A baby's smile

There is nothing sweeter than when your new baby starts to smile and laugh. Gabriella is such a happy baby - I have no complaints!! Last night she slept from 7pm-6:10am. She has slept like that for several weeks and I love it!!! She has always been a good sleeper - I attribute it to a few things...one - we never let our kids sleep in our room, she's been in her crib since day 1 - firm believer that no one gets good sleep when there is a child in the room and two - we swaddle her up tight every night so she's looks like a human burrito and three - I think she just fakes sleeping sometimes so her brother and sister will leave her alone. And of course, there's the fact that this is our third kid so we don't go sprinting to her bedside if she makes the slightest sigh. Anyway, I just love her to death and absolutely adore her little smile (or big smile). It's kind of funny how other kids can make her smile so much easier than I can.

And here's another thing to smile about - Austin went to the farm for the week! Yes, my in-laws came in town over the weekend and they took Austin back to the farm this morning. He was so excited, I'm surprised he didn't pee his pants. He loves spending time out on the farm - so much to see and do - he was already giving me a run-down of the events he was going to do while he was there. He cracks me up! The house is sooo quiet without him - but the girls and I had a good time shopping around this morning - Ashlyn is loving getting all my attention.

As for now, both girls are fast asleep and I will be too soon...

Hope you are having the time of your life!

ST

Daddy's home!

Daddy is home for THREE days!! YIPEE!!! We kicked off the "holiday" weekend with a trip out to the petting zoo. We had sooo much fun! The kids just had a blast!! Austin and Ashlyn were a bit terrified of the goats, but eventually warmed up to them - although there was no way Austin was going to go into the cage to pet them. As you can see, I finally have a new header - thanks to Shawn - doesn't that look awesome? Love the pics of the kids in the water - they had so much fun. At one point Shawn and I were chatting and as we looked over to check on the kids, Austin had his pants down ready to pee in the water. I was quite embarrassed, but laughed hysterically. And of course all the parents laughed around us too - as I said, "I always told myself that would never be MY kid...and here we are...mine is the one peeing in the water". Oh well! Some of the pics below are from the petting zoo and some are just in the backyard - enjoy!!

Here's Gabriella having fun with Daddy in the tub! She LOVES the bubbles and being in the tub - happiest girl in the world!

My dad and Austin are having a little lunch together - I guess you are never to old for the kids table, huh dad??

Here is Ashlyn taking care of Gabriella - she loves to help mommy take care of her. Gabriella seems to be enjoying it (for the moment).

Hope you are having the time of your life!

ST

How did I get here??

Sometimes when I have a second to think (which is quite rare) I look at everything around me and wonder how I got where I am. One of those times was early this morning. Austin actually slept in for once - didn't get up til 6:45 (lately it has been about 5:50am) and Ashlyn and Gabriella did the same. After I had gotten everyone fed and happy I was sitting in the rocker with Gabriella watching Austin and Ashlyn play. They were building their rocket ship out of all the pillows and couch cushions - this is a game they play at least 5 or 6 times a day lately - although sometimes it's a rocket, a boat, a house, a jet..anyway, you get the picture. It was so fun to watch them using their imagination and hear the things they say. Austin just cracks us up these days. And as I sat there I just smiled and laughed - here I am at 29 with 3 kiddos and an amazing husband - how did I get so lucky? Or am I just crazy?? It's so funny to me how things work out sometimes. I never imagined we would move to Phoenix, but it was there that I made some great friends and saw what a lifesaver a moms group can be. It's where I got the idea to start a moms club here in KC. We just finished up our first year and we have over 40 members - pretty amazing. We just had our last meeting a couple weeks ago and it was so cool to sit there and look at all the friendships that had formed because of this group. And I can't even begin to tell you what a lifesaver it has been to me. I'm a bit upset though - one of the gals I became really good friends with, Callie, is moving and it just breaks my heart. Every time I think about it I start to tear up. She is so awesome and such a great mom - I love her to death!!! Fortuanely she isn't moving too far - just to Manhattan. We are already trying to get the logisitics figured out as to how to rent a school bus so we can all ride out there with all the kids for field trips. Her friendship to me has been something I will always treasure - and our kids get along so well. She has 3 crazy boys that love to hang out with Austin and Ashlyn - and they are champs at making Gabriella laugh. We were the co-founders of "wine Friday" (or whatever day you need it) which is where a bunch of us get together and have a glass of wine while we wait for the daddy's to come to our rescue. Sometimes it even leads into all of us hanging out for dinner too - love it!! I seem to be babbling on and on so I better cut myself off now. Love you Callie!!

Hope you are having the time of your life!
ST

Hold 'em close

Several people have told me how much they like my blog (not to brag or anything) and many people have also asked why I take the time to do it. Well, I do it for several reasons. There's the obvious - it keeps all our friends and family updated on how we are all doing and so that they can see my beautiful family. And then there is the not so obvious - it's kind of like keeping a journal for me. Therapy, if you will. I've always enjoyed writing - not technical by any means, just writing about everyday stuff. Which to some may be quite boring and hopefully for most of you it is a bit entertaining. And sometimes it's the closest I get to adult conversation all day (assuming I don't get that 8:30am phone call from my friend, Kim). So, today I don't have any pics (haven't had much time for that), but I do have some quick advice. Hold your family close to you. Yesterday was a bad day here - not only were my children tearing my house apart and tackling each other all day (this was because it is still pouring rain outside and we can't get out of the house), but some bad things happened to a couple different people in my life. I won't mention names or what's going on, but it made me put my life in perspective once again and realize how blessed I am to have such an amazing family - wonderful, hard-working husband that I can't imagine life without, adorable and healthy children - and even one that can poop in the potty, I have the most wonderful parents in the world and I can't imagine living my life without them down the street now, my in-laws are just an hour away and we get to see them all the time now, I could go on and on and on and I haven't even gotten to all the great friends I have. Something else that happened this week - Shawn was asked to move to Chicago...don't worry - we told them that unless they were moving both my parents and his, that we were staying put. Not even an option - it's not worth it to us to live away from our family anymore. Don't get me wrong - we loved living in Dallas and Phoenix, but now we are finally home - and that's where we are going to stay. So, hold your loved ones close today - I know I will be!

Hope you are having the time of your life!
ST

We got 'r done!!

This past weekend my mom, my sister and I accomplished something I wasn't quite sure was possible...we found Kim's wedding dress!!! Unbelievable!! And it is amazing - totally not what any of us thought it would be, but it is perfect. She came out of the dressing room shaking and in tears...I think that's a pretty good sign that we can hand over the credit card. We had such a great day. It all started with surpristing kim with some t-shirts I made for us that said bride, mother of the bride and matron of honor. And the back had a checklist of things to do for the wedding with "the dress" being the only unchecked item and the bottom said "git 'r done"- pretty funny. I'll have to get a pic of it from my mom. Then as we drove to our first appointment we blared the song, "goin' to the chapel". As we arrived at the first bridal shop, Nick had flowers waiting for Kim (so sweet that mom and I threw up a little bit). And finally when we finally found the dress (at the third store) we had champagne and champagne glasses in the car to have a toast in the store. It was so much fun!! Now what's next???

Hope you are having the time of your life!! ( I know my sis is!!)

ST