6 months later ....

WTH!  I can't believe it's been almost 6 months since I lasted posted but then again I can because growing a tiny human while raising two other tiny humans is HARD WORK!  Oh right....it's been 6 months so this is the first time that I'm mentioning that we're expecting Swiftly Growing Baby #3.  Is this our last you ask? Ummmmm....it's still up for debate.  Hubz says yes, I say not sure.  Once again I was hella sick at the beginning, until about 18 weeks.  It was miserable, as usual, but now I'm doing better and hitting 23 weeks tomorrow.

So other than growing another wee one what's been going on around the Swiftly Growing household? Well, Hubz is just about done with school, FINALLY!  He'll graduate in June.  The step-son is almost through his second year of high school and it's hard to believe that this summer we'll start talking about colleges.  The burrito and my little divalicious are growing steadily.  The Burrito starts school in August, ALREADY! I'm in complete denial about it but he's ready and excited. 

I'm just trudging along trying to keep everyone alive and thriving.  I guess I'm succeeding since everyone seems in pretty good spirits, most days.  I have missed this little space so I'm planning to do better at keeping it updated. Until next time....

Second Birthday - Baby Girl

My sweet, baby girl
How'd we get to this place so fast?  It seem like yesterday that Daddy was holding me up as I cried leaving the hospital without you and now your a walking, talking Diva!  These last two years have probably been the hardest but most fulfilling. You were prayed for and are loved so deeply but I didn't realize how exhausting being a Momma of two littles would be and you, my dear, keep us on our toes.  There is most definetly never a dull moment with you.

People are often surprised that your two.  Some thinkyou're younger because you're quite the tiny firecracker, much like your Momma & Aunties, but others thing you're older because you speak so well for your young age.  I have to explain to them that you're 2 going on 12, constantly trying to keep up with your big brother.  Speaking of your Bubba... you so adore him, most days, and the feeling is mutual.  You two are a team in most things but you also love to just be by yourself, which is okay too.  At just 2 you have mind of your own and won't stand for anyone telling you that you can't have something, I'm sure I don't know where you get that from!  You have a wardrobe to rival any fashonista, mostly thanks to your Aunties and Grandma, and to tell you the truth I'm a little jealous of it.

This next year I'm sure will be full of even more development and fun!  Daddy and I can't wait to see how you change and grow and how the relationship between you and your brothers changes and develops as well.  You're already your own person and we know that's likely to change, ever.  I'm sure you'll continue to wrap your Daddy even more around your finger...there's something about a first born daughter and her Daddy, I hope you two always share a special bond and relationship, it's good for you both. I also hope that as you get older you know that I'm always, ALWAYS your biggest cheerleader and support everything you do, no matter how crazy or silly!

We love you forever and always baby girl.

Halloween - 2014

Halloween is my MOST favorite day of the year.  It's likely because it's my birthday but also since having kids I love to see them dressed up in their costumes.  The Bean is old enough to finally be excited about his costume and he even made the decision on what he was going to be.  It was a tough decision for him but he finally settled on Olaf, with a carrot nose, from the movie Frozen.  He wanted Baby Girl to be Anna but unfortunately the smallest that costume comes in, ANYWHERE, is a 3T and she's little so....she's going to be Minnie Mouse instead, which fine by here because she's almost 2 and doesn't know what's going on and she LOVES Minnie.

Did I mention it was my birthday too?! I'm sure I've mentioned my LOVE for birthdays...LOVE THEM!  And my  own is no different.  Normally I leave the birthday plans for me to my husband but this year I took things into my own hands and we're having a costume party!  We were going to do a family costumes but I'm not sure it's going to work out...we'll see.  I can't wait to see all our friends and family dressed up, it's sure to be a great time, with pictures to follow.

4-Years Old - The Bean

This  post is over a month late but I want it to be here so that when my Bean graduates I'll have all his birthday letters in one place to print out.

My Sweet, sweet Boy
I'm not sure how it's happened but with this last birthday we've come right up to the start of school.  Next year when we celebrate your birthday we'll also be marking a milestone.  It seems like so long since we hit a bit milestone but in less than 365 days we'll be at one of the important ones. 

This last year has been amazing and tiring and patience testing & growing.  Everyone always talks about the terrible twos, but nobody ever mentions three.  The threes were hard for us.  You pushed every boundary and then some but we here we are on the other side of them and only a little worse for wear.  But lest you think they were all bad I want you to know that three was also a fantastic time.  Three was when you became a "big" boy!  Learning how to use the potty, recognizing your name and asserted a little independence, much to mine and daddy's dismay.

Now as we enter four I can wait to see how you change and develop.  This next year will not only be about making memories and making sure you're ready for school but it'll also be about you and your sister becoming closer and you learning to be even more independent.  I'm sure this next year won't be all rainbows and butterflies but just like the three years before it I know it'll be making you into the man you're destined to be.

I love you more today then the day you were born my sweet boy.  You're spunk and defiance are part of you as much as they're apart of us.  As we close out this phase I hope you know that your future is bright and Daddy and I have nothing but the highest of hopes and greatest love for you.

Forever & Always
Momma

Time

You know what I'm learning as I get better at this Parenting thing?  Time is fleeting and goes faster than we'd like. Every day my kids are changing & growing and I feel like I'm not taking enough time to enjoy this current season because I'm always overwhelmed by EVERYTHING there is to do. I don't ever want to look back and think I wish I'd done better, and really right now that's how I feel.  I wish I'd done better at not yelling because I was so tired and felt like my life was spiraling out of control.  I wish I'd handle that situation better and not overreacted.  It feels like my life is a constant series of I wish statements...even though every nite I go to bed thinking I'll do better tomorrow, one day there won't be a tomorrow?

This blog was meant to be a way for me to keep track of my life as a Momma and Wife but for almost 3 months I've neglected it because I just can't get enough time.  I guess the fact that I choose to make face time with my kids more important is good so I shouldn't be too disappointed.

Ugh...well here's hoping I can find the time to be more attentive of this chronicle.  If not, guess I'll see ya in another 3 months.

Patience

This year I'm not doing resolutions that I'll break within a week into the new year.  Instead I'm picking a word to make my theme of the year.  This seems a little more doable for me.  It'll be a word that I can work into most aspects of my life and hopefully by the end of the year I'll be a better person for trying it.

When I was younger and I wanted things to happen RIGHT now my Mom would always tell me, "Patience is a virtue," but she was my Mom and I thought she was crazy.  However, now that I'm a grown-up, or pretend to be one, I wish that patience was a virtue that I more easily embraced.   For this reason I've decided that I'm embracing patience as my theme for 2014.

My kids are only going to be so little for a short time.  Before I know it they won't need me to help them get dressed or snuggle them.  I want to cherish this time and not feel like I'm always trying to just get through something.  This goes for other aspects of my life too.  In my marriage where I want my husband to do everything on my time.  In my weight loss journey where I just want this damn weight to melt off, I mean really it took it longer than 30 minutes to gain why can't I be patient in taking it off? 

I won't promise to be prefect in practicing patience every day but I can promise to try my best each day.  I don't want spend 2014 wishing that I'd done better so I'm going to live my own advice and remember that everyday is a day to do better than the day before.

opps...I did it Again - 10/11 months -Baby Girl

Well, crap!  So much for those plans I had to be better about posting.  Here we are a month and half later and nothing!  That's my life and I'm done dwelling, so onward we go.

At this point baby girl is actually 13 months but I don't want to have missed out on the last two months before she turned 1 so...

My sweet, sweet girl.  I can't believe how close we were to you turning 1.  Your 10th and 11th months weren't full of anything BIG but still lots that was big for you.  You started vocalizing so much more than you had been.  You knew exactly who I was, Momma, and I don't mind saying I LOVE that Momma was your first word, since brother's was Daddy.

As you turned 10 months you still have no teeth and I wasconvinced that you'd be like your brother and cut teeth just before your first birthday, but by the end of the month you had two little teeth ont on the bottom!  You didn't let your lack of teeth you from eating anything and everything we'd let you have. You really started to show your personality and oh boy are we going to have our hands full! Even at just 10 months you were not taking nothing from nobody. While you're obviously not talking yet you still yell at anyone that may try to take stuff from and let your voice be heard.

Month 11 bought your first Halloween and Momma's birthday!  You were the cutest little Strawberry.  As I expected you didn't make it to Trick-or-Treating but that's okay you couldn't eat the candy anyway. You still only had those two bottom teeth but your eating had completely moved to whatever we were eating, you were eating. This made things so much easier for Momma. 

As I prepared for your 1st birthday I was nostalgic and excited for what was to come.  Your fill our life with joy and a little frustration, since for whatever reason you find sleep overrated, and we love you to pieces!  We can't wait to see what you story becomes.

One - 365 days - Baby Girl

Baby girl
For the sake of full disclosure,  I'm actually writing this first birthday a year late.  Being the Momma of two littles is nothing short of EXHAUSTING and some how I forgot to post my sweet girl's first birthday letter, so I'm doing it now!


How'd we get here so quick?  Just yesterday you were days old and finally coming home from the NICU and now your 1!  That went much faster than I wanted.  With your barely there hair and 6 little teeth you are the my reason for being most days, you and your brother.  I hardly remember life before you and for Bubba it's like you've always been here.

You're walking and jabbering, not really talking just yet, and getting into EVERYTHING but that not of that will change from here on out.  You LOVE food, LOVE IT and sometimes can out eat the boys, even your biggest brother!  I wonder if you'll always be like that or if eventually you'll become a picky eater.  You'll play for hours by yourself at the little kitchen we recently bought and it's the cutest thing, EVER! Bubba would prefer you play with him but sometimes a girl just needs alone time.

It was the fastest year and I'm sure the rest will go just as quickly, so I'll try not to blink.  Know that no matter what Momma & Daddy love you always.  Make the next year be as memorable as this first year.

Forever and Always.

MIA...

Seriously!  2 months since I last touched this page and while I know it's because life is crazy, although it's slowed down some, it still makes me sad.  This is my place to decompress a little. So I'm vowing to get back to it.  NaBloPoMo (National Blog Post Month) started on the 1st, I'm behind which is really the story of my life anymore, so I'm going to start today.  Last year I did pretty well getting one post a day and this is a big month for the Swiftly Growing house, Baby Girl turns 1 next week!  That means I have a least a weeks worth or posts and not to mention I still need to get her 10/11 months posts up...sigh, I really am overwhelmed by life!  I'm vowing to take the next two months 1 day at a time, otherwise I may completly have a melt down, and just in case the wine rack is stocked!

So I'm back, hopefully full time at least for this month. And I'm hoping at least 2-3 times a week after that but hey I'm a Momma and Wife and a million other things and sometimes life just gets crazy.

Happy Thursday, ya'll! Oh here's a little cuteness!

3 Years Old - The Bean

3 years ago a tiny little bundle made his appearance after 18 hours of labor and an unplanned C-section.  My first thought upon seeing you was that I was glad you were here but sad your head was pointy, what can I say I'm a little vain.  But once I got out of the operating room and into recovery, where you and your daddy had already spent an hour bonding, I felt my heart overflow with a love I'd never felt.  It was true that becoming a Momma, your Momma, changed me in ways that I can never explain.  Of course after 3 days at home you spent the next 10 in the PICU, where for about 5 days you literally fought for your life.  Eventually you came home and being your Momma has been one of my biggest joys.

Your first year seemed to speed by and before I knew we were celebrating your second birthday.  Between then and now you've become a big brother and such a big boy. Everyday is a new day and I never know what that day is going to be like.  And oh what a big brother you are.  I know that forever and always your little sister will always have you in her corner.  There are people that will say that only children are just as happy as siblings but they'll never make me believe it.  Siblings teach us how to love someone other than our self, unconditionally.  And unconditionally is exactly how you love your sister.  Of course I know in about 10 years you two will "hate" each other but that's all part of the circle of life because 10 years after that you'll have a whole new relationship, as adult siblings, and that's something even I can't explain.

Now here we are celebrating your third year and I can't help but tear up a little, I cry a lot more since you made me a Momma.  My tears are happy tears though.  I'm happy to know that you're a well adjusted, happy loving little boy. I know that the next year will probably be full of ups and downs but that's just life. I can already tell it maybe our most challenging yet but that's only because you're starting to assert your independence, which is too be expected, and considering who your parents are I expect it to be a little bumpy from here on out but at the end of the year when I'm writing about this third year we're embarking on I know the only thing I'll remember are the good things.

My dear sweet boy I hope this next year brings you such growth and memories.  But mostly I hope that you know and always remember that no matter how big you get you'll always be my sweet little Bean.  My first born.

I love you forever and always.

9 Months - Baby Girl

9 months old means you've been out longer than you were in. That fact is still hard for me to wrap my head around.  I mean 9 months ago we welcomed you into the world and after 10 long days in the NICU we welcomed you home.  Home ...Where you have continued to make us smile and keep us on our toes, even more than your brother did or does.

You're pulling up on everything and anything these days and just recently you've started letting go and trying to balance.  I imagine you'll be walking before your first birthday, that should be fun.  You also have really found your voice and not just for crying, you found it for that not long after you entered the world.  You're always babbling and cooing and laughing.  You LOVE to laugh, sometimes at nothing at all.  I hope you keep that quality about you.  The ability to laugh at life will make your disappointments easier to handle and your successes that much sweeter.

As I look forward to the next 3 months before you turn 1 I can't help but wonder about the little girl that you're sure to become.  Will you be as laid back as your brother was at 1?  I somehow doubt it but that's okay.  How will your relationship with your brothers develop.  I worried that the Bean wouldn't adjust to you being here and in his space but oh how he adores you and your older brother feels the same. 

9 months doesn't seem long enough for me to love you the way I do but really I've loved you since you we're conceived.  The baby girl I prayed and wished for.  I love you forever and always sweet girl.

August

How in the world is it August already?! I feel like we were just celebrating Memorial Day down in Corolla and now it's almost back-to-school time. This year is a big year in the Swiftly Growing house, the teenager starts high school! The Hubz is more I denial than I am but it's still hard for me to wrap my brain around the almost 14 year old we have and the 3 year old he was when I first started dating his Dad.

The start of high school means so many things for him and us. Before we know it he'll be off to college which means we have 4 years left to get him ready to be a psuedo adult. For him the next four years will start to really mold him into he man he will become.  High school is a time of making memories and choices that will, in one way or another, impact your life more than anything before this ever has.  

I'm excited and nervous for him and us. He's our test subject for how we'll likely handle the others. Although as I'm learning every kid really is different so his experiences will likely be his and only his and the others will all be handle in their own ways, when this chapter comes for them.

Baby ... maybe ... NOT

Sigh ... my dear sweet girl is almost 9 months. Since she was born at 8 months she's been outside of me longer then she was in and while I want nothing more than for her to remain little and squishy for ever that's just not the way things work.  The world keeps spinning which means my babies keep growing and before I know it they're not babies anymore (tear).  Of course thinking about how fast their growing leads me to thinking about another, even though realistically we just can't afford another at this point but oh how I want one.  It's crazy really since little lady is the WORSE sleeper in the history of sleepers and did I mention I'm currently furloughed two days a week?  Yeah as the primary earner in our household that hurts a little and don't even get me started on the state of my marriage, we're in an unsettled place right now... all that to say it's just NOT a good time.  And yet I find myself daydreaming about another little babe growing inside of me and making his/her appearance, hopefully not to early like big sister.  I picture the toddler and baby girl loving a new little baby, a sibling, a new little someone to grow our family but it's just not the time.  I'll know when it's time, just like I did with the first two. 

The plan at this point is for it to be sometime next year, late summer/early fall, so we can plan for 2015 summer baby which puts me on maternity leave for summer (hello summer vacation!) and plenty of time to prepare myself for my sweet, sweet boy to start school but who knows!  Things just don't seem to be working out the way we want lately so ... as always it's in God's hands but oh how I hope he's on the same page as me.

8 Months - Baby Girl

Shut the front door!  Wasn't I just writing your 7 month post, OK I was but that's because I was a slacker, but how did we zoom past another month so fast?  Speaking of zooming ... you're crawling faster than I ever remember your brother crawling and two days after you started crawling you decided it was over rated and started pulling your self up on everything and anything that would hold you up.  I imagine you'll be walking before your first birthday or not to long after it.  Your brother doesn't know what he's in for once you're up and running!

You're so babbly lately too. You've just got things to tell us, I guess.  It looks like you're cutting a tooth but it's been looking like you were cutting a tooth for several weeks now so really I'm only guessing, that's what most of parenting is guessing, that it's a tooth.  You're such a great eater but have decided that you'd like to forgo bottles, which is giving your daycare a little frustration but we've decided that you'll eat what you eat and as long as your eating your food then we're happy.  Since you're still nursing like a champ we're not too worried about it.

You celebrated your first 4th of July with our annual parade and a party at your grandparents.  No fireworks for you though, you were out before the sun was completely down and you slept through everything going on outside of the window of the room you were sleeping in. While we're on the topic of your sleeping the last week has seen you only waking once in the middle of the nite and I'm so thankful, I hope I don't jinx it.  It's nice getting about 5 hours of continuous sleep.  I forgot how much I missed it.

The next few months you'll be getting tons of Momma time, since I'm being furloughed.  We're gonna hit up the Beach with Nana, enjoy some pool time and just enjoy some lazy summer fun.  I'm hoping to make the best of a bad situation and not lose my mind at the same time.

In 4 months you'll be 1.  I'm not even sure how that's possible.  The last 8 months have just flown by.  As I watch your personality and your relationship with your brother develop my heart is full.  Your whole life is a head of us and I can't wait to see what it brings.

Forever & Always,
Momma

7 Months (1 week, 2 days) - Baby Girl

Momma's been quite the slacker in getting this post done but I finally got my act together.
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Holy Moly!  Where did the last month go?!  Sometimes I feel like so much of these last seven months have passed without me really taking them all in, really being aware and in the moment.  Then I realize that I'm there for the important moments and remember the important things, those little things that make me smile and get me through a rough day of work or a rough nite of multiple feedings and soothings. 

You're really on the move these days.  I knew it was coming but it's still hard to believe.  Before I know it you'll be running after your brother trying to keep up with him.  Not only have you started crawling but you've taken to solids like you've always been eating them.  I can't feed you fast enough at dinner, too bad the extra food isn't helping with your sleep. 

In other big news you FINALLY got your ears pierced this month too!  Momma and Auntie Bissa did them, thanks to our jobs at Claire's we're professionals, and you did such a great job.  I can't wait for your ears to heal so I can buy you all kinds of cute little earrings.

With a little more than 4.5 months until your first birthday I guess it's time for Momma to really start thinking and planning.  I've already found someone to take your pictures but that's about it. Good thing I still have those 4.5 months, I think I might need them.

Baby girl I love you more than you can ever know.  I thank God for blessing me with that squishy little baby girl that I knew I wanted but never thought I'd get. You and your brother are the light of my life and I can't imagine what I'd be without you.

Forever and Always,
Momma

Beach Bound

It's Memorial Day Weekend which means we're headed to the beach!  It's our annual trip that is normally just for the long weekend but has been extended to almost a week. Unfortunately, we don't get the whole week we planned because the step-son's got testing on the Friday, but hey I'll take all the time I can get out of Northern Virginia.  We haven't had a vacation since last August when we headed to the beach for a friend's wedding.  First, though, I have to get through the work day and then go home and pack, pack, pack.

We never go with any set plans, that's the best thing about vacation.  I plan to do a lot of picture taking and laughing and reading.  The Bean is excited to build sand castles, at least that's what he says, and Baby girl ... well she's only 6 months so she's just happy to be alive.  The weather's supposed to be mid-70's to low-80's all week, so ya know perfect beach weather! I CAN'T WAIT!

I never let the significance of this weekend slip my mind though.  While it's nice to get the time with family to unwind and relax I still realize that this weekend is to celebrate those that have served.  As the daughter of two retired soldiers I fully aware of the sacrifices made every day by our soldiers.  I'm thankful for those men and women that felt the calling of serving this great country so that I can enjoy the freedom I have.  I'm even more grateful for those that served and made the ultimate sacrifice.  I've never known the heartache of losing a loved one whose served but that doesn't mean I don't say a prayer for those that do.  On Monday I'll offer a moment of silence to those who fought and died because if not for them and their brothers and sisters at arms I wouldn't be be where I am.

Happy Friday!

6 Months - Baby Girl

Baby Girl,

TOO FAST! This time last year we were just telling everyone about your impending arrival and now you're 6 months. It's your half-birthday and I can't even wrap my brain around it.  This last month you've changed so much.  You're rolling all over the place and laughing and cooing like you've always done it.  You're such a happy girl unless you're hungry or sleepy. You, however, are not the best sleeper AT ALL!  Oh sweet girl why won't you sleep?  Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by the lack of sleeping you do and then I remember that just like everything this is simply a stage and will eventually pass, although to be honest I wish we'd get through it already.

You haven't cut any teeth yet and you're right on track with your clothing sizes, unlike your brother who was always a size ahead of his actual age.  I'm learning quickly that what other parents say is so very true, every baby is different.  You and your brother while you have many similarities there are so many ways you are different, besides the obvious. 

The next month won't see too much excitement, at least not compared to what you've had in the last couple of months.  We're headed to the beach for Memorial Day, I can't wait to see how you react to the sand and how your brother interacts with you at the Beach.  Speaking of your brother he ADORES you sometimes a little too much.  While I hope to give you a sister one day, there's nothing like the bond of sisters, the two of you will always have a special relationship as the oldest sister and brother. I love just watching the two of you interact and look forward to the day when you'll be able to actually play together.

Baby girl while your lack of sleep exhausts me, I'm continuously amazed at how quickly you're changing. It makes me smile and sad at the same time to know you'll be one so soon but I know it's just the circle of life.  These moments are just a sprinkle in your book of life and I'm so honored that God chose me to guide you and be a part of it.

I love you always and forever sweet girl

Momma

Mother's Day

I'm not sure how it's already halfway through May, especially since I feel like we were just celebrating the New Year.  Of course I'm sure the crazy weather we've been having here in Virginia isn't helping.  But alas halfway through May it is which means this weekend is Mother's Day.  I don't really go into Mother's Day with high hopes of relaxation and nothingness because that's just not my life.  Like my birthday I like to think of it as a day that's supposed to be all about me but in reality I'll still be up at least twice with baby girl for feedings and up by 730 or 8 watching Disney Junior with the toddler.  By 9 I'll be running around trying to get the teenager and Hubz up so we can get everyone ready for Church and out of the door on time.  It's just my life and I've resigned my self to the fact that days all about me are in the past, at least until all my littles are had and not so little anymore.  I'm mostly okay with it.

A few years ago we (I) started an annual Mother's Day Brunch at our house.  It's a chance for us as a family to get together and celebrate all the Moms of the family at once and then let everyone go off and do their own thing.  It's worked out great because it leaves the afternoon free for us all to spend the day with our individual families to do whatever we want, for me I'm hoping for a whole lot of nothing. Every one brings something and then I'm not stuck with all the prep, just with all the clean-up.  Unfortunately, not everyone embraces this time to spend with family for the Moms in our lives but most of them do and that's good enough for me.

This time of year always makes me nostalgic. I mean how is it that I've been out of college for 8 years? and yet it feels like just yesterday I was off to on ELITE leadership retreat in Tampa to begin my freshman year. but then I blinked and I was a momma and a wife. I'll tell anyone that will listen that college was 4 of the best years of my life but these last 3 years as a momma & before that a step-mom, they're quickly surpassing those 4 years. My college self would never believe who we've become but oh to be a momma to these kids.  These kids make me a better person, even when they're driving me nuts. 

It's true we don't realize the strength of a Mother's love until you are one. 

Happy Mother's Day!

Ramblings ...Again

Once again I've left my blog without words for far too long, at least for my liking, so now to get things caught up.  It's been a busy couple of weeks in the Swiftly Growing house and things don't look to be slowing down.

The step-son has kept us especially busy with band performances and Boy Scout duties.  He'll finish up middle school in the next couple of weeks and then be starting high school in the fall so I know this is only the beginning of the crazy schedule he'll be keeping.  While it's sometimes equal parts exhausting and exhausting I wouldn't change it.  I remember this time in my life and before we know it he'll be headed off to college and we'll miss the pace of our lives with constantly running him around.  Of course the slow pace will be short lived before our wee ones are requiring the Momma/Daddy taxi service.

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My niece, and Hubz's, Goddaughter, celebrated her 1st Communion last weekend. It made me smile with nostalgia and look forward to when I'm celebrating the same milestone with my wee ones.  It's funny how as a parent we start to look forward to things that we barely remember as kids but becoming a parent makes it all so much clearer.

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It's a big weekend for Baby Girl.  Tomorrow she'll be getting Baptized.  It's a little later than I would have liked but still earlier than her brother.  Maybe with the next baby I'll get it within that 3 month window.  Of course as is the case with big gatherings I'm not even close to ready.  Baby Girl has a chest cold or allergies or something so she's been a little clingy this week making it very difficult to get anything done.  Luckily today's my early day so I'll be running errands after work before picking up the kids and then doing tons of prep and cleaning tonite.  Tomorrow my day will start at 6 since I have to pick-up bagels and donuts and then get back to the house in time to get everyone up and dressed and out the door by 930.  I'll be ready for a nap with the lady of the hour by the time everyone leaves.

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Next weekend should be a nice slow weekend with nothing but yard work, my husband is a slave driver.  It'll all be worth it when our yard finally looks nice but just thinking about it makes me groan.  I wish we could just pay someone to do it, not that that would ever happen since Hubz has a love/hate relationship with yard work.  He hates it but doesn't want anyone else to do it because they won't do it right...I don't understand this.

Make it a great weekend.

Boston, oh Boston

Once again our country has been hit with a senseless act of violence with no explanation about why but plenty of questions. Today as runners were finishing the Boston Marathon, a run that many train a year for, a bomb went off, followed closely by a second. Police would later find at least two more that had not been detonated. As I'm writing this post 3 people have already died and countless others have been injured, some in critical condition.

As with the events of Sandy Hook I'm having problems processing how anyone could plan and carry out something so horrendous!? What brings someone to a point In their own lives where they think nothing about taking the lives of innocent people? I wonder if they thought about the countless lives their actions would affect and if they even hesitated for a moment.

My heart hurts thinking of his world I'm leaving to my kids, my nieces and nephews and future generations. I shed tears for the innocence that is lost every time something so senseless happens but the. I read something on face book that reminds that we are nation of survivors. That we as a nation don't take things lying down, we fight back and we lean on each other and these reminders they give me hope. Hope that just maybe it's all going to be okay not perfect but okay.

So to tonite as I'm nursing my baby girl to sleep I'll probably rock her a little longer and hold her a little closer but simply because before I know it she'll off into a world that isn't always kind but that always gets back up when it's pushed down. As I I'm reading a story to my little terror I'll hug and snuggle him a little longer but only because I know what's waiting for him.

Rest easy Bostonians you have an entire nation behind you. We weep for you, we pray for, we mourn for you and we fight for you. We are after all, "One Nation Under God."