Puke, Poop, and Lots of Love

Just sitting here having a cup of tea and listening to Matthew play Call of Duty, black ops. Its nice for him to do something at nights after the kids go to bed. Ahhhh peace for me. Well almost... This past week has been so rewarding with getting Victoria out of diapers and using the potty like a big girl I did something I didn't want to do but after trying everything else I said screw it... bribery. Yup, I totally bribed my child with candy to pee on the potty. It worked! We have been accident free for 2 full days and she is even napping, ok she napped today for once, but it was in undies and she made it the full 40 or so minutes without wetting herself. I am still afraid to go out in public but that also has to do with both kids plus myself are sick. On top of this funk, Louden is cutting 2 more teeth and he isn't taking these as well as the others. Probably has something to do with this crap.... Each day he is getting so much closer to walking. Wow. I mean seriously, it scares me. This boy is into everything and he is only crawling. When I say everything, I do mean everything. You cannot leave a drink sit around for a split second because either he is grabbing it and trying to drink it or just knocking it over. It is that whole cause and effect thing that he is learning. Today we just lounged around, watched some cartoons, played on the floor and then went upstairs to clean her room up some. She wanted to wear he tutu so of course I let her, and she just had fun playing princess. Louden was her prince, she kept saying. I foresee lots of dressup in Louden's future. haha. I grabbed the camera and took a few shots and played around with them. I have so much fun just doing stuff like that with those two. Its times like those that I will miss the most when she is 16 and talking back....

Here lately I have been thinking more and more about starting my own business mid 2011, but I keep wondering am I good enough, will it take time away from my kids, can I actually do it. I don't know... its just a thought that keeps circling. I love photography and I have for quit a while, even before getting my dslr. I had a S5is Canon that I took so many pictures on and learned a lot from. Then I see some peoples stuff, and they claim to be a professional and I think... wow, people actually pay them to take that. Sad. Anyways I have no right to say that but really it bothers the snot out of me that they actually charge up to $250 for that... Just a peeve of mine I suppose. Oh well, maybe one day it will happen but for now I will practice and hope that I find some Guinea pigs along the way... Another thing that I want to do is lose some weight... I am talking probably another 20-30 pounds. I would like to get back to my old self. Ok I will never see a size 0 again, I have totally faced that but i would like to lose just a little extra muffin top and some spare hips... Once I am through breastfeeding then I can really get serious about it. I am not rushing the giving up breastfeeding tho. That is one of the best things you could ever do for your child. Victoria didn't have an ear infection until 7 months after she was weaned. I consider myself lucky to be able to do it for a year at the least. 

So for 2011, I have a small list of resolutions. The most important one is of course spending time with my family and friends. I am hoping that we can take Louden to the beach and let him experience the ocean, take them camping and just all around enjoy life to the fullest. They are growing so fast and time is racing on without looking back. Well, it is pass my bedtime... We are spending New Years with the Kimble's in Charleston so I need to rest up for the wild and craziness that is about to happen. It is going to be awesome. Happy New Years to you all and I will write again some time next year!

Wow what a whirlwind of a week and I have to say I am glad its over. It was truly a special year just because my daughter knew who Santa Claus was. On Christmas Eve we watched Polar Express, baked cookies then watched Victoria run around like a crazy high on sugar 2 year old. She did such a great job on rolling and cutting out the cookies. She even licked the powdered sugar off the paper so none would make it on the floor.
Such a good helper. Louden just sat in his highchair watching and eating his cheerios. Give that boy a handful of cheerios and I can get the dishes done! It was definitely a wonderful day. After a good ol' bath and the kids tucked into bed, Matthew and I played Santa for our first time. No toys to put together this year! The family mailed the packages to the kids here so all that had to be placed under along with the little bit of stuff we got them. When it was all stuffed and placed we just stepped back and was... wow. Never in my life have I seen a tree with that many presents under it. I am so thankful that my children have such wonderful grandparents, aunts, great aunts and just family that get them such wonderful things for Christmas. I don't think I could ever thank them enough.

Christmas morning! Matthew and I woke up at 5:30 showered came down, grabbed a cup of coffee then set out with our digital recording devices in hand. Me the camera and he the camcorder. Time to wake her up! All Victoria asked Santa for was a pink Teddy Bear. No clue why she wanted a pink bear but she did and i search 2 flippin months for that dang bear! Thank goodness Kmart had their Valentine stuff out already! So anyways, she got her bear and then down the stairs we went. I thought it was super nice that she asked if there was presents for Louden. I mean she is 2 and asked if her baby brother got presents! The look on her face when she saw the tree was priceless!
This is one of those moments that I want to remember forever, my daughter really believing in Santa Claus. I know that it doesn't last forever so I am soaking it up and making the best out of the holidays as possible. If you would of asked me 5 years ago if I liked Christmas I would of told you no. Didn't want anything to do with it. I am so glad that those times are gone but not forgotten and I look forward to everyday now. Well Louden got up and the opening of gifts and eating of paper is well on the way! Victoria wanted to have every little toy opened so she could play with them! haha! Man if Matthew and I didn't help the kids out we would of been there all day and with Matthew patience, well lack there of, it would of taken a turn for the worse.
What an amazing experience. My sons first Christmas and Victoria first year really getting into it. I am so blessed to be where I am and having what I do and the family that I have. So now after the buzz of Christmas and the massive amount of food fixed I am ready for the new year, ready to get healthy and try my hand at a few things. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and even if all your wished didn't come true there is always hope for them to happen in the future. 

Wow so where did I leave off? June? Ok that sounds good. Man lots went on in June. A trip to Harpers Ferry with my sister and my best friend from way back when. Lots of walking for sure. Beautiful day with a few spurts of rain. It was just awesome to see my friend. Crazy how you can pick back up like there was never a stretch between.
There are some friends that no matter what are just the best thing ever. Thanks Mary for being you. Hmmm so now on to July. Well we went to Cinci, where Matthew cousins put on the most amazing home fireworks display ever! Seriously, City fireworks are poop compared to these! Victoria and Matthew were right there, front row for the display. Louden and I took refuge inside because it was rather loud for a baby's ears.
http://www.youtube.com/user/kimble09#p/u/16/tz6UB4CxP44
Here is the display shot with Matthew android. It was a pure fun weekend of swimming, food, and family. Looking forward to it next year!!!

Well I turned 30 in July. I didn't think I would of had a hard time turning 30 but I did! It made me look back on life and some of the things I just kindof said "what the fuck was I thinking" or "and I lived after that". They say your kids end up 10 times worse... I am so fucked. One awesome thing that happened was I got my new to me DSLR. Canon XSi. LOVE IT! This was one of the first pictures shot with my camera.
Sarah, came to visit that month too. We went to the zoo and just around Pittsburgh. It was a great visit! She was getting ready to start her first year teaching. Scary! She is doing really well! She has patients like Gandhi, I suppose you have to with 1st graders and in the area she is. Sarah, you amaze me.

August was a month of joy and heartache. My sister delivered her 5th baby, a girl after 4 boys! Yay to her! I guess the 5th times the charm. Now there is a woman I have no clue how she does it! She is going to school to finish her nursing degree, graduates in May! and is raising 5 kids. Wow. In the same week, my best friend lost her first born just a few days before her due date. Devastating. Child loss is hard no matter how far you are but being so close to having that baby in your arms. There are never any words that can be said for the pain and the hurt. Why? Why did this happen to one of the best people ever? Fuck, I wish I knew. She is a strong woman. She is doing as well to be expected and one hell of a strong woman. I am sitting here and there is just so much that runs through my head. Memories, hurt, questions. My friend and gummy bear culprit you are truly a amazing woman. So much love for you.

September kind of went by as a blur and so did October. Except Halloween! What a great Holiday. Victoria's friend Maya came over and the girls went trick or treating. It was cold! Oh my! Next year I am going for warmer costumes for both Victoria and Louden!!! She made out like a little bandit and she got her fill of candy much to her fathers objection. Hey the kid froze her ass for this, let her enjoy it! Grouch! November screamed by also. The kids and I went to our First Light Up Night and watched the fireworks and enjoyed the festivities. Matthew stayed home because he was too hung over to join us... The next day we went downtown to enjoy more of the festivities during the day! Yeah, Matthew didn't join us then either. Oh well! We still have fun! The kids saw Santa, elves and all kinds of neat stuff. The one cool thing was the huge metal tree that was in Oxford Square.

Thanksgiving we flew to Houston for the week with Matthew's stepdads family. What fun! I always like going there! the kids travel so great so it makes it easier. Brad deep fried a turkey which was sooo yummy! Oh my! I think everyone was picking the bones to get another morsel of that birdie goodness. Now its December. Wow.Time for the tree to get decorated, Santa pictures in, and Christmas shopping. So it leads me to where I am at right now. This year has passed me by so quickly but sitting here writing about it has helped me remember the little things that happened in the year. Next year is an all new adventure and I am looking forward to everyday, every hour, minute and second. I don't want to be 50 wondering where it went. Although I am sure I will...

Really, tho. Where has this year gone? I am sitting here on a Sunday afternoon, drinking coffee out of my trusty Patriots mugs and thinking. Victoria is sitting in the rocking chair watching Dora the Explorer Christmas and Louden is napping. Matthew, well he is doing his thing on his lap top. As Christmas fast approaches I wonder what has happened this past year. A lot. We moved from Arlington, Texas to Bum Fuck PA last December. A 3 day road trip with Victoria and I rocking and rolling on up the road. We stopped off at a truck stop when we first started our move and bought this huge stuffed horse. That thing was definitely the savior of our road trip.  

So after a 3 day road trip and being pregnant on top of it we pulled into what was a deceiving piece of shit house. Really, your charging $1000 a month in rent for this!? Ok it may not of been that bad if I didn't have to clean the shit hole before I would let the guys even attempt to bring in stuff! It was so GROSSS!!!! I had cleaned so much gunk and dirt off the floor that I was one fuming woman!!!! I am still rather irked about that. We went through one of the worst winters that has hit Pittsburgh in a looong time, me hugely pregnant not knowing if I was going to get stuck out there in the boonies by myself with Victoria and the drunk woman down the road as my only savior. Needless to say we spent most of that winter in a hotel due to no heat or power. Now I can rough it and have no problems doing it but when the house is 50 degrees and dropping, its time to go. We survived. Victoria got to play in her first snow, go sled riding and just have fun so it wasn't all that bad. So many memories made no matter where we lived. it was a roof over our heads and heat most of the time It thawed out and low and behold its March! Holy crap! 3 months, flew! (Although it didn't feel like it at the time) My wonderful OB scheduled me for a voluntary induction for March 5th but I was bumped to March 8th. Had all kinds of family in to help with Victoria, which I don't think I could ever thank them enough for that!!! I got hooked up and ready for the induction, armed with my rainbow socks and pig tails. I was ready for this baby to say hello!!! Had a bet going with the lady in the next room to see who would deliver first. It was both our second child and both were 3 cm going in. Yeah she won by 2 hours... I had the best nurse ever during the process. She stayed with me the whole time. When she had to tap my veins for the IVs I told her to do the right hand because it was a better vein... boy was it. Blood came gushing out. First thing that I said was "Matthew don't look" so what does he do... he looks and he went white! haha! Poor guy cannot stand blood! It was def more blood then you would expect from a simple poke. Victoria was able to come in and out of the room. She got to sit with me and watch a little tv, :) This baby was taking forever to get here!!!! Good golly! So they break my water and nothing. I think at 4 I was at 6 or 7cm then my nurse cathed me at 4:30ish and I looked at her after she finished and said, I have to push and I have to push now. Matthew was out of the room, like he was with Victoria when that happened. So they set everything up, all the lights and all that stuff, 2 series of pushes all in the time of 5 minutes and there he was, plopped on my chest and a beautiful healthy baby boy. Thank You God.
Still one of my favorite pictures to date. I have my healthy son and my healthy daughter. I couldn't be more blessed. I could probably fill the pages with so much more talk of this but I have so many more months to cover!!!

End of April... Moving time! Wooo hoo! Out of that shit hole we go! We bought a townhome in Bridgeville, close to the city and civilization! woot! Victoria's 2nd birthday was fast approaching! Oh my!!! My baby girl is turning 2. Where has it gone? We had a small party here and Maya came! Yay! Her BFF.

Thanks Rosa for taking the pictures!

These 2 to this day are buds. I hope that this friendship lasts a long time with them. I know that her mom is pretty kick ass. There was a bunch of family here to help Victoria start off 2 right and I loved every minute of it! Having a house full is awesome! My Baby is now 2! Ahhhh!

June was so much fun! Spray parks, outdoors as much as possible and enjoying the mild, compared to Texas, summer! What a great time! I don't think we spent much time indoors at all! Between visiting family and relazing, it was a wonderful start to the summer! Well looks like I may have to finish up the rest of the year tonight. Nap time is over and coffee is finished so it is back to mommyhood! I love this Life for sure! There is so much in this past year that I could write for days!

Well it has been a bit and so much has been going on. Well not really, it just seems like it. I went and visited my Mom and Dad over the weekend and just got back yesterday. Good trip except quite a few missed visits. I didn't get to see my good friend in Virginia and I think that is what I am most upset about. I didn't even attempt it. So if your reading this. I am sorry I didn't visit. I just thought it would of been too hard. I suppose I should of let you make that decision. I am currently working on something for you that I will ship out soon.

Wow, so it appears Pittsburgh got a nice little dusting. Sad that we weren't here for it but I am glad! Lots of things to do to get ready for Christmas. I told my husband I am cooking this year. I miss doing that and since we are starting our own traditions I figured we need that big meal to make us fat and happy and watch the kids roll around on the floor with their new toys. Pumpkin Rolls and Peanut Brittle are on the menu for today to bake. Hartford lights this weekend and maybe even attempt the Wheeling ones! Probably do those through the week. On a happy note, my Sister in Law got engaged the past weekend to a great guy. Ahhh young love. I wish them all the best! They make such a wonderful couple. I am hoping that the long road ahead of them is an easy one.

I have been thinking about New Years resolutions already... Wow. Yeah already. I think I may be a little too ambitious but we will see. I guess its one of those things if you don't try then you won't know... more in detail in a later blog.

The kids... well the kids have been great! Louden is so close to walking. He stood up and let go of me the other day and was all on his own. Scared the bajeez out of me! One reason being is because Daddy wasn't' around. It seems our kids always do something or starts something whenever I go visit family. My son the 9 month old wonder boy. Mom brought out some of the old photo albums and there was a picture in there that looked exactly like Louden. It was a picture of me at 9 months. One of the few but there it was. Crazy. Its funny because Victoria is a spitting image of her dad and Louden looks like me. What do you think, does he?
Ahhh, well I guess I need to hit this day running. Shoot who am I kidding. i will be happy with a slow crawl...

Jeez. I couldn't tell you the last time my husband and I danced together before last night. It had to of been before I was pregnant with my now 2.5 year old. That is too damn long. Its amazing what you do when you just turn the TV off and turn on some good tune, Coldplay and such, and just talk. Okay, a little bit of alcohol was involved as well. Last night was great and I think dancing around the Living room needs to be in our lives a little more these days.

Sibling rivalry... that shit starts early. It started in our house the day Louden came home from the hospital, not bad but it was there. And honestly I couldn't blame her one bit.  She had Mommy and Daddy all to herself for 20 months and then here comes this little bundle that does nothing but sleeps, eats, and poops. Victoria is an amazing big sister and she slid into that role like butter on a hot pan. She helps with everything, even nursing her babies at the same time I nurse Louden. I try to watch myself telling her not to do something when she tries too hard because I want her to be involved. Here lately since Louden is a ton more mobile the rivalry is rearing its head... and it sucks. Poor little man gets smacked, bit, pushed over and sat on. I am seriously trying to learn how to deal with this. Yesterday Victoria sat in time out for 2 minutes and was allowed to come out ONLY if she told Louden she was sorry. Normally she will but not this time. This was a full blown toddler temper tantrum, the screaming of No she was not going to tell him she was sorry. This went on for a good 30 minutes. During this whole episode, I have the fucking Supernanny in my head saying "don't give in, don't give in" Damn. What a beating. But in the end it worked. She said she was sorry to Louden and even hugged him! SCORE! Plus, we didn't have any other incidences the rest of the day. They played together great and I am learning that she needs to know, hey Mom does not put up with this at all. Parenthood isn't easy and it sucks having to be the bad guy sometimes but it is the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life. I just hope I don't screw my kids up. ;)

Today was a great day for us. We made a trip to the Robinson Mall to go see Santa! The Santa out here is absolutely amazing and this is the one we visited last year when we first moved to Pittsburgh. We arrived at the mall and made our way to where the all knowing Mr. Claus awaited to find a little clock saying will be back at 2:05. I have to say it worked out for the best. We walked around for a few minutes then made our way back to where he was to see a line starting to form. So we hopped in line to await our visit. When we finally got up to see him, maybe 10 minutes passed, I looked at Matthew and told him that for some reason I just got realllly nervous. I am talking the whole butterfly, oh shit is this going to work, panic kindof feeling. Our turn is now... we made our way around the rope and there he was. Santa Claus. And Victoria started to cry. Shit. After a little sweet talking, coaxing and Matthew partaking in the picture this year we managed to get some shots. Louden just looked at the man with the fuzzy white beard and decided, ok this man is cool. I think I can hang. So Success! We have a picture with both the kids and Santa, Victoria was slightly upset but not traumatized, and we as parents are $30 poorer. But worth it. This man is THE BEST Santa ever! The kids are not just another kid. He takes his time and actually talks to them! I suppose when it came to this moment in my life I pictured the Santa from "The Christmas Story" with the bad beard and the obnoxious "Ho HO HO". I am glad this is not the case.

Watching the kids in line and my own make me appreciate Christmas again. The true meaning of Christmas. It is for the kids, it is a joyful time and a great time for family. I also know this time of year is hard for some. Those who have lost someone so special to them that it hurts to enjoy the holidays. I could never began to even express the grief I feel for them.  I pray one day that this time of the year will be joyful again but for now it is pain. When you go to sleep at night be thankful for the healthy people that you have in your lives because God only knows what tomorrow holds.

A little bit of coaxing going on

The one taken by the Mall

Obliterated. Haha you thought I was going to write popped huh?  So I have decided to take a leave from Facebook for a while. I suppose the drama has finally did me in, ok I am partly to blame for the drama but in all fairness I believe I had a right to be upset.

I was suppose to have a in home date night with my husband last night... in other word we were suppose to have "adult time" and any mom knows exactly what that means. Well after crying over stupid crap, emotional and 8 bud lights our adult time was spoiled. I love my husband and I have no idea how he puts up with me! He tolerates my bitchiness and every crazy moment this rocking house has to offer. Things have been put on the back burner in our life but I think its worth every moment. I need to work on making more time for him. Thank you Matthew for being my rock.

This is definitely going to be a neat experience, writing a blog that is. Hope anyone who reads this bears with me. :)