A good Monday

Great day today! I snuck off to the Y this morning for a run, Got some good playing in, had mom's prayer group, I got a nap while Caleb played on PBSkids for a bit, got outside to enjoy the nice "spring" weather, Caleb had gymnastics - I am pooped, and he is still rearing to go! Why why why is it that kids have the most energy when they just need to play and learn when us adults need it the most?? That will be one of the 1st questions I ask God someday!

Legos are so much fun!
My picky picky eater!

So hard to walk in this snowsuit!

Ring around the baby

Aww!

Baby fever and organization

Not a combo you would think? Baby fever has been dominating my thoughts lately.. but I have a feeling it will never go away for me. I must of forgot about my very uncomfortable last pregnancy with baby A, the losing my identity for ... well.. still, and the fatigue that made my head hurt. I talked to a mom today who has three kids (her daughter is about 8 months), and I asked her if it were harder or easier than she thought it would be and she said "a lot harder", and my amazing mother of a sister Charlotte, who has 3 always says ("DON'T DO IT! IT'S CRAZY!")... yet I feel there is someone else who needs to be here... a little person is missing. I oath if I can help it to never have a winter baby again... been there done that no fun at all for me, especially in the Midwest, where I hibernate all winter long (which is loooong!). So Kevin and I agreed to start trying late summer/fall of this year to attempt to make a spring/summer baby of 2013! I know how it goes when I plan life... usually/always God's plans prevail... so we just type a rough draft and hand it over and He does a spell check/edit, re-types and hands it back :) I am always grateful for God's modifications ;)

Now comes the organization part- Kevin and I spent countless hours (like 4, but who's counting? ;)) going through stuff upon crap upon stuff to throw away, shred and recycle. Organizing doesn't come easy for me- in fact it's my biggest down fall. It's hardest for me to get and stay organized when there is PAPER everywhere!! Why do they send so much personal information in the mail that you can't just throw away, you have to shred?? I feel way more capable of a welcoming a 3rd child if I can get a hang of this organization stuff if I can get on top of it and stay on top of it with 2 kiddos.

I am reading a great book from the library called "How much is enough?" by Jean Illsley Clarke. Basically about how to not over indulge our kids and instead raise "likeable, responsible and respectful children", I have learned a lot from it and it's really helped me set clearer boundaries and limits with C. I often feel like maybe I let him get away with more than he should- which is dangerous. Well that's all for now! Sleep time!

Too much media!

A day I wish the kids would of slept a bit longer! Caleb would watch TV all day if I let him and honestly some days it's tempting to let him! He got an hour in this morning which seems like way too much TV, yet I needed that hour of sleep! I have actually been debating putting the TV in the attic so it's not so tempting, as now Caleb just expects that it will be there to entertain him. I will admit since little A came along he has been spending way too much time with his electronic baby sitter- I finally put my foot down and am making him only have at the extreme 2 hours TOTAL in a day (which adds up VERY fast!).
Kevin worked nights last night so it's always a challenge to keep the kids quiet enough not to wake him. The house is just not big enough for a person to sleep quietly (especially if you know my boy!).
As I sit here trying to wake up with my coffee I am wishing it wasn't so much work to get to the Y! I feel great after I work out but the packing the kids, packing me, getting everyone loaded into the car, dropped off at the kids club, going to park the car is a workout enough!! Then I go workout, go get the car, get everyone loaded and get home and I feel like I had 3 workouts. Maybe i'll just wait until Kevin gets up then sneak out by myself for a bit! Though when Kevin gets up I am ready for my nap!! Oh - life as a mom!

A new year!

Well, it's 2012! I have been terrible at blogging- yet I miss doing it! It's so fun to look back at how things have changed. Annaliese joined our family on November 30th 2010 and she just turned 13 months and Caleb is 4 1/2. I have been home with the kids full time until October then I started working every other weekend (4 days a month) plus some half shifts here and there. I find it challenging to stay home- but fun. Kevin and I got married in May in Del Mar California and I am so blessed to have him as my husband! This year we are working on getting a 3 bedroom house (only renting as we would love to move out west within the next 2 years), and a bigger car- we are wanting to expand our family and go for baby number 3 but we need more room! Here are some pictures :)

Annaliese Joy Levine 11/30/2010

My goofy Caleb! Never a dull moment!

She loves to play Peek-a-boo!

In California for our Christmas on our way to Disneyland!

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier

Universal Studios

Studio Tours

My awesome family!

Sponge Bob wacked him with his arm! I didn't know that til after the picture!

Right now Caleb goes to preschool 2 days a week, is in preschool gymnastics once a week and has gym/swim once a week- he needs lots to keep him busy! We got C and baby A enrolled in Kindermusik starting in a week as well which is always fun! We are all wimps with the cold so we hibernate having lots to do in the winter keeps us out of the cave! That's all for now! Gotta get back into blogging, this is fun! Even if I don't have any followers- it's kinda like journaling which I love anyway ;)

Been way too long!

Well hello, not sure if anyone even checks this anymore being that I haven't updated in FOREVER, but life happened this became low on the priority list and here we are. Things have been for the most part good. I never understood before why the best things in life were considered to be the most stressful, but now I do. I met my life partner and Caleb's life dad (Kevin) last year, and now we are engaged and gearing up for hopefully an October wedding. I am pregnant with number 2, who is due on November 29th, 2010. I am so excited.
Not having help with Caleb til he was 2 and being use to how hard single parenting was and getting so comfortable with how life was and then having a very helpful man who takes at least half the burden it has been so much more sweet! I wouldn't take back my single years with Caleb for anything, as it makes me appreciate what I have so much more!!
Kevin and I begin the premarital class at our church tomorrow, to help build a good foundation for our marriage. Had we of done things by the cookie cutout, we would of waited til after we were married before we had another addition, but my whole life, I have always veered off the cookie sheet and I am OK with that.
I haven't been working for a couple months now, before I was just working every other weekend, but I haven't even done that. I have been home with Caleb which I have really enjoyed! I am 11 weeks now and when I hit the 13 week mark I think then I will start picking up a day or 2 a week. Well Caleb is begging me to put together his train set. Off I go!

Life as we know it

"More rain!!"
Ready? Set? GO!

Caleb, Rachel and Momma

Running with the umbrella

Jumping with the umbrella

Sliding down the skate ramp

Playing in a puddle

Ready for bed

Going to visit Great Grandpa before he died

The view is better this way;)

Caleb, Butter and Grandma

Shy guyI am hoping he will start to fix my car!

Hi down there!

Lots has been going on lately. I just graduated with my RN with a 4.0! I was in survival mode for a long time and feel I can finally come out! My plans for the summer are to study for boards, take my boards and search for jobs! I want to move very badly, especially while Caleb is still a wee one:) I am just in search of a job that will pay for my move, which is important right now.

Caleb will be 2 next month and I am so amazed at how much he has changed! He is so smart!! He has mastered matching games and the wooden puzzles, he says several several words and is able to make his needs and desires known to me which is really helpful! He helps me clean up his toys FINALLY, and of course he throws lots of tantrums. As far as the tantrums go... i have found that when I take the time to acknowledge his point of view and how he is feeling they end really quickly, then there is distraction which works like a charm and then there is plain old "get over it we need to go", I usually save those for when he is in the middle of the street or similiar:) He poops on the potty almost everyday, due to the fact that God decided to give him man intestines and his poops are so big they won't come out any other way!! He started a new daycare last week which he LOVES. Nancy is still watching him but i want to work a .8 this summer so he goes to the daycare 2 days a week and is with Nancy the rest of the time. Thats all for now!

Christmas and after

He is such a little cutie (I think)

(I used product in hair... shhh)

Playing with rice

Playing with dried beansHe is such a cheese ball

His new train set from Auntie Charlotte and family

Playing piano with his cousin

My brother in law dressed up as santa when we were in the cities for Christmas.... it was funny

Watching the kids open presents

Finally got him to sit still for a picture!!

Gave him a book to entertain him for a split second so I could get a picture!

Bringing me books to read