A Few Things I Have Been Meaning To Document......

I am working on pics for a client and getting distracted..... thinking of things that have happened over the past few weeks that I don't want to forget, so need to get them in the ole' blog!  The first, and probably most memorable, is the GUM incident.  Last Friday we were on our way to Kendal's party at Chuck E Cheese in SA, and of course I am such an excellent mom that I give my 2 year old gum (because usually he is pretty good with it!), and on this particular day, he takes it out of his mouth and stretches it from one side of his head to the other.  It was completely stuck in his bangs, dangling down into his face, and he was so proud..... just smiling away.  I was in total shock (because, you know, a 2 year old would NEVER get gum in their hair)... I pulled over, and tried to get it out to no avail.  Anyway, had to go into the party like that, tried ice, of course that didn't work.  Everyone was staring at us. Almost 3 hours later, when we got home, p-nut butter was my hero!  I couldn't bare to cut all of his curls off!  Something else funny was taking the kids to see Toy Story 3 with Paxto yesterday.... they were cracking me up with those "Blues Brothers" 3D glasses on.... both sitting there, so seriously.  I laughed every time I looked over at them.  And then some fast music started playing and Channing jumped up and started just breaking it down... she is just like her mama....  can't sit still when there is music playing!

One morning down....

Went to bed throwing up all my supper and with a mega headache, but woke up determined to start over.  So a nice healthy homemade breakfast taco and quick workout.  Only about 15 minutes... but it's a start!  Yay for goals!!!!

The good with the bad....

Okay.... I know that usually in these posts all my fellow mommy bloggers, myself included, are pretty positive, bright, and shiny with our posts about our hilarious kids, our beautiful decorations and parties, our fun vacations, blah, blah, blah.  And I love that.... I LOVE sharing ideas, seeing what everyone is up to, and sharing what we are up to, because let's face it, sometimes a woman's social life takes a backseat to sitting around the house in pj's cleaning up drip after splatter after spill.  But, all that being said, sometimes we all just have a bad day, bad week, heck, a bad month.  And USUALLY, like my case today for instance, our bad times really aren't that bad, especially when you compare them to someone who can't have children or loses a child, someone who is seriously ill, someone who is going through a divorce, someone who just lost a family member, etc....  so I think we hesitate to put our bad days in writing because we feel guilty for complaining when everything is really so perfect.  But I am going to do it anyway.... let the whining begin.
I am STRUGGLING right now.  I know morning sickness is nothing new, and that women do this everyday.  Heck, I have done it twice.  But I am having an emotional breakdown I think.  The pure exhaustion, the raiding the pantry for fattening sugary foods that are going to make me sick and bigger than a house later but taste so good right now, the loss of ability to play anything that requires any amount of energy with my children, the lack of interest in exercising, the lack in interest of even having a conversation on the phone....  you get the picture.  I am not sad about being pregnant, no anxiety about having another baby, nothing like that.... I am happy, I just want to feel like my old self again.  I think I need to listen to my body and sleep and eat and all of that, but at the same time, I cannot completely give into this because that is just making it worse.  If I force myself out of the house, I do so much better once I do it.  We went to San Antonio yesterday and had a great day.... I felt awesome until we got home.  But it's just doing it.  Today we stayed home all day, and I ate almost an entire box of pop tarts while the kids napped.  SERIOUSLY!
SO....... I cannot spend another day wallowing in this misery.  I am so blessed to have 2 healthy children and another beautiful baby on the way, and I have to do my best to enjoy the day and change my attitude.  Here are my goals, starting tomorrow, which I believe to be obtainable:
#1.  First hour of the day: light breakfast, glass of water, and exercise.
#2.  Gain a HEALTHY amount of weight and quit wild pantry raids by tracking meals on the iphone.
#3.  okay.... who am I kidding.... let's start with the first 2.

On a different note, went to do portraits of a few more mended hearts children on Sunday.  Took Paxton and the kids because we were near a park.  Was so mad at myself for not dressing the kids up in portrait appropriate clothing because after seeing the other kids pose, mine were ready to smile for the camera.  I am using one of the pics for Chann's invitation.  LOVE it!  Oh, I designed the invitation today, so that is something, right???

Happy 4th!!!

This year we had just gotten home from Vienna, and had the pleasure of being back home for the 4th.  We had a really relaxing time hanging out at M&M's, and Paxton spent much of the weekend helping his brother re-model the new home.  Jaxson and Channing were both SCARED to death of the fireworks!  Jaxson made Paxton take him to the car, and Channing stood in a corner and held her ears.  Poor babies!  We also got to see our good friends' Scott and Teri new baby girl, Greenly!  

Vienna, Austria

Please bear with me.... about 8 weeks now and morning sickness has kicked in and is very angry and ugly this time around!!  Really don't feel like typing this, or really even getting out of bed, but here goes.  Vienna was GORGEOUS.... Farm Bureau treats us like royalty on these trips and takes care of every detail from the time we arrive at the airport on the first day until the moment we set foot on U.S. soil!  I feel so lucky, and Paxton and I say all the time how he will probably be with FB forever because they take such good care of their people.  One of the best parts was getting so much time with our good friends Jeff, Allyson, and Heath and Laurie.  We all have a blast together.   Day 1 was not the best.... we had flown all night, I slept a couple of hours and paxton slept zero, and then everyone was ready to hang out when we got there.  I kept up for a little while, sipping on my awful water "with gas" and artificial lemon juice.  Finally discovered half way through the trip that I need to order water with NO GAS and skip the lemon!  Anyway, I finally went to the room about 5pm, watched pay per view, ordered room service, and missed my kids.  Paxton came up much later.  Day 2: went to Salzburg, which is a GORGEOUS city and the setting for The Sound of Music.  Although we missed half of it because Paxton got carsick and they wouldn't let us stay on the bus for the tour.... so he slept on a park bench while I say there feeling sorry for myself :).  I promise, it gets better.  That day was pretty much wasted though.  The next day we went back to Salzburg and then up to Eagles Nest, which was the most gorgeous view I had ever seen.  That day was fun... we went with Tom, Becky, Christel, Ross, Cassie, and JP, and that night we kind of split up boys and girls and did some shopping and relaxing.  Paxton and I opted out of any road trips the remaining days and just explored Vienna, although we did spend one half day lounging in bed watching movies....may just have been the best day we had!  The gala was gorgeous at Holfburg (sp??) Palace, with soldiers and white horses greeting us as we arrived in our ball gowns.  We are felt so special and glamorous!  That night was awesome.....  we waltzed, and listened to opera, and did things we would probably never do here.  When it was finally time to come home, I was ready.  Seeing the kids was like Christmas, even better, and their faces were priceless when they saw us!

Our news!

June 14th we found out that we are expecting our 3rd baby.  What a blessing, and although we had talked about it on and off over the past few months, it still came as a shock!  I don't know why it is so surreal this time around.  We told the kids before we left for Austria, and of course Jaxson is like "Huh???" but Channing is ecstatic, kissing my stomach and telling everyone we see.  I know we are in for a challenge.... and right now "morning" sickness (AKA "all day sickness") is rough and making it hard to take care of the 2 I already have.  But I know in the months to come, excitement is going to grow, and we will welcome this precious baby with the same amount of love as we welcomed Channing and Jaxson.