Family Photos

Finally, we have some "family of five" photos....casual, unorganized, chaotic and un-styled -- we've been meaning to get professional photos done all summer, but with our business, this is the best we could do in a pinch. Pretty dang good if I do say so myself!! 

Can't wait to take photos again this time next year when little Jameson is with us!!

Thank you, Stephanie!! 

Sidney & Me

Everyone always tells me that Sidney is a mini version of myself - and these pictures make it kind of crystal clear. She is most definitely my twin! I love this big little girl of mine, heart and soul.

Photo Credit: Pam Burke Photography

(I'll be sharing more of our recent shoot with Pam throughout the week - it's so amazing to finally have found a family photographer that I adore! We've got more sessions lined up for the rest of the year, and I know the results will be amazing. Her work is so beautiful, and she's a dream to work with. Anyone in the SWVA area looking for a fantastic photographer should definitely contact her, her work really does speak for itself!) 

I know it's only been a couple of weeks since I posted a "sleeping babies" photo, but here I am, doing it again. These moments of peacefulness and adorableness co-existing are few and far between at times, so I like to capture them while I can. 

I savor these moments and recall them fondly when I'm trying to cook supper while the big kid is running laps through the house (clothing-optional at times) and the little one is screaming at me to pick her up so she can play with the pot of boiling noodles - I swear I'm never so happy as to see Justin walk through the door (although I can only imagine what it's like to walk into this madness every evening!) 

Life with two, shew! Life with three? God help me. 

Time to Clean Out The Closets & Drawers!

                                                              1//2//3//4//5//6//7//8//9//10

The rapidly-approaching cooler weather has definitely got me digging through the girls' dressers looking for warmer clothes, and believe it or not, they actually need more clothes! Summer was good to us and they rocked out their summer wardrobes as long as possible. But I can definitely see the need for some layering pieces and longer sleeves - a shopping trip is in our imminent future, for sure! 

[All of these items are from the Carters brand, which I love and adore, but we rarely ever buy anything "new" - I would say a good 90% of the kids' clothes are either hand-me-downs from family or bought second-hand at some awesome local stores. Kids outgrow clothes way too fast for us to justify spending so much money on, so we are definitely a second-hand family when it comes to outfitting our girls! But I still love looking at the "latest" kids looks for inspiration and fun!]

Even though I know these days are numbered (and passing so quickly!) I'm really enjoying being a "mother of two" right now.

These girls of ours are so much fun, so different and yet so compatible. It's amazing to see the sisterly bond form and grow over time, to see how far they've come and imagine how far they'll go yet. Having two is definitely an adventure (I can't even begin to imagine what three will be like!), and there are times when I feel a little guilty for throwing off the balance of our family just as we seem to settle into it.

These two really do love each other; they already have their own secrets and inside jokes. Every time I hear a giggle fit break out between them, I can't help but smile ear to ear. They've got their own language, their own everything separate from me, which is comforting to my heart. Even without me, they'll always have one another.

That's not to say it isn't ear-piercing loud and hard as hell sometimes. As much as they've figured out the whole "sisterly bonding" thing, they've also managed to learn each other's hot buttons and can fight like no one's business. We have our fair share of tears and jealousy and fights. But at the end of the day, I know they are happy to see one another, happy to be the big sister/little sister team they are.

I've thought a lot about my hopes for the gender of this next (and last!) baby, and while I know it'd be nice to have a son for many different reasons, I can't imagine not having girls all around me. There's just something so magical about sisters, I don't think either one of my girls would mind if we introduced another little "Sissy" into our group!

lately

It's hard to get a good picture of all the jumping happening here! 

Happy sisters :)

My gal has style

McD's date

Quincy & Rhealen

My little model - the third picture down kills me! 

Bundled up - it's been super chilly here! 

Could she be any cuter? I think not. 

Waiting on the big sister to do her bathroom business! 

Every now and then we get a day warm enough to swing. 

{5 months}

This time last year we were just finding out that baby #2 was indeed a girl - and now, a year later, we've got a five month old Rhealen Jo sitting here. This little lady is growing (slowly) like a weed; she's on the small ends of the charts, but that's okay. She'll catch up and level out eventually. For now, she's just petite!

Rhealen loves to pull hair, scream at the top of her lungs (just for fun), chew on her toes, sit up and look around, stare at her big sister, hang out in her swing and ride in the car, just staring out the window. She's definitely a lover of those she knows well, but she can be a little nervous around other people.

I love watching Sidney & Rhealen together - there's nothing in the world quite like it. Rhealen absolute adores Sidney; if Sidney's in the room, everyone else disappears to her. Sidney loves being the "big sister" and will remind RJ of that fact 100 times a day. That works out okay right now, but I have a feeling it'll be the start of many fights later on down the road...

At her four month check-up she was 12 lbs and 10 oz, so I'm excited to see how much weight she's gained in a month. She keeps getting longer and longer (24.5 inches at four months) but she still feels light as a feather. Sidney was always an over-achiever and in the 99% percentile for everything; poor Rhealen is only in the 10% percentile! It's amazing how kids can be so different...

Other than some breathing problems, Rhealen is perfectly healthy. They're thinking she might have asthma, and she's been on breathing treatments, but things seem to be getting better for her...so I'll update on that when I can.

Rhealen is a great baby, a much loved and needed addition to our family. We couldn't have asked for a better little girl; we laugh about it now, about how we were so panicked Rhealen would be a monster baby since Sidney was such an easy little angel. She may turn out to be a wild child later on, but for now she's the sweetest little dumpling anyone could hope for.

Our family feels complete with her here. There were questions in my mind before about whether or not we were done, whether or not I wanted more kids; but those questions are answered now. I'm perfectly happy with my girls. My two sweet, beautiful girls. I can't imagine adding a third in the mix; it all feels perfectly perfect right now, just the two of them.

They can make it if they try.

bathtime

Sometimes the most mundane tasks can be the most magical moments. 

graciously rubbing it in...

My kids are golden.

I am so lucky, sometimes it's hard for Justin and me to grasp just how lucky we got! Our girls are the biggest joys in our lives, obviously, and they're both so awesome 24/7 (or at least 23/7, everyone is allowed a little bummer time)...

Sidney has been putting herself to bed lately...she just up and announces it's time for bed around 8:30 or 9:00 and off she goes. One of us will tuck her in and let her "blow out" the light (just like my mom and dad used to do with me, I love passing down traditions!) and she's usually asleep in less than 10 seconds. There's no whining, no arguing, nothing. When she's ready, she's ready. And in the morning when I wake her up for school she usually will say, "Do I have to go to school today?" and I have learned to say "Nope, you can stay home if you want." She then follows that up with "BUT I HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL TODAY! WHO WILL SIT IN MY SEAT? THEY NEED ME!"

So, yeah, she's never cried once about having to go to school. She eats her food, uses the toilet like a grown-up, plays extremely well by herself with that incredible imagination of hers, gets along with others, refuses to let other kids get her in trouble at school, loves to hang out with everyone in our family, takes such good care of her baby sissy, and manages to not act like a diva most of the time. Of course she has her moments, and when they happen oh dear g-d are they awful, but luckily they're few and far in between.

And then there's Rhealen...sweet little RJ. Y'all may think you have a good baby - you haven't seen a good baby until you've seen our little one. She is perfection, rolled into a blue-eyed girl with blonde/brown/red hair. She's the best. She sleeps like a champion, eats even better than that, has no worries in the world and never fusses (unless you lay her horizontal, dear g-d, don't lay that child flat down whatever you do).

She's been sleeping through the night since the first of August, and when I say "sleeping through the night", I mean she goes to bed around 10PM and I have to wake her up to get ready in the morning at 7AM. She always wakes up smiling and cooing, it's the sweetest way to start the morning. Who could ever be mad when you see that sweet face? Rhealen will even wake up to smile and talk to her Daddy while he's getting ready and then go right back to sleep when he leaves. SHE'S AMAZING, that child of mine. Everyone who keeps her says she's the best baby, and she really is. I would say bragging on her might jinx us, but she's too damn good not to brag about.

Justin and I got so damned lucky. We must've been martyrs in our past lives or something.

Sidney the student

I meant to blog about Sidney's first day of school, started the post, and then it got lost somewhere in my draft folder. Oops!

So far, Sidney is loving school - she's happy to have her Saturday and Sunday off, but ready to go back first thing Monday morning. It's the sweetest. She's had a couple little meltdowns after school, but I think it's just from being tired. (She cried one night saying all the kids hated her and no one would play with her -- Mom checked on her next day and found her in the middle of four little boys playing her heart out!)

sleepy

Life must be so hard for an (almost) 4-year-old and an (almost) 3-month old girl. My sweet babies!

{Tomorrow's Five Question Friday post is ready to go and Lord willing, will go up in the morning! Come back in the morning to meet our first guest blogger!}

today is a big day leading up to an even bigger day!

Today, Sidney has orientation for Pre-K at the school. I told her this morning I might cry come Monday when she officially starts. She told me, "Mom, I hate it when you cry." She said it not so much in a sweet way, but in an annoyed, wish you wouldn't do that you're embarassing me way. I live to embarass my children; makes me feel like I'm really doing this whole parenting thing right.

I'm super hyped up and nervous about tonight, even though I know it's nothing special - deep down, it is something incredibly special. My sweet girl is starting school. I don't feel that old. She shouldn't be old enough for this yet. And yet, she is. And I am getting older. And the wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round.

We're here. This summer has officially been the quickest summer EVER. From the moment Rhealen got here, life has doubled in speed. I used to blink and a day had passed me by. Now, I blink and a week or two have gone straight out the window. I just keep marking days and weeks and months off the calendar. It's insane.

I know on Monday when I see her with that big backpack and bowl-legged knees I'm going to lose it. Maybe not in the car, maybe not in the schoolhouse. But at some point on Monday, I'm going to break down and have a little moment to myself (or maybe with the entire school, we'll see). I'm sure Justin will cry on his way to work, too. And I know my Mom (who teaches third grade at the same little school) will be sniffling and then some all day long. It's hard on all of us to see our little Sidney start school. She's our little baby no more. Now she's our big kid. Our big sister, student, cheerleader. Our brilliant, sweet, funny, adorable, snuggly, beautiful big girl.

{Tomorrow is also the kickoff day for a new blog feature that will showcase on Fridays featuring some great bloggers from around the country. Come back tomorrow to meet our first guest blogger & learn more about this fun series!!!}

{Also! Don't forget to check out the up and running sister blog, Toastess - all things fashion and style to be found!!!}

I adore both of these girls

I try so hard not to compare my kids BUT...

Sidney Morgan 3.10

My big girl, just a few weeks away from her fourth birthday. Time slows down for no one apparently, even if you wish and pray and beg and plead for it to go by just a little slower.

Sidney is her usual amazingly amazing self, smarter every day and such an independing little thing. She's proud to tell everyone how much she weighs now (48.5 lbs) and is so excited about starting school on 08/15. Of course, she tells everyone she'll be in third grade as opposed to pre-k (but that's just because her Gran teaches third grade!) so I think she's still got a few things to figure out about this entire "school" thing.

because an excited kid is the cutest thing in the world...

Sidney's playground arrived yesterday at Mom's house. Needless to say, it was the highlight of Sidney's day (and ours, too)!!!

little big plans

Do you all have lots of fun plans for the weekend? We've got some small, simple but extra fun plans - cookouts and fireworks and the typical, wonderful 4th of July weekend most of America will be enjoying.

Sidney is planning on spending lots of quality time in the water (she's already got a headstart on the water fun at Gran's house...)

And Rhealen will probably do what she does best at this point (she'll also get passed around like a hot potato at the cookout Saturday...)

Lots of little plans to just hang out and eat good food and be happy (and a little lazy)! Justin has got big fishing notions, so I hope the weather cooperates for everyone this weekend. Happy 4th to all of you, be safe and don't catch anything (or anyone) on fire!

we counted down to this day for nine months...

Today was Rhealen's due date. Today Rhealen is two weeks old. Today there's a sweet, sleepy girl occupying my every moment and every thought. I'm so glad she's here and healthy and seemingly happy. I'm so in love it hurts, but in the best possible way. People don't really die from happiness, do they?

'Cause I could totally die right now.

I melt.

They kind of complete me.

push presents, baby

I am not the kind of woman that demands or expects the whole idea of a "push present", although I think it is a sweet sentiment in an odd little way. I don't feel like I need to get lavish gifts (or any gifts, for that matter) for having this sweet baby. She is the gift, the best thing about this entire journey - I can't imagine trying to eclipse her with some monetary thing.

Still, if her dear old Dad (or anyone else who loves me) wanted to splurge on some push presents, I wouldn't totally object. The spoiled, selfish side of me has no trouble saying "heck yes I deserve something!", though honestly I think it's probably more along the lines of a medal than a pair of cute shoes. But I digress. Here are some items I wouldn't scoff at if they turned up somewhere post-pushing.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4

 1 - I love Toms, and I really want my own pair. I found a pair of similar-looking Old Navy crochet shoes at a second hand store last summer, and I've worn them out! Momma needs a new pair...

2 - I love hand-stamped jewelry (specifically Lisa Leonard designs), but I'd be happy with any cute piece showcasing my sweet babes.

3 - Rhealen is totally screwing up my summer lake plans, but I still intend to find some time to park my behind on a boat on the lake (maybe even swim?!?!). I definitely need a new swimsuit - I've been wearing the same one now for close to five years. Wow, I feel embarassed to even admit that.

4 - I'm still pining over this Proenza Schouler wallet, same as I have been for over a year now. It's just so damned pretty!

If you love me, you can send me any (or all) of the goodies above. I promise to love you back - and maybe even name the next baby after you!

(Just kidding, honey, I know we're not having any more babies! Or are we?)

cuteness overload: basset hound style

I melt, seriously. It's going to be so hard to let these babies go at the end of the month. There is nothing cuter than a little puppy, especially a Basset Hound puppy. Am I right or am I right?!