Tis the Season

Tis the Season to run around like crazies. Between Christmas shopping, birthday parties and oh, working full time, there is hardly time to get anything accomplished these days. I am usually ahead of the game in regards to Christmas shopping but I just could not get my butt into gear this year and we were shopping up until Christmas Eve. When it was all said and done, I sat back and wondered how in the world people afford to buy gifts for their families (parents, grandparents, siblings, etc) and afford to buy gifts for their own children? We have lucked out in the sense that Deegan and Taber do not fully understand Christmas so we have quite honestly skimped out on their presents knowing grandparents would spoil them rotten (mission accomplished). However, I have a feeling this is the last year we will get away with this knowing next year my little boys will be anxiously waiting to get out of their beds to open up presents. Pretty sure shoes, PJ's and a few cheapo gifts will be slightly disappointing. So, note to self ... make more money.

I should also point out that I did take T-man's picture on his 6 month birthday (god help me that he has already grown up this fast) but I have continued my streak to be about a month late. New Years resolution, take control of my time because it clearly has control of me.

Deegan's first encounter with Cheetos. It was love at first taste. He would not let us take them away and he proceeded to take a nap on the kitchen table with his hand still in the bag. HILARIOUS!

You will notice there are less and less pictures of Deegan in the blog. That would be because he has adopted the worst "CHEESE" smile of all time. Exhibit A can be found above. Really? That is hard to work with and really is not that cute.

Oh, but thankfully there is Taber. This little man could be the Happiest Baby on the Block poster child. He has been such a blessing. Eric and I feared we could not love another child because our hearts were full of Deegan but he has allowed us to grow another heart and we could not be more smitten with him.

He might hate us later in life when he see's this picture but it is freaking cute!

Christmas morning opening presents.

Little does he know that present is not for him. He got shoes. YEAH!

Matchy, Matchy. By the end of the day the only person to make it in this outfit was Deegan. Eric and Taber were involved in an explosion of "After Shock", a nasty liquor that we gave to my brother, and I was gooed by Taber. Glad we got an early picture.

Deegan's new sled.

"Mama's Milk" according to Deegan. I think I have a coffee problem but I don't care. It makes me happy and is cheaper then alcohol! CHECK!

Polar Express train. He refused to open his other presents until this one was opened and set up.

Great Grandma Foo and Great Grandma Norma loving their boy.

Boys

So happy after a bath! He could use a brush.

Picture outside the house just before Christmas.

Thankful

I sometimes find Thanksgiving comical in our house given I have 3 little Indians. I crack a lot of jokes, try to get Eric to wear a head dress or loin cloth (he never goes for it) and just flat out eat the crap out of sweet potato casserole. Jokes aside, it is a great time to reflect and be thankful for all of my blessings. I am thankful for my marriage to the most amazing man and loving father. I do no know how single parents do this "parenting" thing alone because it is flat out madness with schedules, diapers, feeding, cleaning, etc. I know I have issues as I stick to the schedule, no exceptions (Panic when we deviate), I have an unrealistic perception of a clean house and I am relentless about trying to get Deegan to eat a vegetable. With that said, I am so grateful Eric is a hands on dad and can fix/make anything (with help of CraigsList). I have my dream home, a solid career, oh and did I mention 2 beautiful, energetic, comical, loving, steal -your -heart little boys that I am absolutely obsessed with? I am thankful for all of this (plus coffee to make this all happen) and could not be in a happier state of mind (assuming I have my coffee).

Happy Baby!

5 Months ... WHAT, WHAT! Yes, I realize he is 6 months next week (where the heck did that time go?) but I clearly cannot keep up!

How did I get so luck to be surrounded by the most amazing boys in the WORLD (yes, I went there).

Basement Fun

We went to FL for Thanksgiving and the kids LOVED the beach and ocean. This did include a new found love of sand for Deegan. It has not grown on me by any stretch of the imagination but at least this time Deegan did not try to remove each spec from his feet.

Pure Joy

Pure surprise

Do you think someone was enjoying themselves?

Taber was a happy too.

Brotherly love

HA HA HA!

We are so blessed that Taber is a happy baby as it really makes managing 2 little monkeys much less stressful!

Usually we can get him to smile and giggle a little bit by making funny noises and faces, but this morning, he thought his Mama was the funniest person ever, so we wanted to share this cute little video! (P.S. - Deegan makes a cameo appearance).

Peak-E-Boo

As Deegan would say: "Peak-E-Boo ... where are you?"

There they are ... the 3 loves of my life. Somehow they all fit in the tent (I liked to call it a Teepee as I saw it more fitting). JK!

There is not a day that goes by where Eric and I do not find comic relief from our children. When we find ourselves getting frustrated for some reason, one of these little turkey's do something to break the tension and just make us laugh. Since our last post we have done a much better job of slowing down and soaking up these days because you never know how many we will have. In early Oct, Eric's uncle passed away unexpectedly and we packed up the family and made a journey out to Atchison, KS. Deegan was in hog heaven with all the trains and T-Dog was a perfect baby. Though the reasoning for being out there was not ideal, we always love the opportunity to catch up with Eric's friends and gather with distant family. The experience reinforced our prior enlightment that slowing down is good for the soul and we will never have regrets about the time we spent with our kids.

Did I mention comic relief? What a little character.

Yep, I am on a roll ... Here is his 4 month picture when he is turning 5 months in 3 days. Someday I will get caught up but it will not be this month!

Seriously, how is it possible that you grow 2 hearts? Oh we love this munch!

He needs a tan and a mother to wipe the drool under his chin. I have my off days where I think taking a picture first is smart. Whatever.

Taber with Nanny.

Pumpkin Patch: Deegan was such a big boy and sat on the train all by himself this year. I may have been told I could not ride it either which contributed to his solo ride but either way he did it. Ugh, he is getting big!

Not too thrilled that the turtle was stationary. Next attraction please.

Buddy Colin joined us for the fun. These 2 get along great and we cannot wait for the arrival of his baby brother so that Taber has a buddy as well. It will be boy madness in the future but at least everyone has a partner in crime.

This looks like a clothing ad.

This is what happens when you do not keep your eye on the cart ... the boys loaded it up (yes we put most of them back).

Rice cereal is Ummm Ummm Goooood!

You may be asking, what is Deegan for Halloween. Well, he went out as a "Deegan." He was trying to be orginal or he had a great memory from last year in the fact he HATES to dress up for this holiday. The entire neighborhood tried to get him into his costume and this is what it looked like:

"Why do you hate me"

"NOT THE HAT!"

"I'll keep crying until you get me undressed" which we agreed to do. I am not sure this kid is getting a costume next year.

Slow Down

I took a trip down memory lane and read through some of my old blogs. As I was reading and memorising I noticed a common theme in each blog ... I was always in a hurry, we were always busy and time was always flying. Though that it still true today, I have found time to slow down thanks to Taber. I had my reality check that kids grow up fast and you never get that time back. I was a royal mess with Deegan when he was a baby. I was always worried that he was off schedule, that he was had not rolled over yet and thinking, "wont it be fun when he gets old enough to ..." Now I have a 2 year old and he is no longer a baby but a toddler. He repeats everything, has an incredible imagination and makes us laugh with his crazy antics.

I have learned to slow down and soak up Little T-man because I know he too will be a toddler soon and I will be left with only baby pictures. I am more patient at 3:00am when he wakes up for his pacifier or wants a bottle. I love burping him and when he looks up at me he smiles it melts my heart. He is my little monkey-buddy.

3 month picture (though he is 4 months today ... I will get working on that picture).

That pacifier has caused some tension and I am about ready to chuck it out the window. Why has a head strap not been invented? It may not be humane but it would certainly be practical!

Love his little personality.

Pretty sure this one looks like his mama!

We had family pictures done a few weeks ago and they turned out great. Now, I have only seen 5 pictures total (sneak peak) but from what I have seen, I am very pleased.

Moral of this post; slow down and soak it all up because I will never get this time back.