Bleached Blond

My two blond babies have been enjoying getting even more blond out at the pool this year. (They take after their daddy with their coloring, obviously, as I'm a green-eyed brunette, and their blue-eyed blonds.) I'm really interested to see if I'll get a brown-headed/green-eyed baby this time around, since neither one of my kids have bothered to look a thing like me.

Despite their yellow-headedness, they do seem to at least share my love of summer. They both love being outside and think that coats and long pants are kin to strait jackets. (Although Merrick has been mentioning snow a bit lately, since I allowed him to watch a Thomas the Train episode involving the stuff. I told him not to use that language in the house. Kidding, kidding.)

This summer has been so busy so far, it seems that they get busier every year. This one has been full of weddings and photo shoots and doctors appointments, and then there was that moving thing. I'm determined to soak up some of it's golden light before it turns to autumn on us overnight. I want to treasure the time I have with these blond headed hooligans, before they are too busy with their friends to go to the pool with mom and eat cheez-its at the kiddie pool.

Plus next summer there will be another (very likely yellow haired/blue eyed as well) hooligan who will be starting us all over in the baby department and making our time even more busy (in a great way). I'm thinking that the 3:1 ratio at the pool might be a bit much for me, but at least that one won't be running yet. ;)

The first shot is my pick for The Paper Mama

Fruity

It's funny how with each baby I've craved totally different things. I mean totally different. With Merrick it was ice cream...every night or someone dies. With Tirzah it was random things, but specifically egg biscuits and chicken nuggets from McDonald's, and these deliciously odd golden oreo cakesters with strawberry creme in the middle. I can't find them anywhere anymore, probably because I ate them all during my last pregnancy.

With this baby it has been, oddly enough, fruit. I mean, aren't you supposed to crave weird or unhealthy things? I've been craving anything fruity, which is totally not me if you ask my husband. I hate fruity stuff, but apparently BabyB3 loves it. And I've totally quit even wanting coffee...which I started craving with Tirzah.

And by fruity I don't just necessarily mean only the healthy stuff. Lemon pie will do, and so will this cherry limeade stuff that I can't stop drinking. It's even better when you mix it with Sprite Zero. (See...more fruity-ness) I've been eating strawberries cut up with cool whip on them for dessert some nights. And the local yogurt place where you can put a random assortment of fruit on your fro-yo? They might throw me out, or just continue to take all my money.

I guess I should just be glad I am getting plenty of antioxidants, instead of the sodium I was probably ingesting with Tirzah and the McNuggets, and all those calories with Merrick and the 37 weeks worth of Moose Tracks I inhaled. (And yes, it HAD to be Moose Tracks.) Now excuse me, but Billy just got home from work at CFA with my Lemon Pie. ;)

Check out more shots at YouCapture

Not for the faint of heart...

Yesterday was Tizzy's 2 year check up at the doctor. Merrick has always been pretty paranoid of doctor's, but Tirzah kind of gives them the evil glare to let them know she up to their schemes, and knows exactly what they are going to do with that tongue depressor.


She handled this appointment really well, which is usually the case with her. Merrick, bless his hyperactive heart, was the more trouble of the two. That guy has so much energy that I'm thinking if I could figure out how to use it instead of oil, I'd solve the energy crisis. He tried so hard, but sitting still was really out of the question. And he successfully answered every question about his sister that the doctor tried to ask me before I could get a word out. But somehow the answer always ended up relating to Thomas the Train.

She has gained a couple of pounds and inches, and showed off her big mouth, I mean large vocabulary. She impressed her doctor with her sentences and that she knows some letters and can count a bit. The doctor we are seeing now is very safety conscious, which is the total opposite of the old school doctor we loved but retired. I think she's have an attack if she came to our house and saw the things that Tirzah manages to jump off of. Being these guys doctor is not for the faint of heart.

I'm glad she's growing well and healthy. I was thinking that the next check up she has (which they said will be at 2.5) I'll have an infant. I think I need to make sure and schedule that one on a day where I'll have some backup, unless I'm planning on checking myself into the doctor afterwards.

The second shot is for Sweet Shot, and the last shot is for Trendy Treehouse

Hostage Situation

I read a quote recently that seemed made for the relationship that Billy and Tizzy share. It said: The father of a daughter is nothing but a high-class hostage. When his daughter puts her arm over his shoulder and says, "Daddy, I need to ask you something," he is a pat of butter in a hot frying pan.  ~Garrison Keillor
 

Not all the time, but a lot of the time, he's a sucker for her dimpled chubby-cheeked self. Recently she talked him into something by simply sticking out her cute little lip and pouting. At the same time, though, he is really good about standing his ground with her when he needs to. I'm sure that will come in handy when some hoodlum shows up trying to take her out in 20 year. Ahem.

He is even volunteering to learn how to do hair so that if mommy is ever away he can fix Tizzy's hair. (She has recently taken to not allowing us to leave the house without ponytails. And it must be two ponytails, not one. I tried to do a quick one ponytail and she pretty much said "I'm not going out of the house looking like this".)

I love watching him be such a good daddy to both our kids, in such different ways. He's good at knowing just what they need to feel important and loved. Whether that be a wrestling match or ponytails, he's your hostage, I mean man.

Check our more shots at Paper Heart Camera

Pie and Playgrounds

Since we recently moved into a more populated area, (and by populated I mean people and not the chickens and various bugs we had before) the kids and I have been making the rounds to all the different playgrounds in our area. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the country, I just hated the bugs that came with our old house, and our neighbors chickens seemed to think the grass was greener right outside my back door.

We have a couple nights a week were Billy works until closing (which puts him home around 11:30pm) so I had been promising the kids we would go to the McDonald's (Merrick is convinced it's BickDonalds) 3 seconds from the house because the playground is, well, bigger than our house.

We loaded up on Chicken Nuggets and juice first. Mommy tried to do the healthy thing and order a salad for me and BabyB3, but apparently there was no salad to be had at this BickDonald's at the time. They offered me 2 apple pies instead. I'm no dietician, but for some reason you'd think they would notice that apple pie is about the farthest thing on their menu from the grilled chicken salad I had ordered. I should have bargained for a milkshake or something...since I'm not a huge apple pie fan.

The kids had fun playing outside, got all nice and sweaty and dirty, drank all my soda, and made some friends. I'd say all in all, aside from the said pie incident, it was a good trip. Merrick even came to me and said, "Mom, I'm tired. I'm ready to go home now." I think that by itself made it a good trip. I didn't have to drag anyone from the slide kicking and screaming.

Check out more Summertime shots at ThePaperMama

Bloom when you're planted...

I always love all the flowers in the spring. Summer is by far my favorite season, but it's a little harder to come by so many flowers when it's so hot. But recently I noticed these trees blooming. (My hubby informed me that they are Crepe Myrtles.) They seem pretty gutsy, blooming in the middle of the 90 degree July heat.

It made me think about how easy it is to bloom in nice weather, figuratively speaking. It's much harder to be at your best when it's not ideal circumstances, and when things just are not going as planned.

Unexpected bills, being sick with the most annoying cold ever (happening as we speak...go away already) people who always seem to be wanting something from you and just don't seem to get it (we all have at least one of those in our lives I'm sure) kids who will not stop fighting, etc.

This is life. This is the way it's going to be a lot of times. It doesn't rain sprinkles and most of the times the mail is gonna be bills. I think it's time I got used to it, not in a negative way, and started blooming in the heat. How would I appreciate the good, healthy times if I didn't skin my knees once in awhile? The July's of life could use a few more flowers, and I'm realizing it's up to me to notice them.

Check out more shots at YouCapture.

The last shot is for Theme Thursday & Texture Thursday.

Mine

There are few words these days that get under my skin quite like that one. "Mine!" Sometimes I am not sure they even know what they are fighting over. They've even gone so far as to fight over "My mommy! No...MY mommy!"

I would like to tell them how ridiculous this is, and that I have the scars to prove that I'm BOTH their mommy, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't phase them. So I just say "think of your sister/brother before yourself" and hope that eventually it'll sink in?

I know all kids argue. I remember wanting to punch my siblings probably daily. I mean, who gets under your skin quite like someone you share everything, right down to your mommy, with?

But I figure if we can survive these terrible 2's and 3's (...4's???) then I'll have gotten good and patient for when the terrible teens roll around. And I'm hoping by then they'll at least have decided to share their mommy.

The second shot is for Trendy Treehouse, the third is for Perceptive Perspectives, 

and the last is for Sweet Shot.

Phlegm and Projects

Last night, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. That was quickly followed by a sniffle and a cough that I did not see coming. The sigh of relief was because I had finally caught up on all the editing I had been doing recently, and the cough and sniffle were because I guess my hubby likes to share.

I know there will be more editing in the future, and I don't mind because I enjoy it, but I'm glad for the little bit of a break to work on projects around the house that I've been dying to do. And also attempt to get over this cold so I can stop that sniffling business. (Colds are not usually so bad right? But when you're preggo it's so not nice that you can hardly take any meds. I already can't sleep for bathroom breaks...and now throw in the coughing fits and I'm pulling all nighters before the infant gets here.)

I'm looking forward to this week, and the little bit more free time that I think I'll have. (But honestly I know that free time is kind of like a mirage. It tends to disappear when you get close to it.) Hope that everyone is having a great Monday so far, and gets to enjoy a bit of down time (without phlegm involved) too.

 

The Times that Make me Forget the Other Times

Everyone has "those moments" with their kids. If they say they don't I firmly believe they gave birth to aliens, or they're lying. Kids have a way of making you think you might just go insane.

But then again, they also have a way of making you wonder how on earth it was you could ever think such a thing about them. I mean, look at these innocent faces. "We would never do anything to make you think you were going to scream, mom."

They also have a way of reminding me that a little frustration is good for me. I think. I need that to help me learn patience, Lord help us all. ;) I do wish that the words "stop it", "no", and "if you do that one more time..." did not have to come out of my mouth so frequently, however.

But out of all the people in the world, there is no other two (soon to be three) kiddos who I'd rather have make me want to pull out my hair.

The last shot is my pick for The Paper Mama.

It IS a Mess

“It was chaos in color. His eyes tried unsuccessfully to find some order in this blatant disregard for certainty. Dazzling sprays of flowers were blasted through patches of randomly planted vegetables and herbs, vegetation the likes of which Mack had never seen. It was confusing, stunning, and incredibly beautiful.

"From above it’s a fractal…” Sarayu said over her shoulder. Every step Mack took changed whatever patterns he for an instant thought he had seen, and nothing was like it had been. “A fractal…something considered simple and orderly that is actually composed of repeated patterns no matter how magnified. A fractal is almost infinitely complex. I love fractals, so I put them everywhere.”

“Looks like a mess to me,” said Mack. “That IS exactly what this is—a mess. “But,” she looked back at Mack and beamed, “it’s still a fractal, too.”

This is one of my favorite parts from the book The Shack. I read it awhile ago, but still think about this often. It reminds me of myself, which I think is the point. I sometimes look like, and am, a mess. But God sees the order in my chaos, sees the beauty in my mess, and still says "Wow. I love you."

Check out more shots at You Capture 

The Tirzah Show

This past weekend, as you know, we celebrated Tirzah's second birthday. Well, we celebrated with cake, presents, and pizza...she celebrated by singing "happy birthday" to herself all day and cheesing for the camera as you can tell.

She really seemed to enjoy the attention (surprise, huh?) and definitely put on a show for anyone who was watching. The older she gets the more of a clown she seems to become. Her goofball behavior and flare for the dramatic (especially while in trouble) make it difficult to keep a straight face when she is in trouble.

We love watching her personality develop and, um, take over the house. ;) She brings so much laughter to the house, and we are looking forward to watching her grow this next year...if we can keep her from running away with the circus.


The second shot is for Trendy Treehouse, and the last shot is for Perceptive Perspectives and Sweet Shot

Soldier Boy

This past weekend we had a going-away party for my brother in law, along with Tirzah's second birthday party. He is leaving for boot camp in less than a week.

He and my sister have been married just over a year. We will all miss him while he's gone, and are not-so-secretly hoping they'll end up living somewhere nearby once he's stationed...at least for awhile. I know there is probably going to be a lot of moving around in their future.

My sister had asked me to do a photo shoot for them before he leaves. (And before he "cuts off all his hair, as she put it) I was also able to do their engagement pictures and her wedding portraits, so it was fun to capture their sweet relationship again. They are so cute together, and love each other so much that it's easy to see through the camera.

We will be praying for them even more as they start this new journey together. Their relationship is something that I know will continue to flourish even with miles and a tough experience between them. Love you guys!

The last shot is my pick for Paper Heart Camera

Birthday Girl

Today, our sweet (and sassy...ok, mostly sassy) Tirzah Shae turns 2! I cannot believe it's been two years, and yet like I always say, I cannot remember what life was like without her here. It seems like she's always been in our hearts, even before we knew she was coming.

She has grown up so fast already, wanting to do everything her big brother does. Including have milk in her cereal. (Um, no way, kid. I've seen what you do to DRY cereal. Maybe next birthday) Saying everything he says, doing everything he does. Including jumping off things that she should not be jumping off of, tumbling down the stairs, saying numbers and letters. She's so independent, but at the same time if I walk off without her chubby little hand in mine she will scream like nothing you've ever heard: "Mommy, HAND! Wake up!" (Which really means "wait up")

She seems a lot like her mommy, that independent, face-making, already somewhat sarcastic, in-charge little tomboy of a girl who still can't resist sparkly things and ponytails. She eats up her daddy's attention, and lives to make people laugh. Her lisp melts my heart, and we can't get enough of her crazy curls and dimples. She thinks she's hilarious, and we completely agree. (I am so glad you cannot see me sitting here sobbing...wow those pregnancy hormones are a killer. Ok, ok...I always cry writing birthdays posts.)

Our sweet baby girl, who's really not a baby anymore. You made us wait till 11:26pm on your due date to meet you, teasing us for a whole month with false labor. Even then you loved attention, and had to be different by actually being born on your due date. (Who does that?) You are so beautiful, inside and out. I hope that you always know that, and I hope that we never forget to tell you how precious a gift from God you are. Happy Birthday, Tizzy. We love you!

The first shot is my pick for The Paper Mama

Justice is Served

Every once in awhile I have a moment of ranting. Let me rephrase that, I rant frequently, but try to keep it light on the old bloggy-blog and not be a frequent soapboxer. Also, I have said before that I tend to be the type of person who takes a flying leap off a bandwagon, But in this case my flying leap is more about taking a good look at reality and myself.

I'm sure you've all heard about the Casey Anthony verdict...and I'm sure by now you have your opinion of whether she should have been locked away forever or not. This isn't about the verdict for me, this is about the tons of comments, tweets and status updates spewing hate her direction.

As a Christ follower I realize a bit more every day what a piece of scum I am. Worthless and gross if left to myself, rotting in my own sin without Him. Casey Anthony is no worse than I am. I am capable of who knows what aside from God's grace saving me from my self. Who am I to judge her? My heart breaks for her lost soul, and also over my own sin as I realize I deserve just as much of a death sentence as she seems to deserve.

I'm not at all saying I don't like justice, or that I think she shouldn't be punished if she's responsible, or even that I don't agree with death penalties. I'm just saying that without God saving me from the pit of my own selfish soul that I happily wallow in I could be the one you're hearing about on the news.

Praise God for His mercy, and His forgiveness towards us. He alone is where justice comes from. I sincerely hope that one day soon Casey Anthony sees that mercy and embraces that forgiveness. And I pray that I remember that I'm in just as much need of it as anyone serving a life sentence.

Ketchup Mustaches & Freedom

Grilling out and fireworks, swimming pools and country music, the American flag and that familiar swell of pride you feel when it's our nation's birthday. All things the 4th of July is made of.

Another thing that says 4th of July is family. Something so important that I didn't even consciously think to put it in that list. I just automatically picture them there.

I'm so thankful on this holiday (or the day after) for the family I have, and the freedom I have to spend it with them. So blessed, we sometimes take it for granted. So much life and opportunity with these people that sometimes it takes my breath away.

I hope that I never forget the blessings that I've been given, whether they are in the form of two little kids with ketchup on their faces (or the one whose first kicks melt my heart) a flag with stars and stripes, or a Savior who freed me in the first place. Let freedom ring.

The third shot is for Sweet Shot, the last is for Shutter Love and Perceptive Perspectives.