Weekend with McKenzie

Jake and I had a fun weekend together. Jon was away for a golf trip with his friends. So, Jake and I treated ourselves to dinner out on Friday. Then we had friends in on Saturday. My friend Chrissy came up from Baltimore and brought her little girl McKenzie. She is a month older than Jake and they could pass for twins. They played together and we had some fun mommy time once they were asleep. It was so nice to be with Chrissy and just hang out. I miss having my girls around me. Life is so crazy that we only get to see each other a few times a year. I cherish them whenever they come around. Chrissy and I were pregnant at the same time, both two weeks late, both had unexpected c-sections, sleep trained our babies around the same time and now we are experiencing toddler life together. It has been a crazy journey, but a fun one. I loved seeing her as a mommy and although Jake was a little rough boy at times, they had lots of fun! Here are a few pics...

Sharing/fighting over a pretend cheerio box in the morning
Diaper time, just woke up!

Babas and blankies

Barney...enough said

Bath time, for some reason Jake only lasted five minutes

I was that mom at Target today...

I knew parenting would be tough, but I think I underestimated just how mentally exhausting it can be. Jake has entered many new stages this past month. Some are amazing and wonderful and others... well... tough. Jake is a sweet, funny little mama's boy. He can play independently and loves to be snuggled and loved. He is also a busy bee and very active. The kid never stops moving. It is truly amazing. Up until a few months ago I would see bits and pieces of resistence but overall he was very well mannered and pretty easy. Lately, he has started throwing major temper tantrums and biting out of frustration!!! I never thought I'd have a kid that bites. It horrifies me to tell you the truth.

Jake found the playing cards!
Jake with his cuz in the bath
Playing peekaboo with the camera

I am doing a lot of reading about these new found behaviors. I am slowly accepting that Jake may be/is strong willed. I think this can be a wonderful trait and can benefit him later in life, but it is tough right now. I want to be a Godly, loving parent who adores her children for who they are. I also want to discipline when behavior is unacceptable in a way that is consistent and effective. Recenetly, it has been down right challenging. We are learning who is boss over here. Today Jake bit his cousin two times, ME and then threw a HUUGGEE tantrum at Target because he did not want to sit in the shopping cart. (which I have never not let him sit in) These things may sound small to some, but to me they are all new and overwhelming at times. I stuck to my word at Target and forced Jake to sit. He screamed louder than I am capable of. I was totally that mom...but, within 30 seconds he quieted down and sat the rest of the shopping trip. So success??? I guess. I was sweating afterwards because it was so embarrassing to me. I have never really cared what others think, but for some reason moments like that I do. I want them to know that he usually a good boy.I know who cares what these strangers think??? Most of all, I want to make sure Jake knows that I love him more than anything on earth and that I will put aside my own comforts for his best interest. I also want him to be respectful to me and to others. I am trying each day to discipline consistently and hope that I find joy in the little successes along the way. On a lighter note, Jake is still adorable and loves to give kisses and hugs and that always helps!

Jack and Jake learning what a clock says

Mother's Day

I had such a nice day yesterday. Jon is the best husband! He always makes me feel so special on mommies day! First we started off the day with Jake sleeping in (always amazing!) However, we had church nursery duty at 8:00. I was going to wake Jake, when Jon decided to let him sleep in and that he would go by himself. (luckily another woman was there to help him) So, I had some nice quiet morning time which around here is rare! Then, we spent the whole day together. We played outside in the sandbox, watched barney in bed together and walked to the park (my favorite thing to do) . Jon even fixed my bike seat so Jake and I can ride together now! You might notice I have new pics too. As if the day wasn't nice enough, Jon got me a new camera for Mother's day and it is pink!! We ended the day with take out from our favorite Italian restaurant and were in bed 8:00. It was an awesome day! Thanks hunny!

Jake loves going down the slide on someone's lapJake is learning to sit like a big boy. The newest lesson: Do not throw bowl full of food on floor!

Our little Jake the snake

Stomach Bus Strikes again!

Jake is a little sick over her with yet another stomach bug. This time is not as bad though and he is already showing signs of improvement! Last night he was so upset and worn out that he fell asleep in my arms. Even though he was sick, I loved the feeling of him sleeping in my arms! Definitely have baby fever again...
Jon and I are in the midst of draining and refilling our pool because we have some chemical issues... soo annoying... just want to swim!

Jake's new thing

Jake's new thing is that he loves to make people kiss. When Jon and I are standing close he pulls us together. Then, he smiles and giggles. Last night, we were all laying in bed watching Barney (ofcourse) and this went on for 10 mins. Here is a picture of Jake doing with my sister and I. Hillarious!

Nikki and Eko's Shower

This past weekend, we all headed down to Alexandria, Va to celebrate my sisters baby shower. It was so wonderful. The decoration looked great and the food was amazing. All of our guests came and had a nice time. It was so nice to see Nikki's friends and some of our dear family friends. Nikki looked beautiful as usual and she is just so happy to be so close to her due date. We had a sailing theme for the party becuse Eko loves to sail and their baby room will have a sailing theme. Carol found an amazing cake guy to do a sailboat cake for us! I cannot wait to meet my nephew and see my sister as a mom. Nikki is so kind, giving and thoughtful. She is going to be an amazing mommy! Eko is such a patient and gentle man and will make a wonderful daddy too. At the end of the weekend, we celebrated my dad's birthday at this adorable French Restaurant. Such a great weekend! I miss my family already!

Jake had fun and a lot of attention. He was very ready to be home by the end of the trip though and today we are focused on getting back to routines and normalcy. (is that a word?)

Weekend at Pop Pop and GG's

Last weekend, Jake and I took a trip down to B-more to visit my family and get ready for Nikki's baby shower. The weather was amazing and Jake loved being there! I had a anice relaxing weekend and a lot of help. It was so nice to spend quality time with fam and just do nothing together. I miss home sometimes and a nice long weekend together always make me feel better.

On my way home, I was reflecting on how different MD and New Jersey are. In MD, people drive slow... my pace, turtle. People fly Maryland flags and sing "Maryland, My Maryland" at their graduations! Talk about pride!! People are not in a rush and they are always friendly. Cashiers talk to you and you can always count on hearing random 80's and early 90's songs on the radio. (they are kind of stuck in a time warp on music) Although, I think it is easier to say the grass is greener when your not actually living there. I have come to love this place called, Jersey. The shore is 45 mins away and there are lakes everywhere. Everything is organized in little,"townships" instead of counties. Every town has a main street and people don't lock their doors (still bizarre to me). I have learned to speed up a little and realized that maybe some people just don't want to talk right now?? (again bizarre) I have also learned that it is not normal to say "grill out," or "going to the beach/ocean." Both places have their perks and all that matters is that your happy in the end and you make home where the heart is. However, I will always be a Maryland girl at heart.

Jake talking on the phone in a chair that GG and Pop Pop bought for him, and yes that is a sorority composite in the background. Dad loves it!

Jake hugging/crushing the poor cats

Hillarious...

http://vimeo.com/3263721

No New Pics...

Well, a certain little 14 month old boy found my camera and threw it on the floor. So, needless to say I will not be posting pictures until I get a new camera. I am so bummed because it is my favorite thing to do! However, I will keep you up to date on all the happenings around here. Jon and I have been very busy landscaping our yard. It really needed A LOT of work. Weeding, mulching and trimming has become a new hobby of mine. Not exactly fun or clean, but I love the way I feel when it is done. Plus, last weekend we had such amazing weather that we took full advantage. Our yard looks so much better. We also planted some pansies and hung potted plants on our porch and around the pool(something I have always wanted to do).

This week we had a pool safety fence installed. With Jake, Jack and Brooke running around we didn't want to take any chances. It was a bit of an expense, but the peace of mind is priceless. Our pool is opening tomorrow morning!!!! I have been going to the Y on Fridays to teach Jake to swim. Last week he went under the water two times! He was a little scared, but he did it! I can't wait to practice in the pool. Here is a picture from website we bought our fence from (not our pool, but gives you an idea).

Jake has been acting like such a big boy lately. He wants to do everything that his Daddy, Mommy and cousin Jack do. He tries to go down the stairs while holding onto the railing like an adult (resulting in tumbling down the stairs). He wants to sit at a normal chair (resulting in trying to stand/climb on the table). He likes to build with Daddy's tools and use all the same household cleaning items as Mommy (cute when he is brooming, scary when he goes for the drill or hammer). He also LOVES to wrestle with Daddy. He screams with delight when they start and begs for more when Jon is tired. Recently, he has started wrestling anyone who is willing. (Jack, Brooke...volunteer at the nursery... oops) He is also saying more words each day. All of a sudden, his vocab just exploded. He really tries to repeat what you say and sometimes he says things and I convince myself that I am just hearing things. At lunch a few days ago he said," I color." and he brought me my purse and said,"open dis." It is crazy! I love how I can communicate a little more with him now. He is definitely understanding and making connections between words and actions or sounds. I love to watch him grow and thank God everyday for the gift of motherhood. It is a tough job, but worth all the work involved!

This coming weekend I am going down to Baltimore for my friend Lindsay's baby shower. She is expecting her first little on June 11th. Then, the following weekend we are off to Alexandria, VA for my sister's baby shower! She is expecting a baby boy on June 10th. Babies everywhere!

Here is a picture I stole from my sister in law's blog...the kiddos on a nice walk, Jake of course brought a ball with him!

Jake the Star...hehe

So, about 6 months or so ago I am in the grocery store waiting at the Deli and I strick up conversation with a woman. This is not unusual for me, because I talk to anyone who will talk back and love meeting random people. So, anyway... she is complimenting me on how cute Jake is and I am saying thank you and so on. She starts to tell me that she owns a children's modeling agency and that she has seen a lot of babies and she said she thinks Jake is an adorable baby. I am still not thinking much of this and saying thank you and being polite. She gives me her card and tells me it is easy and she is located in Cherry Hill and I should stop by. So, to make a long story longer... I went. We had a five minute meeting where she explained that if I paid a small amount of money, Jake's picture could be put on their secure website that only agents have access to and that I could send them new pics whenever I wanted. Then the agents, when looking for a model, peruse the pics then call you with a job. So, we got three or four jobs the first two weeks, it was nutz! I only went to two of them, they were both for Toys R' US/Babies R Us. We got a call for Puff Daddy's clothing line and another Toys R' Us ad but I couldn't make it those days and was feeling a little overwhelmed with the drive to N. Jerz. So, We show up to this studio and there are 20-30 people working the set. They had Jake sit on a white box with a white background and he made all kinds of faces. He loved the attention and it took 20 mins. They couldn't tell me which ad he would be in because they were shooting for a lot of things. They said they could use his picture for three years though, so I try and check the circulars every other week. I finally found him in two different pictures. One you can barely see him in. He was sitting in the treehouse of a swingset, but this one you can se him a little better. I don't know if I would ever do it again, but it was an experience and Jake made some money for himself.

Easter Fun!

Jake and I planned an Easter party and egg hunt at our house. It was so much fun. We both invited friends and were excited to see them. Jake sentiments about the day were,"bohh aggoo no no duck..." Sums it up! Thanks to all who came. Happy Easter!

Party Time!

Jack on a mission!

Jake found some left over snacks in the mulch! Nightmare

Lisey and Shana
Lindsay and Cayla

Jill, Jack and Brooke

Aunt Janet and BrookeMommel and Friends
Lisa and Christopher

Sarah and Andrew

The aftermath

A day to remember in more ways than one...

As many of you know my mom passed away suddenly when I was 22 years old. This past Thursday marked the 6th year anniversary of her passing. It is simply crazy to think that it has been six years. I try very hard not to focus on that day, but when it rolls around it always hits me. It is kind of funny to say "remember" her because I think of her a thousand times a day still, but I reflect more on days like her birthday, mother's day or the holiday season which she so loved! However, there is something different about April 2nd and there always will be. Every year has gotten a little easier and I have found ways to cope throughout the day. The first year we sent balloons to the sky with messages, but now my family simply makes sure we connect on that day and send each other messages of love and remembrance. As much as six years seems impossible, my life has changed so much. I have graduated college, became a teacher, married Jon, bought my first home and had a baby boy. All of these things my mom and I had discussed many times and we both dreamed of how that would look. It was/is difficult to not have her here with me, but I know it is for a purpose greater than my understanding. I feel lucky to have experienced it, even though that sounds weird. I have grown so much and learned about life early which I am thankful for. I have God in my life now and it has changed my outlook entirely. God is a loving God and a calculated one. He knows what is in store for me and has given me comfort and peace when I need it most. He has shown me so many things about myself and my life in the past six years. I know where my mother is and I know I will be with her again one day. Until then I want to live a life that is honorable and good. I want to focus on happiness and truth. I know what is important and I try each day to be half the mother that she was to me. She has left me some big shoes to fill, but I am trying hard. I know that my time here is short and I am determined to make every minute worth it!

Psalm 34:19

19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.

2 Days!!!

Well, the auction is finally here. We have been working so hard collecting donations and sponsorship and it has paid off!!! We have 41 amazing prizes. Some of which include, tickets to various Philadelphia games, sold out Jonas Brothers tickets, A Wii, Night at the Borgata, GPS system, IPOD, gift certificates to everything you can imagine, gym memberships and more!!! Come out and support an important cause while having a great time! Thursday night at PJ's. Whiskey Train is playing afterwards! Tickets available at the door.

Recent Pics

Ready for spring and bike rides with Mommy!

Plying with Pop Pop and the kitty

Big boy seat Laying with Uncle Eko
Playing ball with Aunt Nikki

Date night! City of Hope Dinner

Sentimental Moments

Maybe it's just me (and probablly is), but when I have a night alone... I get a little sentimental. I am a nerd, I admit it. Tonight I am feeling rather sentimental. The night started off with uploading new pictures of Jake. Then, I looked back at the last few months and started to realize how lucky I truly am to have love. That led me to google where I spent the last hour looking up love songs and song lyrics. I know... sappy... but that's me. I love song lyrics. I can always find a song that hits me and makes me feel however I want to feel at that moment. I love it. Here are a few great lines I found tonight...enjoy!

Lemonade (Chris Rice)
I’ve got it made
Rest in the shade
And hold my love
While God above
Stirs with a spoon
We share the moon
Smile at the bees
More sugar please
He really loves us after all
We’re gonna need another straw!
We’re gonna need another straw!

Lucky (Jason Mraz)
I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been

I knew I loved you (Savage Garden)
Maybe it's intuition
But some things you just don't question
Like in your eyes
I see my future in an instant
and there it goes
I think I've found my best friend
I know that it might sound more thana little crazy
but I believe
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life

Another Day in Paradise
Well, it's ok.
It's so nice
It's just another day in paradise
Well, there's no place that
I'd rather be
Well, it's two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the Lord every night
For just another day in paradise