So much to say

Wow things have been so busy lately. We had something planned every weekend this month. It's been pure craziness. To top it all off I was in charge of Ben's Halloween party at school and we had Jillian's first birthday party and Halloween to deal with.

The house looks like a tornado ripped through it. Jillian's party was yesterday and stuff is every where. We didn't even have the party here! I just let other things go in order to get ready for the party so my goal this week is to get the house back in order.

Ben's party was fun! The kids were adorable and I think they had a good time. He actually wore his costume this year for their little parade. Last year he cried and refused to wear it. My little boy is growing up.

Jillian's party was fun. I can't believe that her first birthday party is over now. She'll be one on the 4th so that's still a few days away but the big party is over. I did a cupcake theme for her and was up to my eyeballs in cupcakes! She looked so beautiful in her little party dress. I did really well and didn't cry at all during the party. I cried when I got her ready and then again when I had a few moments alone later. It's wonderful watching her grow up but it's bittersweet in some ways because she is very likely my last baby. It's hard thinking about the fact that this will be the last 1st birthday party that I will plan. We had a great day though. Our friends and family came to help us celebrate and Jillian was the star of the show.

Today was Halloween. Ben was Buzz Lightyear and he decided it was the best costume ever! He was so excited to wear it. This year he really got the whole concept of Halloween. He walked up to houses and knocked on the door. He ran from each house yelling "Mommy! I got more candy!" His eyes were practically popping from their sockets. After a while though he was ready to go home. It was windy and he doesn't like the wind.

Jillian was Raggedy Ann. She truly was a living doll. I had someone make the costume for her so it was all hand made. She looked so cute! Her costume had a special meaning for me. I bought a Raggedy Ann doll for her after I found out she was a girl. I took it to the hospital with me and took her picture with it after she was born. Then I took her picture with it on the 4th of every month to show how much she'd grown from month to month. Since her birthday is so close to Halloween I decided I wanted to dress her as Raggedy Ann for Halloween and then do some of her 1st birthday pics in the costume with her doll. She got tons of compliments while we were out tonight. Three random strangers took her picture because they thought she was so cute. I swear those beautiful dark eyes of hers and that sweet little smile could melt any heart.

I'm glad this week is over. Now I can look forward to and dread (all at the same time) Jillian's actual birthday in a few days.

Busy weekend!

Actually the whole month is cram packed. I've felt like I haven't had much of a life for the last few months and now I have to much to do! This weekend we have a wedding/reception to go to on Saturday and then another wedding reception to go to on Sunday.

I'm looking forward to the wedding on Saturday because just Jeremy and I are going. My parents are watching the kids for the day. Jeremy and I don't get much time together. We can't even sleep in bed without a kid between us most nights or one of us ends up sleeping in another room with one of the kids. So it'll be nice to have a grown up night out!

The kids are going with us to the reception on Sunday which I hope will be fun too. I bought the most beautiful dress for Jillian and I can't wait to show her off in it! I will admit that I love showing off my kids. They really are my pride and joy. They are the best things I've ever done with my life. I often look at them and just can't believe that they came from me.

Well I need to get to bed. I'm reading Under the Dome by Stephen King on my Kindle (which is the most awesome thing ever by the way) and I only get to really read once the kids go to bed.

It Was a 3 Shot Kinda Day

Nope, I don't mean that kind of shot. Today's shots were not of the fun, make you feel happy variety. They were the kind that require a visit to the doctor, tears and Band-aids.

Jillian, Ben and I all got our flu shots today. Not high on my list of fun things to do. I'm not a fan of shots to begin with. Needles have always made me cringe. Ask my mom. She used to laugh at me. Mom, if you're reading this you're still mean!

Anyway, now I have to put on a brave face and take that shot like a big girl because the kids are right there watching. I can't cry and wince like I really want to! It'd be pretty hard to convince them to be brave if they catch me being a big ol' weenie! Lucky, mommy got to go first. Surprisingly, it didn't really hurt. It hurt more to remove the Band-aid later. Next time I think I'd just prefer to bleed on my shirt.

Big Ben was next. Once he saw what they did to me he wanted no parts of getting a shot. They stick the kids in their thigh so I had to pull his pants down and then they make the parent restrain the child. Gee thanks. Like I don't have to be the bad guy often enough. First I have to tell the kid that he cannot have Gummi Bears for breakfast and now you want me to pin his arms and legs down while you poke him with something sharp and pointy? Awesome. He cried. I almost cried. Then the nurse took him to get a sticker. He found a Toy Story one and all was right with his world again.

Jilly Bean went last. She had a little exam first because she was also there to have her foot checked (everything is fine). Then it was needle time. Again, I get stuck restraining the poor kid. This really is one of the parenting jobs I hate. I'm supposed to keep things from hurting my kids but here I am bear hugging them to hold them still (and boy does that girl hate to be held still) while someone inflicts pain upon them. Last time she got a shot she gave the nurse a dirty look and then was over it. This time...not so much. She cried. Then she screamed. Then she just looked pitiful and buried her face in my neck. Luckily, within a few minutes she was over it.

They should give parents the type of shot that comes in a glass prior to the start of these appointments.

Life gets a little busy

I haven't blogged in a while. I've started my own little "business" making hair bows. I've actually made some money which is awesome. It's cut into my blogging time lately though because it's hard to do much work on it when the kids are awake so I work when they're sleeping which is also when I'd usually blog.

On top of all of that Jillian and I have gone back and forth being sick so she's often needier than usual and waking a lot at night and I haven't been feeling that great myself.

October is here and for some reason this month is jam packed with stuff. I sold hair bows last weekend at a children's resale and that was a lot to get ready for. This coming weekend we have a wedding to go to on Saturday and then another reception to go to on Sunday. Next weekend I have another sale for hair bows. The weekend after that is the only weekend we don't have anything planned for yet. Then the 30th is Jillian's first birthday party. I've tried to put that out of my mind as much as possible because I'm just not ready for her to turn one.

All of that on top of the fact that my daughter is half human and half monkey! She can now climb up onto the coffee table and she's attempting to climb onto everything else. She gets into everything. If anyone leaves anything within her grasp she'll get it! She is so much more active then Ben was at this age. She's cruising the furniture and I won't be surprised if she starts walking before her birthday. She's growing so fast!

Okay now I need to get to bed because Ben has school in the morning and I have a feeling it's going to be another restless night with Jillian.