Ella Is 3 Months

I love that I have a good camera so I can save a few hundred bucks and take some super adorable pics of my super adorable baby girl. So let me share my joy with you! My heart is so full. This is what Heaven must feel like.

~Bliss~

Buzz Boys

For those of you who don't already know about Josiah's hair, I will tell you now....I struggle with it. A couple of years ago Josiah and I had a horrible experience with a buzzer. Yes, it was tragic (pictured right). I buzzed his perfect head of hair. Well after our most recent mohawk trail there was no saving it. So I was forced once again to buzz it. Only this time it didn't turn out as bad. I guess it's a bit thicker than it before.

Josiah is a very compliant child and will sit there quietly while I chop away at his main. Micah on the other hand....well I will be video taping our next adventure. I can only ever buzz it and I literally have to hold him in a "very humane" headlock to get him to hold still. It is quite the sight to see. This past week was the dreaded haircut week. James' Grandpa Dean and his wife Caroline were over for dinner (which we do quite often). But they had never had the joy of seeing the haircuts. Here's my "Embrace the Camera" moment.

There is sweet Dean holding (a still full head of hair) Micah who is smooching on sweet Ella. And there I am in all my glory buzzing the tar out of Jo's hair. Yes, he's sitting on the patio on a cooler. To our neighbors they must think we are just the most trashy people. I mean look at this pic I took of Micah one morning. Yes he's wearing crocks that are 3 sizes too big and undies (no he's not potty trained, he pooped in those about 15 min later).

Don't they look like they all had so much fun on haircut night?

Oh well, this is us. In all our glory. Nutty, Crazy, a little Tacky. But usually FUN!

What....He's 4?!?!?!

Holy Cow! Time has literally passed me by. Josiah will be 4 years old tomorrow! I can't believe it. I remember bringing him home from the hospital and freaking out when my Mom left me after two weeks. I was a new mom and I had no idea what was normal for a baby to do. He had horrible acid reflux and puked like no other baby I have ever seen. I had to burp the kid over the sink! And now....now he's 4 years old! AH!

We had his 4th birthday party at a nearby park, and I will never (unless necessary) have another birthday party of his at my house. It was amazing to just be able to have the kids play, they adults chat, and throw out our trash right there. It was so fun.

I was just talking today with a friend about how I don't throw a birthday party for my kid's necessarily, I do it so that we can build memories of good times with our family and friends. Just to feed everyone (subs, chips, watermelon, and cake) was $100. Nuts! We obviously just want to make our kids happy, but throwing a party is for me! Let's be honest. I want to remember these years that fly by so quickly.

It was such an awesome day. But with each morning that passes I know that my little boy is growing to be a "big boy". It's breaking my heart. He's going to be amazing, I know it! He has an awesome memory (particularly when it comes to a promised treat), a knack for loving everybody, a sensitive spirit, and a desire to learn. I'm proud to be his Mom and I can't wait to see what my fun loving, adorable 4 year old will grow to be in the next year!

~So here's to you Jo~

~You are such a blessing to your Momma~

Embrace the Camera

A blog I love gave me a great reason to take pictures with my kids. I have a hard time doing becuase I feel like I'm looking a little dumpy (pretty much all the time, unless I have to leave the house). But The Anderson Crew reminded me that one day I won't be around for my kids, and they'll want to have memories with me in them. So here's to my first "embrace the camera" moment.

I took this picutre with Micah on the first day Josiah was in preschool, and Micah was struggling to play without him. It was actually a pretty fun day for just the two of us (I'm not counting Ella until she's mobile). We played "chase" and had a brief swordfight and did some much needed cuddle time. I think I'm going to love having Josiah in school (most of the time) for these moments. And I want to remeber to try and catch these memories on camera, even if I look like a 12 year old who doesn't shower : ) Now it's your turn to try and remeber to take pics with your family!

So what's going on in the Brittenham abode today; you might ask. Well I will tell you. James is busy outside building another (the first was in our last home) retaining wall in the backyard. The boys are sometimes outside "helping", and sometimes inside, bothering me. And what is sweet baby Ella doing? Fussing. She has an awful cold that has nearly taken her sweet, little, girly voice away. She isn't taking good naps, maybe 30 min - 1 hour, and she has been waking up 3 times at night. This is a dramatic difference from our once a night routine. It is really starting to catch up to me. James, being the amazing husband he is, let me sleep in today. It was nearly 10 am before I rolled out of bed. And I only did so because Ella woke up to eat.



But the good news is that the weather is beginning to cool off. And that means fall is in the air! Fall is my favorite time of year. I love everything about it. I love the leaves changing, the cool air, the light jackets and leggings, the evening walks, and the Pumpkin Spice anything doesn't hurt either.



So needless to say, even though I am sleep deprived and cranky, there is always, always, always something to be thankful for. Today, I'm going with the weather!

Getting My Craft On

I have been getting very inspired by Pintrest lately. I've found a million new craft, and organization ideas. Which has been perfect timing for me since taking on the role (again) of celebration leader (who gives out gifts to the moms). I've found creative ideas on inexpenisive gifts. Here's a few of the things I've been working on:

This is a bookmark I made from a paint chip from Home Depot, a washer, a ribbon, and a stamp. Easy gift for about $0.20!




Next is a necklace I made from felt, an inexpenive chain (comes by the roll) and some fabric. Another gift idea for my MOPS ladies. Cost about $0.75! There's a really great tutorial at Little Miss Momma.




Here is a letter box I made out of an old cereal box. I covered it with scrapbooking paper and here ya go! Instant (and nearly free) organization!. Cost about $0.10!

And finally I made this fall wreath from a plumming tube you can buy at Home Depot for $.97, some old ribbon and old dollar store leaves I had laying around. I just duct taped the long tube together at the ends and hot glued the leaves and ribbon. Took all of 20 min and cost all of $3. Brilliant I tell ya!

Hope this inspires other Mommies to get their craft on too. I will be posting more ideas as I finish them!

Happy Friday!

Joy

This picture made my heart so full I thought I would just die of pure joy.

James is such a great father. Unlike alot of men he bonds with his babies right away. And seeing his relationship already blooming with Ella just melts my heart.

Ella is easy to love though. With her tiny smiles, her soft cheeks, and her tiny giggles. She's just a perfect fit in our family. These are the moments I will never forget.

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~ Joy ~