Embrace The Camera _ Getting Old Edition

Its amazing to me how fast he is growing up.
My baby center emails starting referring to him as a toddler after he hit a year old.... but he wasn't a toddler... they were crazy he was my baby.
But then BAM it hit me the other day... my baby is in fact a toddler.
Looking in the mirror holding him realizing he covers almost half of me. When did this happen???
No... seriously... When?

This week I turned 29... Yup 29... I also don't understand when that happened either?
It was a very confusing week for me....
I'm still in denial.
I'm only 28.. and my toddler is still a baby...
until I look in the mirror, he is a toddler... (but I'm still 28... forever 28)

Well... At least I can make my last year in my 20s amazing...
and maybe giving myself some serious blonde highlights like blonde... you will see. its coming. i promise.. blonde makes me feel younger... and let me tell you. I need to feel younger STAT.

85. The power of highlights

86. makeup

87. more makeup

88. watching my son explore this world... completely fearless

89. birthday kisses from my boys



Book Sling

My son LOVES books. I cannot even explain to you how much. They are his most prized toy. He reads them to himself... brings them to me to read to him... reads to Nala... He Loves them.
I am insanely happy that he loves books this much... Its adorable. And I may be biased but its the most adorable thing I have ever seen :)

For Christmas my mom wanted to make all the grandkids book slings that are all over in blog land. I first saw it at SillyEagleBooks which is a blog I adore!

So we went to the fabric store grabbed some fabric to suit each kid... and spent a few hours making them.

Here are some photos of Maddux's. We put it low enough for him to get his books in and out of... and we put his chair over there... I am thinking of adding some floor pillows so he can have a little reading corner. But as you can tell in these photos. He is enjoying his chair just fine :)
Dont mind the hoodie with no pants look he is modeling... thats just how we roll in this house.
(Hes got short legs... hardwood floors. so he slides all over the place... first thing he wants is those pants off so he can run!)

77.  Books

78. A boy who loves a good story

79. Chubby thighs

80. Being so proud of this little boy it almost brings me to tears... at any moment of the day

81. my husband having spring break off to spend with our son

82. Spending long days at the hospital... leaving with positive results

83. my dad's sense of humor when he is nervous

84. pain medication (for dad)



Embrace The Camera.

Monday my dad will be going in for surgery.
So I looked for a photo of my dad with Maddux... but my dad is hard man to take a photo of.

He is going in to have an adrenal gland removed which is a simple procedure from everything I have read/ been told by the doctor.
However my dad went in for this surgery a little over a month ago.
Had some pretty serious complications so they decided to not go through with it.
So now they say they are prepared for those complications in case they happen again.
And Monday we are trying it again.

So if you could keep my dad in your thoughts and prayers I would appreicate it.

I am going up with him for it. and in my mind... nothing will go wrong. I will tell you I am 100% positive nothing will go wrong. Because thats the only way I would ever look at a situation like this. I don't like reading the small print on what could go wrong. Because I feel all that does is cause stress. My dad decided he was having this surgery.... so the only answer is... Everything will be just fine.

Because my world doesnt exist without my dad.

So since I couldnt get a photo of my dad and Maddux.... to embrace.
(maybe once he is feeling better)

In honor of my dad...
and add a little humor to a stressful weekend.

A photo my dad appreciates.

This was taken during the Bear/Packer game this year in the Playoffs.... my dad was over..
Maddux was very emotional for the game....

Alright lets get this game started (all smiles)

Wait WHAT????

NOOOOO!!!!!!!!! (the end of the game)

Nala is trying to lick away those tears of defeat.

Please excuse me for breaking the rules of Embrace the Camera this week.. Usually I follow them to the T. But its been a rough week... and I know I have some on my camera... but finding the time to go through them edit them... just give me a pass this week.. I will bombard you with my face next week (pinky promise)

73. The wait til next year attitude us Chicago Fans embrace

74. My dad...

75. Nala always willing to kiss away Maddux's tears.

76. the ability to be hopeful.

Embrace The Camera

My lil man loves teddy bears.... Loves them.
In fact... he really loves to just tackle them... LOVES it.

Here's a photo I snapped while in action of attacking teddy bears with Daddy.

Now I know its not the best photo. It doesn't show my little ones face... but I promise you on the other side of this... there is a big cheeseball grin. And I am loving these little moments... how much happiness they bring him... and ... Us.

I link up at The Anderson Crew. You should too.



   67. Teddy Bears- or any stuffed animal that brings a smile to my lil ones face68. My husbands smile69. Grapefruit (with LOTS of sugar)
70.  My cousins.... who feel more like siblings than cousins71.  The feeling of all laundry accomplished (short lived because it fills up fast)72. getting 8 hours of sleep (rarely happens.... )

Bench Progress

Sooo I have been working on the bench for Maddux's playroom..
And to be honest this project isn't that hard. Just finding the time to finish it has been hard.
Hopefully this post will help kick my butt into gear and finish it up this weekend.

So here she is so far....

Now... she still has some work to be done.

as you can see the middle pieces still need some trim. it needs to be sanded, caulked, and painted.

So lets hope this weekend I can cut the final pieces of trip... and put on the finishing touches. I am thinking of painting it white tp match his bookshelves in his playroom. add some storage bins in the bottom... and making a little cushion for the top... maybe some fun owl/tree... pattern. 

Well anyways... here it is so far...

and I will make sure I mention... in case you havent seen my facebook posts that Lauren helped me build this... she is back home though... so the rest is up to me. Thanks Lauren :)



Fun with Bubbles

Just when he thought bathtime could not get any better.....

we introduced...

  BUBBLES...

63. Bubbles
64. Hoodies
65. Waterproof mascara during sad movies.... or american idol
66. white chocolate mocha coffee creamer... mmmmm good

Flower Headbands

So I am obsessed with flower headbands. Obsessed. I decided to try and make a few.
I made one fo my niece for her birthday... and it turned out pretty well. So I decided to make a few more... and these turned out great :)
What do you think???

And here they are on some adorable models I had over this morning.... :)

And my favorite picture of the day which doesnt show a single headband... but still my favorite!

58.  Scrabble and wine nights

59. Spending Sunday Afternoons at Target

60.  monkey stamps (seen above)

61. Maddux hiding things in the cabinet... everything in the cabinet

62. home-made salsa

My lil Picasso

So last week something HUGE happened in my role of being a Mama.

See that!!!! His very first art project! I am redoing a wall in our house for random photos and you can bet your bottom this will be framed. :)

This is by far my favorite artwork. ever.

** side note I have not been ignoring blog world. I have a few pretty big projects I am working on. Can't wait to share with you what they are!

53. friends coming to visit for the weekend

54. trying new recipes for dinner

55. finding just enough change in my purse for that much needed afternoon soda

56. my sons babbling conversations... he has sooo much to say :)

57. lilac candles.

Embrace The Camera March 3rd.

This week I decided to change it up for ETC.

She is the definition of unconditional love.

She makes me want to be the person, she believes me to be.

She holds all of my secrets.

She is always available to listen to my problems.

She is the best snuggler you could ask for.

She is genuinely happy to see me everyday.

She shows Maddux more patience than his momma some days.

She is supportive and understanding.

She taught me more about myself, Than I could teach her in a lifetime.

I am truly grateful to be blessed with such a beautiful, loving, faithful dog daughter

Our Nala.

I know there are more of you out there... like me. and feel the same way.

She is not my pet. She is my family.

A dogs ability to love is truly inspiring. Her loyalty... Amazes me.

I love this dog... like she is my child. She was the beginning of Jerry and I becoming a family.

She taught us patience, understanding, and compassion.

She has taught us more than we have taught her. I guarantee it.

Thank you Nala for everything you do for our family.

You are an amazing big sister.

I cant even try to sum up how it makes me feel to see the bond already developing between her

and Maddux. She is already his best friend.... and she takes on that role... currently

with more patience than I could ever dream of... and lots and lots of puppy kisses.

This dog is nothing less than Perfect.

And we are thankful that she has accepted us as her family.

Come hang out with Emily.
All the awesome people do

47.  Flowers.

48. Fresh baked bread

49. smiles from strangers

50. singing wheels on the bus with Maddux

51. the smell of bacon cooking

52. baseball starting back up. Hello Spring :)