A little late but she's still 2!!

Watching her turn '2' and having her little personality come out makes me forget that she was ever once a baby. She wasn't my "baby" for very long because since she was born she has wanted to be "in the action".
(one day old)

(2 years old)

Even though I have had (still having) some sleepless nights, I would not trade them in. By the time the sun comes up I seem to quickly forget anything that happened throughout the night.

She definitely keeps me going. As much as I'm enjoying her growing up, deep down I am hating every minute of it and I want it to stop A.S.A.P! 

 

 We had the privilege of celebrating her birthday at our Church's Teen Camp this year. Friends of ours baked her a cake and brought decorations so we could throw her a party!! She loved it....or maybe I loved it. Either way, it was special and a lot of fun. 

 

When we got home from camp we were able to celebrate it with the whole family at her Gram's & Pop's house.

This little girl is beyond blessed to have all of these cousins who are some of her best friends and that some of her cousins are each others best friends. Some say "your first friends are your cousins" and in her case that is so true. I wouldn't trade this family in for anything. I'm the blessed one.

What defines a "Vacation"

Alright it's here....July is finally here and to the teenagers of Calvary Baptist Church of Joliet, that only means ONE thing....

NORTHLAND CAMP TIME!!!

I am extremely thankful that we get to go along on this exciting time with our youth group and jr. highers. Even though I kicked and screamed when it was my time to go to camp back in my day, I absolutely loved it when I was there. 

It's a LOT different here at this camp then the one we used to go to. We get to come along as Sponsors because the camp provides their own counselors. It's almost like a vacation for us. We get the privilege to walk around and watch the teens run, jump, and scream during their games. There are games that the sponsors get to be involved in (water day, basketball, softball..) but we allow the men to join in on those while us wives bust out our cameras. I am hoping to be involved in the zip line again this year. This time I'm not pregnant doing it so maybe I'll go a little faster this year ;)

As much as I love coming and somewhat thinking of it as a "vacation", with two little ones, I'm not so sure about that. Right now, Daddy is playing basketball with all of the sponsors while I'm in the room letting my babies nap. They are so worn out and it's only day two. They (or at least Ireland) are having a blast. Dublin is too I'm sure, he just can't express it the way Ireland can. Devan has already told me today, "Next year, if we get to come, we are getting a babysitter". Oh boy!!! That sounds AMAZING.....but, hmmmm...we'll see when it gets here. Everyone we know has at LEAST 4 children of their own...who wants to add two more to that?

I love when one of the teens from our church will see you walking by and they get SO excited as if you're someone famous and they are passing you on the street. When you're at church they barely look up at you lol. 

 It's neat to see their personalities come out and breaking out of that shell that they dig themselves back in to not long after they get home. I pray these teens will allow God to work on their hearts this week and drastically change them.
I get the privilege to meet up with a few of the teen girls one on one and just talk with them and dig deeper in to getting to know them and what's on their hearts. 

God has allowed me to be in this position with these young people and I don't want to take that for granted. I remember being a teen and how I felt when a leader went out of their way to truly get to know me and have a desire to guide me in the direction to not waste my life. I pray that I can be that for our teens and our future teens. 

I must say I love being here with a few of my nephews and my niece. It's neat to see them getting involved and growing in the Gospel. 

There's a first for everything right??

I didn't have a chance to write this down yesterday but don't worry, I'm doing it right now.

Aimee is always telling me that Ireland is a "Different" little girl. She isn't saying that to mean there is something wrong with her or that she is weird in any way. She says it to mean that she has a very strong personality and nothing stops her. She is constantly on the GO! 

I'm saying all of this to lead up to 24 hours ago, exactly. 

June 18th, 2:00 p.m I went in to Ireland's room to get her. I put her down for a nap two hours before but she just stayed up and played. Totally fine with me. I went in to get her because she was knocking at the door so I figured she was done being alone. when I enter her room she was sitting on her glider chair crying and screaming. My first thought was maybe she touched the outlet and shocked herself. I didn't run to her because she didn't appear to be hurt, she just seemed to know she might be in some kind of trouble. (She usually gets disciplined for climbing out of her bed)

I then notice her skirt was off which for her is normal. So ....whatever. She started to get up from the chair (everything seemed to be in slow motion at this point) and I notice not only is her skirt off but so is her diaper!

She continues to attempt to get off the chair and I see "stuff" all over the bottom of her foot. She stood up on the chair (Still screaming) and there is POOP on the chair. I rush her to the bathroom and stand her up in the tub to rinse her off when I notice it's not just on your feet but it's on her hands, by her mouth, and up by her nose! 

My first thought was she was curious and wanted to smell and taste it. The look her face lead me to believe she did taste it and that's a big reason why she was screaming. Cause it was NASTY!!!?? 

I immediately called Aunt Aimee to ask what she would do if Luke, Liv, or Lyse ate poop and she said, "NONE of my kids ever did that"!! Those 3 kids have done some pretty crazy things but leave it to Ireland to be the first to do this. I love her so much but in that moment I had no sympathy for her tears. I was angry but in the midst of being angry I knew I would shortly be laughing about it. It took me a few hours.

This is just the beginning isn't it?? 

Workout Update

Well I honestly can't tell you what day I'm on because I started over. I might be on a total of 25 days. 

I started over because I would only be able to do 1 day out of the week which was not good enough. Either the kids wouldn't nap at the same time or if Ireland napped and Dublin was up, he would be fussy and I wouldn't be able to put him down. 

These are very good excuses for me not to workout. If I'm able to hold my kids and love on them rather then working out then by all mean....my arms are open!

Here is a progress picture of myself from 2 months. I know there isn't a huge difference but any change is awesome in my book. 

These pants haven't been able to button in a long time

Also, look at the difference in my pants.....again not a huge difference to anyone but me but still....

It's encouraging when your husband tells you "Wow those pants used to be REALLY tight on you..."

I'm definitely not finished yet but this right here is more motivation for me to keep going. If I can do this in two months then I can't imagine what my progress will be in 10 more months. I might not be satisfied or even comfortable in summer clothes this year but I keep telling myself that by next summer I could possibly have a new wardrobe. If I get pregnant in the process then GREAT...I'll just keep working out moderately and watch my diet. 

So since I've started over I am currently on day 7, still of the 30 Day Shred. As annoying as Jillian Michaels  is she sure does kick my butt every time. She mentions in the video to just scream it out but at times I catch myself screaming at her "I DESPISE YOU!!!" 

Ok well I'll see you all in about 2 months if not sooner :)

Mothers Day

I can not believe I've been married almost 3 years and 2 of those years I've been a Mom!! 

I really enjoyed this years Mothers Day because I got to spend it with my two amazing children (even though they have no idea what's going on). 

After church we headed over to my mom's house where we had lunch and hung out with family. I love watching Ireland enjoy her cousins and I can't wait for when Dublin can run around with them.  

After we left my moms, we headed out to Red Robin for dinner with the McCammacks. 

I feel so blessed to have such an amazing family. My kids get to grow up with family on both sides who strive to be Christ-like. Family who actually get along on both sides and who I love dearly. Family who started out as friends before turning in to family. I love it!

Happy Mothers Day Moms of all kinds!!

21 month old and a 6 month old

Oh how do I express the excitement around here during the day?? 

Lately Ireland's day starts around 7:30am which means my day starts bright and early. No matter how tired I am I look forward to hearing her up in the mornings and knowing I can see her smiling face and listen to her gibberish stories.

Around 8:30am I start hearing my baby boy and all his baby talk letting me know he is ready to come join us in this big world. He too is so bright-eyed and talkative in the morning. What Momma wouldn't love waking up to that?!?

Ireland has recently decided she HATES any type of scheduled sleep. She has been refusing to take a nap which just results in alone play time in her room and then around 4 p.m. she crashes on the couch. Bedtime is  not a favorite time for me. I've had to sit in her room with her till she falls asleep. That time is not spent in silence at all. It's spent with her screaming and whining until she falls asleep which isn't till 10 p.m. on a good night. It's only by God's grace that Dublin sleeps while I take care of Ireland.

Dublin has gotten so great at going to bed and staying asleep. I don't mind so much waking up in the middle of the night to eat because he falls back asleep fast and back in his bed he goes. No big problems. . . yet.

Ireland has just recently started enjoying her baby brother. Anytime she is around him she is begging to hold him and loves to hug and squeeze him. If he is on the floor "crawling" around she is all over him. I can't wait for the day that the two of them are running back and forth to their room playing together and laughing up and down the hallway. 

These two bring me so much joy I can't even find the words to express it.