We're at gymnastics for Dylan. Y does it seem that out of the 3 lil boys here, my kid is the 1 who has no clue what he's doing and the 1 that the teacher has to redirect all the time? Frustrating. I wish she would do the class differently. She has everyone doing different things at the same time. One is over on the jump thing, another is rolling and another is doing something else. She can't pay attention to everyone and make sure they are doing it correctly. Why not have everyone line up and focus on that exercise? That's just me.

It's Been A While, Huh?

My goodness. Time has certainly been just zooming by. What happened to my post? Where have I been? Well, I’ve been busy. I let life distract me and have been feeling guilty every other day because I haven’t posted anything new. I know not everyone is looking for constant updates on my family, but some are (Nana C).

I’ve missed talking about Dylan’s 3rd birthday, Christmas and Devin finally walking (he walks like a penguin)! So much has been going on. So many pictures that haven’t been shared. So I’ll try to catch you up a little at a time without overwhelming you with a really long post.

So….What have I, the busy mom of two, been up to? Well I started working an at home customer service job. The pay isn’t the greatest, but it’s helped out sum, that’s for sure. When I think about the cost alone of going back to work and getting a job in an office (not including the emotional part), I think about the cost for child care for 2, buying new clothes (because I don’t have ANY nice clothes nor am I able to fit the clothes that I have), gas, additional meals and so forth, it just doesn’t seem economical.

On top of working my lil job, trying to keep house and keep up with the kids, I’ve started baking/decorating cakes and knitting. Yes, it’s true. I’ve turned into a little old lady. Oh well, at least I’m enjoying it.

If you remember, after I made Devin’s 1st bday cupcakes, I was kind of bitten by the baking/decorating bug. I started taking Wilton cake decorating courses at the arts and crafts store Michael’s. I’m only on the second course. I had to stop for a little while because I needed a good stand mixer, and thanks to my in-laws who got me a wonderful Kitchen Aid mixer, I was able to continue with the courses this month.

The courses really opened my eyes to a few things; I’ve begun to try different things. Last month was my aunt’s 70th bday. My cousin (her daughter) commissioned me to make her a cake. Well, my aunt is known for making hats. So I decided to make her some hat cakes. They turned out really nice, special and tasty. I even have about 3 orders for Valentine’s Day. True the orders are from my mom, sister and a friend, but they are orders nevertheless.

People ask if this will turn into a business. I’m not making any promises or predictions. We’ll just see where this path will take me.

I started knitting to save money on Christmas presents. We were pretty broke around the holiday’s (still kind of are). I was watching Inside Edition with Deborah Norville. She knits, even has her own line of yarn. She had a little segment about how to knit and how it was a great way to save money and give nice gifts for Christmas. I went to the store that night and bought some yarn and needles. I searched the internet on how to knit and found a great site (wikihow.com) that taught me with videos just about everything you need to know to start knitting. And it was free! I’ve been bitten by the knitting-bug ever since. I’ve knitted 2 scarves, and am currently working on two more and my husband has put in a request for a toboggan. A cousin has requested a blanket for her bday in April, but that’s not gonna happen. I’ll try for later in the year.

I enjoy knitting so much that I’ve even sewed my own knitting needle rollup to hold all of my different sized needles and such (click here if you want to know the pattern). I love the colors and am pretty proud of myself for being able to follow the directions and sew a straight line. I must confess that I had a realization, let’s call it a revelation, that I’m going to be one of those moms who sews the costumes for their kids plays at school. Nothing wrong with that, but I never thought that would be me. I think I’ll enjoy it.

So that’s my life right now in a nutshell: knitting, baking, taking care of 2 small kids and a husband, trying to keep a clean house (loosing that battle), trying to keep a relationship with God and trying to keep my sanity.

Next time, I’ll talk about the men in my life. I’ve gotta share with you how my husband about freaked out when I asked him to put something in the crock pot. The easiest meal EVER, and he acts like I’m asking him to make a 3 course dinner. The whole meal is in a bag. You take the crock pot, dump in the seasoning packet and some water, wait til that’s dissolved and then dump in the rest of the frozen ingredients. All the instructions are on the bag! Then press the timer on the crock pot 4 times until the 10 hrs light is lit. Not hard at all, but my former chef of a husband freaked. Sigh, men….

Until next time, which will be much sooner than later.

Changes

What a week for change. First my littlest baby has his first birthday. Then my oldest has his first haircut! All of that is too much for this mama. I hope that this coming week is a lot less eventful because my emotions can't take much more.



I finally decided to bite the bullet and take Dylan to get a haircut. We've been saying almost every weekend that he needed a hair cut, but we never took him. This weekend we were having Devin's party so I wanted Dylan to look nice. Plus, Bart needed a trim too. I think Dylan was a little prepared for this because when I was helping my mom take out her braids and I was using the scissors to cut them, he sat down and wanted me to cut his hair. I hid the scissors after that because I didn't want him to get any ideas and have a huge chunk of his hair missing.



We went to a chain hair cuttery place that was close to the house. I really was afraid that they wouldn't know how to do his hair. His hair is about three different textures. The ladies in there were very nice and eager to get their hands on Dylan's hair. I was just hoping they wouldn't cut it all off. Bart went first because we hoped that it would give Dylan a chance to see that getting his hair cut wasn't scary. Devin, who had been asleep through most of Bart getting his hair cut, woke up a bit dazed and confused. He kept looking at Bart, smiling shyly, and then turning away. He didn't seem too sure of who this new person was.


Dylan surprised us all. The whole time Bart was getting his hair shaved off (looking like he just enlisted in the military) Dylan kept saying he wasn't getting his hair cut. But when it was his turn, he jumped into the chair and was ready to go. He was such a big boy! We just knew he was going to cry and throw a fit. Turns out I was the one in tears. He just sat there while the lady did his hair. Making little faces like he was bored with the whole thing. He flinched a little when she used the clippers, but it was no big deal for him.



Me on the other hand...Well the lady was cutting off more than I wanted. I was all in the way, telling her what to do, but I didn't care. Probably got on her nerves, but that's my baby's head. I just wanted it shaped up and the top trimmed down some because it was so much longer than the rest. She basically gave him a fade. There's hardly any hair in the back, which I'm actually ok with because that was the hardest part to brush out. It would get so tangled and could stick to Velcro! She then cut the sides down and left him with a little hair on top. The way it is cut the curls on top really come out. I wasn't too happy at first, but it is growing on me. It's just such a drastic change. I loved his crazy hair. We'd get good (some bad) comments all the time. My dad called him a Christian Rock Star. Now my dad says it's like Sampson getting his hair cut. Dylan still has his coolness and cuteness. One thing is for sure--he looks like a real little boy. No doubt.





After the haircut, I went shopping! Without the boys! Life is so much easier when you don't have to buckle and unbuckle a kid from his car seat. Bart watched them while I ran around town getting last minute things. (Thanks, Honey.) When I got home, there was no stopping. Dylan helped me bake the cupcakes for the party, then I stayed up until 1:30 in the morning decorating them! They were so cute. I got an idea off the Family Fun site to make froggy cupcakes. They gave me the idea, but I took the idea to the 10th level. I did the frogs and then made chicks too. I made and colored everything myself. Where they called for gumdrop eyes (who can find gumdrops this time of the year??), I had to melt, color and then mold the eyes. I colored the frosting, getting just the right colors (orange is a hard color to get). And at night while in bed, my mind was racing on how I could make them better. First thing in the morning I was off looking for the few last ingredients to make the cupcakes memorable. I think it worked.


On Saturday we held Devin's 1st birthday party at a Chattahoochee River Park picnic area. I was watching the news for two weeks and praying that it wouldn't rain. With tropical storm Hanna and hurricane Ike lurking out in the Atlantic, I was worried that we'd be rained out. But it was a beautiful day. Not too hot, and not too cool. Plenty of sunshine and clouds to balance it all out.

We were sorry that not a lot of people were able to make it and understand that people live busy lives (they were missed), but those who did come made the day special and a whole lot of fun. My friend Rachelle came with her husband and three kids. Her husband, Rod, became the grill master. My dad usually does that kind of thing, but with his leg still healing, I'm sure he didn't mind sitting back and letting someone else take over. Rachelle said that they had never been to the Chattahoochee and that they didn't normally do the outdoorsy kind of thing. They loved it. She even got a bit soaked chasing after her flip flop as it floated down the river. Her youngest, who is two, played all in the dirt with Dylan. Those two boys were covered in dirt! Her two older daughters were right in there with them too.





We took the kids to the river to play. The water is really shallow some ways out and was just the right temperature. Those kids were everywhere. Playing, splashing, picking up rocks, and having no inhibitions whatsoever. Oh to be a kid again! The little guys were everywhere too. Where was the birthday boy you ask? He passed out on Rachelle. One moment he's looking around. The next he's conked out. Rachelle was loving it. Having a little one asleep in your arms can be one of the most precious things...that is until you begin to feel his dead weight and your arm goes numb.









The kids had a good time and that's what I really wanted. I brought out the ball. Bart, Dylan and lil' Rod ran around chasing it. My cousin brought her mom's dogs and the kids loved petting them. You should have seen them go crazy when I busted out the bubble machine. Then my cousin did a fantastic job painting a few of the kids faces. I was really impressed with her skills. Way to go Michelle! My cupcakes were a huge hit even though they kind of started melting. Devin burried his face in my shoulder when everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to him. Thankfully he didn't cry. And of course there was more playing in the river.




Man, I didn't want the day to end. But we were all getting tired. As tired as I was when we got home, I had to give the boys a bath. Dylan had been covered in so much dirt because of his wet clothes and he and lil' Rod were playing with the cars in it. You could feel the gravel and dirt in his hair. Yuck. After his bath and the water had drained out of the tub, there was so much dirt and grim. Ewww! But hey, that's what boys do, right? The kids passed out and I was in bed by 10! What a busy, full weekend, but it was worth it.


I think that this was the one of the best parties we've thrown for the kids. Ok, there haven't been too many since they are so young. But when I have given parties, I'm always worried that the kids, especially the older ones, are bored. This time around I could see that they were having a good time. I was on such a high when we left the park. I had a great time and was so appreciative of the people who came. I love all of them and I think their kids are awesome. Thanks Rod for manning the grill like a pro. Rachelle's daughters impress me every time I'm with them. Zaria, who I think is 11 , is a great, responsible big sister. Caris, who I believe is 8, is funny and imaginative, not your typical little girl. She found a bottle cap in the water and declared it a ring of power. I loved having little Rod there to play with Dylan. He also loved Devin's toes. Who can blame him? Little baby toes are irresistible! And the little girls that my cousin and aunt brought with them were precious and kind. Bart fell in love with them. Dylan had the two little ones pushing him in the wagon. Not much of a gentleman, huh?


All in all, I am one happy but drained mama. Now I get to rest until November when I have to figure out what to do for Dylan's 3rd birthday. I better stop thinking about it now before I start hyperventilating!

A Whirlwind of a Weekend!

What a busy birthday weekend! My little Devin celebrated his first birthday this past Saturday. My little guy is growing up. I've been running on fumes since last week. I've cleaned the house top to bottom because my mother-in-law wanted to visit this weekend for Dev's birthday. I had to clean all by myself because my husband had an "incident" at work that left his ribs really bruised. He's okay, but in no condition to help clean up. As I was rushing around the house cleaning like Rosie the robot from the Jetsons, I'd try not to give him the stink eye since he wasn't helping. Oh! I made Dev Dev a birthday shirt. It said, "It's Fun to be 1!" with a little cupcake and one candle on it. I could have bought one but I couldn't find any short-sleeved ones and it's still too hot. So I found a onesie at the Dollar Store, bought some iron on paper, created the design, printed it out and ironed that sucker on. It came out OK. I was satisfied and happy that I made it for him.



We were planning on going to the Georgia Aquarium, but since Bart was in so much pain, we scaled back our plans. Saturday, Devin's birthday, Dylan, Devin, Nana C, and I went to my favorite place, Stevi B's Pizza. Then we went to Monkey Joe's. My mother-in-law loved it! Loved the price, loved seeing Dylan run around, and loved that it was in a safe, family fun atmosphere.



After pizza and playing, Nana couldn't wait to get home and give the boys presents. She and Paw Paw (he couldn't make it down) got both of them gifts, but Dylan has been trying to claim everything. Devin doesn't mind now, but Dylan's going to have to watch out once Devin's older. I'm sure little brother won't stand for that much longer. I was so tired that I feel asleep on the living room floor while Bart helped the boys play with the toys. It wasn't the most comfortable place to nap, but it was enough to recharge my batteries and keep me going for the rest of the night.



That night Dylan, my little helper, assisted me in making birthday cupcakes. He loves to help me cook, more like get in the way and slow me down. But this time I wanted his help and he enjoyed pouring everything in the bowl and using the handmixer. Nana helped him spread the frosting on top and pour some sprinkles. By this time, Devin had a full belly from dinner and was rubbing his eyes to say that he was about done for the night. We gave him his own cupcake to tear up, but he just kind of picked at it, and then rubbed frosting all over his face. For a one-year-old, I think it was a good day.








Sunday was the big day. Picture Day! After church, we went shopping for his birthday outfit. We went to the mall and found the cutest outfit for Devin. I decided to use Olan Mills Portrait Studios because a friend recommended their services. Well, this particular studio was located in a Belk's store. As soon as we get in there, I'm trying to get Dylan to pay attention to me and hold my arm (my hands were full). He had let go at some point and then tripped over a little platform, knocking into a very tall metal display sign. It wouldn't have been so bad if the stupid sign hadn't been on wheels. The thing began to roll off of the platform. All I could do was stand there and watch it tumble over and come crashing to the ground. Oh my goodness! That was the loudest sound ever! I was so embarrassed. A sales associate came running over like an Olympic racer. She asked us over and over again if everyone was OK. I told her yes, but then both of the boys started crying because the loud bang freaked them out. I just wanted to get out of there as fast as possible.



The kind sales lady who had come running to check everything quickly led us to the studio. I bet she couldn't wait to get rid of us. When we got to the little studio at the back of the store, there were so many people waiting. It was ridiculous! There was one family taking pictures and three families waiting before us. We all began to wonder, "What was the point of making an appointment?" Our appointment was at 3:10. After we finally took Deving's pictures, picked out what we wanted and paid, it was 6:30 by the time we got to the car. What the heck! I'm proud of my boys, though. With all that sitting and waiting, they held up pretty well. I love Devin's pictures but am kind of disappointed. I keep thinking of what the pictures could have been. Devin had taken a nice long nap while we were shopping. He woke up when we were eating lunch. He was in such a good mood the whole time we were waiting our turn. He was laughing, playing, crawling, exploring, and just having a good time. But when it came time to take pictures, he was tired and ready to go. The pictures are sweet and precious because of his little smile, but they could have been a lot different if we had been able to catch his big grin and playfulness. Oh well. I still love the pics we got.


Those photography studios know how to get you. Not just Olan Mills, but Wal-mart, Picture People and so on. You go in there for one thing and with a set price in mind. They take so many pictures with different poses that you want all of them. You can't leave any of those cute pictures of your kids behind. So when you finally do leave, you've paid probably twice as much as you planned, feel guilty for spending so much but are happy that you got all those pictures of your cute kids.


Well, Nana C left this morning. Crying. I'm sure that it didn't help the situation with Dylan saying that he wanted to go with her and see Paw Paw. I had to tell him that he couldn't go this time, but we'd see them soon. I know it tears her up inside that her grandkids are so far away. But hopefully through this blog she can feel like she's able to be more in their lives.


After she left, I took a nap. Then when the boys took their nap, I took another nap. I'm feel a lot more refreshed. Unfortunately, the house is already getting messy again. Oh well...It was nice while it lasted.

To Devin...

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY!

Countdown

Guess whose turning the big O-N-E tomorrow??? My little Devin! Oh my gosh. The time has passed so quickly. So much has changed since he was born, like new jobs and a new place to live. Last year Dylan spoke "Dylanese" (a language that sounded a lot like Chinese) and didn't have hardly any hair on his head. A year later, he has such a large vocabulary and I can't get him to stop talking. Today his hair is a big mess of curls and uncontrollable. Last year my dad was in the hospital because he fell off a ladder three days before I was to give birth, broke one leg and severely hurt the other. Today he is walking with the help of one crutch and taking Dylan out to explore the world.

And what has my little Devin been doing and how has he been changing over the last 12 months? So much. He came into the world about two and a half weeks early because I was in so much pain and discomfort. I basically begged my doctor to do the c-section early. I couldn't imagine being pregnant another week in the hot August/September Atlanta weather. (This coming from a woman who loves the thought of being pregnant and who can't wait to do it again for the third and maybe final time!)

Devin came in so little weighing only 7 pounds and 15 ounces (compared to his big brother who weighed 9lbs 10oz!). Now, well he's still my little guy being on the short side, even though the boy loves to eat. He's so curious, inquisitive, funny and so many more wonderful adjectives. I love his smile and his laugh. He makes the funniest noises when trying to communicate with a lot of clicks and "Bah! Bah! Bah's" He crawls around the house so loudly that you know where he's going. He cruises around the furniture like a pro. And will take his first steps whenever he's ready.

Before I ever thought about having a second child, I would read articles about women wondering how they ever could love the second child as much as they loved their first. I thought that was craziness, but then it happened to me. I love my first born so much and I couldn't imagine loving anyone else that intensely. But then I met Devin Andrew. Wow! Talk about love at first sight. He was just so small and precious. It was meant to be. Now I can't imagine life without him. I can't even describe the feelings that rush up in me when I look at him. I thank God every day for the two precious gifts that he has given me in Dylan and Devin. I am so blessed. I say this while trying to keep these two from fighting over blocks. Oh well. It's all part of life.

Be blessed.

Fun At the Aquarium

My dad has been wanting to spend some quality time with Dylan ever since we moved out of my parents basement. Dylan is my dad's little buddy. Just about every other day my dad will call or text to see how the boys are doing. Dylan's Pop Pop is quick to show pictures and videos from his phone to anyone who will stay still long enough to look and listen . Pop Pop loves to have the two of them sit in his Ford F150 and sing Motown oldies and Gospel songs.

This past weekend Pop Pop wanted to take Dylan to the wonderful Georgia Aquarium. Of course Devin and I wanted to go since none of us have ever been. I must say it was awesome. When I got home, I felt like a little kid telling Bart (my husband stayed home because he wasn't feeling well) all of the wonderful things we saw. We saw whale sharks, a beluga whale, a hammerhead shark, sting rays, jellyfish, and all types of little and big, colorful sea creatures. So awesome!







I feel that Dylan liked this better than the zoo because the animals were so much closer. At the aquarium, there are animals right at the glass. In fact he was so entranced by one yellow fish picking up and spitting out sand that the fish almost got him into trouble for not listening. At the zoo, the animals were separated by a huge moat and so far away that it was hard for a two-year-old to show an interest. As much as he loved to pet the goats at the zoo, he really loved reaching into the water to touch the starfish, sea anemone, and sting rays. Even Devin my 11-month-old seemed interested. He would point at the glass and get excited. I did have a scary moment though. I wanted to take a picture of the beluga whale so badly and Dylan wanted to sit and climb on the rock benches. After having him sit down, I turned my back to him just for a moment. When I turned around, he wasn't there. It took everything in me not to let panic rise up in me. I called out his name and of course there was no answer. How could he even hear me with all those people being so noisy? I didn't even tell my dad that I couldn't find him. I just started searching around. Thankfully I found him a few seconds later climbing on another bench. But those few seconds of loosing sight of him was enough to make my heart stop. Oy vey!

There was so much to do and see that we weren't able to get to everything. My mother-in-law will be here at the end of the week and wants to go. You know I will be there with bells on!



Here are some pictures of our time there.