Easter Weekend Celebration

Most people celebrate Easter on Sunday, and only Sunday. However, with having two different halves of the family to celebrate with, we make it a weekend. We started out on Saturday heading to my mother-in-laws. She made the traditional Easter dinner with Ham and all the trimmings for us, my brother-in-law, and grandma. She got the kids a few treats and toys to celebrate the day. She got Nolan a new puzzle, Ryenn a new baby doll, and coloring books for the two of them.

We celebrated the Easter bunny visiting on Sunday morning. The Easter bunny is a fantastic giver every year to our kids. He spoils them too much!

Happy Early Birthday Beebs!

Adam and I have been wanting to get the kids a play set since last summer. We just couldn't find one that seemed like a good fit for toddlers and that seemed like a good quality. I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that Ryenn was still too little to really climb last year so almost all of them seemed a waste of money.

Most and Least Favorite Thing about Parenthood

What’s my most and least favorite thing about parenthood? So many things ran through my head as I was trying to pinpoint the things I love most and least about parenthood. I knew that this was going to be apart of the 30 things my kids should know about me list before I ever even read it in its entirety. Let's start with the negative.

My least favorite thing about parenthood would have to be dealing with babysitting/daycare. I am very picky about who I leave my kids with and am dreading the day I ever have to find a daycare for my kids. While I know that there are numerous daycares that are great with kids, I worry about leaving them with someone other than me. I have chosen to be a stay-at-home mom for numerous reasons, but one of them was daycare. I don't like to go out much because of the simple fact that I would be home with them than have someone else watch them. I could never forgive myself if something happened to any of my kids while under someone else's watch. I would always think that if I were there, that something never would have happened.

16 week (and 5 Day) Update

I haven't updated on the baby's progress in a while, which I apologize for. We are getting closer and closer to being able to find out what this little baby is! I am beyond excited! I am guessing that it's going to be a girl. I am mostly basing this off the fact that I want a boy. It has happened that whatever I want gender wise, I get the opposite. Girls are much more difficult than boys. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that I wish Ryenn was a boy or that I can't handle her. I just don't think I could handle two attitudes like Ryenn's. She is a DIVA! Anyway, this Saturday we are 17 weeks along. That means a 3 measly weeks until we know what this little nugget is!

The World has this Wrong

I was confused with how to answer this question. Do I get spiritual? Does it have to be something including me? Is it something I have wrong as well? I was wondering how I would answer what popular notion that I think the world has most wrong for the 30 things my kids should know about me. Seeing as this list is about me, I decided that it must be something that I am included in. Recently I got into a heated argument over Twitter with what I feel was the most ignorant woman in the world. I know that this may sound harsh or rude, but she just didn't get it. It was on the topic of stay-at-home moms (SAHM).

Our 3rd Wedding Anniversary (How I KNEW He was THE ONE)

I always thought that my mom was lying when she said she couldn't really remember her life before she and Ray got married. I thought there is no way possible you just forget those things. Yet here I sit, not being able to remember a time before I met this man I sit next to as we speak. I feel like he has always been in my life, has always been my husband. I felt like today, being our 3rd wedding anniversary and all, was a perfect time to write about how I knew Adam was the one for the 30 things my kids should know about me list.

We met when I started working at Advantage Health. We had talked a bit before actually going out on our first date. For me, the timing wasn't that great but I thought what the Hell. At that time he was working two jobs, security at Saint Mary's (Advantage Health is a doctors office located inside one of Saint Mary's Emergency Room locations) and supervisor at the Advance Newspaper. When we started officially dating, getting time together was somewhat difficult. He and I worked so much and had other commitments to tend to. Nonetheless we made it work.

5 Strengths and Weaknesses

While I am trying to be honest, I wanted to avoid this item on the 30 things my kids should know about me list. Describe 5 strengths and weaknesses you have. I know that I have weaknesses but I like to either think of them as things I am working on or not at all. However, after reading Courtney Palmer's blog yesterday, I decided to tackle this question/task. Seeing as I want to end on a positive note, I will start with my weaknesses.

WEAKNESSES

1. My self confidence. I can honestly say that in the past four years of my life, this has improved. However, I still feel that it is lacking. I went from one abusive situation to another and used to believe my self worth to be next to nothing. I was told that school was a waste of my time, that dreaming of signing on a big stage was a waste of time, and that I wasn't good enough. I was constantly torn down with any little bit of success I saw. I was an emotional eater due to being cheated on, lied to, and abused. I felt alone no matter what I was doing. I finally read one of the most amazing books (It's Called a Break-up because it's Broken) and got in a relationship with one of the most amazing men I knew. This book taught me how to move on in 30 days (or less, I think it was more like 15) from the train wreck of a life I was trying to preserve. The person I saw in the mirror was finally becoming who I wanted it to be. I am still working on it, but I have made huge strides in the past few years.

What I love most about Adam.....

In the 30 things my kids should know about me list, I was excited to write about my favorite quality in my husband. Because there are so many things I love about him, it was hard to decide what I love most. He is funny, caring, determined, and loving. I think the thing I love the most about him is his sense of humor.

My Typical Day

My typical day. I wish there was a typical day for me. My days are always different. However, for the sake of the 30 things my kids should know about me list, I will try to describe what I do everyday (because we all know stay at home moms just sit around on Pinterest and watching TV).

10 Influential People

The 30 things my kids should know about me list has taken a back seat for a bit, but I am glad to be moving on to number 9: list 10 people who have influenced you and describe how. I have been contemplating who would make the cut, who has influenced my life, and which people have made the biggest impact of all those who have influenced my life.

1. I decided to be lame and start the list with my mother. Most women will say they have been influenced by their mom's, but I couldn't think of anyone who has made a bigger impact on my life. She has taught me strength, compassion, my morals, and above all, how to just be myself. She endured so much throughout my childhood (abuse, cheating, raising a family practically on her own) and I never once felt that she was lacking. She worked like a dog to provide for my sisters and I. She picked up the slack that the man in her life was more than willing to give. She has shown an immense amount of love, forgiveness, and understanding for my sisters and I. She has been there through our heartbreaks, our successes, our children's births (oh the many births this woman has witnessed), and been more than willing to lend a hand in our time of need. Although I no longer live at home with my mom, I always feel like my home is where my mom is.

10 Week (and 1 day) Update

Yesterday marked 10 weeks into this pregnancy. It seems amazing to me that almost 6 weeks ago, we found out we were adding to our family. The past 6 weeks have gone by fast and painfully slow at the same time. I am ready to hear this little baby's heartbeat (scheduled appointment on the 15th). However, I am finally getting my energy back and able to eat like a normal human being. I have been having cravings. I still have days where nausea is present, but they are becoming less and less.

Decided against editing pictures (due to lack of energy)

All You Need is....SLEEP

This pregnancy seems a lot more difficult than my first two. I mean I haven't had a bunch of complications, but I am having a difficult time. Like I said with my 9 week update, I have lacked energy. I have always been able to survive on about 4 hours of sleep. Usually anymore than that and I am a wreck for the day. Adjusting to the lack of sleep that comes with motherhood has been easy for me. I have been able to get next to now sleep since I was a child.

9 Week Update

9 weeks! As of today we are 9 weeks along. I am amazed that we found out so early that we are having our 3rd little bundle. We found out we were pregnant with Ryenn when I was about 9 weeks along. With Nolan, it was 16 weeks along! I know this last number seems nuts, but I was having regular cycles throughout my pregnancy with Nolan until around that time. Anyway, 9 weeks! 31 more weeks (or sooner seeing as I have gone into labor early with both the other babies) until we meet our little munchkin. We had talked about baby number 3, but wanted to wait until I was done with school in about a year. However, life had other plans for us.


25 weeks along with Nolan

5 Greatest Accomplishments

Everyone has different things that they believe to be great accomplishments. I was excited to share what I think are my 5 greatest accomplishments on the 30 things my kids should know about me list.

1. Becoming a wife. I know that this is an easy accomplishment in most people's eyes, but for me I think this is one of my greatest accomplishments. I was able to marry a man who completely has my heart. He takes great care of his family. He is my best friend. He loves me with everything he has and would move mountains for me. Once I found him, I knew that there would never be such a perfect person for me to share my life with. I think finding a spouse that makes your life better and compliments you (not as in give you compliments but makes you a better you) is hard to find. For me, I was able to find that in my very first try. He and I were meant to spend our lives with one another.

My Dream Job

I know it has been a while since I have updated (which I will explain later this week) so I am jumping right back into the list. What is your dream job, and why? This is something that I have had the answer to since I was in sixth grade, so having this on the 30 things my kids should know about me list was too easy. I went through those phases where I wanted to be a vet, a singer (which would still be awesome), a football player, and a dentist. In sixth grade however, I decided I wanted to be a lawyer and haven't changed my mind since. Instead I have been trying to hone in on which type of lawyer I actually want to be. I am currently in school to achieve just that.

Close Up Trip 2006

Hardest Part of Growing Up

Growing up. It's hard to fathom the difficulties that come with growing up as a child. I thought this was a good thing to include on the 30 things my kids should know about me list. While I think my life has been an incredible journey, it has been difficult as well. I think that the hardest part about growing up is the responsibility.

When you become an adult, the decisions you make have bigger consequences. There are bigger consequences about which job you choose, what you wear, how to spend your money, and even what you eat. I think knowing that if you mess up you are the only one who can clean up the mess is terrifying. I am not going to say that every decision that I have made as an adult has been a great one or even that I haven't had help when I screw up. With that being said, I couldn't expect a clean up crew for every mistake.

Pet Peeves

This is another less serious item on the 30 Things My Kids Should Know About Me list. I don't really have 10 pet peeves per se, but I have 10 things that bother me more than anything. Some of these answers will be a little goofy and less serious, others are a little deeper. Let's just get to it.

1. Smacking. I get so bothered when I hear people smacking their food when they eat. It is super irritating.

2. Deadbeat dads. I hate can't stand when men have babies and do nothing to take care of them or stay in their child's life. I think that it shows classlessness and a lack of character. Whether this be teen fathers or 50 year old men. By choosing to have unprotected sex, you are risking the chances of becoming a parent.

Favorite Part of My Body

I feel that everything on this 30 things my kids should know about me list has been pretty serious and gets serious answers. When I first read number 27, I couldn't help but laugh. Not at the question, but at how I would answer this. What is your favorite part of your body and why? I have always said the same thing when asked this question, for as long as I can remember. My butt!

10 Things to Tell Your 16 Year-Old Self

Looking to number four on the 30 things my kids should know about me I was excited to get to this one. I have thought a lot about the things I would tell my teenage self if I could so having a list 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could question was awesome to me. It was difficult to narrow down the list but I thought about the most important things to me now and what I wish I had done a bit differently.

My Relationship with My Husband

The 30 things my kids should know about me list is pretty extensive and has already given me such insight on my life and the people who are in it. The third thing on the list is to describe your relationship with your spouse. Summing up such an intense and loving relationship is going to be hard, but I am up for the challenge.