Pinterest Worthy Wall Collage?

A few weeks ago my mom took the older kids so I had 3 days without Marissa and Dylan.  I took full advantage of my time with just Leila. We did lots of cuddling, napping and we happened to be pretty productive, too! My main goal was to get Leila's birth announcements ordered and create a wall collage of all 3 of my babies. I am pretty happy with how it turned out. I have an iris for Marissa and a rose for Leila. All that is missing is a porcelain shoe for Leila with her birth information on it. I happen to think this is pinterest worthy, so I'm adding it to my pins in hopes of inspiring someone else to get those baby photos off of your hard drive and onto a wall in your house!

4 of 12

We're on day 4 of 14...it feels like an eternity.  Okay, not really but I seriously can't wait for my husband to be home.

The day after Danny left, we got a small snow storm so I ended up staying home on a day that I normally work.  I had to take my truck to the shop because the front axle was leaking.  Then I found out that I will likely be on furlough come next week.  Of course everything has to go wrong when he isn't here.

So the babies and I have spent a lot of time these past few days in our PJ's...snacking...and staying inside where it's warm.  We're finally seeing some winter weather and winter temperatures.  Hello 14 degree low!

Dylan was snacking on a chocolate covered pretzel.  He had it everywhere!

And this little guy has been pushing the shopping cart all around the house.  Today he took THREE WHOLE STEPS all by himself!  I was so proud and excited for him!  I'm just sorry that Danny missed it. 

Every morning Marissa wakes up and says "I go jump on Daddy."  It breaks my heart to tell her that Daddy isn't home.  She's actually doing really well with him being away, though.  Overall she has been well behaved and she has talked to Danny on the phone a few times.  

Every year my dad and his two brothers get together for their annual birthday luncheon.  They all have birthdays in either January or February so they like to get together and celebrate.  Two years ago we went to Ruby Tuesday's in Warrenton.  I drove Marissa and myself, got lost on the way thanks to GPS, was running low on gas and when we finally made it to the restaurant Marissa was cranky and didn't want to be there.  She was only about 6 months old at the time.  Last year we went to Applebee's a little closer to home so Danny and I brought both kids with us.  It took forever to get our food and again Marissa was not in the mood to sit in a high chair.  Basically, what I'm getting at is every year it is pretty much a disaster when we come.  Today, my dad invited us back to Ruby Tuesday's and on a whim I decided I would pack up the kids and drive an hour and fifteen minutes by myself to go to lunch, right in the middle of nap time.  I was prepared for it to be a disaster but much to my surprise the kids were angels and loved seeing Mimi, PupPup and Uncle Fuzz.  Marissa did make 5 trips to the bathroom in our 2 hour stay, but she was very well behaved so I didn't complain!  It was nice to get out of the house and break up the monotony of being home all day long.  

Don't tell Danny...tonight I hit up Danny's keg and am enjoying a well deserved ice cold, fresh, hoppy, something or other IPA.  This whole single parenting thing is serious business.  I'm so glad that I don't normally have to do it on my own.  I am so thankful that I have a soul mate, a best friend and a wonderful father for my children.  Counting down the days until February 5th!

My Sweet Boy is 1

We celebrated Dylan's first birthday with friends and family on Saturday.  We had a full house and he is so very loved.  Our circus themed party had chili dogs, a nacho bar, funfetti dip with animal crackers, peanuts, cupcakes, ice cream and other goodies.  I hope no one went home hungry.

Our little Ring Master

Sunday was Dylan's actual birthday.  I told him the story of stopping at McDonald's before we went to the hospital and his quick arrival into the world.  I can't believe how fast a year went by.  I thought time moved quickly after Marissa, but wow has it moved even faster with two!

He loves to point and points at everything now!

Opening presents with Daddy, love my boys!

Smash Cake & Cupcakes

**Dylan's 1**

He didn't dig into his cake like I was expecting him to.  He did enjoy a little icing and ice cream, though.

Sissa liked the icing, too!

Dylan isn't walking yet, but I'm in no rush for him to.  He gets around just fine by crawling and walking around furniture.  He is such a sweet guy and loves to snuggle.  He smiles whenever anyone looks at him and is just the happiest baby I've ever met.

He was our good luck cutie on Sunday, as the Redskins won and are now moving on to the play offs!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy!  We love you!

Christmas Photo Shoot

I attempted to get some pictures of the kids dressed up in their Christmas outfits.  It was mostly a fail but I did get a few that were Christmas card worthy. Well, they were Christmas card worthy for us...maybe not for others.  These two, along with a family photo were on our Christmas cards this year.

This was as close to a smile as we were going to get that day.

Dylan usually hams it up for the camera, but I guess he was feeling all serious in his man suit. 

And this is what a typical photo shoot at our house looks like...

Marissa looked so pretty in her dress.  She kept saying she was a Princess. 

Toddlers walking in the camera view...

They kept fighting over the chair, so I tried putting them in it together. Fail!

Mr. Lashes. He looked so handsome in his suit.

Attempting a photo shoot with Danny helping is hard enough so I'm not sure why I decided to try it by myself.  Oh wait, that's what two cups of coffee before lunch will do to me.  I get all hyped up and have these elaborate photo shoots in my head of gorgeous photos, kids that cooperate and the perfect Christmas card of our family.  Then I realize I haven't eaten, I start to get shaky, sweaty, feeling sick to my stomach and throw in the towel.  Live and learn.

A Good Time for Quilting

Yesterday we were preparing for Hurricane Sandy to hit the Eastern shore.  We were called off from work and were expecting high winds and lots of rain.  I decided it would be a good day to make Dylan's receiving blanket baby quilt.  I haven't gotten to use my sewing machine in months, so it was good to get back to it!

I kept with a very simple design, just like I did with Marissa's quilt.  I did a monogrammed applique and love how it turned out.  I love making these keepsake quilts with receiving blankets.  

Of course I had to add a satin binding to the edges. Danny says a blanket isn't a blanket unless it has a ribbon on it. ;)

Marissa sleeps with her quilt every night.  I am happy that it is well loved and used often.  I hope that the kids keep and cherish these blankets for a long time to come.  And I hope they know that they are made with love, not perfection.  

Sweet Boy

My sweet boy, you are growing up.  Today Daddy was watching the digital picture frame on the end table and he saw a picture of you as a "baby."   He had to take a double take because you have changed so much! You have such a sweet gummy smile, the bluest eyes and the longest lashes I've ever seen.  Your giggle is contagious and you are such a cuddle bug.  There are days when you want nothing more than your momma.  Sometimes when Daddy holds you, you will reach for me and when I prop you on my hip you lean your head in to my shoulder and look so content.  Those moments truly melt my heart.

You adore your big sister.  You follow her around the room and watch her intently.  Sometimes she is clumsy around you, like today when she tipped her tricycle on top of you.  You fussed for a minute but her "sowwy, Dee-Dee" made it all better.  I hope that you are always there for each other.

This is the face of a boy who adores his big sister.  I don't know what she was doing in this picture that was so amusing. 

Clapping together

You are moving all around the house with your army crawl.  Today you ventured into real solid foods, not just purees that I make you.  I steamed some sweet potato and cinnamon and you gobbled it up like a pro!  You have been delayed compared to your sister on the food front.  I have to remember that you are going to be different growing up.  You will grow and learn and do things at your own pace.  And that's okay.  Plus Daddy reminded me that you will one day eat us out of a house and home.

It was a beautiful fall day today.  It was on the warmer side, hence wearing just a onesie.  

You don't have any teeth yet but you are doing lots of drooling and chewing.  There will soon be a day when I miss your gummy smile.  I never posted your 9 month stats.  I was a little disappointed in the pediatrician's office that day.  I don't think their scale was accurate because I had just taken you to the doctor's the week before and according to their scales you lost over a pound in a week.  At any rate, they said you are in the 10th percentile for weight and height.  You've always been our "Chunk" so I don't see how that can be right. You're a healthy boy weighing in around 17 pounds.  You'll be catching up to your big sister soon!

We've officially hit the "45 minute intruder" mark.  You wake almost 45 minutes on the minute after we put you to bed.  We're working on sleep training and you are doing so great.  We will eventually have to take your beloved paci away.  It's the same paci you had when you left the hospital to come home with us.  While you currently only use it for naps and bedtime, our goal is to remove it completely by the time you are a year old.  A part of me thinks that is an unrealistic goal, but we'll see when the time comes.  If not, I guess you'll go to college with it.  I hope your girlfriend won't mind.

You are going to be my little heart breaker.  Sweet, sweet boy!

I have a hard time remembering when you weren't a part of our family.  Whether in my tummy or here with us now.  I always envisioned having a boy first, but my little family couldn't be more perfect.  You have shown us that love grows, not divides.  You have been such a joy that I am still crazy enough to think that I want you to be a big brother one day.  How is it possible that your own children can give you baby fever?!  I am so truly blessed to have you and your "Sissa" in my life.

Mommy and Daddy love you, sweet boy!

Army Crawl

I can't believe that Dylan is almost 9 months old.  He has become quite the army crawler and he is quick!  Marissa had a book on the floor yesterday and he scooted right over to it before she could even think to take it away from him.

Did you know that your second child grows faster than your first child?

It's a fact.

I look back on pictures of Marissa at 9 months old and it seems like it was just yesterday.  How is Dylan already cruising to 9 months?  I know that in 15 years I am going to look back on these days and they will feel like a blink of an eye.

Marissa has lost most of her "baby" look.  She's turning into a little girl.  A little girl that adores her daddy, a little girl with spunk and a little fire in her blood.  She can go from sweet to a raging lunatic in .5 seconds flat. She's at an age where words are not always her first choice of communication; kicking and screaming are often a first reaction when something isn't going her way.  But she's beautiful, inside and out.  She's our little girl that stole our hearts and made us into a family.

As Dylan approaches 9 months he is letting more and more of his little personality shine through.  I remember the early weeks with him when he would grunt and moan while falling asleep.  He wouldn't cry a lot, but the grunting soon became a normal noise for our house.  At first it drove me crazy, I couldn't sleep with all the grunting but soon enough it became a normalcy just like the click clack of the dogs pacing the halls.  Dylan is one of the happiest babies I've ever seen.  When he smiles, it goes all the way to his eyes.  I love seeing that gummy, toothless smile.  He is such a joy and I love waking up to see him smiling and clapping to see me.  The grunting still hasn't stopped, now instead of grunting himself to sleep he plays a game with Danny where they grunt at each other.  They are just like two old grumpy men!  He's a momma's boy and if he wants something he will let you know it.

I'm truly blessed to have not one, but two beautiful, healthy children.

 

DaDa: 2, MaMa: 0

It's official, Dylan's first word at 7 months and a few days, was DaDa!  Little stinker!  I was really hoping he would say MaMa first, since Marissa said DaDa first.  No such luck...but that's okay, he is still a Momma's boy!





DaDa - 2
MaMa - 0

Guess we'll have to have one more so I can get another chance. ;) 

Sweet Boy - 7 Months

This little guy sure has stolen my heart.  How can you not love this face?   

Sissa being sweet to Dee-Dee