Life is getting away from me

I'm so overwhelmed with how fast this year has gone. It's already November and I'm just floored, what did we do this year? It's been insane. And the truth is we've done SO much.  I'm hoping 2012 will be a quieter year, especially now that we are home, and can visit family more regularly.  We only have one trip planned next year and its for a friends wedding. Otherwise everything should be local. I'm starting a little early reflecting back on 2011 and I have a feeling I'll spend the last few months of it just trying to catch my breath.  Life is moving forward whether I want it to or not.

OJ recently turned herself into a fairy and has yet to convert back. She gets increasingly more distressed every time we get in the car and I tell her they have to come off to put her seat belt on.

The weather has been amazing, either sunny and comfortable or pouring rain (which leads to puddles). Our new backyard is AMAZING. It's completely unlevel but also flat, which means there are LOTS of places to jump in water. Our old backyard slanted downhill, you couldn't even put lawn chairs back there. let alone our grill or fire pit etc etc. I'm fairly certain a night around our fire pit is planned for this weekend. It might be our last chance before cold weather is upon us.

And then this happened.  I'm seriously just an amazing story teller.  I know...I hear it all the time.

Have I mentioned this guy. He's  9 months old and in the last 3 weeks....FOUR teeth.  So you know, that was pleasant. He's standing on his own, without holding on to things...because he's insane. He's growing so fast, I dont remember OJ growing this fast. Maybe I could tether him to the ground and he'll grow slower?


Cuteness:

 Ridiculousness:

Gah annoying cuteness:

OJ had no interest in being seen in her Snow White costume but she has insisted on wearing it almost every day since Halloween so maybe if I EVER update this blog again you'll see that.

On that note, I'm going to shower for the first time in 36 hours...I.AM.SO.EXCITED. I lead a very exciting life.

Peace out dudes.

Yes Dudes......welcome to 1991.

What we've been up to....ALL OVER THE PLACE

Well, we moved in...and nothing looks like it does in these photos but we've been busy and I'm exhausted. I keep meaning to post and then you know...my children are trying to eat each other, or eat a cat.  And WOW are we popular now that we've moved home.  Everyone and their mother...and our mothers want to hang out with us.  I don't delude myself into thinking that they want to see us....mostly just the little people who turn on all their charm when family comes over.

Okay so here we go, I'm hoping to clean up each space soon and do a before/during/after post for all the rooms.  This whole crazy project was well documented.

The last 2 months:

We took the plastic off this:

We filled this up:

We went to Narnia where the lamppost was broken.  No worries, we fixed it while we were there.

We got a pretty faucet to wash dishes with.

We visited some giant gnomes.

We searched far far away.

We went back home and found our fireplace was stoned. 

But we could drink about it and laugh about it.

Then we went swimming, because thats what little people do. (3D LOVED the giant bathtub)

And now I'm going to recover for five more minutes.  Or lay down some carpet which is apparently on the docket for the day.

BYE!

See my friends here:

They are very excited to be heading to Cleveland this weekend.  Hopefully we are going to see some life sized gnomes and we're hang out with the Aunt DeSanta because we have bad pronunciation skills and its just cuter than Aunt Diane.  Spending some time with the Grandparents and working on the new house.  I am very excited.  

So is he.....

and so is she!

Sadly not everyone gets to come home with us this weekend.  We are going to be missing this guy a lot!

(The big one not the little one...he's comin with me!)

In the words of the Bebes "We goin to Ceveland in Oheio!"

So excited we don't have to make this trip many more times!

We've been busy...

So WOW...

Where do I even begin.  We're moving to Cleveland in 6-8 weeks, 3D just rolled back to front for the first time today, Dave learned how to make AMAZING Iced coffee from The Pioneer Woman.  OJ is her normal fabulous self and I'm pretty much one step away from a stint in rehab, but you wouldn't know it because I have this unnatural calm going on about all the excitement.

I can't even comprehend all the crazy going on, but it seems like everyone is handling it rather well, which is actually probably because of me...not to say I'm the driving force behind the mellow chill feel but because I'm not freakin out therefore my mood isn't affecting others.

My house is covered in boxes, full boxes empty boxes boxes with one thing in them...boxes with 47 small things in them.  Its fun.  I'm pretty overwhelmed with how underwhelmed I am.  If I could be whelmed I woud be...sadly that is not a word, just a state of existence in Lindsoland.

It probably doesn't help that my job got REALLY busy in the past 3 weeks on top of everything else going on. Thankfully there is a scheduled end date on that crazy...the house has no scheduled end date.  Which is like me standing on the edge of a cliff with my eyes closed thinking 'wont this be fun if I just jump.'

In all honesty I've got a great deal of faith and hope pulling me through all of this.  It's so exciting and I'm trying to keep focused on that.  I'm quitting my job in 5 weeks.  ME...I haven't been unemployed....well...ever.  I'm quitting my job.  While I feel like embracing my SAHM-ness I will be doing something part time to stave off the crazy.  But still...I'M QUITTING MY FULL TIME JOB. Giant leap of faith on that one...ekks.

Did I mention the house in Cleveland is getting remodeled, restructured and added on to.  Thats not stressful right?  Did I also mention my mother-in-law is handling most of that.  Now I have to say, short of 1-2 'wanna pull my hair out moments' we've been working really well together.  (I wonder if she'd say the same about me.....lol) We've been on the same page design and structurally the whole time.

I'm very much trying to just 'living in the moment' which is working out pretty okay for me.  I'm hoping to go home (to Cleveland) in a few weeks to check out all the amazing house progress in person.  Hopefully we won't let OJ fall in the giant hole in the backyard, my assumption is though at the rate things are going...there won't be a giant hole there...which is REALLY exciting.

I'll leave you with this...my giant hole.  (I really hope my sister-in-law gets a chance to read up on my giant hole..............)

ZOMG...Part 2...or Part 1...depending on how you want to look at it.

3D is my heart but OJ is my spirit....this kid...I tell you...gah I loves...dis....kid.

I'm a blogjerk

A lot has happened in the last month and I've been crazy wicked busy. I didn't mean to neglect you dear blog, but heck things happen.

We signed OJ up for TaeKwondo and soccer.  She LOVES both of them.  She kicks and says "Hi-Yah!" which is frankly just adorable.  Yesterday after TaeKwondo she was SO excited to tell me about it all, I wish I had gotten it on video she was jumping up and down and rolling on the floor and touching her toes and talking a mile a minute.  I think maybe....she is my child.  

I've had at least one doctors appointment a week for something or someone.  3D had a WICKED cough and it turned into bronchitis and then a double ear infection.  I've had a few follow ups after pregnancy/delivery.  OJ had her 3 YEAR check up.  This week we have dentists and eye doctors.  Apparently we all needed tune ups!

We had both sets of grandparents in town, OJ's birthday, Easter, multiple construction of children's toys projects....In the next 22 days, we have 13 practices, appointments, meetings outside of our regular jobs/sitters etc.  I need a flow chart.

So other than being slightly mundanely busy.  Wow I didn't think mundanely was a word.  Odd. Anyway, we've got a lot going on but mostly just keeping up with our day to day stuff is kicking our butts.  We've spent a great deal of time trying to carve out family meal times.  This week we basically get to eat together 2 times, which is a bit ridiculous, one of those times we had 20 minutes total.  I'm looking forward to a slower more relaxing summer...maybe it will involve lawn furniture this year.  That would be lovely. Perhaps....a nice shade tree or an umbrella.  Stupendous.

I'm starring at a picture of 3D when he was 4 days old: 

and all I can think is OMG HOW BIG IS THAT PACIFIER.  He's just so freakin squishy and cute!

Look at  him now!  I DIE. (3.5 months old)

Just to update you on the rest of our happenings over here: 

Easter Egg Hunting...

and...

blurry egg frenzy.

The awkward family shot.

The most freakin adorable Dave's I know.  

And then we had OJ's 3rd Birthday!

Grandma got her a Mega Blocks Dora set....note the HUGE gift next to her...clearly Dora trumps all.  She wouldn't open more gifts.  Goofy.

3 years old must be the BEST YEAR EVER TO BLOW OUT CANDLES.  Or so I've been told. 

Digital camera...just like Mommys....dang it mines not pink!

Relaxing and enjoying wine...nom nom nom...look NO KIDS. 

Okay hopefully I'll update more soon.  That would be swell and super and stupendous! 

bye.

4ever.

jk.

2 months and random updates mostly for my own benefit.

Baby Dave turned 2 months old yesterday, we hit the doctors office hard today...knocked back a drink and a few shots (aka vaccinations).  My little guy is 10 lbs 13 oz and 23 1/2 inches long.  He started out at 8lbs 10 oz and 21 inches long....so hes growing..which is exciting....and normal...

Last weekend he met his grandparents and the three DRJ's were together for the first time.  Please note the family resemblance...it's a bit obnoxious.  3D spent the whole weekend talking to his grandparents...catching them up on what they'd missed in the past few weeks of his life.

OJ is still LOVING her little brother...she's a little over helpful which I don't really mind at all.  She's the first to jump up and help if we need anything.  Every morning she comes down stairs kisses him on the head and says "He's soooooo cute!"

We went to visit our amazing and perfect babysitter today, she wouldn't put 3D down...OJ cried because she thought we were leaving her there.  A sneak peak into 2 weeks I suppose.  I go back to work soon.  WAY too soon. I have something to look forward to pretty much everyday between now and when I go back to work, it's helping me not be mopey and moody about going back to work.  It's harder this time in a lot of ways and easier too.  Harder because there are two of them and OJ likes to flip out when I leave her anywhere.  Easier because I know how this goes and hopefully I won't be as emotional as I was when I went back to work after OJ was born. Although just typing that is getting me a little teary.  BOOOO.  We love our sitter so that makes it easier too.  She treats all the kids she watches like they are the other ones there, I don't know how she does it.

For my benefit and OJ's we've been going to the YMCA 3-4 days a week.  She and 3D stay in the childcare area and I go and work out.  I gained 2x as much weight with 3D as I did with OJ so I have a lot of work to do.  I've got some serious motivation this time though.  First, I don't have a lot of alone time between my schedule and Daves so 2 free hours of childcare that I can use to give myself time to work out, shower, focus on myself, listen to my own music...well it's well worth the monthly membership fees.  Second, we have three weddings this summer in Ohio, Punta Cana and Vegas.  I don't have unrealistic goals but I am REALLY hoping to be in better shape for them.  I want to enjoy them and feel good about myself and that means I need to get back into shape and maintain a more active lifestyle.  I'm not the girl that wants to be in shape to look good, I'm only a little vain in that area; I want to be healthier and I want my kids to see that I take time to take care of myself.  I'm hoping I can maintain my schedule once I'm back at work.  If I can get to the gym 3 times a week thats acceptable, but I'm pushing for 4-5.

As I type this my body is SORE from overdoing it a bit yesterday.  I'm taking today off, between all the errands and doctors appointments we had today I needed a bit of a break.  Dave and I are both feeling a bit under the weather. Considering the weather is about to get cold for the next 7 days I need to kick this in the butt before the constant temperature changes make us both crazy sick.

This is clearly turning into another random ramble but I suppose thats what you get.

I'm off to stretch and take some meds...I need to be prepared for our big night tonight.  Dave is planning on playing video games and I plan to curl up next to him and force him to snuggle with me and talk about his feelings while hes got his xbox microphone on....

I'll leave you with this:


I feel like I should edit that with a 1970's tint, not sure why I feel so strongly about this photo but it's just so sweet and innocent to me....needs some vintage feel.

Peace out.....ouch...my calf muscles hurt!

More of our family photos!

Just a few more of my favorites from Karin. It seems all I have time for recently is posting pictures...but heck...I'm going to just put it out there...my kids are cute I don't mind looking at them.   

This is probably going to be one of those rambling posts....

Lets be honest...it's my calling in life to just ramble on.

I haven't had the chance to type with two hands much in the last month so if I wasn't posting a quick photo...I haven't been able to say too much....I've got a bunch of half written thoughts all over the internet at this point....

Currently Baby Dave is being held by Daddy Dave...Earlier he took almost a FIVE hour nap.  We've been having some weight issues and some formula fussiness issues so he's had to be woken up to eat and today...well I just said FORGET THE RULES....and let the little guy sleep...but it's not like I've had the opportunity to be uninterrupted for 5 hours unless I was sleeping anyway...even though he's not a huge fan of chuggin the bottle...he still likes to be awake with us.

He is an amazing baby.  OJ was a really easy breezy baby...she was totally easy and great...Baby Dave is like 10x easier...well maybe 2-3x easier but still...he's making me think about having 9-10 children...I want to be Queen Victoria or one of the Duggars....WOW who thought those would ever be in the same thought/sentence.  Anyway, he's got this very peaceful disposition.  He just seems to enjoy being with us.  OJ LOVES HIM.  She, I believe was put on this earth to be a big sister.  She just 'gets it' she gives him gentle kisses and holds his hand during diaper changes.  She dotes on him every chance she gets.  She regularly tells me "hes soooooooo cute" and then giggles uncontrollably.

I, never having biological siblings, and while having wonderful step-brothers never really had 'normal' sibling relationships didn't know what to expect with siblings.  I realize I'm only a month into this, but I expected to deal with jealousy and for the Bebes to compete for our attention.  While that does happen it's nothing near what I had mentally prepared for.  She doesn't seem to mind that 3D needs a lot of our attention, she just wants to help and be a 'big sister soccer player.' She has her moments but overall she's been amazing as well.  I'm overjoyed that at this point, our little family of four seems to be getting along rather well.

The only problem we've had with 3D thus far is that in the beginning he wasn't a huge fan of eating and gaining weight, he was more interested in sleeping.  HE IS SOOO MY CHILD.  We had to start waking him up more often to eat.  I wasn't producing enough so we started supplementing with formula, he then decided he didn't like the formula.  He's not allergic to lactose but he's sensitive to it.  So now we are trying lactose free formula.  We are about 30 hours into it, and things are looking up...remember FIVE hours of sleep....crazy little guy.  I'm giving it about 15-20 more hours before I call this a success....we shall see.

 In other news, I'm leaving the house tomorrow...alone.  I'm excited.  I see coffee or a frosty in my future.

Dave and I are both doing well.  We are on a whole new level of marital awesome over here.  After the Bebes was born we struggled to be an awesome couple. This time around has been absolutely perfect.  We are both trying so hard to work as a team and take care of each other.  He went back to work this week after 3 weeks at home with us.  I miss him terribly.  I struggle to use the word 'help' I could rant for hours about how I feel with husbands who 'help' their wives with housework and child raising...OMG the raging feminist in me comes out.  BUT Dave has been more than an equal partner taking care of me through 2 weeks bedrest, an ER visit, a case of mastitis, 102.6 fever...it's been a crazy 4-6 weeks and I'm beyond grateful to have him....he also cooks....be jealous.

On that note, I've been less sarcastic than normal and my glass of wine is just about empty.  I think its time I get some sleep.  We have the next two days off as a family and I want to be as rested as possible.  Can I cross my fingers and pray that this 4-5 hours of sleep stretches are a new trend and that Dave and I might start getting a bit of sleep here and there...maybe at the same time.  Currently we spend about 45 minutes in the same bed every night.  At least we don't have to share covers?  I do like sleeping in the middle of the bed...not going to sugar coat that fact.

Hope you all have a lovely evening, weekend? weekend is coming right?  What day is this?

Goooooood Morning Vietnam.

Project:

The other day....Dave and I got ambitious and started a project.  While we worked on the project the Bebes did this:

Baby Dave did this:

We did this:

Other than a few small baskets and a shoe rack, OOOH and a pile of pants I wouldn't let myself try on or get rid of for a few more weeks till I can legitimately give them a yes/no/wtf....our closet STILL looks this cleaned out, I have NO clothes and we donated so much to Goodwill today, the man brought out a blue bin on wheels to help us remove the bags from our vehicle.  

Thankfully we did find our bed again, and the ladder is still in the middle of our bedroom but thats from a roof leaking issue that is still under investigation....by your mom.

I'm not letting myself go shopping till I fit back into my pre-pregnancy jeans.  So thats what like next week right?  RIGHT?  

I miss zippers.......I don't however miss my ugly wardrobe, I got rid of some dumb looking clothes.  

Previews....BABY TOES

The fabulous Karin has again taken some wonderful pictures of our

family. More to come soon....after I go to bed...right now...zzzzz