Right Wing Mom

Confession time - I haven’t been blogging for a reason. Not a good reason - just a reason. Want to know what it is?

Want to know why? Don’t laugh.

I don’t like my blog layout.

That is it… the only reason. I’ve got some time. Some desire, even some fodder for some good (in my opinion of course) blog posts. But every time I come here… I get a feeling of blah. “Blah - I’m sick of looking at this layout.”

I am trying to get over this. Trying to find happiness and comfort in what I’ve got.

That’s hard sometimes, isn’t it? Contentment.

We live in that crazy world where every little aspect of our life could be: Bigger. Smaller. Faster. Slower. Better.

Better? Can it always be better. Should it always be better?

Two very different questions in my opinion.

Can it be better? Probably.

Should it be better? Hmmm - maybe… maybe not.

My prayer life - Could it? YES. Should it? Big time YES.

My eating habits - Could it? Yes. Should it? Yes.

My blog being better and nicer to look at- Could it? Definitely. Should it? Not right now. Soon, hopefully… but not right now.

And for now, I am ok with that.

And just because not liking my layout is a stupid reason for not blogging - I give you cute baby:

I just wanted to show off my cutie-patootie

Luke took his first shower with Daddy last night. He loved it! He only cried when we took him out

Luke’s morning nap in the swing. This is the way Mommy can get breakfast made, some chores done and school started.

Still Mommy’s princess! (yeas, its out of focus… but still cute!)

Emma loves chocolate and I mean LOVES! Dark, milk, semi-sweet… it doesn’t matter to her - she loves them all! She has even been known to share a Green and Blacks 80% Dark with me. I have never met a 2 year old who loved dark chocolate.

Of course, I don’t like her to eat it often, but I swear she has a chocolate radar. If someone in the house has chocolate, she will find that person and turn on her charm until she gets her share!

For the Superbowl we made some brownies with cream cheese and raspberries on top. Emma didn’t get any that night, as she went down for a later nap at 4:30 and slept clear through the next morning! But, I let her partake after lunch on Monday.

The barrette? Jake put it in for her.. he tried. What do expect from a 6 year old boy?

She tries so hard to eat dainty.

I think she liked them.

“What?”

How has it been a month already?

The transition has been wonderful. The kids love him. Marc and I love him. The dogs love to sniff him. The cat could care less.

He is a wonderful baby. Sleeps well. Eats great. Cries when Mommy isn’t holding him.

Loves to sleep on my chest. Constantly has one goopy eye that I just CAN’T leave alone. Hates being in his car seat. Loves being in his Moby Wrap.

I am smitten.

I was in bed with Luke. He had just finished nursing when Marc walked in and grabbed the laptop to capture a few pictures.

Cute shot of Mommy and Luke

Then he spit up a little…

Oh boy… then he did this

And this…

Yeah - he fits right in around here!

Here are the 11th and 12th month pictures I promised. I didnt get them up sooner because this house is full of germs! The kids passed it around and yesterday I found myself feeling rather nasty. I am reminded of a quote from the movie “The Devil Wears Prada” : “I am just a stomach flu away from my goal weight” OK, so I am no where close to goal weight, but a stomach flu is a (not-so) great way to drop 5 lbs over night. Alright enough of the TMI. Here are Emma’s pictures. I will post her birthday portraits when we are all well enough to travel to the mall

11 months - my little Minnie Mouse

12 months - my baby

Oh wow… I can’t believe my baby is a year old today. Should I be happy? I’m not really. It makes me kind of sad. I hate to see my babies growing up. But, I will suck it up and be joyous today! Promise

I thought I would take a look back at this year with Emma.

December 2, 2007 - Happy BIRTHday Emma!

Emma’s first Christmas

1 month old

2 months old

3 months old

4 months old

5 months old

6 months old (and still not enjoying baby food that much)

7 months old

8 months old

9 months old

10 months old

I haven’t up loaded any pictures since before halloween (oops!) But, I will be back later to put up pictures for her 10-12 month :)Thanks you for wishing our Emma a Happy First Birthday!

With my inconsistent blogging lately, I have fallen very behind in both updating and posting pictures. I thought I would try and break things down a bit - so here goes:

The last month we have celebrated both Kaitie and Mandy’s 10th birthday and Jake’s 5th birthday. Both were celebrated very differently. The girls had wonderful tea party, while Jake’s birthday was a little more low key - dinner, cake and presents.

I present you: Birthdays Part 1; Cake

So - if you can’t read (or tell) this is Kaitie and Mandy’s cake. Homemade Vanilla cake with butter cream frosting, filled with Strawberry preserves.

See those? Gum paste flowers…I made those Sorry - a little proud there. I had never worked with gum paste before, I think it turned out nicely! The girls loved it!!!

And it sharp contrast:

Jake’s cake. Homemade chocolate with butter cream frosting, filled with butter cream. Dusted with Cocoa and decorated with Star Wars figures. It take a little creativity to decorate a cake for a boy who can’t eat artificial colors.

Monsieur Jacob - from the great country of Batter Bowl, showing off his stylish batter bowl mustache.

Sorry I am getting this up kind of late today. We didn’t get home from the movies till 1:30! Do you know how much past my bedtime that is? I have been dragging a little all day

For everyone who voted last week - thank you! I’ll get the new poll up this evening. This week is all about the Animal Kingdom Lodge, which is our FAVORITE place to stay. I seriously love this hotel! When I walk into the lobby, especially from a full day at the parks… I take a deep breath and I am instantly calm, cooled and relaxed. Oh yeah, its good :)I had so many great pictures that I wanted to share, I thought I would do a little slideshow. I hope it turns out ok. Hopefully next week I will have my act a little more together! Enjoy!

a little info: All the animal photos were taken from the balcony in our rooms. The pictures with the kids in them are from the fantastic kids program in the hotel that runs throughout the day with a bunch of different activities.