madison {isms}

"I get soooooo excited Mommy! {while playing her games on her Leap Pad}

madison {isms}

"Mommy, have a Popsicle after dinner.  How that sound Mommy?"

{I obviously ask her  'How does that sound Madison' too often?!?!}

toast

I have both children in bed, doing some evening cleaning up after a hectic day and realize...

My breakfast toast remains in the toaster.

Basically that was my day.  Forgetting myself.  I know I am not the only mother with this syndrome.  

Many times I realize I have forgotten to brush my hair in the middle of the grocery store or that lunch has come and gone.  My children are well dressed, pigtailed, hair gelled, tummy's fed always.  Don't get me wrong, I can do alot in 15 minutes nowadays but the luxury of showering every day, curling my hair and adding a few makeup touches just does not exist for this mother of two.  Now, how fast can I get ready with out someone demanding a snack, a book read or a pee on potty. 

Today was that day where my kids look great and I have bed head.

Carson has had an ear infection but we went through one round of antibiotics.  The first few days he seemed better but just was never 100%.  When he woke up this morning he had a temp and was not a happy man.  I called right at 8 when they opened and she said, "Come in, I have you down for a 8:40 appointment."  I cheerfully thanked her and looked at the clock...

8:08

Holy I have 10 minutes to get two yogurt faced children cleaned, clothed, looking cute and out the door.  Start running.

Thats about the time my toast popped up.

Carson started another round of antibiotic, cross your fingers, and Madison enjoyed the pink princess sticker the Doctor gave her for approximately 2.43 seconds, quickly realizing the germ infected train set in the waiting room was calling her name a little louder.

There truly is nothing better than motherhood!

fire.crackers please

We started off the 4th with tasty donuts.  Madison is OBSESSED with everything pink.  Pink donuts. Pink Ice Cream.  Pink Clothes.  Pink Shoes.  Pink Watermelon.  Pink.  Pink.  Pink. 

Secretly I love her no obsession but I am sure I had no hand in this love {ha!}.  I was not guilty{?!?!} of putting her in pink mostly {what?!?!} or encouraging her to know the color pink before the more appropriate primary colors. {NEVER ;)}

Huh, weird?

 

From the talking, to the buying, to the shooting, Madison Taylore was one excited little girl to watch her fire.cracker show.  For some reason there was always this pause between fire.... and cracker.  She just kills me with her vocabulary.  Ridiculous amount of cuteness.

Side note:

Did you know in Texas, while buying fireworks, you are not allowed to touch the purchase until the fireworks are bought?  There is a gate around all fireworks with sales people to pick the firework up, to place the firework in your basket, then to take the fireworks out of your basket to place on the conveyor belt which goes to the cashier and back to the person who just placed it on the belt and ultimately back into your cart/basket.  Wow, about 6 people to my one hand....Odd....

Back to what our 4th was all about.

We began the day with a bit of shopping {no surprise}.  Ben decided the children needed a race car track...    And a ramp for the race car track.  Both the children just smiled and laughed.  Super cute.

Then we had a nice loaded baked potato for supper {thank you Skinnytaste}

After a nice dinner the children were both getting anxious {maybe just tired} and wanted to play with the fireworks {Carson may have just wanted a bottle and bed}.  But the night was young {6 pm} and we had a few hours until evening settled in. 

First distraction: Set up the car track

Second distraction: Water Balloons

He wanted to devour that balloon

Third distraction: Smoke Bombs

Finally....

We can enjoy the fire works. {Carson actually did not even make it to this point but it was 8:30 and this little man is ready at 6:30 although we don't let him go down until 7}.

fathers day

I wanted to celebrate Ben's most successful accomplishment...Becoming the best Daddy EVER!

Madison, Carson and I got creative with a few of his gifts.  Here is a recap.

We began by decorating a coffee mug {We also bought 3 different types of coffee}.  We also made Daddy a mug from Shutterfly.

Baked a chocolate cake.

Made a special card.

Hand prints from both of the kids and included a poem.

Spent a fun time at the Children's Museum. {Ben may have enjoyed this place more than the children}.  And talk about the Invention Factory, he was giddy!  Invent your own marble track, flying objects, parachutes, cars, puzzles....A piece of heaven.

And a few family pictures

in between

I currently find myself in this state.  I have half our life packed and stored away in the attic and the other half is my "good enough" decorating, with a few choice pictures placed to fill in the blank wall.  Creating a unique space for us is being constricted by not owning a home.

We planned to stay in this rental for 6 months at the most.  Between Ben's very stressful job and our overwhelming feeling of living in gigantic Houston, we decided buying a home right now just was not in our plan.  Although I have met great people and have developed close personal relationships, commuting and crowding everywhere, is not what we are used to.

And not being close to family, that is the obvious down fall.

Maybe when we settle and don't feel so in between, buying will be back on the table, but until then...  This is it.  Renting.  Half Decorating.  A state of in between.

In Between


My friend Ali stumbled onto this blog, CLICK HERE.  I love the idea of spending 5 minutes, no extra, to describe a part of your life that doesn't deem an entire blog posting.  Great find friend!

i love you my baby ~ 9 months

 

As I sit and type, you are right where you always are, at my feet.  Most of the day you 'mom check.'  Where is my mom and how fast can I be at her feet?  If you are fussing in the kitchen and I walk by, without acknowledging you, a melt down ensues.  Complete and total despair.  The cry is too pathetic for me not to give you snuggles. 

Yesterday you were crawling down the hall to find me while I finished laundry.  I ran past you to get more hangers {knowing a melt down was bound to happen}.  A screeching, that the entire neighborhood heard, came out of you.  I thought I stepped on you but rather, much worse, I did not show my little man some love.

In a weeks time {about 3 weeks ago} you started crawling, pulling up and walking along couches and kitchen cabinets.  Daddy came home from a business trip and between you roaming the house and Madison jumping around the house, you may have thought he took a month furlough. 

The last couple of days 'da da da' and 'ba ba ba' have started coming from that sweet voice of yours.  We still have the grunting and lip flapping but now a few syllables have come together. 

Sippy cups and knees on the concrete can be placed in the dislike pile.  You love hanging on Mommy {which is happening right now, he is hanging off my outstretched leg and making farting noises against my skin}.  Your sister makes you laugh, really really laugh by making funny faces and crazy noises.  Spending time with sister is a favorite.  You love her hugging on you {but at times the hug gets a bit too tight} or handing {maybe throwing} a toy or two in your direction.  Just having her attention makes you happy.

Chicken, noodles, cheese, peas, nectarines and raspberries are favored over items such as avocado.  Your eating habits far out due your sister, even if she is 2 1/2.  We still do breakfast, lunch and dinner with a snack in between.

Manny, Brother, Bubby are your nicknames and even Madison calls you these.  She usually expresses her love by 'putting you in time out' {then you usually giggle} or very sternly saying "no no Carson" {when you try a toy she was just done playing with}.  She loves you dearly, frequently asking to hold you or secretly tries to shove food in your mouth.

You light up a room little boy.  Your sweet smile and ever present laughter makes our family feel complete.  I do not remember a life without you. 

Mommy, Daddy and Sister Love you!

Happy 9 months!!

Weight: 22 lbs (73rd %)
Height: 30 in (90th %)
Head: 17 in

{Side note:  Madison at this age was 16 lbs and 26 in at 9 months}

tot school {I}

 Igloos {with hidden marshmallows inside} and Inch Worms {or some of us say wormies}

{During this craft, or what sounds like "crap" when Madison says it, Madison kept bending the inch worm pipe cleaners into "V"s.  She would even proclaim the letter, saying "V Mommy, look letter V.  For sure a proud Mommy moment!} Ben has been just asking her and she has got about 4-5 letters correct.  Something is sinking in!!!

Although that may look like a caterpillar from the Very Hungry Caterpillar we called it a very long inch worm

Making Daddy's cup was super fun.  Madison could not even contain her excitement.  She kept saying, "Give daddy surprise."  Describing the rules of what surprises are supposed to be really did not sink in.  Instead, Ben received his surprise a few days early.

Ice Cubes

Carson wasn't found of the cold but Madison dug in.  She must of drank a total of a gallon in ice cubes.  Super fun, easy activity.  1 drop of food coloring, fill the ice trays and now you have colored ice.

Ice Cream Slurry

Ice Cream Colors

Iguana

Where do these items go on the house? She had to put the roof, the door, the windows in the right place. She loved pretending to put items in the door.

Color Sorting

Making Daddy's Present

{That will be revealed in the Father's Day Post}