Today I am thankful for

Kylee.

My beautiful niece turns 2 today. The small baby that I watched come into this world has been here for 2 years now.

She has grown into a blond haired blue eyed beauty, that melts my heart with every Aunt Tasha, hug and kiss. This little girl, I love her as my own, and could not be more proud of her

Happy 2nd birthday sweet baby! I love you

yellow butterfly

I have been so busy this week. Getting all the sickness cleared up, FINALLY, and working on Halloween costumes for Alanna and Kylee. Thank goodness its Friday because I need the weekend to relax..whoops forgot that's not going to be happening either...Saturday we are heading to the apple orchard, then a Halloween birthday themed party and then Sunday of to the in laws for a warm yummy dinner and to Finally get some pictures of Moira ( the newest addition to the family). Here are some new pictures of Kylee in her yellow (butterfly) tutu (she will be a butterfly for Halloween). She was pretending to be a ballerina..
Its much cuter in person. I have to learn how to take pictures of an almost 2 year old, running around in a messing living room with every single toy out of place :) I had a great time making the girls their tutus. I wonder how many people would be interested in buying a homemade tutu...Anyone know?

The rest of the week and some shout outs of Thank yous

Monday we hung around the house. My mom still had to pretend she was in the real world, so she was off to work. Again the girls were in the pool exactly 5 minutes after breakfast. Ben wasn't having much of the pool. It was still sort of cold water. Me and Tammy went to the grocery store for some food and the kids played while we relaxed.

Tuesday it was a bit rainy. We were in for some really bad storms that shifted right before they hit our area. After that cleared up, again the girls were in the pool. I swear my girls lived in that pool. Tuesday again we relaxed.

Wednesday my mom worked a half day and came home early so we could go to the Beach. We decided on Cocoa Beach. The ocean was beautiful. Ben still wasn't having any of the cold water, but guess where the girls were? Yup in the ocean. Ben on the other hand LOVED the sand. Sand in his toes, sand in his hands, and dare I say, sand in his mouth. We had a nice time on the beach, it was hot with a nice cool breeze from the water. It was picture perfect. For dinner we headed about 5 feet away to Coconuts on the Beach, and when I say on the beach it was ON THE BEACH. They had a live band playing that the kids just LOVED. Kylee and Alanna was tearin' it UP! Those girls would dance not stop. Ben really enjoyed it to. Hannah was a little crabby, but soon got over it and was having fun with everyone else. We ate and drank and I had some of the yummiest strawberry daiquiris (sp?) EVEH! Once it got dark, and Ben fell asleep (in ALL that noise) we decided it was time to get the kids home. ALL the kids passed out for the night on the way home. It was a quiet night.

Thursday, again was pool time and relaxing time. Did some laundry and cleaned a little bit. Started to get things together for packing. Did I mentioned we ate really good while we were in Florida. We did. We had some grilled chicken one night, grilled ribs, and we ate out some too.

Friday was time to go home day. We packed up and headed out around 5:00. We stopped at the edge of Florida for dinner. This time we took the toll roads and it was a lot EASIER, for sure. We drove all night again. The kids had a better night this time, but was still anxious to be going home. We ate breakfast at a small diner in Kentucky and it was YUMMMMMY! Their homefries were to die for. We made it home around 3ish Saturday and it was so nice to be home. Once I unpacked a little, we had to go grocery shopping since Chris lived off of frozen meals and pop the entire week. Sunday I relaxed. The car ride home wore me out. (Even though I have to give credit to my brother and his girlfriend for driving most of the way. Ben was having mommy withdrawls and I had to sit by him most of the way home). Over all it was a great trip. I missed Chris like crazy and was happy to get home. At times it was stressful to be a single parent to 3 small kiddos, but I had lots of help from everyone and could not thank them enough. I want to give a HUGE shout out to Hailey. She is my stepdads, friends girlfriend. My kids just clang to her when she was around. She went to the beach with us and she played and played and played with my girls. On the sand in the water and at dinner. She was great. We already miss Hailey so MUCH! I don't want to forget Cody (Haileys boyfriend), grandma, papa, Tammy, Kyle, Ashlie, Shawn and Hannah who also helped out with the Alanna and Ben. Ben was a little, wait scratch that ALOT clingy and everyone just helped out so much, Thanks to everyone. Your the best.

So that pretty much sums the trip. It was hectic, crazy, fun, relaxing and exhausting all in one. Can't wait for next years trip.

The ride down and the weekend

We packed the car and was headed south by 7:25. At 7:30 Ben was already asleep. That was until around 8:15 when he woke up screaming and shaking. I think he forgot where he was. We had to pull over at our first rest stop. It took about 20 minutes to calm him down enough to put him back in his car seat. Then we were on our way again. The kids had a rough night in the car, but once the sun came up it was a lot better. We ate breakfast just outside of Atlanta Georgia, and were on our way again. It was rainy and cool. We made it to Florida around noon and stopped at the welcome center and had a picnic. It was HOT. We changed the kids into some shorts and was back on the road.

We got a little lost once we got off the expressway. We were trying to avoid the toll roads (BIG mistake) It took a little longer but we finally made it to my moms. The girls were in the pool exactly 5 minutes after we pulled in. The 1st night was fun. We swam and hung out and then went to bed.

When we woke on Saturday, bright and early, my mom took me to a store called Ross's. I haven't went shopping for myself since Alanna was born and had the money to spend. It usually very hard for me to find clothes because for some reason the stores think bigger girls like to show off their boobs and wear Tinkerbell and My man loves me sayings on our shirts. But this store was great. I actually had to put some things back to stay in budget. Saturday afternoon and evening was relaxing and lots of pool time for the girls. Ben was having fun, but was not having the ceramic tile floors and no carpet, so he had a lot of hold me time with me. :)

Sunday, HAPPY EASTER. The kids had "beach" themed Easter "buckets" Each child had a different color bucket and matching beach towel. They each got some candy and 2 small gifts. Ben got a little car that goes when you shake it, and a sun hat, Alanna got bath foam toys and a spongebob watch, Hannah got High School Musical 3 DVD and a HSM necklace, Kylee got swimmies for the pool, and sunglasses. Then we had a small Easter egg hunt and then off to Old Town. The weather was so beautiful and sunny. There were rides and snacks and live music. What a way to spend Easter, it was great.

That gets you through the weekend. The rest of the week will be tomorrow, so I don;t bore you with the day by day. But if you can't wait, The pics are up at flickr. Just click on the pics above and it will take you there. More tomorrow.

Spring Break Party

I can't believe I am about to say this, but see these 3 right here Well we have decided to pack up with my brother, his girlfriend and my niece and DRIVE to Florida for spring break. 17 hours of fun, crying, screaming, and whining, can't wait. There will be 3 adults and 4 kids, 2 TVS, 1 radio and lots and lots of sleeping pills, for me not the kids. We will be leaving in about 2 weeks. Poor or should I say lucky Chris he is staying home because he couldn't get it off from his new job, he wishes me luck. What do you say, Crazy or adventurous?

Cake Time

Why do we think torture is so much fun? Happy Birthday sweet girl

Kylee Joan

This day last year another piece of my heart was broken off and given away. It was given to this beauty right above the minute she made it into this crazy world. Kylee Joan was born November 8, 2007 sometime in the evening. She was 6 lbs 4 oz and pure sunshine to the dark November night. This little girl has been a great addition to our family and I could never imagine life without her. I love you, my sweet KyKy, Happy 1st birthday sweetheart.

Good News!

I am so excited. I entered this contest at Simple last week, and look what I won. I really like the chocolate and aqua dots. I'm hoping Alanna will like it too. I have tried babywearing with Alanna but I started when she was around 18 months, she didn't really like it much, she was more into running around free. With this baby I want to start early..I keep checking all these sites to pick the very best one. I just can't make up my mind which I like the best..
I have about 12 weeks left to decide.
The 7 month post will be coming tomorrow.

And some good news to share, both Kylees mom and Matthews mom started their own blogs over the weekend. Head over and share some love. They both have a few kinks to work out, but they are both fun ladies and the babies are 2 cute for words. And I am not biased at all, I swear!

The weekend roundup

Over the weekend Kylee come to visit. She is so precious. We just enjoy her visits so much. I can;t wait to see how Alanna reacts to her new baby brother. She is so gentle and caring for Kylee when she is around. She calls her Ky-Ky. Which is just the cutest because that is what Hannah used to call my brother Kyle when Hannah was Alanna's age.

After Kylee went home Sunday Chris and I surprised Hannah with an early birthday gift.

Do you think she liked it? She hasn't gotten off it since. Don't cha know it goes so much faster than her old bike?

I remember writing last year about Hannah's 7 birthday. 8 is even harder to take in. My baby is no baby anymore. She hardly ever wants to cuddle and actually told me I was embarrassing her in the store over the weekend. Oh the days when I was her best and only friend. What I wouldn't do to have the precious little girl back. But we face new and better adventures as she grows. We share secrets and giggles and I can be there for her in other ways then kissing boo boos and cleaning her scraped knees. I can be there for her as a role model and still be that bestest friend I was to her when she was 4. I can be there to guide her into becoming a wonderfully intelligent woman and I can be there as her mom. As the years go by, that will never change.

More pictures of the weekend are here. And check back in a couple of weeks for Hannah's actual birthday tribute. I don;' know what it will be, but it will be special.

memories in a box

I have not talked about the separation anxiety I experienced over the weekend. Last weekend I went through all the girls old baby clothes from newborn to size 2 and gave them away. I went through and gave Kylee what would fit her, and the rest I will be donating. I kept some outfits, the ones that I just could not part with. The coming home from the hospital outfits, the bonnets, and booties that were still holding the faint smell of my babies. I kept the 1st bathing suits and favorite blankets and all the Christmas dresses the girls have worn. Its so hard to say good bye to some of the physical memories of both my girls when they were little. I find that its harder to let go of Hannah's baby clothes. She was my first. I grew up with her a lot, since I was only 18 when I became a mom. So many of the clothes I can remember when and who gave them to me, I can remember what I was doing the day I bought a specific dress. Sometimes I can even remember what I was wearing. Maybe I have a harder time with hers, because Alanna is still only 2 and such a baby at heart. We have been teaching Alanna "big girl" moves but she still loves to lay on my lap and cuddle, vs. her big sister who chooses the other couch during TV time. With baby #3 being a boy, we may or may not have any more children and that could also be another reason to be so sad seeing all the girl clothes go away. In the end I know its just clothes, and having my girls here with me is better than any piece of clothing, but seeing them grow up so fast is bittersweet. I could not ask for better children and just know this baby boy will fit in so well, we will wonder how we ever lived life without him.

The Easter weekend review

The 1st one seemed to turn out okay so here are a couple more..

My brother and Tammy came over with Kylee for a couple hours on Saturday..It was so much fun. I haven't seen my baby girl in a couple of months, and I have missed her so. We all dyed eggs later and it was a great day. Again please ignore all the back ground noise and focus in the 2 cuties!

The Easter Bunny brought "bags" for baskets this year and they were filled with goodies to keep the girls entertained on the way to Flordia and home. Here are some pics of the girls early Easter morning.

The weekend was a really great weekend and we had a fun time visiting all our family. The rest of the pictures are up here.

mimi and bebebe, yayayay!

Alanna has been a lot of fun lately. Her perseonality is really starting to shine. My brother and his girlfiend Tammy were watching Alanna for a couple of hours this morning. After dropping Hannah off at the bus stop, Alanna screamed her good byes to her sister when the bus rolled up. On the way to my brothers house, Alanna was all about seeing Mimi (Tammy) and da bebe (Kylee). All I did was tell Alanna that she was gonna visit her Uncle Kyle this morning and she knew all on her own that she would be seeing her 2 favorite poeple, Mimi and bebe..the whole time Alanna was in the back seat singing mimi and bebe yayayayay! mimi and bebebebe yayayayay! It was so cute. When we got there, Kylee was in her bassinet in the living room. Alanna went up to her and said hi bebe, and blew her kisses...I can't wait to see what a good big sister Alanna will be.. I think she will be great becasue she had/has a great teacher in her own big sister.

Random Cuteness

Sunday night, both girls stuffed their shirts with stuffed animals and pretended to be prego like their mommy. Alanna got a big kick out of it. She ran around the house showing off her bump and laughing like crazy. Then Hannah taught her to lay down and "push" the baby out...That was really interesting, to say the least.

Last night Hannah had Alanna tied to a scarf and Alanna crawled around the house barking like a dog. Hannah taught her sister to sit and speak on command. Chris and I was sitting on the couch playing with our new "puppy" when she jumped on the couch and started panting and "kissing" our faces. She especially likes it when we scratch behind her ears...

Everynight before bed Alanna has to go through her night, night routine. She kisses her sister and gathers her blanket and her stuff animals, then she lines the animals on her bed all around her..She gets tucked in by her daddy and then kisses from mommy. Shes now started to kiss my belly and saying night night baby. Its adorable!

Last Saturday night I babysat Kylee for my brother. He turned 21 and celebrated in style at a local bar. Anyways, she was crying Sunday morning while I was fixing her a bottle and Alanna sat next to her and started playing peek a boo, and Kylee stopped crying, Alanna was so proud, I wish I had a picture...it was the best and brightest smile I ever seen on her.

so random

This is gonna be a quick post...I have only like 5 minutes...

This weekend I felt GREAT. I cleaned the house and did laundry..something I haven't done in a couple of weeks because of being so sick. Today is not the greatest day feeling good wise...I have some indigestion that is really upsetting my stomach....But hey a whole week, I will take it!!!

I am 11 weeks today...Only 29 more to go, LOL....

Chris and I babysat my neice Kylee over the weekend. Alanna was so good with her. I do think we will be having some jealousy issue, that I will get into later...:) other than that Alanna and Hannah are little mommies, and they make my heart melt.

Day 17, the party

Today was Alanna's birthday party. We had an ice cream social. We had every topping for ice cream you could think of and everyone made their favorite kind. It was a lot of fun. Alanna was so sweet today. When we all sang to her she put her hand up by her mouth and her other hand in her pocket and was shyly giggling...It was so sweet. Don't believe me, check it out. She wasn't to much into opening her presents, because one of the first things she opened was a Dora toy, and then she wanted nothing else to do with any other box or bag we set in front of her. She did check one bag and seen it was clothes and handed it back to me and said no-no. It was funny. Her cake was A.W.E.S.O.M.E as usual. My brother did fantastic. I love it when I can just call up his bakery and tell him the theme and they come up with something that looks like this. Pretty sweet huh?. Baby Kylee came to her first birthday party today. She was a big hit with everyone there of course. My sister Ashlie hadn't seen her yet because when she was born Ashlie was in Florida visiting my mom and her dad. She of course, like me, was absolutely smitten and is now desperately in love...Not that we thought otherwise. Over all it was a great day. We had cake, ice cream and pizza, what more could you ask for at a 2 year old birthday party...Oh, maybe more pictures. Check out all 90 of them here. Ashlie is sort of a picture freak, black and whites, fish eye and regular...Trust me, they are well worth looking at...maybe she should become a blogger.

Because this was too cute not to show!

*Oh and if your wondering why there is only 1 or 2 pictures of Hannah, that is because somewhere down the line my sweet baby turned into an inner unsocial 15 year old and no longer wants us to take pictures of her....*

Oh and see the shirt Alanna is wearing? Thats another Chris and Tasha original.

weigh in Wednesday, Day 14

I am so mad at myself...Today was weigh in and I gained 2 pounds...Thats all I have to say about that! MUST.DO.BETTER

On a happier note. I went and seen Kylee tonight. Oh, I miss her so much. She was so sweet tonight. She was wide awake for her Aunt Tasha...

Day 13, I need help

I'm going through withdrawls. Who wouldn't after 3 1/2 days. MUST.CALL.HER.MOMMY.NOW!

Do you think its to earlier to start bugging to babysit? I mean she is 5 days old already.

Day 10, relax

Today was a great day. It was the first weekend that I didn't have to be anywhere in about 2 months. It seems like the past 8 weeks, there has been something to do or shop for every weekend. Today none of that applied. So I tackled the toybox. I cleaned it out and sorted the toys. I figured with Alanna's birthday and Christmas around the corner it was about time. I did a few things around the house, but the major cleaning will be this week because believe it or not Alanna's birthday is Thursday, November 15. Yes, 5 days away...Its so hard to realize that the baby is almost 2. No more baby it seems, and then she will surprise me and want to cuddle. She is such a sweet heart (when she wants to be)

Yesterday Lindsey and I met for lunch. Wouldn't ya know that 2 bloggers both forgot their cameras. Oh well it was fun anyway. Minus Miss Screamy Pants screaming through the entire wedding store I took Lindsey to see. She bought a REALLY nice tiara, for her big day. I am so happy that I met her and we can share these special times together. Love ya Linds! But next time lets not wait so long..I know we always say that, but I am serious this time.

Well I am done for the night on the computer. Shrek is on TV and the girls love it! We are way over do for some snuggle time on the couch.

Oh by the way. Kylee and her mommy are home now. Everything is going great. There are lots of pics here. Check them out!

Day 9, more Kylee

More Kylee news.

Be prepared to hear a lot more. But for todays post I wanted to explain all about her name.

My brothers name is Kyle Joseph and the last name starts with a B. Kyle wanted all his kids to have his initials. So they had to come up with a name for KJB. They went through many names and then thought Kaylee. Come to find out a nephew that I hardly know, some where on my dads side, named his daughter Kaylee and so my dad would have had a great granddaughter and a granddaughter named Kaylee, so they changed the name to Kylee, which if you think about it, is a perfect name for a girl after her daddy Kyle. Then came the middle name. Tammy's mom passed away a couple of years ago from cancer and her moms name was Joan. So it just worked out good. What a sweet name for such a sweet girl.

I just talked to mommy at the hospital and she said that Kylee is having a hard time eating. Hopefully its nothing and by the end of the day she will be a champ. I'm going to see her after parent teacher conferences this morning, thats why I'm not at work. Then this afternoon Lindsey and I are meeting for lunch. I'll save that for tomorrows post, Day 10.

Kylee Joan, day 8

Kylee Joan is here! She is absolutely gorgeous! She was born at 6:52 p.m and was

6 pounds 4.5 oz.

I was there to see it ALL. Its amazing. Her mommy is such a trooper. I am so proud of her. Daddy was good too. To bring a life into this world is really something else. I wish mommy and daddy all the best and I can't wait to hold "my" baby again. More pictures will definitely be coming soon.

(picture below may be a little graphic)