A Needed Project

I have figured that when we do things little by little, life is not as overwhelming. Currently I cannot see the floor in my bedroom, the family room is filled with toys/blankets/clothes I was supposed to fold, and the done dishes are waiting for me to put them away. But tonight, all of that was put on hold because a special someone's room is ALWAYS being put on hold for those other projects.
Tonight, I cleaned Petey's room.
About time right?

It started looking so good and clean and I was even thinking of trying to get stains out of her carpet (I know, brave me!) but she followed me around, trying to undo everything I had done so it was a short clean up. But it looks so much better!!! I dont trip in her room anymore (though tomorrow will be a different story once I let her back in there with her toys).

We even got crafty and put some cute decals on the walls that we found at Target. I've been looking for some non-expensive ones that matched her room and finally, we found some! I love the brown/pink flower look.

Productive Wednesday

What a week of pur bliss.

Ok, just kidding, pure bliss would be a slight exaggeration but a productive week, it was.

First order of business, I have semi-started up Hayley's Bowtique again. I decided to quit it because I was working full time and hated coming home to orders and having to "work" when I was home from work. I don't know if the Wednesdays off have helped or what it is, but I feel like I have slightly more time to create. So create I will!

I made these flowers for my awesome cousin. She has 3 boys---and ordered them for her photography business to have on hand for those cute little girlies. :) What a great idea!

Also this week, I got even craftier with one of Petey's outfits. I don't usually make her accessories that only match one outfit but she has a pink shirt with zebra print sleeves and it is just the cutest thing! I couldnt help but make her a necklace with a zebra print pendant in the middle and this week, she acquired a new bow to match the whole outfit!!! Guess we should find more zebra outfits. :)

Here is another fancy flower I made for our household. We love it!

I also sent my cousin these white headbands in 3 different sizes for her business.

All of this happened on Wednesday, the day that I also had a playdate for my kids and did a load of dishes. I have no idea how we get this much done in ONE day with 2 kids under two but we do it and have fun while we're at it!!!

I must really love you

Once upon a time, I posted a picture that I vowed NEVER to post.

It is from 2 days before Andersen's birth.

I realized tonight after stepping out of the shower that babies don't necessarily make you look 'hot' anymore. Wow, between my diet/exercise habits and my 2 kids, we have successfully ruined my body. Now to get it back...

Now look below...how many chins does she have? Maybe two? Certainly not the 10 swollen chins you see in the top picture.

Someday, I think I'll show the top picture to my kids so they know how much I really loved them. Especially kiddo #3 (and that is in no way an announcement...kiddo #3 wont be living here for 3-4 [maybe more] years if I have a say). Because I knew what I looked like here so when I choose to get pregnant with kiddo #3, that's truly showing motherly love, isnt it? :)

I think so...

And that's how Suze sees it.

A Lady

Today, while writing my husband an email, I almost called myself a woman.

And then I hesitated.

And then I switched the word to lady. :)

Odd, huh? I most certainly am a woman but don't feel as though that title fits me. On the inside, Im still 16.
Looking in the mirror the other day, I thought to myself, "This year I turn 23. Yuck!" No offense to any of you out there who are older than 23. I just really don't feel like a 20 something. Obviously I have children so we can all be grateful that I am a 20 something but most times, I just dont feel it.

What makes it harder to feel older is being the youngest out of my 4 sisters. I have 2 younger siblings, both with disabilities, so I was the baby of the 4 older kids (yup, 6 of us all together).

I have a baby voice (or at least I'd bet that I do). For example, I work in billing and you'd consider that to be a mature job (at least I do). People call on the phone and start using words like "hun", "babe", "sweetheart", and I'm baffled. Did I tell you I was 14? Because I'm not, person on the other side of the phone. I am a mother and people don't normally walk around calling me "sweetheart", like you would to a 5 year old.
Or there are the people that don't necessarily call me by certain names but talk to me in a way you would speak to your 3 year old child. They talk more high pitched, a lot slower, and seem to be raising their eyebrows and grinning on the other side. Are they thinking if they ask nicely and talk really slow that I'll understand them better? I'm not quite sure. But I do understand them, I do take my job seriously, and I do know what I am doing (for the most part...Ive only been in billing for 3 months).

So this year, I'm turning 23 (honestly, that is still 9 months away). Bring. It. On.

And that's how Suze sees it.

Big Babies

Tonight, I decided that babies get too big, too fast.

And that's how Suze sees it.

When did she become a toddler?

Can anyone else believe that my princess is going to be 2 in just a few more months? I am already started to plan ideas for what we will do and it's making it feel really soon!

1yr old was still a baby but 2? That's old... :) She is a toddler now and I just cant believe it!

Lately, I have been trying to get Petey into a nighttime routine. You see, we've never really had a routine for her. It was just, "Goodnight, Give me a kiss." or something along those lines.

So two nights ago, I decided she was old enough to repeat after me while saying bedtime prayers. So Petey said her prayers and I got emotional and teary eyed because it was such a precious moment between us. Halfway through the prayer, she noticed a book on the ground nearby and would not let the "Book?!" subject go until I gave her the book to hold---and then we finished our prayer. We then read the book (and she seriously sat through the entire book and listened!), sang a song (Twinkle, Twinkle is an all time favorite right now) and then we kissed goodnight. She seems to usually go right to sleep after this routine, even though sometimes before I leave, she tries to get me to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle" (or more sounding like "Cookle, cookle") a few more times. Sometimes we do it more than once and sometimes I just tell her goodnight and leave. It just seems so precious and more productive to have this routine. Toddlers need structure, to that I can attest. If Hayley is awake and doesnt have attention focused on her (ie: when I am feeding her brother), she destroys things--mostly on purpose. She has been better about this lately but it was pretty bad for a while. She ripped apart a nice book into shreds one day while I fed him, all the while smiling up at me, knowing I could do nothing about it. She is als a lot happier when she has attention (Wouldn't you be?). You can tell by the way she talks to you and her tone of voice. Funny that my two-word-sentences baby has a separate tone of voice like that but what can I say? She is sassy and learns quickly. But like a friend said to me earlier today, she is my kid and we couldn't really expect anything less from her.

And that's how Suze sees it.

Rough Day

Today was a rough day. Hurt husband, sad wife, whiney baby girl, etc (Our Spidey was happy, as always).
But today I'd like to focus on something else.
I am a happy person. I truly am grateful for the things that I have. I have a wonderful husband, a beautiful daughter, and the most handsome son in the entire world.
But does that make it so that I have no right to say that things could be better? Does it mean that I have no right to wish I was home with my kids?
My posts were somewhat invalidated tonight.
Hurtful things were said and that is not what this was ever about.
This is MY blog, remember?
I thought this was an invulnerable place to put my feelings and yet, my feelings got shot in the butt tonight.
"Maybe you should've waited to have kids until you could afford them."
Wow...
I am feeling that comment cut deeper than it was probably meant (or maybe it was meant as a harsh, inconsiderate comment) Sugar coated comments may not be what I need but really, what do I need from you?
I don't necessarily need your love (unless you are one of my family members reading this).
But what I seriously don't need is your hatred.
This wasn't about proving myself as a person, it was a small window inside my life, a small glimpse at my feelings, a helpful outsource for the things I am feeling.
You honestly have no idea what things may be like for me on an every day basis and I the same for you.
So why not stay friendly and nice, not rude and hateful?
No one needs hatred.
No one.