Best summer ever...

It sounds cheesy, I know, "Best summer ever!" But in all honestly it was...we didn't go anywhere...didn't do much...basically stayed at home...but it was with my two beautiful baby boys! I love my job because it gives me the opportunity to spend as much time as I can with them and still bring home a pay check (even though it may be itty bitty)! I got to experience some of Aidan's "first" first-hand! I told everyone he would be crawling by the time I went back to school and he started last week! He is now about to be into EVERYTHING (perfect time to go back...jk)!

Gabe has also become quite the "boy" lately! His philosophy, "the dirtier, the better!" It does not matter what it is...playing outside...helping me cook...or just playing in the house with his toys...the bigger the mess, the better!!! He has also become such a mommy's boy. Before I had kids, when I would be with people that had kids around...I would ask them "does that not drive you crazy?" I was talking about with their child is constantly saying, "mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy...etc." They never looked annoyed, always seemed so calm. When I, being the child-less friend, wanted to literally pull my hair out! Well now I see why. I don't care if Gabe says it a million times! I love hearing my name! It not only is adorable hearing his "still baby voice" say mommy, but I can hear 100% trust in his voice. He puts full faith in knowing that I am there and I will do anything for him!

And then there is Seth. We have also spent lots of time together this summer. As many people know, he is on disability through the military. He finally was able to get insurance this summer and got to see a "real" doctor that was not at the VA. If you ever want to get me fired up just start talking about the VA hospital in Little Rock. It is amazing how we can send people overseas and expect them to do the unimaginable...then we they come back to just leave them hanging! Sore subject! Anyways, he was finally able to see a neurosurgeon this summer and we find out tomorrow if they will be able to operate on his back. Please keep him in your prayers! There are so many risks involved with back surgery so now we are just trying to decide, if it is an option, will it be worth it. Other than him being in pain, we have enjoyed our time with our little family this summer. Since he was home with us it was helpful and fun!

Now it is time for me to be a big girl again and go back to work. I'm already counting down the days until May 2011! Starting Wednesday I'll only have 194 days to go! :)

Things I will miss this summer:
* Sipping coffee at 5:00 in the morning as I try to wake up, while Aidan is playing his little heart out on the floor
* Then when I finally wake up he falls back asleep :)
* Breakfast and Lunch with Gabe
* Weekly trips to Magic Springs
* Talking to my good friend Monica on the phone at least 5 times a day
* Reading Kelle Hampton's blog daily
* Playing tractors with Gabe
* Shopping with Aidan (we are great shopping buddies!)

*****pictures to come....I can't find my camera!*******

Lots to do!

Well today is the day I go to the dentist to get this thing fixed that has invaded my mouth! I have been great ALL summer until now...I have two weeks before my contract starts and I am having surgery on my arm and who knows what they are going to do to my mouth! Hopefully I will be healed by Aug. 11! Also this week, Seth is having Lasix done on Thursday. I am so happy for him, his eyes are terrible!!!

Enough about me....Aidan is going to be crawling any day! I have been saying all along he will be crawling before I go back to work. He is so stinkin cute! He gets up on all four's and rocks back and forth. As soon as he figures it out he will be everywhere and into everything! I love my job because it has given me the opportunity to have off this summer with my boys. I was able to witness alot of Aidan's "first.

Gabe and I have also had lots of fun. As I stated in an earlier post, we are potty training. That is going...okay. We have good days and bad days. But He has also turned in to such a "mommy's boy." I love it! Everything is mommy, mommy, mommy! The way he says it is adorable. However, it is very hard for me to leave him because he throws a fit! He even freaks out when I go take a shower!!! So therefore I get about 10 mins to myself each day, but that is ok. I wouldn't give up my time with him for the world!

**In this picture Gabe told me he was going to work.

As much as I would like to be very lazy these last two weeks, I have lots planned! My agenda includes: swallow study for Aidan at children's, pulmonary appointment for Aidan, a test for cystic fibrosis (they don't think he has it but he has to have the test done to see the pulmonologist), Seth's Lasix and all the appointments that accompany it, surgery on my arm, dentist, hosting a shower for a good friend at my house (35 people are invited so I have lots of cleaning to do!) and my best friend Ali will be here my last week!

Lots to do!!!

What a day!

Have you ever had one of those days where you want to just runaway and not come back for several days?! Well, yesterday was one of those days for me! I had a scare this week. I started out having a knot under my arm..thought it was a swollen lymph node because I wasn't feeling well. It continued to get bigger, harder and hurt as the week went on. At the same time my lymph node in my neck started to swell and become painful. And to top it all off I have, what I think, is an abscess in my mouth. I got really scared because I just had a cousin who was treated for lymphoma. So, thinking the worse, I called the doctor immediately. Come to find out my mouth and throat are not related to what is going on in my arm! I have a swollen oil duct in my arm that has become infected. Since I did not come in immediately it cannot be treated with just antibiotics. So now I have surgery scheduled the week before I go back to work/school! I wish it could have been a month ago!!! I also have a dentist appointment schedule for Monday to fix the other half of me! Have you ever heard the saying "Have a baby, lose a tooth." Well this exact same thing appeared in my mouth 9 months after I had Gabe and the Dr. said it was because I had a baby. Well Aidan is now 6 months old.....

I guess it was good news about the surgery. It could have been a lot worse and I am very thankful for my health. Lots of things crossed my mind (silly I know). I thought about my kids living without me and not knowing me it was very devastating! I am so thankful!

After coming home from the doctor I actually took some time to my self and relaxed. I took my first nap ALL SUMMER!!! As soon as Aidan was down I curled up next to him and relaxed! Good thing I did because the rest of my evening was horrible! Other than the fact that Gabe destroyed my house and their are still dinosaurs and trucks all over the place...he had several accidents when he got home. He went all day going to the potty for someone else but when he stays home he saves the good ones! First he pooped his pants...yuck! So I cleaned that up...then he pees and decides to track it all the way through the house. So much for my sparkling, clean, mopped floors! We then ate dinner. Seth had a friend over and I invited him to stay and eat. BIG MISTAKE! While we were all sitting at the table Gabe got a little choked up. HE VOMITED EVERYWHERE!!!! All over the table, chair and floor. I felt soooo bad for our guest who was sitting right next to him! Luckily he was very understanding! After cleaning this horrible mess up Aidan decides to have a blow out.....in his high chair. So...here we went again...another bath..more laundry and my kitchen smelling very nice at this time.

WHAT A DAY! Good bye Friday! Hello Saturday!!!! I hope this wasn't a preview of my weekend to come!

Potty Training...Day 4

Well, we have begun day 3 in undies for Gabe! I finally sucked it up and went strictly undies!!! I am so sick of buying diapers when he can go in the potty. So far, so good...day 1 he had 5 accidents, day 2 he had 4 and yesterday he had 1. I am holding out hopes for none today!!! Everyone says boys are the hardest and I believe it! Gabe went to daycare yesterday and I think that is why he did so well. He likes Monica and listens to her more than me!

I sent Gabe to daycare yesterday so I could clean. Eight hours later I was done with the entire house. Aidan keeps me extremely busy throughout the day, but I love every minute I get to spend with him. I have to go back to work in 3 weeks and I am not looking forward to it! I love the time I have had off with my boys.

As for today, I get to shop...by myself!!!! Seth's sister is coming over to spend time with the boys and I get some time to myself. I am also taking this picture to Bedfords. I am entering Aidan in a cutest kid contest. It is based on quality and "emotional impact." If we win I will get a free camera. Winners will be announced on channel 7 Day Break on July 28. Here is the picture that will be entered.

Trying this again...

I am somewhat new to the blogging world. Everyone tells me I should blog, but my first thought is, when? The only time I have to myself is usually in the shower. Even then I have Gabe asking me for apple juice and Aidan screaming for a bottle....or screaming because Gabe has attacked!!! I have tried blogging once before, but now with two little one's and lots happening in my life..I want to document every moment! I was inspired by a blog by Kelle Hampton. I have no clue who she is personally but I feel like I do! Her story is phenomenal!

Where do I start....This has been my second year teaching and I absolutely love it! My first year I taught in a private school and was not paid thru the summer however this year I was at Little Rock School District and my contract pays me all year round. This allowed me to do alot more with my family that we did not have the money for last year. I really consider this as my first year for lots of reasons. The reason I am saying all this is because this is the first year I have been able to sit back and enjoy one of the luxuries of being a teacher...SUMMERS OFF!!!

Aidan was born in January and Gabe was 2 in April, so needless to say Seth and I have had our hands full! The first two months were terrible!!! Gabe has now adjusted to life with a little brother and loves to entertain him on a daily basis. I have really enjoyed my time off with my boys. I am getting to experience some of Aidan's "firsts" and I love seeing him do new things. I am pretty sure he will be crawling before I go back to school. On the other hand, Gabe is in the process of being potty trained and has for a long time now. This week we are doing straight undies!!!! So far it is not going well. When he is in a pull up he will tell me when he needs to go...there is just something different about tighty whities!!!

I look forward to documenting my journey of motherhood! My boys are so precious to me I don't want to miss a single time! Here are several pictures I have taken over the summer. There will be many more to come!

Swimming Lessons July 2010












Gabe has AT LEAST 2 baths a day!

I love these dirty feet!!!










Alligator Farm July 2010

























Playing in the Jungle Gym with dad