4LhO8lbjfWCMX02QENkURd7HIXR16y4tFR36evPX5XESQvIo_LMVQNuHfk/s320/DSC02234.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381902523312532786" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My baby girls...<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWttE4G7oZXxry8HQFHH0BImaTBFzL-ezzIIxjaHzflOiRaUcVXrRlq9N0MxIgA5XQyQ21ghTjl31Qbb2nZOSnnufIGT8-5rR2tewbL3lWJjBd5mheoKZaEGPzTjH64NrM0L2Ys0ex6I/s1600-h/DSC02246.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWttE4G7oZXxry8HQFHH0BImaTBFzL-ezzIIxjaHzflOiRaUcVXrRlq9N0MxIgA5XQyQ21ghTjl31Qbb2nZOSnnufIGT8-5rR2tewbL3lWJjBd5mheoKZaEGPzTjH64NrM0L2Ys0ex6I/s320/DSC02246.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381902548689184114" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Settling in all on her own...<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0xFmsvdJGoDazlAoB0GE-ta2pwLSKEYxC0MuZcI3Aiu9-2OoeR14OeSlAhnPUxjnvLEmxI0Qrh7gfV8G5u2HXBf8Ae2ePs58mdKF_xKAAGQ29qnT6r2JSrwspg3SR4WGQjdg1W8tsIA/s1600-h/DSC02264.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0xFmsvdJGoDazlAoB0GE-ta2pwLSKEYxC0MuZcI3Aiu9-2OoeR14OeSlAhnPUxjnvLEmxI0Qrh7gfV8G5u2HXBf8Ae2ePs58mdKF_xKAAGQ29qnT6r2JSrwspg3SR4WGQjdg1W8tsIA/s320/DSC02264.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381902558582003858" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And of course we can't forget the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">eco</span>-chic snack bag :)...<br /><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1C-xKbUBuJhPJDyhy_rHlg1FkjcX0QS1BhVO-h9Oiz_lmd_Fehdu3wBibQue4xbOcgoco8tTCs_4Rh5yl02-VrLsR7XmcvjeGw09OcjSgpsQM8iew8IwrrHDr_nXEDyTwvcyz5bKz6k/s1600-h/DSC02232.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1C-xKbUBuJhPJDyhy_rHlg1FkjcX0QS1BhVO-h9Oiz_lmd_Fehdu3wBibQue4xbOcgoco8tTCs_4Rh5yl02-VrLsR7XmcvjeGw09OcjSgpsQM8iew8IwrrHDr_nXEDyTwvcyz5bKz6k/s320/DSC02232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381902512434259602" border="0" /></a>She did amazingly well. Went right in like the independent little one that she is. Me? I lost it. Not until 5 minutes after Maddie and I left but I did. It wasn't pretty, people. I did the ugly cry. The noonecanunderstandmewhileI'mblubbering cry. Not my proudest moment but hey, I earned it.<br /><br />There was a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">bonafide</span> photo shoot <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">happenin</span>' here before we left so more pictures to come!lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-71230133704284418022009-08-19T21:05:00.002-05:002009-08-19T21:38:55.473-05:00ToughBeing a mom is tough.<br /><br />Being surrounded by fits and "no"s and "she hit me"s and "mine"s is tough.<br /><br />Being mistaken for a jungle gym and getting a finger in the eye or a foot to the cheek almost daily is tough.<br /><br />Having to keep your cool when your two little wonders decide that doing the exact opposite of what you tell them would be hilarious is tough.<br /><br />And hearing your two-year-old tell you to leave her alone for the first time is really, <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> tough.<br /><br />And then your 3-year-old writes her name all by herself for the first time.<br /><br />And your 2-year-old goes on the potty for the first time.<br /><br />And you get to lay in bed with your two little girls reading story after story while they hold hands and the 3-year-old rubs your head and whispers "I'm the happiest girl in the world, Mommy."<br /><br />Then it becomes a whole lot of easy and you wonder what you were ever complaining about.lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-91915321985182729112009-08-05T22:35:00.005-05:002009-08-05T23:01:11.946-05:00DIY Day - Our Kitchen Island!I've been busy! I know I keep promising updates but really, I really have been busy making this house of our a home we're beginning to totally *heart*. It's comin', it's comin'!<br /><br />BUT for now...here's a DIY for <a href="http://asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com/">DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land</a>!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com/"><img alt="DIY Day @ ASPTL" src="http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee349/GDest07/Kimba/kimbaDIY125.png" title="DIY Day @ ASPTL" border="0" /></a></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Before</span>...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelAA_R8LbcUZPoPFMs5k-B6nvtNM90Px-0skjBj3thu0zX1mLb8utR0ll56GTnwohWP1PSJ_cInhovjAgQ9fSD66RnZlsvGSBGYGXaq5B1J8HUfSUeIYuc6yTI4p-s_z0kQhrvtdYlLg/s1600-h/DSC00224.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelAA_R8LbcUZPoPFMs5k-B6nvtNM90Px-0skjBj3thu0zX1mLb8utR0ll56GTnwohWP1PSJ_cInhovjAgQ9fSD66RnZlsvGSBGYGXaq5B1J8HUfSUeIYuc6yTI4p-s_z0kQhrvtdYlLg/s320/DSC00224.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366691646081122530" border="0" /><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Italic" title="Italic" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 4);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Italic" class="gl_italic" border="0" /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></a><span style="font-style: italic;">After...</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7JT-POwxLhfO7HFSSrjOxyX1mhaxXfy5G7y-crjvFqJY5MH_STs7huIot6tISXK0kAw8YLtq28pYTyuOfEt2XBwPUslZf3qBCpNnehvhes3m8VsyK8RLNGbGRrdqb5ElZ1d46oZGix8/s1600-h/DSC01390.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7JT-POwxLhfO7HFSSrjOxyX1mhaxXfy5G7y-crjvFqJY5MH_STs7huIot6tISXK0kAw8YLtq28pYTyuOfEt2XBwPUslZf3qBCpNnehvhes3m8VsyK8RLNGbGRrdqb5ElZ1d46oZGix8/s320/DSC01390.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366691626321571026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rs-14mHG_AfAHe_cH5x6XvMm-x5_qT62UQtVPfNSjJB4B6n_hN60tRtNEugK6eVTEOnSB2jd5nKfNrD_JOsCHZlX1vL5XPlVfGsGzeUHc6yjOeBh07fBQQJNTaeVQ51Ca0Od7-Xkt3E/s1600-h/DSC01405.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rs-14mHG_AfAHe_cH5x6XvMm-x5_qT62UQtVPfNSjJB4B6n_hN60tRtNEugK6eVTEOnSB2jd5nKfNrD_JOsCHZlX1vL5XPlVfGsGzeUHc6yjOeBh07fBQQJNTaeVQ51Ca0Od7-Xkt3E/s320/DSC01405.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366691639182433922" border="0" /></a><br />I painted it red, added a butcher block top, some corbels (I think that's what those are called, right??), a hook for a towel, and some beadboard to go with the "new" cabinets.<br /><br />I bought the island from World Market for $120 because it was the last one (and the display). I bought the butcher block top from Ikea for $89. The paint was $8, and the corbels were $3 a piece. The beadboard was left over from the kitchen reno so the total for my new island.........$223. A little pricey for my frugal tastes but it's the PERFECT size for our kitchen and will serve it's purpose of housing some little cookie-bakin' hands well :).lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-20889277530775490652009-08-05T22:31:00.003-05:002009-08-05T22:35:07.222-05:00Chit Chattin' with Ana<span style="font-style: italic;">As I'm putting her to bed tonight Ana puts her sweet little hands on my face...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ana:</span> Oh Mommy, you're such a sweet girl to me. I think I'll keep you.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Heart. Melting. And then it continues...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ana: </span> Mommy, should we keep Daddy too?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mama:</span> I think so.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ana:</span> And Maddie? I think we'll keep her too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mama:</span> Ok, baby.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ana: </span> Mommy, are you going to keep me?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mama:</span> I'm going to keep you <span style="font-style: italic;">forever</span>.<br /><br />I LOVE this kid.lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-73989676719521424452009-08-05T22:27:00.002-05:002009-08-05T22:31:06.603-05:00Chit Chattin' with Ana<span style="font-style: italic;">RIGHT after having a snack...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ana: </span> Mommy, can I have a snack?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mama: </span> No. You just had one.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ana:</span> But I'm hungry. Can I please have another one?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mama: </span> No.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ana: </span> Whyyyyyyyyyy?????<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mama: </span> Because you can't just keep eating snacks all day long.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ana:</span> Why can't I eat snacks all day long?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mama:</span> Because if you eat constantly you'll get chubby.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ana:</span> But Mommy, I want to be chubby, just like you.<br /><br />Oh. Boy.lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-85256700433189897282009-07-23T07:56:00.005-05:002009-07-23T09:26:10.535-05:00Details, Details, Details!Oh my gosh! You guys like it! You really, really LIKE it!!! Ok, I'm not usually an all "bring on the compliments and keep 'em coming" kinda girl. But I worked so hard on this kitchen that I have to admit reading you comments has me giddy.<br /><br />Ok, enough about me :). On to the details! I know there are a lot of tutorials out there on painting cabinets (where do you think I learned!?) so I won't go into that...unless you want me to, then totally!<br /><br />To be honest, I used to H.A.T.E. white kitchens. Seriously. Whenever I saw white cabinets I would wonder if the people didn't have a choice. Then I took up reading decorating blogs and was <span style="font-style: italic;">bombarded</span> (you know what I'm talking about!) with images of white kitchens and I FELL IN LOVE. So every morning I'd come down stairs and cringe at my dark cabinets, cursing them for being so blah. I know it wasn't their fault. After all, I PICKED them just 2.5 short years ago. But it was time for change. So after a month of trying to convince the Mr. and showing him ENDLESS pictures of gorgeous white kitchens he finally gave the green light.<br /><br />First thing on the agenda, choose a paint color. I didn't want bright white so I went with Bear's Powdered Snow. Now that it's done I honestly think I could've stood to go even a little creamier but I'm happy.<br /><br />Then came the little details because it's ALL about the details.<br /><br />I put beadboard on the sides on the cabinets to make them look more finished.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_OuV-GF9abb7Tp3jwx7R8S9SApLY4AJTTUEJ9Vf94GI0WaYg9kyBYnI0ksssdvjE553bG01K4mootWjhK01PvcsV79Uy5VrIbQ1mTAPkJBbx6nZtl6QNoSD39Y27eyDymDueTKDLs9w/s1600-h/DSC01414.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_OuV-GF9abb7Tp3jwx7R8S9SApLY4AJTTUEJ9Vf94GI0WaYg9kyBYnI0ksssdvjE553bG01K4mootWjhK01PvcsV79Uy5VrIbQ1mTAPkJBbx6nZtl6QNoSD39Y27eyDymDueTKDLs9w/s320/DSC01414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361649708767283762" border="0" /></a>I thought it would add some architechtural intrest to add height to one of the cabinets. The one over the microwave seemed to make the most sense. And I was right. This is one of my favorite parts! No more straight line. It looks grander, if just a little, don't ya think?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBKvfY0XdyPYRa6OrBdadwOdLYENMF2Xkpj1NUWaN5X4jAuxxJ2pmpYu111C-lRAERm_GZfgax8wdBMGLv0NlXgN8OTFU-FJUTO835QgkA0Kuf-xsUwNA8PlJuHGB8G4I-fiMmNaGapg/s1600-h/DSC01396.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBKvfY0XdyPYRa6OrBdadwOdLYENMF2Xkpj1NUWaN5X4jAuxxJ2pmpYu111C-lRAERm_GZfgax8wdBMGLv0NlXgN8OTFU-FJUTO835QgkA0Kuf-xsUwNA8PlJuHGB8G4I-fiMmNaGapg/s320/DSC01396.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361645792201031202" border="0" /></a>Then we added the crown...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHFLmhmt_Ijep-PPWDbuXpK-IkcT2K-XEtCRLXYy1yO9LZcLwZ_UIf_HqtZZQzv9Lqba8ksM3z5TKjEGHU0281sOx43Yeexx96G6_0IT2voOBb-G4YPFd_WQLtK6LAe5WhZrd814195A/s1600-h/DSC01415.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHFLmhmt_Ijep-PPWDbuXpK-IkcT2K-XEtCRLXYy1yO9LZcLwZ_UIf_HqtZZQzv9Lqba8ksM3z5TKjEGHU0281sOx43Yeexx96G6_0IT2voOBb-G4YPFd_WQLtK6LAe5WhZrd814195A/s320/DSC01415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361649717376262226" border="0" /></a>My $25 Kohler sink and $100 super fabulous faucet...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8W2NKd2Vwuu8xQoZqRFJrBGKbZVGONtsoynIPlz3aZvuOrEcqWYdZt74dNrBIZ4JhnVaXxRm5NKukAFF8HH2dJ7Hz7FWkfo6NBCi1vqp0tQvoUNpH7vOcsP0mxCVv49VjtiEE9tcIbI/s1600-h/DSC01398.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8W2NKd2Vwuu8xQoZqRFJrBGKbZVGONtsoynIPlz3aZvuOrEcqWYdZt74dNrBIZ4JhnVaXxRm5NKukAFF8HH2dJ7Hz7FWkfo6NBCi1vqp0tQvoUNpH7vOcsP0mxCVv49VjtiEE9tcIbI/s320/DSC01398.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361645794962390690" border="0" /></a>My totally redone island (details of which I'm saving for a DIY partay!)...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrdP8u2bEtWH1jhNXqWQRi62TsVwUr2EZFjoXEAmyJM_-s8o8wMD-DRrQMI8w60YQpCUWuTigIC-8pA1pYM4MkiNotk48BzHRd3102gpqJxO7atmMKM1Xd2nKvKJD0ViIbEcPNzpAcfg/s1600-h/DSC01405.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrdP8u2bEtWH1jhNXqWQRi62TsVwUr2EZFjoXEAmyJM_-s8o8wMD-DRrQMI8w60YQpCUWuTigIC-8pA1pYM4MkiNotk48BzHRd3102gpqJxO7atmMKM1Xd2nKvKJD0ViIbEcPNzpAcfg/s320/DSC01405.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361645801811904994" border="0" /></a>Then there was the little detail of cutting out two of the door panels and replacing them with glass. This did force me to paint the inside of the cabinets which was kind of a drag but I threw some beadboard in there and whalla!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildqNOGFfmlvUeYOYRbZqhM3tEzP1Sn_ljXCIKgalWzcTtGBos2LHNDSYcnKq_uDg3ESk3VYEU_yso7NxBTDTG0QbYTud2LxGokVFESlvHk4DX36f9VYglRH1GgIZqNl_ucm6ej46uSsE/s1600-h/DSC01395.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildqNOGFfmlvUeYOYRbZqhM3tEzP1Sn_ljXCIKgalWzcTtGBos2LHNDSYcnKq_uDg3ESk3VYEU_yso7NxBTDTG0QbYTud2LxGokVFESlvHk4DX36f9VYglRH1GgIZqNl_ucm6ej46uSsE/s320/DSC01395.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361645780981149314" border="0" /></a><br />And mayhaps my very favorite detail...the little "feet" on the bottom of each cabinet. I painted the toe kicks a dark color to kinda "hide" them. I luuurve this!!! I don't know how I ever lived without these before. I feel like these little "feet" take the cabinets from "eh" to totally charming.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMPJPWxQIaeXAsSTG8aeVGGoqqMYGOmR4JIBf2KtVaLeCS6hao7DBbJ8N7-gvV_5O-jyNBSNmfDEzfKNwvUKIV_tVYa5dHcmZuQ8gKNa9VwLt_YcjdGPLsop86Ava6-_pZI8xSrAePt0/s1600-h/DSC01393.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMPJPWxQIaeXAsSTG8aeVGGoqqMYGOmR4JIBf2KtVaLeCS6hao7DBbJ8N7-gvV_5O-jyNBSNmfDEzfKNwvUKIV_tVYa5dHcmZuQ8gKNa9VwLt_YcjdGPLsop86Ava6-_pZI8xSrAePt0/s320/DSC01393.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361645773262873122" border="0" /></a>Thanks so much again for stopping by and leaving me those super awesome comments!!! They're totally encouraging and mean a TON.<br /><br />Next up, pics and details from my "brand new" living room!<br /><br />xoxolil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-88774701967722289252009-07-21T15:29:00.008-05:002009-07-27T21:22:52.797-05:00I *Heart* My Kitchen (NOW!)<img src="file:///Users/massielullsmith/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><center><a href="http://asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com/"><img alt="DIY Day @ ASPTL" title="DIY Day @ ASPTL" src="http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee349/GDest07/Kimba/kimbaDIY125.png" border="0" /></a></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">*Edited to include the <a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2009/07/welcome-to-28th-metamorphosis-monday.html">Metamorphosis Monday</a> button!</span><br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii164/Magnolias_Moonlight/butterfly-09-t-1.jpg" /></a></center><br /></div><br />Ok, so I know I owe this little 'ol blog quite a few updates. And they're coming. Soon. But I HAVE to jump this one straight to the top of that list.<br /><br />About two months ago, I found <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/">this girl</a>. She's awesome. I'm a little embarrassed to say I have a total blog crush. The day I found her blog I literally spent HOURS looking through the entire thing. I mean, clearly she has great taste. But it wasn't even just that that had me. It's the ridiculous fact that she does all of this stuff herself. Her. SELF! That night my brain started twirling with idea after idea for this little house of ours. All of the things I had always loved but thought I could never afford suddenly became possible.<br /><br />So I did it. I headed out and bought myself a miterbox and saw. Uh, helllllo, I had never even used a saw before. Ever. And what I did with it ended up being a living room I never thought I'd have. And yes, that would be the perfect opening for a post full of pictures of said living room. BUT after finishing said living room, I apparently earned some street cred from the man of the house and wouldn't ya know it he agreed to let me move on to the kitchen and paint our cabinets! Holler! I jumped right on that and, after psyching myself out a few times, with bated breath, I took the plunge.<br /><br />And here's what happened:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Before</span>...<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNa-dwQgEmTadEt2bLMjuYU5cKJ_Nl9VoynHnbMgegF0y_T6tcglXCU5prMMZr6yEb_I24f1vrS7RUAtIQApl9NpLjo0cZwas8Z0kZNLdd8cmhLVFTui0Z5DgvzO-bRHObHVyoEiEgcSc/s1600-h/DSC00853.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNa-dwQgEmTadEt2bLMjuYU5cKJ_Nl9VoynHnbMgegF0y_T6tcglXCU5prMMZr6yEb_I24f1vrS7RUAtIQApl9NpLjo0cZwas8Z0kZNLdd8cmhLVFTui0Z5DgvzO-bRHObHVyoEiEgcSc/s320/DSC00853.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361017887500771378" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">and After...</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWqOCq8zQPIg_QSmiLjh9D6DJg7vwH8BuAC-m3PDAWRqRg4pZNDQEnN46o58C_HgO1NVut1YU6FVA9KZwS5JmB-0xzyG9qkxKiKiQ1tmh8R4QNrMJyHY9H3t81m_HZFJzgkI516TBATA/s1600-h/DSC01387.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWqOCq8zQPIg_QSmiLjh9D6DJg7vwH8BuAC-m3PDAWRqRg4pZNDQEnN46o58C_HgO1NVut1YU6FVA9KZwS5JmB-0xzyG9qkxKiKiQ1tmh8R4QNrMJyHY9H3t81m_HZFJzgkI516TBATA/s320/DSC01387.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361017896429997922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84sR1J_tLZUxjo_8AoIrSvHN64Caf1f5WoL6AgdEFGOnn_DziemlJ3oHQIX82hJQqsaLwzpoGgOhzlMvZqew7AdXaFtwp6UCJacbcI56Lcpyr3u2WkupXkTMQHMnU4-DCn2n5IL3bfuo/s1600-h/DSC01388.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84sR1J_tLZUxjo_8AoIrSvHN64Caf1f5WoL6AgdEFGOnn_DziemlJ3oHQIX82hJQqsaLwzpoGgOhzlMvZqew7AdXaFtwp6UCJacbcI56Lcpyr3u2WkupXkTMQHMnU4-DCn2n5IL3bfuo/s320/DSC01388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361017901681526290" border="0" /></a>Details to come!!!lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954458450806098595.post-78481277423714201962009-07-19T21:57:00.000-05:002009-07-19T21:58:12.850-05:00Bad BloggerI am. But I'm coming back. Sooooonnnn......lil mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291793244879409345noreply@blogger.com1