Life

Okay, I'm not good at this whole blogging thing...

I'm going to keep popping on here to do updates on the family only. I'm not a writer and I don't want to be...I just want people to know what's going on with the kids and us.

I just got home from a women's retreat yesterday and it was really nice. There were just 19 of us and it was perfect. Had a great time with everybody and the speaker was great, spoke right to my heart. She spoke on the callings that God puts on our hearts and how to have faith to slowly get there. Very refreshing, just wish I could have left Juliette home with daddy!

I've decided to quit reading blogs of people I don't know except a few that I read for good deal finding and healthy living. I think it's like soap operas and I get sucked into needing to know every detail of their lives and really it doesn't matter! Just a waste of time for me. It's hard and sometimes tempting to pop on to look at them, but I'm trying really hard not to.

The kids are doing great. Maddox's language development in the last few weeks has blown me away. He's says things in full complete sentences and is often saying words I didn't know he knew! He's starting saying "I love you, too" when we tell him that we love him. My favorite thing ever has got to be when he comes running up to me with arms open wide and says in the saddest voice, "I need a hug!"

Juliette is almost crawling. She's a very determined little girl and definitely wants things done her way. She's currently picking on her brother who is trying to sleep (he's on the floor, it's his fault ;-) .

Today

It's a blistery 73 degrees in my house this morning and I'm indulging in a cup of Sencha tea. Yum! Did I mention I've been up since 6am? That was sleeping in compared to what I expected when Maddox fell asleep for the night at 6pm completely missing dinner. Juliette has been my 6am waker most recently, but the last few days it's been 8ish! Why ever can't they be on the same schedule!?!

As I was sitting here in my early morning awake-ness I picked up my most recent Parents magazine that I had yet to read. One article in particular caught my attention "39 Things Every Mom Should Know". I thought I'd share a few that made me giggle (only because I KNOW first-hand on most of these).

3. Do your chores while kids are awake. Using up naptime to wash dishes or clean the toilet is truly soul crushing.

5. If the kids are awake, bit the bullet an be awake yourself. You'll waste so my hours trying futilely to extend early-morning snoozes that it's not worth it.

6. Just throw away the poopy underwear.

7. Don't beat yourself up if you have to use a bribe.

9. Buy cheap shoes when kids are little. Feet grow faster than you think. (Emily here: except in the case of Maddox's summer Keens...best $26 I spent! Great shoes and I can resell them on Ebay for what I paid for them :-)

15. Answer this question: What is the worst thing that can happen if your kids sleep in their clothes? (Nothing. Happened 3 times this week)

17. Try to like what they like. It kind of sucks when it's Bob the Builder, but the payoff will come when they discover Lemony Snicket.

19. If your child falls asleep occasionally without brushing his teeth, don't wake him; baby teth do eventually fall out. (Again, I know this first hand...happened 3 times this week)

26. Don't administer a punishment that hurts you more than it does them.

32. Buy quaint wooden toys and hand-knit stuffed animals, but don't expect your kids to play with them.

34. Teach them to like cool music. Why suffer through The Wiggles?

36. Give awards for actual achievements.

39. Independence is a wonderful thing. For everyone. So is together time. Make sure you have a healthy does of both.

by Kacy Faulconer

Hat Giveaway!

I just opened my first Etsy store, MJ Hat Shop, and as a GRAND OPENING I'm giving away one of my handmade crochet hats to a lucky winner! These are original hats that I created the patterns for and they have been child-tested on my own two wonderful kids.

I am a stay-at-home mom and I love spending time with my kids everyday! In the evening when the kids are in bed I love to crochet. I decided to open an Etsy store as a creative outlet.


Make sure you check my shop often as I'm adding new styles of hats all the time!

Details:

-Go visit my Etsy shop and in the comments section of this post tell me which one is your favorite (if you win, you can choose a different one)
-Make sure you leave your e-mail address in the comment (this is just the way I'll contact the winner, I won't put you on a mailing list)
-One entry per person, per day
-This giveaway is open until Saturday, Sept. 12 at 12 noon.
-I will use random.org to determine the winning comment.


Best of luck to you!

So I Have This Sister...

We're not actually blood related, but I think I've known her for about 10 years and she's been apart of my family for over 7. She's a very influential person in my life. She e-mails me with cute pictures and before you know it, she's talked me into making things for her...

Like these owls:

And this squirrel:

And this flag garland:

And, I've even made her one of these (not these colors, Shel):


I'm a self-taught crocheter and knitter. It's amazing what you can find on Youtube. Shelley challenges a special piece of my brain. The part that needs follow patterns and count my stitches(like the owls and squirrels) and to entirely make up my own patterns (in the case of the garland and apple cozy).

One thing I've learned is that I have to write down the patterns that I am making up as I go along or else when I sit down again to work, I've completely forgotten what I was doing. I always think I'll remember, but I don't.

I'm Baaaack!

Haven't heard from me in awhile, eh? Now that we've got Flickr hooked up to the family site, I don't have to spend all my time and energy posting pictures 5 at a time!

Hm...now what to write about...

Photos!!!

Maddox-isms-Updated

I share these things so that they are documented and won't be forgotten.

Maddox has a phenomenal vocabulary but sometimes he chooses generic words to mean a lot of different things.

Here are some of them:

"Grandma"- Grandma OR Grandpa
"Auntie" -Aunt OR Uncle (it sounds like, "Auntie Tyler". Sorry, Ty!)
"Swing" -Any activity on the playground
"Bee" -Any type of bug
"Boycycle" -Motorcycle, bike, tricycle
"Hungwy" -Hungry or thirsty (usually thirsty)

I'll post the newest photos soon!

Maddox 2 Yrs. 5 Mo. Juliette 4 Mo.

Maddox the pirate.

Fun in the sun.

Asleep on the couch after a long day in the pool.

Trying out the Bumbo seat.

4th of July

4th of July parade

Juliette and me at the 4th of July parade.

Pirate Maddox doing his pirate puzzle.

Asleep on the floor last night...long day and no nap!

Pretty much the coolest car I've ever seen and I want one.

My kiddos being cute :-)

The sweetest picture I've ever gotten of both of them together. Love it!

My goof.

Training to be a model (yeah, right!)

That's our girl...always has her tongue sticking out.

My 2 cuties.

June 2009 Photos

"Baby Pooh Bear"

No-napping Maddox means many evenings of falling asleep on Daddy.

Couldn't get Maddox to put the cup down...stinker.

Thumb-sucking.

Meg and Juliette