Its Post Christmas clean up, bleh!

Yes.. its the beginning of a new year and the feeling of cleaning up and clearing out. I know some people think Spring is a great time to clean.. yes.. that's fine, but for me, a new year means some organization that didn't always happen before. Yes.. that's me.. never ever organized. Its cost me money and stress and time I wish I could have spent with my family... but nevertheless.. a new year and a new chance to claim an organized room, home, or even a suitcase for this flight attendant mommy?!

I have to say when we moved to Kentucky this past May/early June.. I thought I would clear out and be uber organized when we moved into our new home. Wow, was I in for a surprise! Little did I know or wasn't willing to admit.. when its JUST you: you got this. When its you and your spouse: you both got this. When its you, your spouse, and 3 kids: you DON'T got this... in organization speak.

I never in my wildest dreams imagined having the amounts of kids clothes and toys, stuff, and more stuff. Who accumulates all this? Well, apparently a family of 5 does my friend! And its all in how you manage it and work through the "take home" process that I have come to acknowledge is my weakest link. For example.. the mail.. throw away the ads and promotional stuff because I know it won't make it anywhere. The cards, keep. Bills, keep and PAY! All this to say.. it takes small steps and I am mastering them one at a time.. yay!

School Season.. Aka: Heartbreak Season

It's crazy. First off.. School starting in August.. And then.. 2 of my 3 are now in school?! When did this happen?!

I know it would happen eventually but no one warns you when you are planning nursery colors/details, etc, that your heart will break every year because time is flying! Ok.. Maybe someone said something like.."don't blink!" But in all honesty.. Didn't know the heart could handle so much!

Drake is 6 which means he is starting first grade! Wha?! We just met Mrs Denney and Mrs Jones at King Springs like... Yesterday? For kindergarten?! Yikes!!

And now Mailey is starting kindergarten..  She is extremely excited and can't wait to ride the bus with Drake.. Oh my..

Colton has a couple more years (maybe just 1?) with me and his Grandparents caring for him before preschool and Kindergarten.. So we are not yet an empty nester for school but almost!

Promise I will post pictures from their first days!!

Moving on up... to Northern Kentucky!

It's true.. about two months ago.. my husband and I decided to make a change for our family and move to Northern Kentucky in June (2015). We are waiting for our son to finish kindergarten in May and we will pack it all up and make the move.

This move has been on our hearts for a long time.. we wanted to wait for a few things to be in place and the timing to be right. At one point in all this waiting.. a family member said, "why not now?" meaning this next Summer.. and we both said, "why not?!" We have both families blessings and most of our friends knew it was inevitable.. we both are very excited!!

Drake will finish up kindergarten this Spring and be in 1st grade (time is flying!). He has enjoyed (and still enjoys) riding the school bus and coming home every day telling me the color he got in class, which describes the day he has had behaviorally. He reads very well for his level, which I should have known he would be able to do one day, but its mind boggling for me all at the same time. I want time to slow down.. its all going by so fast!! He is so proud of his work and when he doesn't have a good day... he is very quiet because he knows he has to work harder.. its fun/heartbreaking seeing him grow up?! I know I am not the only one?!

My Mailande.. sweet 4-year old Mailey.. what can I say about my artistic, singing, pre-K girl?! She is very (VERY!) excited about going to school next year with "her Drakie." She is excited to use her new backpack and lunchbox (purchased early due to a sale, yay!). She is currently being homeschooled by our wonderful friend Shawmeeka (who also cares for Colton) and she loves telling us what she has had for lunch/snack.. every.single.day : ) She is articulate for a 4-year old which is good.. but has me on alert for words I didn't know she has learned... and songs, for that matter, lol! She came home one day singing, "I'm so excited! And I just can't describe it!" I gently asked her what she was singing.. she said, "You know.. that song when you are SO excited!" I smiled and said, "Do you mean.. I'm so excited! I just can't hide it?!" That was the one : ) 

And finally an update on my 3 year old, my Colton. He is our silly-sweet-wild child-holds-you-tight Moose.. I can't describe how much I love him and am amazed by him all at the same time. He is literally the one who trumps the house rules and dances because he thinks that will excuse him from some questionable behavior. I can say that he has us on alert at all times because we never know what to expect from him... he is 3. That is all that needs to be said..... hahhahahahaha!!!!

That all said.. I will fly out of Atlanta for a while.. teaching some flight attendants some days and being a regular flight attendant for the Great Delta!! I love my job.... didn't know I could have so much fun and have SO many wonderful "family" friends to work with... I can't complain... I love my job and the people that I spend so many days with... just love it!!

I will miss my Georgia fam and friends.. but we will always be able to drive/fly home to see everyone every so often.. so I know we won't be too far away?!

Happy 2013!!

Its a good year so far.. only had to work one day in the first week and I have already started my running program. Not quite sure how far I want to run but we'll see!!

This past week was particularly sad for us.. we had just sent out our Christmas/New Year cards when I mentioned in our updates to friends/family that we still had Beau, our black lab, and how sweet he is, etc. Beau's health took a deep turn for the worst the following days, not eating, barely getting up, and it was difficult for him to move around, etc. For a 12yr old lab their movement can tell you a lot about their health.. and the not eating part was never really something we expected. All this to say, my husband and I made the decision to say goodbye to our sweet boy. I never knew how hard it would be for both of us.. a pet really gets into your heart and your life! We want to have a pet again in the future but we both need a big breather after this past week. Fortunately for our kids.. they are very young to even know the full impact just yet. Our lil man Drake knows he wasn't feeling very well, and we haven't had any questions just yet.. so I am not sure of the impact this has had just yet, so time will tell?!

I pray that we can take a few months off and maybe take in a rescue pet very soon?! We'll see.. no rush but I do want my kids to experience a pet in their life and the love they give so freely!!

Sweet Beauregard!

Where did this year go?

Its already December 17th and I am now addressing some Christmas cards.. thankful for old fashion bribery for a great shot with 3 kids!! I am not ashamed because, well, you gotta do what you gotta do!?

It is December and we now have a 4yr old (Drake), a 2yr old (Mailey), and my 13mth old..Colton is past 1!! I haven't posted since he was 4mths old and that tells you how time goes by SO fast!!

Drake is doing really well being a big brother and loves everything about airplanes and computers.. I am glad my job (flight attendant) lends to his airplane fix! The computer/iphone/cellphone fixation drives us insane sometimes but what can you do? It entertains them for a few minutes and allows for some development in some area in his brain... right?! I am sure of it?!

Mailey is my mini-me.. every where I go..she goes. Let me just say that this thrills me and sometimes does not help me. I love that she loves her baby brother and wants to be with me when we change his clothes, diapers, etc. But sometimes mommy needs to stand next to the stove and doesn't need help.. see where this is going?! I do love my little princess.. she loves putting her doll to bed, and everything else for that matter.. the kitchen spoons, the remote, the phones. When I say she puts the items to bed she lays a blanket over them (or a kitchen towel) and then walks away, leaving mommy and daddy to search for many items (remote, cell phones, etc)!

Colton is my little cowboy.. he bucks and kicks and screams while he does it!! So truly named is that boy that is a little scary!! He is actively moving around and trying so hard to walk that he is almost there. We are in no hurry with him walking, as mentioned above, I am sure things would be moving with him at a very lightning speed and I am ok with waiting : ) He loves his thumb for going to bed, I was hoping to have a paci kind of boy.. but both my boys are thumb suckers.. thats ok, I am sure we will be visiting an orthodontist in our lifetime for something : ) He squeals when he is happy and is pointing in all directions while saying a number of grunts, words, whatever you would like to call them. He says DahDah when we can work it from him and MuhMuh when we want to hear Mommy.. lol!!

My sweet hubby is currently an accountant for a nationwide payroll firm for their Atlanta office.. he is happy to be putting into practice what he has been studying for the last two years! We are thankful that he is done with school and now we are headed to CMA/CPA exams and getting those out of the way.. but no pressure.. just enjoying things one day at a time!

I am still at Delta and flying usually a few days a month.. I teach training more often than not because it allows me to be home on a regular basis. I actually enjoy teaching, too, but I never knew I would have so much fun with a full time job, even after 16 years?! I love my job and what it allows me to do, both personally and professionally!

We hope you and your family have a most wonderful and Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!!
The Meenach Family

Christmas 2012

4 months now..

This is our little man.. yes, I know he is on a pink blanket but he was lying on the floor just playing..AND where he rolled over for the first time yesterday, yay!

Colton is very healthy, happy and just always grinning (unless he is hungry, or diaper needs changing?!).. he is such the happy camper! I should write his birth story on here very soon.. don't want to forget it : ) I just wanted to post how cute he has gotten since we brought him home this past November, and because I want to keep up with this blog, its very hard, ya know?!

As for the rest of my clan.. well, we are waiting for my husband to finish his internship at an accounting firm in Northern Kentucky and then he will graduate with his second degree, which is in accounting, from NKU. The past two years have been a long road we took when we decided it was best that he return to school.. lets just say that without family, brothers, sisters, cousins, etc we could not have done what we did, especially with our kids : )

Waiting for tax season to be over.. any day now... just waiting! Hoping to update this blog a little more frequently.. so, maybe in a week I will post some pics from a trip to Louisville!

Last night as a mom of 2!

Well, tonight I will go to bed for the very last time as a pregnant mommy.. we go tomorrow morning and have our third and final child. We are expecting a sweet baby boy, Colton Matthew! I am so excited, yet nervous, all at the same time!

I want to say that I documented every bit of this pregnancy but I am afraid I only did it a few times, like pictures and blogs, etc. I don't think I did a great job of documenting any of my pregnancies..so maybe its just not in me to do all the writing and journaling that I have felt so guilty about lately. I am going to look back and be able to tell my kids all about when they came into the world.. just not when it was happening.. does that still count? Lets hope!

Our son and daughter are at their grandparents.. one is with one set and vice versa. We didn't want to overwhelm either set..like that Airtran commercial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASg9dlhrjEc. That commercial makes me giggle!!

I am going to enjoy these final hours with my little bundle inside me.. I am SO blessed and thankful to have been able to carry all pregnancies to term and be healthy at the same time. I know many women (and some are close friends) who try so hard and want a child of their own and I do not take it for granted. Nor do I take it for granted that every checkup for my little ones have a clean bill of health.. many children could only hope for a quick visit to the Dr's office and leave with a lollipop. Those are the ones (parents and children) who I pray for.. especially those I have a personal relationship with.

I can only pray that this baby, Colton, will be just as healthy and happy as my other two.. I will keep you posted!!

DM

Today My Boy IS 3!!!

Well, I wanted to write his birth story and some sweet things about him before the big day but time got away from me. I feel like that is the theme these days as I try and remember what we were doing 3 years ago?! Time does fly when you're having fun or trying to enjoy every minute!

To start this part two of my firstborn's story.. just a reminder.. I hope you are a person who doesn't mind medical details?! Not too much detail.. but some people may not want to read what happens during a birth. So, here goes...

We were due on Nov. 14th 2008 and it was somewhere in late October when we were both just waiting for the big day.. Dwayne working and I was on short term disability from work. I am a flight attendant and we go out at 27 weeks, kind of a sweet deal! About the time we are talking about.. my dear sister came up twice and was helping me wash all the baby goodies and putting them away. She came for two Sundays in a row and we were having a good time catching up and just talking..doing what sisters do. The second Sunday, 10/19/08, we were folding clothes and laughing when I felt a little shift in my belly and I said, "Whoa, I think I'm gonna sit down?!" Definitely a little surprise for me and Julie, my sis, because I had been feeling great all day. She asked if I was alright and I was, "Sure! Never better!" I really did take a seat because something just kind of told me to sit, ya know?! To make the moment even funnier, Julie asked if we had our bag packed for the hospital.. I was like, nah.. I've got at least 3 weeks! She said that I'd probably want to put a few things together, just in case. Famous last words!

The next day I believe Dwayne had a Dr's appointment for his foot.. he had been having trouble with an injury from his past. We didn't do very much that day and he ended up working at Publix that afternoon and evening. He returned home around midnight.. so we both went to bed to just get up the next day and do everything all over again. Around 1am I woke up having to go to the bathroom, not something I had experienced in my pregnancy very often (as some women do), but what else would you do when you had to go to the restroom? So, I return to bed, only to wake up again 30 minutes later having to go again to the bathroom.. I was a little put off with it by now, seriously?! I didn't drink a lot of water that night! I finally put 2 and 2 together and figured out that this may not be nature calling.. but in fact the BABY calling! I had to scream from the restroom for Dwayne, God bless him, he was so tired! I said I needed my cell phone and I think that we were in labor?! I didn't really know but I needed to call someone?! The poor Dr on call, Dr. Adams, returned my call and sounded even more tired than Dwayne.. poor lady! She said it sounded like my water broke and to go ahead and go to Piedmont..she'd call ahead. Dwayne grabbed a quick shower and I packed somewhat of a bag...should've listened to my sister!!

We were on our way and I just have to say, 1) Nice that there is no traffic around 2-3am, 2) It was so quiet and I thought how neat that it was just me and Dwayne at this hour.. holding hands and we're about to become a family!

We check in, the nurses were very nice.. they got us settled and things kind of started for me on the labor front (pain and uneasiness of the unknown!). My nurse said that since it was our first baby that it was going to be a long morning and that Dwayne could try to rest if he wanted... once again..famous last words! When we were progressing I had told them that meds were not out of the question, but I wanted to see how far I could go... knowing me, not long! Around 5am.. I had about as much pain as I believe I'd be able to handle and wanted the wonderful Dr of pain free labor to help out : ) I am all for ladies who want the natural route, but I am not one of them.. I know there are opinions of either side... but at the end of the day, I believe I made the best decision for our situation.

Nevertheless.. the nurse checks you before calling the anesthesiologist, just to give them info or something, all I knew was that HE was on MY floor and steps away from making the PAIN GO AWAY! Yay!! She, the lovely nurse, asked me something about my Dr telling me or not if the baby was breech and I said no, in fact, the last visit they said my baby was ready for his debut?! She apologized and said that it looked like I was going to be having a C-section because of the position of the baby. All this to say.. that "long morning" for us turned into us going right into surgery and my baby boy came at 6:35am.. mind you.. I had just woken up at 1am-ish to just go to the restroom at MY HOME.. and now, a mere 5 hours later I was a mommy! Yeah, shocker for me, too?! I remember lying there, after they brought Drake to my side so I could see him, his cute self, thinking... I'm a mommy, I'm a mommy... responsible for this little one! Yikes.. big moment..and I am in surgery..SO not the way we planned : <

Drake Kenton Meenach was a healthy baby boy who was a wee bit early but I wouldn't have had it any other way. We stayed in the hospital for the four days afterwards.. things went a wee bit wobbly in the nursing department but we managed after awhile. There are some things you just have to learn and practice over and over again?!

I just know that this precious little boy is now 3 and he is growing every day! His words are multiplying, he is kind, sweet, and curious. He isn't quite potty trained, but thats ok.. we'll get there.. and he knows his numbers and about 95% of the alphabet. I am not blind to his little grins when he really wants something he can't have.. we're dealing with "time outs" and discipline..not my favorite part of being mommy, but I knew it wouldn't be. He is growing into his big brother role quite well.. and then, again, he has his moments of bopping his little sister on the head with a stern look and a few minutes in time out. I am really learning a lot about being a mother who is patient and understanding.. hard at times, but I am trying! Then, again, sometimes I have to tell him that mommy needs a minute and can't speak for a few minutes (when I'm brewing or stewing, or whatever?!). I say all this because he is the first one of my children going through different phases and I'm doing what I can without having my own mother by my side for advice. I lean so much on my wonderful husband and I'd have to say we have done pretty good so far.. we make each other laugh and we've really worked on being a team when it comes to raising our kids.. not one-upping the other. Wow, have I gone off subject?!

This whole story to say that 3 years ago today.. I gave birth to a sweet little boy who stole my heart! I don't know what I wouldn't do for him (or any of my kids). I love being a mommy and I can only hope that other women who have a desire or hope to be one someday get their chance because its truly a blessing! I have been blessed by my two children's health and happiness.. I can only hope this 3rd one, another boy, is just as happy and healthy!

Happy Birthday Drake!
Love,
Mommy

My Boy Will Be 3! Part one..

This adorable little guy.. my firstborn, my BABY.. will be 3 in a few days?! Where has the time gone? I have no idea, but I wanted to tell his birth story before his birthday because I think if I write it down and archive it somehow.. it will help me when I have all 3 kids around me and I can easily read it to him while my memory is good! Let me add that I borrowed this idea from a fellow blogger who recently told her firstborn's story as well..Krystyn Hall is a cool writer who is much more consistent with her blog than I am : ) I am hoping to become more consistent.. lets see how it goes!

As I tell this story (which I will tell in 2 parts).. I hope no one is squirmy with details about babies, birth, pregnancy.. just to let you know its not too detailed, but you never know?! Thought I'd warn the faint of heart, thanks to Krystyn for that warning, I just wanted to do the same.

I first have to tell the pregnancy test story.. its humorous, at least I think it is!

My hubby, Dwayne, was working at Publix at the time while we had decided to start trying for a baby.. we didn't know how long it would take or if it would happen at all, so to say we were sticker shocked at tools to help you figure out pregnancy is an understatement. I say sticker shocked only because I can't imagine having to purchase dozens of pregnancy tests, predictors, etc. when you're emotionally involved in the process. With this in mind.. my sweet man called me and told me to come up to his store and check out the clearance stand because I may need to purchase some things. I asked what he was talking about and he said, "I just think you need to come up and see for yourself." I was intrigued.. but smiling becasue he has a fun sense of humor so there was no telling what he was talking about!

I go to Publix and shop around.. find him and chat before I go over to the stand. When I DO get there, I almost fall over.. about 10-12 pregnancy tests for $0.50!! Yes...fifty cents! I start to think.. huh? Usually the minimum is $7 (or more)/pop...whats wrong with them? Well, it was February and they were all expiring at the end of March. Well, I still thought that they were a cool deal.. I bought 4.. just a drop in the bucket compared to the normal cost.

Fast forward to March.. I am close to the time where I'd need to test and we have one left. I had taken the others earlier in the month to no avail and was down to one left. I knew what it was going to be.. negative, as the other two were earlier that week. Well... its funny.. there was a wee little shadow that started to emerge on the "window" teller part (I don't know what they're officially called)... and the second line appeared! I was dumbfounded.. estatic, but, was very surprised at how I felt?! Overwhelmed and shocked.. happy.."is this happening" feeling.. all the feelings I didn't expect. Nevertheless.. I ran into the living room and told Dwayne.. to his, "What is that?!" response while he was on the phone. He was over the moon, obviously, when he finally knew what it meant. He is an awesome man that I am SO blessed to be married to.. we both just sat there and thought, "Wow!"

We had decided to go for a walk earlier in the afternoon, so we went ahead and chilled out on the Silver Comet Trail while we talked about what we wanted to do next. We decided to buy a non-almost expiring pregnancy test.. and of course, go to my doctor. That evening.. another test confirmed what the $0.50 test had showed us earlier. We were having a baby!

We were over the moon after the tests and Dr's visit.. we knew we didn't want to tell everyone, for fear of things that could happen early on, but we told a few people..parents and our siblings. All of them were SO excited. For our parents, we printed out little signs that said someone special was arriving in November (11/14/08) and framed it for each set of folks. We gave them the gifts individually and they all had great reactions! My own dad, Ernie, didn't quite read all of the info in the frame at first.. he was happy with a pretty frame and then saw there was something in it, his face was priceless! For Dwayne's side.. his mother was a little curious and figured something was up when we flew up for the weekend as a surprise. His parents were both very excited, obviously, and his mom was even MORE excited because she had already purchased a bassinet for our first born?! She was laughing when she showed us because she said she just wanted to be prepared for any announcements we may have.. I thought it was awesome!

We slowly told more people as time passed.. to happy greetings, and great advice, too. That was the one thing that I have to say never overwhelmed me. People say that random strangers would give you all the advice in the world and they want to touch your belly, etc. I was ok with the belly touching by my friends.. only one person who I DID NOT know was about to touch my belly and I asked her not to, she was approaching me at a restaurant?! Who does that?! Random, I know.. but otherwise, everyone was cool around me. I had very sweet advice from ladies at my church and cards from friends. I guess I just absorbed it all and just enjoyed it?! I had a pregnant buddy at work and we both had fun picking on each other and sharing advice.. its always nice to have a preggers buddy!!

All this to say.. the discovery of the next big event in your life is definitely one to remember and hopefully share it with others, especially the little one you're growing inside of you. I am glad I am writing this all down because as I type I start to remember things that I had momentarily forgotten, so I hope I get it all down!

In my next blog.. I will tell how we prepared and made our way to a family of three. I hope this post brings you back for the sequeal!

See you next time!

DM

All Things Pregnant

All things pregnant means all the things that I get to experience with t-minus 6 weeks to go before baby boy Meenach arrives! Here are just a few:

-Never try on boots at the store when you're 8 mths along.. you really need someone's help to zip up the side. Lets just say that this took place right before Target closed and I managed to get out of the boots ok..for now?!

-Its ALWAYS ok to just take a cart (even without a kid) to just carry your purse. Just taking care of my preggo friends!

-Always take your parents up on offering to take care of your 14mth old for two nights... its always cool to get a good night's rest!

-Naps are our friends!

-I can't drive in the HOV lanes as a lone driver just yet... with my kids, yes, but the kid in the belly doesn't count as my plus one, just yet...only 6 more weeks!

-Shoes are overrated... I am sporting flipflops til I die! Well, maybe the aformentioned boots will be purchased and I can wear those in the Winter!

-Last but not least, and I may add to this list later, but this "nesting" thing has kicked in and I'm doing some much needed damage to my home... lets hope hubby will, too! He comes home this weekend and I can't wait to see him! Only a few more weeks and he is done with school! Woohoo!!

Thats all I can think of right now.. but I know there are many more. Feel free to contact me and add to it?!

Til we meet again!
DM

Time is FLYING!

Yes.. its no surprise that I would say this, but this time around, especially being pregnant with my third child (yikes!) is flying by SO fast! I am watching my son and daughter just blossom and I am hoping I am capturing all the wonderful moments as best as possible! Right now the only thing that is happening with my little girl is some teething action.. ow! She is recovering from her 1yr old shots and sprouting her first tooth at the same time..so our nights have involved some extra snuggles and Tylenol : )

As for my sweet little boy.. he will be 3 in just a few months and I am trying to hold on to his toddler days, but yet I can't wait for him to have back and forth chats with me. Right now he is saying,"Huh?" all the time and we're waiting for another word-of-the-moment to show itself. I know it will come.. I am just waiting while I watch him play or just laugh at something silly : )

As for baby number three..I am trying to bask in my LAST pregnancy. Did I mention this is my final one?! Just wondering...LOL! Yes, this one was our little surprise blessing... and we're having a BOY!! I feel him move and we are closing out our fifth month in another week.. I will also be on maternity leave and I look forward to the nesting/organizing/nap in the afternoon phase! Woohoo! So much to look forward to! Oh, and we have to get a minivan..hehehe!

I just wanted to catch up with the Meenach clan... we are busy but still enjoying the small things that we love, like sitting and playing with the kids..watching them walk (Mailey) or trying to ride a bike (Drake)..or just kicking my belly (baby #3)!

Hope to catch up everyone with other details very soon!
DM

Sleepless Nights

Right now it is 5am-ish... really its almost 6, but I have been up since 5. I can't sleep and I made a decision a long time ago that if I am sitting (or lying) in bed and not sleeping.. something productive could be accomplished! So here I am, working on the blog I have been meaning to keep on my growing family?!

Right now we are still working/traveling/staying with family while my sweet husband finishes school and baby #3 arrives. The end of this year will be the beginning for what we think we be "normal." We really don't know what normal is anymore, and who does know for that matter? We just want a more daily schedule of all of us being in the same home (in the same town!) for a long period of time. Dwayne has been out of town finishing up his second degree and I continue to work in Georgia.. so, juggling schedules will be easier when we are under one roof. Easy, peesy! I'm sure!

Meanwhile, we have the added benefit of family who are our "village" taking care of our kids. Where would we be without our village.. I don't know! Having family willing/able to help with little kids is a Godsend and I don't take it for granted at all! So, if you're family is your village.. make sure you thank them as much as possible!

I must sign off and prepare for work (get dressed without waking baby girl!).. please have a blessed day and always be thankful for your village of help!

D

This weekend is Mother's Day!

This weekend there will be roses given to moms and to grandmothers.. oh, and the cards! Who can forget the card?! I have already gotten an early mother's day gift.. a sweet gift my hubby gave me a month ago. I have been wanting a nice camera and he went ahead and got it for me (I should say the family.. but we know who'll be taking the shots!).

My own mother passed aways about this time ten years ago due to heart disease.. I can't believe how time passes but how it also feels like it was just yesterday?! How weird!! This M-day I would have told her she would be a grandmother for a 3rd time... yep, we're having another baby : ) Its a little surprise but we are very excited! I say I am thrilled but I know it will be interesting for the first couple of years.. i.e. right now baby girl is trying to take a nap and its not going over very well?! I can only imaging how two babes in the house will be.. in addition to my sweet boy!

I hope all the mothers out there have a beautiful, peaceful, and wonderful Mother's Day!
D

Holding my breath...

Some days I want to hold my breath and just wait for what is going to happen next. Sometimes I think if I hold my breath time will stand still or things will slow down. Time is flying with two kids and my house has never been more disorganized and a wreck.. but I don't want to miss a moment! So, for now, I'll just hold my breath..not literally... but just slow down and see what they are doing and how they are responding to each other (its SO funny almost every day!)!

I am currently out of town for work and my sweet hubby has both kids at his parents and then this weekend they'll be at his sister's home. I can't wait to see what they will come up with through pictures and text messages.. one phone call already has made me miss them more than I think I can handle! Lets see how the next two days go?! I promise to update on how things went!

New Habits and Resolutions

Ok.. I have always thought about New Year's resolutions but sometimes I forget about them by January 15th. Isn't that what every body else does? I guess I am with all the other peeps who say, "This year I'm watching what I eat, blah blah blah.." This year, however, my husband and I have actually said we are going to set goals instead of setting up an actual weight loss number. We have a goal of running a half marathon and wanting to fit into some clothes that either need to go into our closets or go to the local Goodwill!

As for new habits.. our 2 year old has started lying down on the floor at bedtime and falling asleep. I know.. we travel so much and we have been kind of slack on bedtime routines, except for the bath, of course. We just let him fall asleep and we take him into his room for bed. I am probably setting up the worst habit ever and the Supernanny on tv would have a few things to say... but, I'm not one of her clients so I think I'm ok...hehehe!

I have had the very best holiday season and I am getting to spend New Years with my sweet husband who is right now playing w/ his toy helicopter.. yes, it's his toy...and we're watching Friends and we're just vedging until we ring in the New Year. I know its not glamorous but its just what we do... very low key..just like us!

So, from our home to yours.. we wish you the very best New Year, which ever way you celebrate!

Its already over?!

Its already the day after Christmas and I have just mailed out our Christmas cards. Every year I promise myself I will be more organized and send them the very next day after Thanksgiving.. only to disappoint myself and send them late?! Argghh... if I only made reasonable expectations of myself and didn't continually get frustrated!

This year we had two wonderful Christmas celebrations with both sides of the family and it was very special! I think this year was more special because we not only had one more child in our lives, thank you Mailey for making us smile! But we also had more intimate celebrations with our families. The Meenachs had a special lunch the week before because of work schedules, etc. The Drake family had a sweet lunch because my dad has been sick and we brought lunch to him and his lovely wife, Arlene. I think this year has been very special and I can't think of anything we would have done differently :) Ok, maybe send out the cards a little earlier!

I want to wish all of you a very special New Year and I hope its a happy and healthy one, too!

Christmas Already?!

I can't believe the year I have had! I am a mother to a new little girl, Mailey, and I just love my growing little boy, Drake. We had a wonderful Fall and now we're in the throws of December and the wonderful holiday is right around the corner!

Now.. I will admit that when I was young (like 12-18), I loved Christmas for several reasons.. outside of celebrating Jesus' birth, I loved being out of school, shopping, seeing friends, etc. I still love all of these things (ok, maybe minus the crazy shopping) but I have really been humbled this year to really focus on the reason of Christmas and not even WANTing to ask my family what they would like to receive this year as a gift. We've agreed to something around $10 but the main thing we're doing is just spending time together.. and that is something you can't put a price on.

As for our children.. my husband and I are really thinking about what to do as far as how many gifts does each one get (when they have too much already?!) and how we're going to transition in the future when they expect more. I still am in awe in how my parents raised three kids and still maintained their sanity (and humor!).. I can only hope I raise my kids in a similar way with as much love as they showed us!

Twas the first night...

Twas the first night my husband has both babies to himself.. with help from Nanna & Pappaw Meenach. Yes... my sweet and handsome husband has our two kids to himself. I know he is at my inlaws home but I do like to think of him being the sole (ultimate) responsible person who has them. I know my inlaws help quite a bit but tonight is kind of big for him, its his first with our newest member of the family.. Mailey.

I will admit to spoiling a wee bit.. but Mailey and I have bonded to the point of her sleeping next to me and I don't know how it is going to go over with my dear husband?! Some people call it "co-sleeping," but I call it, "mommy needs to sleep..so lay here for me" sleeping?! It works and everyone gets a good night of sleep! So.. lets pray for a good report tomorrow from the hubby!

I will post later this week as my little boy will be 2! I can't believe that time is flying by so fast!! I can only imagine what type of person he will grow into.. I pray he is strong, independent, and compassionate. I am sure I could think of more but I will talk about that at a later time :)

For now.. have a great week! DM

Ok, I'm still here.. and life is full!

Hi there.. yes I am still here and I have two healthy children, one of whom is 8 wks old! I know, the time is flying by so fast!!

Mailande Kay came into the world at 8lbs, 11oz and 20.5 inches long with 10 toes and 10 fingers! She is so beautiful and most importantly very healthy : )

Life is full for sure.. and so is our car! Everywhere we go it looks like we are going camping for weeks, but its slowly getting to a normal crazy these days. We are learning what we need and what is really not necessary.. lots of toys are surprisingly not needed to entertain them when we fly?! We have found that the airplane itself is quite entertaining for our 22mth old.. and our 8wk old just wants sleep, hehe!

I will keep my blog a little more active and I hope to have more followers, so keep up with me, I'm sure it'll be fun!

DM

Last night as a pregnant woman..

Yes, tonight is the last night that I will be pregnant.. that I know of for now?!

Tomorrow morning we go in and have our scheduled C-section and we will be a family of four! I am very excited, yet, at times I am a little scared..not sure of exactly what I'm scared of, but I just am.

The first thing I think of is this lovely miracle that God has intrusted me with and I get to be a mommy to a little girl.. so loving that part!! I also think of my own mother and the things she taught me while she was living. I hope to pass on several things I learned from her, add my own, and obviously learn from others because I know I'll need advice as I go along! Having lost my mother in my 20's and trying to raise my son (and soon-to-be daughter) without her advice has definitely had its tough days, but I am very proud to say that my husband and I have managed to take care of the one child we have so far without too much havoc.. so we're hoping that two will not be too hard. I hear some muffled laughing out in the internet world tonight.. yes, I know, its a funny thought?!

One of the last things I think of is that wonderful question I mentioned in my last post.. is this our last child? Will we adopt another one? Will we find that two is just the right number for us? I can only say that what brings me peace is knowing the Lord will answer all of these questions over time and I don't need to worry about it right now.

I have all kinds of hopes and dreams for my new little baby girl, and of course for my son, too. I am looking forward to the wonderful life of having two kids and the wild adventure we are sure to have.. I can only pray for health and happiness for all..and right now..to all a good nite!