catching up

I know this family blog has become neglected but I think I'm going to start picking it up again. I hate the fact that I haven't been writing much about Evelyn and her growth, funny-stuff and cute things she does like I did for Marshall on this blog. I was looking back and it was super fun to see how much her grew. I've been doing a lot of posts on my Get Pretty blog and although I like it, it doesn't seem as satisfying.

We haven't been up to much since the last time I posted, I'm serious. Life has been feeling a bit mundane for me lately. Sorry, pity party but winter months are the worst. I hate the cold and being cooped up in the house. I really do.

But here's the recents:

We spent Thanksgiving in Columbus this year. It was super nice and really, really fun to get away for just a few days. It was also nice not to have to make anything. My mom did everything! Super fun.

This is actually the only picture I got while we were in Columbus for T-day. Seriously?

We also have a very talented photography-friend who took some pictures of our family. She did a great job.

Marshall: 3 years

Evelyn: 7 months

Christmas was fun. It was great with Marshall being older. He was really excited about the tree, presents...and everything really. He got his "dinosaur robot" he had been asking for for the last 3 months prior to Christmas. Ha! He's still keeping us on our toes, getting more talkative (is that possible?), clever, still loves Preschool and has starting this awesome, AWESOME thing called....talking-back. UGH!

For New Year's my family came into town for a little bit. It was so nice to have some hanging-out time. New Year's was pretty mellow. I think me and Davis stayed up (barely) for the ball to drop and then went to bed. We are party-animals. I guess if you don't have kids and drink New Year's is a little more fun. :)

We did have a BIG trip out to Boise the first week of February. It was so so so nice to go out there again. It had been over a year since the last time we were there. We had fun spending time with Davis's family and I was able to meet up with some of my girlfriends. So nice. I really wanted to get a feel for Boise again to see if you we would like to end up there. I say its about a 80% chance we will end up there. I like Boise, but its a lot different from when I used to live there so its hard to think we'd end up there again. But it is a great city. So we'll see....only a little over a year left! AH! :)

Evelyn is almost a year old! Time has flown by. I will admit that I loved being pregnant during the winter but having a baby in the Spring was kinda hard for me because its summer right afterwards and it was hot and I didn't feel like doing anything. Kind of a weird adjustment for me for some reason. If I could describe Evelyn in one word it would be "FUN." She's a fun, fun girl. Busy, but fun. A stinker, but fun. She's got a goofy personality that makes us all laugh. She loves to dump toys, pull books off the shelves, tease Marshall and wiggles like a beast during a diaper change. All things I rarely remember Marshall doing at this age. She took off crawling about 8 months and is now pulling herself to standing now. She's a go-getter and that makes me nervous for when we gets to walking. AH! At her last appointment she was 97th for height and 30th for weight. She's even taller and skinnier than Marshall was...sheesh! She wears 12 month clothes but growing out of those soon! Big girl!

Davis's schedule has been a bit better the last half of the year. He's looking and applying for his fellowship in Cosmetic surgery right now. The one we were hoping to get in Utah has been filled so we are looking into another Utah one (Salt Lake), California and Arizona. I'm hoping for Arizona....I'd do anything for some sunshine and HOT hot weather right now! :) We are getting really excited knowing that he's heading into his 4th, chief and FINAL year of residency come July. Oh, the light at the end of the tunnel.

I'm still good. Just moming-along. I started training for a half-marathon in January. The race is May 18th and I've really enjoyed my training. I've been surprised with how I'm able to add on a mile each week and do it!!! I ran 5 miles last week and that's the furthest I've ever run (no judging long-distancers). I have to run 6 this weekend and I'm ready...bring it. :) I'm still apart of the mom's group at Marshall's preschool and the Residency Wive's club. I'm loving both!


Here's some pictures from the last little bit:

Merry Christmas from the Christmas elf

Evie got a cupcake hat for Christmas.

Grump face...

First swing! We get some warmer days here and there.

Marshall at this awesome and FREE train station.

Ice cream!

In Boise, with cousin Amarra. 

Getting pulled by grandma (and later the horse) at G & G house in Boise!

So fun!!

I promise to be better at posting on the family blog! I need to "journal" more.

whoa.

I know, I know. I'm writing on my family blog! Its been quite the summer. I finally feel like I snapped out of my "post-baby haze." It was bad this time. Evelyn is will be 7 month (what?) in just days and I can't believe it. We didn't have too much of an exciting summer. It was hot, just really really really really hot. I was grumpy, Marshall was crazy, Evelyn was smiley and perfect and Davis was...um, insanely busy...and gone a lot. I will say though, we did have a very FUN and MUCH needed family vacation with my side of the family to Lake Michigan and that was a blast...and like I said, much needed.

Things kicked up a bit recently with a visit from Grandma Kathleen (playing, shopping, playing, more shopping, visit to Grants Farm) the end of September and then a visit from Grandma Val (playing, lots of playing, chilling, relaxing, huge pumpkin patch, more fun) the middle of October. I love when we get visitors!

Family News: Marshall started preschool in August. To say he loves it is much of an understatement. He goes twice a week for a couple hours, has 2 teachers-Ms. Joan and Ms. Jenn. They are fantastic and Marshall is all smiles when we talk about them. He plays, crafts, plays, has music class, plays some more, reads books and just gets to be a kid in scheduled environment. I've seen MASSIVE improvements in his behavior. He's learning to listen better, sit still and able to rid of some of his busy energy in a positive way. I've enjoyed a break to run errands and spend a little one-on one with Evie. Marshall is an incredible little boy with a big heart. He wants to do whats right and he's a great and very loving big brother. Growing up too fast for me....

Evelyn is a hoot. A goof and a complete delight. She's all grins over her. Look at her you get a grin. Smiles, smiles, smiles. I'm not kidding. She's a GREAT and cheerful little girl and we just eat up all her happiness. She's bright eyed and a bit of a stinker but I love it. She'll be 7 months next week. She's 97th in height and 50th in weight. About 13 pounds! She's in 6-9 month clothes, has her 2 bottom teeth, razzes, babbles, GROWLS (just in time for Halloween---hee, hee) and is pushing herself up to crawl. She mostly gets around by rolling, and rolling and rolling. That girl can roll anywhere and it cracks us up. I love her pieces. She just makes my heart happy and I'm so happy to have my little girl.

Davis is busy. Really busy. Second year might have been a rough one but 3rd year has been a busy one. I feel like he has been on-call more (which he really hasn't) but he had a few busy rotations in a row and it hit me hard. He's doing his best juggling work and fatherhood and husband-stuff and coming out pretty top-notch. He's a pretty incredible person and I'm blessed to have him.

Me. Oh, me. I'm good. I'm coming around. :) I recently hacked the hair short again. I like it, but it did take about a week or so for me to adjust. I'm really loving it now. Easy, simple and fun---just what I needed. I do miss my longer hair though and will probably take the journey of growing it out again her soon. I've been busy with mother/wife-y things but recently joined a Mom' Group from Marshall's preschool and a Resident Wive's club. I've enjoyed both and am starting to make some good friends. I'm still crafting, sewing and beautify-ing. My 'Get Pretty' blog has picked up which is most to blame for the lack of posting here but I felt I had to catch up to journal a bit.

I'm almost done.... but last night Davis and I went to see Les Miserables at the Fox Theater. It was our first date night since Evelyn was born. It was incredible! The theater itself was mouth-dropping but the musical was so wonderfully done and we had a blast. What a great date night!

Things are good. We are busy but enjoying life as it comes. Here's some pictures:

The new hair

Me and Evelyn. She's funny. I'm trying to be a "cool Mom" and wear trendy colored jeans. Plus, I've been slacking in the post-baby-weight-loss for the last couple months but got my act together this past little bit and fit back into my jeans. I still have about 6 or 7 pounds to go.

Marshall at the Pumpkin Patch. These pumpkins were huge!

The kids. Precious! :)

Evie in a nut-shell. She's a goof. Loves her teething biscuits!

Last night at the Fox. 

Oh! And I did the Color Run here in August. It was soooooo much fun! I got colored! :)

That's the latest. I'll try harder to post more often.

OH! And make sure you swing by Get Pretty to sign up for the Giveaway I have going on!

i'm addicted...

My mom gave me this shirt to inspire me...cute huh?

I mentioned a while ago that I was planning on doing a sprint triathlon August 4th...oh, don't worry...I'm still  planning on it. But I'm super nervous this time around. I did my first one last April and thought it was a complete blast! I was hooked and ready to sign up for another one a week after. I know people think I'm crazy for doing things like this but they don't understand.

There is something complete exhilirating about working for something hard, that you NEVER thought you could accomplish and finishing it. Plus, pushing yourself to the up-most extreme is empowering. It makes me feel strong, powerful and gives me confidence. I love it! Its hard work...but I can do hard things.

My last tri I trained for 3 months, 6 days a week for about 2 hours a day.

This time around I've trained for about 6 weeks, 5 days a week for about 1 hour a day and just had a baby 4 months ago. Whoa. See why I'm nervous?

My last races distances were: 400 yard swim, 12.5 mile bike and 3.1 mile run

This time its: 300 yard swim, 16.5 mile bike and 3.1 mile run.

Its a little different this time around and I'm really nervous for the longer bike because that was my biggest struggle last time....granted it was 40*, rainy and windy so I'm hopping the (probably) 100* weather will help...ha! :)

Well, I've really felt unprepared...and honestly a bit crazy for doing something this soon after having a baby but I just had to set a goal for myself and do something for myself. I really missed breaking out in a crazy sweat and pushing my limits while pregnant so I just had to get it out I guess.

Some days I feel like calling it off and quitting and other days I feel powerful and know I can do it. 

We'll see I guess. And thanks to all the friends and family who have been so optimistic and encouraging! 

Wish me luck! 

PS. I'm doing a HUGE giveaway over at Get Pretty so make sure you sign up!!! End August 1st.

click here to enter

3 months...& more

We've had a really fun and busy summer so far. Summer always goes by so fast! The weather has been INSANELY hot over the past week and we've broken record highs that have been around since the 1930's! I'm ready for some rain and cool weather. It makes it hard to get out with the kids but we've found things to do...

Evelyn turned 3 months! I can't believe how big she has gotten and 3 months is when the fun really begins! Her personality is coming out more, she babbling like crazy, she loves her swing (I think mostly because of the mirror she can see herself in!), her face is filling out, she starting to grab at things, rolls on her side, loves to snuggle with blankets, sleeps 7 hours a night (booyah---I can't believe it either!) and loves her family. She's always smiling, cheerful and just a very happy little girl.

Like I said, we've kept busy so here's what we've been up to!

Look at that precious face!

Snuggle bunny!!! Marshall loves to share his blanket and doggie with sissy.

People often say that Evelyn looks like Marshall but being the mom, I just don't see it.  Especially comparing baby pics they really don't look extremely alike....but I did see it a bit in this picture. Evelyn is trying out her pea pod for the first time. She's pretty wobbly in it still....

Trying to grab...

My mom, sister and niece and nephew came into town last week. We braved the heat and hit up Purina Farms---what a FUN place! He's Marshall playing with the tractors.

Went to the World Bird Sanctuary with some friends! 

Marshall being a cowboy...giddy-up!

Purina Farms again.

Went to the Pool when family came into town. It was the ONLY thing to do in the heat and we had a blast. Stayed for 3 hours!!! Wow!!!

Grandma and Evie. 

We went out to dinner one night and when I went to get Marshall out of the car I realized he looked like he was headed to the beach! He picked out those flip-flops by himself at Old Navy. :) Stud!

Davis celebrated his 31st birthday! We had tonkatsu (his favorite Japanese dish) and some yummy cake. After eating his piece of cake Marshall turned to us and said, "That changed my life guys..." He's hilarious. He gets funnier and funnier as the years go by!

Cuties!!!

Father's Day outfit! I love her smile!!!

World Bird Sanctuary again. They had the coolest birds here but Marshall came running to me and was soooo excited to tell me they had PIGEONS! Wow!!! Pigeons! :) He also talked and talked about the black chicken that went "be-goooook!"

Also...
Davis started his 3rd year of residency on the 1st. He seems to like the more responsibility it gives him as well as being able to sleep a bit when he's on call overnight. I can't believe we are half way over. I get sad when I think of moving from St. Louis. I absolutely LOVE it here! I'm excited to see where we end up, though.

I'm in the last stretch of training for my Sprint Triathlon I'm doing on August 4th. I'm super excited and surprised at how fit I still feel even just having a baby. I'm still working on my running because I didn't do much of it pregnant but I've been surprised at how fast I snapped back! I know it might not be my best race but I'm just excited to be doing one at and excited to be doing to it with one of my friends here.
They are so fun! I have another race the following weekend (because I'm insane), its just a 5k and a color run! Can't wait!!!

Marshall has been doing really, really good with the baby-adjusting. We've had a few set-backs with his potty training though and he's regressed quite a bit which has been frustrating but his pediatrician said its normal. I'm waiting for things to settle down a bit and we will work on it some more. I'm in the process of trying to find a preschool for him. He needs something like that so bad! He's a smart kid and needs some kind of extra stimulation to keep him busy! Plus, I could use a break a couple times a week from his busy-ness!
That's what we've been up to! Another busy month---so stay tuned!

welcome to the "real world"!!!

I have a huge canker sore in my mouth right now and I only get those when I'm stressed out. And yes, I'm stressed out. This isn't my usual "my life is awesome!!!" blog post, this is a flat-out whine fest!!! I'm hoping its somewhat therapeutic for me...and maybe for someone else too! :)

I love a structured life. I'm a very schedule oriented, organized person. I like things neat and clean, no clutter in my house and in my life. I didn't really have very many expectations as to what life would bring come baby #2. I just was planning on taking it as it came...and I have...barely. 

Yes, it been rough. Harder than I thought? No, because I didn't really know what to expect. And overall, its good but there are just certain situations that are harder like leaving the house at a certain time to get somewhere, or bedtime or dinnertime or running errands (and having a baby who screams bloody murder in her carseat doesn't help!). 

Evelyn is a good baby and so was Marshall. There are certain things Marshall was better at (I could take him anywhere! He loved his car seat and the car. He'd just sit in there...so nice!) and certain things Evelyn is better at (sleeping!) so there really not a "worse kid" here is just that adding that extra kid has made my life turn upside down. Who knew just adding another little person could make such a difference? 

With Marshall it was really, really easy to adjust to. After 6 weeks, life just kinda went back to its flow. I could run errands, take a shower, make dinner just fine. And I'm sure if I just had Evelyn alone it would be the same but the 2 of them together are rough!!!

I can't get anything done without some kinda drama going on and that's hard for me!!! I'm used to getting to places on time, having no interruptions (for the most part) and being able to actually leave the house! Here's an example of my day...this is just today. Oh, I might start it from last night!

So Evelyn went to bed about 9:30pm which is pretty typical of her and then she will usually wake up about 2am for a feeding and then 5 or 6 to be up for the day. Seriously, she's awesome. Well, last night she woke up at 11:30, 1:45am, 3 am and 5:30....why? I don't know. She hasn't done that since she was a newborn. 

Well, Marshall wakes up at 6am....or earlier so even though I did get to bed by 10:15, I'm pooped. 

Well, we got a new jogging stroller and since I'm training for a spring tri right now, I really wanted to try it out. I knew I had to get out about 8:30am or forget it because of the heat/humidity. 

I get the kids in the stroller and realized all the tires are majorly flat so I load 'em out and spend the next 40 minutes trying to pump these lame tires. No joke. Finally get them pumped, Marshall has to pee, take him pee, come out back outside and Evelyn is freeeeeeeeaking out, decide to just go and see if she settles down, she doesn't , tires go flat again and Marshall has to pee...again. Yep, jog lasted 1 minute tops. Shoot.

Moving on...I mentioned to Marshall that we could go to the library for the "dance party" they were having that day. I rock Evelyn to sleep, situate Marshall in his room with some toys and hop in the shower. Marshall is pulling the shower curtain open whining for a juice box, I hear Evelyn has woken up and is screaming...yay. I get ready in 2.3 minutes, pulling back my wet hair in a ponytail, feed Evelyn and pray to God she goes back to sleep on the way to the library. She doesn't. We are late for the "dance party" and its full...they won't let us in. Boo! Meanwhile, Evelyn is still screaming. We get books, check out and leave.

I needed to go to Joannes and thankfully Evelyn feel asleep while in the library while I was picking out books, so we swing by McGross-o's to get some lunch and while we are eating in the parking lot, Evelyn wakes up, is good for about 5 minutes and starts crying. Seriously, she hates that carseat!!! She stops the SECOND you take her out, no joke. So, she screams the whole time we are in the store and Marshall loses his cool as well, lady cuts in front  of me in line (I would have said something but I knew it would have just been bad---I probably would have taken out my whole day on her so I kept quiet), cashier and her have a nice chit-chat while I sit there was 2 screaming children. I'm starving again (thank you nursing), have a headache and my boobs are hanging out (thank you nursing)...leave the store finally! And Marshall has peed his pants...yet again! 

Evelyn screams the whole way home and thank goodness the crabby 2 1/2 year old crashed, with wet pants (and he is sleeping now in bed with those wet pants right now...sue me!).

And this was allllll before 12:30. 

But both kids are sleeping now and I will be here soon, too!

I'd love say it was just a "bad day" but this is a pretty typical day for me and its rough. Its hard to get the stares from everyone at the stores or the comments about Evelyn screaming. Its hard to not have ANY time to myself besides the small 40 minutes or hour I get while I kids sleep. Its hard to have my structured life style completely go in shambles. Its hard to stay patient and be happy in moments like this. Its hard not to just give up and lose it for the day... :)

But I get it, God is trying to teach me and mold me. I don't like it, but I'm learning its a process.

I can't do everything I want to do anymore, I can't make it to everything I want to do. I might have to spend more time at home, I might have to be late, I might have to put that project aside. I really have had to simplify everything and I'm coming to terms that that's okay.

I know it will get easier as Evelyn gets older but its been an adjustment. I can't say its been "hard" but it definitely has been a life-changing adjustment for me having 2 kids. Its teaching me to patient, flexible, and humble. 

I'm anxious to see what everyday brings because its unpredictable.

And I'm surprised I still have a full head of hair.

Now excuse while I go stuff my nursing-starved face.

:) 

Thanks for letting me vent...

Lately...

Well, Evelyn will be 7 weeks on Monday! What? I know, time flies. Things are good. She's a lot like Marshall so far, as far as newborn stuff goes. I tell people I feel like I'm raising the same baby. She is a better sleeper though...usually gives me good 4 hour chunks at night (6 the last 2 nights) and naps great too. She's a little more dramatic with the crying & makes some pretty sad faces that make us laugh. Her personality is coming out a little more and we've gotten a few smiles here & there. She's very happy & bright-eyed though. I just love her & look forward as to what's to come. We make pretty awesome kids.... :)
Marshall is doing awesome with her. He's always willing to help & loves to give her kisses & hugs. He really is super good to her. They are going to be good buds. I do feel bad that we don't get out as much. He is a lot like me-not much if a homebody. I'm looking forward getting back to the gym here soon so he can play with his friends there. Love him...
Breast feeding is going sooooo much better. After a bad case of mastitis( super ouch!!!) things are looking up. I just have to watch what I eat a little better-learned that the hard way.
Davis's last night on night float is tonight---thank goodness!!! Man, it's a rough one but we survived!!!! We are looking forward to family coming into town this weekend for Evelyn's baby blessing & Davis's whole family will be here next week for a vacation too--much needed!!!
Well, that's about it for us update- wise. Now enjoy some pictures....