Surprise Package

As I sit here in the quiet, still early morning, I am proud of myself for staying up!  Lately I have been going back to bed for a little snooze after I get up and make a lunch and coffee for my honey. He has to be out by 6am and I do not mind waking up with him, packing him a healthy lunch and sending him off to work for the day with a hug and a kiss. To me, it makes me feel good that I am able to help him get on with his day, by waking with him and sending food to save money. Granted there are some mornings where there is no way you could get me out of bed, but usually it is one of the little things I can do in return for the hard work he does for our family. 

 Who needs a jungle gym when you have Daddy!

We are over the moon and back for him. His three girls eagerly await his arrival home from work each day. We are excited to exchange stories about our days and content with knowing the day could not have gotten any better because we are alive, well, together and happy.

I received a surprise package in the mail the other day. My first ever surprise package, or that I can remember. It was a just because package. A package from someone who has the biggest heart in the world and someone who is always guarding me with her huge white and comfy angel wings. No matter where I am in the world, I can always feel my mothers comfort and warm spirit.

She sent me a book. Not just any book. A photography book about capturing life's everyday, precious moments of motherhood. It shows different aspects on how to use a camera to capture different angles, light, subject...etc.
It also has a story. The Author, Tracey Clark talks about how each day is a gift and by being able to capture the little aspects of life that live each day, we will see how fast time flies, and how by capturing these tiny memories, we will be able to hold on to these amazing aspects for life. Elevate The Everyday, is an amazing book to have and to hold and to refer to when evaluating my own life as a mother. I love to photograph my girls and to be able to hold on to these life memories forever is something I hold dear to my heart. Before I read this book, I shared the same thoughts as the author. Before I read the different photography techniques from this book, I realized I had already been using my artistic eye when photographing my children. They are my masterpieces. And I take photos of them everyday. I want to hold on to these delicate memories for ever and ever! Like Tracey Clark, I want my girls to have these snapshots so they can see the simple, everyday joys in life that they themselves created.

In previous posts, I know I have talked about how each moment in life is so precious and how I wish we could hang on to each instant forever. This book helped me go forth with making it possible to do so. While reading this simple book I noticed tears streaming down my face. All the memories of my childhood flooded back to me and now I am helping my girls create their own memories. I hope they are as in depth and joyous as mine, I strive as a mother to make them so happy and use their imagination as much as possible to help them blossom into who they are growing into.

Riley spent an hour and a half pretending our family room was a swimming pool. She needed her bathing suit and a towel that she laid out. She was telling us how she needed Reese in the baby pool. She was so serious too. Pretended the couch was a diving board and would jump off. When she came into the kitchen and needed to go back into the pool she would literally, jump, every time into the family room like it was a real pool. Imagine....

Reese is in the baby pool

I couldn't be more proud. It is the toughest job I cherish and love so unbelievably much. And I thank Marc for giving me the opportunity to stay home with my children. To be home to raise them into amazing, honest, genuine people. Motherhood is a gift and to me, it was my calling. Unknowingly, or maybe it was planned; I was called into this life and whomever or whatever the universe has laid out for me, I want to return the love and happiness I feel from this special gift I have been given. So, as a mother, and a content and happy woman,  I intend to continue sharing the love and happiness I have with my girls. And know that one day they will do the same with their own. I wish for them the same positive, healthy and free spirited childhood I was so grateful to have.

Making pancakes for Lunch

A Naturally Clean Kiddie Land

Reese will be 9 months on the 24th of January.  She has already started crawling and is able to pull up on something stable to hold herself up in a standing position. She can climb up the two steps from our family room into our kitchen with such ease. Needless to say she is all over the place. She is fast too! And tough. When she falls down and I look over to make sure she is safe, she tries again without a fear or tear.
She is eager to keep going and knows how to get to her destination. I am trying to redirect her when she is into something she shouldn't be into. I say "Reese!, no, not for babies, come on you play with this", stuff like that. She looks at me as soon as I say something, and after I redirect her, she is content with her age appropriate toys.

She is smart. Smarter than I think. I have not prepared myself for her abilities these days. I do remind myself that I am a preschool teacher and this is a job that I live for, a job I love with all the fibers in my body. I have taken advantage of these endless days home with my beauties. We have been spending our days laughing, singing and being silly together. Riley and I are teaching Reese about all the wonderful different things in this big, blue world. We are staying busy playing, creating and imagining. Taking advantage of the warmer winter weather and working as a team to stay happy :-)

Life is also getting busier with two children! My house is messier, and things keep piling up. I guess this is what motherhood/parenting is like...
I always like things to be tidy and put away, clean, and usually I am on top of everything, that is just how I am. It makes me happy to know each "folder" in my mind is checked off for the day and neatly organized.
Lately-I think since Reese is more mobile- I have been all over the place! I am learning to let things slide. My laundry is piling up, floors aren't vacuumed as often, dishes, dishes!!!!! sit in my sink after meals! (I usually load them into the dishwasher right way). But I have learned I need to make sure Reese is settled and Riley is getting the attention she needs from me. I have put the everyday tasks aside to make sure my children's  needs are met first. Then once I have a moment, usually nap time, or rest period, I tackle my chores. I am so used to doing them, they are done in a flash.
The toys are all over the place! I want Riley to be able to play with her toys in a manner which lets her expand her mind and imagination. But then I find them in every room of the house, how is this possible! I have been making sure she cleans up her toys before we move on to another activity. This keeps her on a routine and shows her responsibility. She is doing a good job with it. Reese's toys I leave laying out, because I know she will be back to them and it is helpful to quickly set her down with them if I need to help Riley or something. I do put them away at different times to start fresh again, but I have just noticed I live in kiddie land!!!

On top of the chores sitting on the edge of my shoulder, waving like a flag in the wind saying "don't forget about me!" I have noticed all the little things in my house that annoy me and things I must get clean! Now that Reese is crawling all over the place, and spends most of her time on the floor, I want everything to be clean where she will be playing. I also want to have a clean home for the rest of my family. Maybe it is the new year and wanting a fresh start, but it has been jumping out at me more and more. Feel like I'm nesting....

Reese's new position in her saucer! notice her feet :-) she keeps them tucked into a nook 

Aunt Katie gifted me a book for my birthday. A book I had added to my Christmas list.  The Naturally Clean Home, written by Karen Siegel-Maier. This book is amazing! It shows how to use natural ingredients to make homemade cleaning solutions. I used ingredients found in my home and essential oils Katie gifted me as well. I cleaned my bathroom today, and used the solutions suggested in Chapter 3. It was fun! I used baking soda, lemon essential oil and vinegar. The baking soda and vinegar made a fizzy reaction, and the small amount of lemon used created a lovely aroma throughout the bathrooms. I also cleaned my bathtub/shower with a paste made using baking soda, liquid castile soap, tea tree essential oil and water. It feels cleaner then ever! And I feel so good about the products I used to clean it. Now I feel better about bathing my babies in a naturally, chemical free tub! Before I owned this book and tried these natural ways, I used natural products I purchased from the grocery store. This is a way to save money and save the environment, by reusing bottles and containers to make up these quick, easy and heavenly aroma filled solutions. Not to mention toxin free and I know exactly what I am putting into each mixture.
I must say, cleaning has never been this fun!

Perfect Ending to a New Beginning

I am here! Finally here posting!!! It has been so long! too long, my heart has been longing for this special quiet (even though my children are playing beside me laughing and having much fun) time to sit and write what has been in my heart and on my mind! I have been having some computer problems, that have been holding me back.

I am dedicating this post to my Grandma June. I also dedicated this blog to her. She died on Christmas Day in 2007. She was the best grandmother, with so much love and tenderness in her heart. I will always remember her smell of Chanel makeup and soft skin like rose pedals. She was such a fun grandmother. She and my grandpa Jack, loved to enjoy life by indulging in a little sweet anytime of the day. They both taught me that life is too short to take anything too seriously. But to live life to the fullest and appreciate everything I am lucky to have, and good things come to good honest people who work hard for what they want. 

I love you grandpa Jack

The holidays came and went so gracefully. It was all so very magical and created such a lasting picture perfect impression for the years to come. We all had a wonderful, white sparkly Christmas and a very happy new year spent with family.

Making home made stuffing balls, for Christmas dinner. a family tradition

I love you girls

Reese and Daddy

Could life get any more precious!? 

Christmas Eve. Priceless. This is her face right after placing the plate of cookies down for Santa :-)

Christmas morning. Riley's 4th Christmas and Reese's 1st

Christmas 2012

Sisters Christmas morning 2012

Mom and her granddaughters Christmas 2012

After Christmas I celebrated my 26th birthday at our favorite dinner date spot, Braddock Inn. Marc left for work early and sent me a birthday text telling me to be ready for dinner at 7 :-). He is growing, and taking the initiative with making plans and swooping me off my feet more and more!  Our love is growing deeper each day and our family values are growing stronger. We are becoming a stronger team as parents and our communication on parenting is growing and weaving together, which in turn makes our bond as husband and wife more solid.

26! wow

   It was lovely birthday. Marc came home from work early and played with the kids, while I had free time to do things I have been wanting to do with out having to worry about the girls! I mopped my kitchen and bathroom floor! I know I know, not what you were expecting to hear for free time, but to me it was exactly what I had been wanting to do and I was able to do it without the hassle of rushing or worrying if the girls needed my attention. 
We then went on our date. I got all dressed up and felt special, it was my night, with my love and we spent it together kid free. 

After my Thursday birthday, the weekend came. Every year after the rush of the holidays, I have this same feeling of wanting to do something different and be free!! The itch to finish off my year with something to bring my whole year together. Or maybe it is the itch to start off my  year older  in a fun way!  My childhood friends Stephanie and Bethany came for dinner Friday night. It was perfect. One thing I need to complete my year. We just hung out. Ate dinner and drank. We stayed up talking about the past, present and our futures. We didn't want the night to end. They drove home that night, in the early morning. It was another special addition to my 26th birthday. Hanging with my best girls from back home. And whenever we see each other, we pick up where we left off, true friendship. 

Saturday came, I had been home with the girls all day hanging out and snuggling. I had the itch again... It didn't leave. My girls from college were texting one another and all of a sudden, it came to me, I needed to get out! I needed an adventure! My friend Suze and I drove to Baltimore that night! It was so refreshing to get out and stay up until 5am! :-) kinda crazy I know but it is what I needed. I felt young again, i know i know, I am young, but I have two children and my time is limited to them! So it was, we had a blast all of us together again, my college girls hanging and being silly like old times. 

Whitney, Me, Brittney and Susan

I think I needed to see my girls again to finish the year the right way. It is not often enough we get together, but we stay friends forever. I love all of my girls. 

To top off 2012, we went to a local bar in town to celebrate the new year. It was perfect, I had too much fun. I was with people I love, my family. We all had a good time. I am glad we were together being crazy together and living up the new year together! 

This year, 2013 I am going to keep living up my dreams and continue to teach my children and watch them grow in ways I am able to be proud of. I am looking forward to growing together as a family and expanding the love and bond I have with Marc. I am also going to spend more time with my extended family and catch up with my friends often. Here's to a joyous, smooth and memorable new year! Oh, and to continue to live each day to the fullest... Here's to...

To new beginnings: Reese's 1st snow 

When was the last time you made a snow angel? To simple joys in life.

To new ideas... and creativity... Hopscotch in the snow!

Marc and his brothers NYE minus one. To togetherness.

My sister Kelly and Me. To laughter and family.

Riley Ann. To imagination and wonder.

Reese McCeney. To beauty within our hearts and honesty.

 My beautiful niece, Sage and me. To bonding and new memories.

Happy New Year everyone!