White Wedding

Little sister had her wedding last weekend...

Despite certain limitations I was able to capture this amazing event and witness the joining of two kids madly in love with each other.

So happy to see her with such a kind, patient and loving man.

Congratulations Lil Sister!!!!!!

My 2nd Grader

Somebody lied and told me that Kindergarten is the hardest grade to take your kids to....

They said that after that first time, it gets easier...

That bastard! No it doesn't!!!!

Right here, he's saying "Mom, let go of my backpack. You're going to make me late for class"

Somehow we've survived the first week of school without me being in a wreckage of tears. Somehow. I'm so proud that my baby (he's still me baby!!!) is in the 2nd grade. I can't get over how quickly this rode up on us. Wasn't he taking his first step yesterday? Or gnawing the cat's tail the day before that?

My chubby monkey boy is such a grown boy.

He's happy in his new class and likes his teacher (who's like a big hyper kid). He has a lot of his old friends in his class and he seems to have adjusted perfectly to being back to the grind. It's like there wasn't three loooooooooonnnngggg months of summer just a week ago. His teacher is excited to work with him because he's heard nothing but great things about how fast he learns and wants to tap his spongelike brain (um, okay, I guess).

On a side note, my niece is starting third grade tomorrow and we got to meet her teacher on Friday. We couldn't have hand picked better. He has an amazing amount of patience and is also excited to work with her and give her the help and attention she needs sometimes.

I was a little upset that our babies were going to separate schools this year, but it looks like I'm the only with the problem (boo you people!). I think that's a huge part of the PPD. I can't wait for all these wonderful things to happen but can everything stop changing? I want to move but I don't want to because it'll change everything. Our schedule, our decorations, our chores, everything!! 

I know, I'm crazy, I've said it before.... I got it.   

Yeesh

So apparently I decided not finish what I was writing yesterday, just trailed off...

At least it wasn't in mid-sentence.

Oh Sgt. Tibbs, I know exactly how you feel, buddy...

I wish I could hide, too... But I don't fit under the step stool very well.

Chunko is learning how to get his knees under him. We're so excited and yet so scared. Our baby is growing way too fast! He's all over the floor as he rolls and scooches from one place to another. Sometimes he's like an inchworm, scrunching up and stretching out as he moves around. Sometimes instead of going forward he'll roll over. He's determined to get somewhere... I'm thinking somewhere with food.

His big brother got him a stuffed Lorax, which he has learned that he likes to chew on. The feet have little fuzzies on them and that weirds him out a little. He'll chew on the toe and then pull it out and look at it, then chew on it again. It's like he's not sure if he wants to chew it or not, so cute!

Today is Geekers open house... I'm really hoping that we don't have any issues like we did last year. It was just some little things but if they're all grouped together it's a major disaster. They're at a new location (and closer to my work) so I'm hoping... Crossing my fingers... Don't want to let him go, but apparently the state frowns on parents not taking their kids to school, go figure...

So off I go...

*Sob*

*Sniffle*

PPD and Muffel-Toe

I feel so much better after getting that crud off my chest about my OSD. I just needed to get it out of my head so it'd stop rotating around... And I did.

I think I have Post Partum Depression (PPD)....

I'm uber crabby, I never want to do anything, I'm always snapping at my love (even when I don't want to), I am eternally exhausted...

I'm making myself crazy (crazier). I think the only reason I'm slightly better than I was when I was pregnant is because I'm not carrying an extra 35 pounds.

I adore my Chunko and I love being around my family. I look forward to going to work and being around people. It's just that every now and then I suddenly get depressed and think that I'm worthless or that I'm too lazy and that I should just give up and go back to bed. I'm working through it but I have a dark mood for an hour or two everyday.

I can officially pull my pants over my butt and kind of button them! But.... I have muffel-toe when I do. You know, Muffin Top meets Camel Toe.

My engagement ring almost fits on my finger. I can put it on, but it's a wee bit too tight for comfort. Almost there. My wedding ring is just too small. I can't even get it to my knuckle. I wear it on my pinkie right now because I miss having it on.

I started the 30 day shred. It's a 20 minute workout. I did 5 minutes and spent the last 15 in a ball on the floor, crying taking it easy. I've decided to take a two week long break before getting into it again. I don't want to hear it! I know I shouldn't but I am....
 

 My step-girl adores her baby brother... I am so glad that all of our worries about her feeling replaced or neglected were unfounded. Thank goodness!

We went to the pool this weekend. It was Chunko's first time and he had so much fun. At first he just floated around with Daddy with a very confused expression. When he realized it was just a very big bathtub he let loose with the splashing.

Ham-Da had her bff over for the weekend and I think (hope) they had fun. I remember how fun it was not to be at home or having a friend spend the night so I could show her all the cool stuff I did.

We let her push the limits with staying up late, eating junk food and drinking my Pepsi. All in all, it seemed like a good time all around. Her bff seems nice. She talks to us but is still a little shy. I'm a little wary at times from what I've overheard from her... like her talking of having a little more experience with boys than I would like to know. Most of which I think is exaggerated bluff, but if she tells Ham-Da this, then she feels the need to "keep up" and then she lies or does something dumb.

Eeek... I remember what my friends were doing in middle school, and in no way am I okay with thinking she's doing anything near all that. I know she's smart and isn't interested in all the craziness (yet) but with an older sister who got pregnant so young, it's a very real concern for us.

Enough of that.... I have to go back to school shopping tonight. I don't wanna (another reason why I think I have PPD, I mean it's shopping!) so I;m going to throw a temper tantrum and spend way too much money on uber cool gadgets that I wish I had had at 7.
Tomorrow is Geekers Open House at a new school location so this should be interesting. I hear it's bigger and more room to expand so I'm looking forward to it....

We have my younger sister's wedding on Friday. A nice casual outside wedding. I love those intimate moments where it's almost like a private ceremony and a secret. I get to photograph this one but thankfully I'm not going to be in the wedding party this time. Although my love did an amazing job with little knowledge of my camera, I still want to be the one shooting.

Photo Ops

I just to share some pictures of our Chunko....He's just so darn cute! 

OSD - I'm Sorry

I know that I said I don't talk about my OSD, but it's been really bugging me lately and I need to get it out of my head...


I absolutely hate that I never got to sit down and talk with her, that I was never given a chance to make this work. It's been three years and at this point, it's just ridiculous. We both sound like paranoid freaks, accusing the other of stalking or of hacking. We've both done some stupid and childish things. We've both said hurtful things.

Why nitpick and point fingers when it's gone this far?

I have to say for the millionth time... I wrote that stupid MySpace blog asking for help. I had no clue that you looked at my page, or even knew about it. If I had known, I would have written you directly. I did not hack any website and steal your wedding picture. It was on several public sites and I copied it (I admit that).

That comment {you know about the chucci being dead (or gone) and being happy for 30 days} was about my stupid cat. I have no ill will towards your mom, I had ill will towards that cat.

My YDSD adores her mom and so I respect that relationship and wish it no harm. I adore my YDSD as if she were my own but I would never intentionally tread on her relationship with her mom or try to "replace" her.

The majority of this could have been avoided if I had ever been asked directly. I would have answered where I found the pictures and apologized for the confusion of my writings. I wish I had been the chance to explain what had been misconstrued.

I have tried, repeatedly, to work this out and I have been ignored and slapped at.

I have been called horrible names and accused of being a despicable person. I'm sorry to have that thought of me and I wish I was given the chance to amend that.

As I take a step back and look at this, I see how silly it all is and I just want to have a good laugh and move on....

But....

How can you just move on when it's all in such disrepair still? I want to move on, I know I need to, but I can't seem to leave it all "broken" like it is.

I think that's worse. I know I can't fix it. I've tried to fix it, but I can't.

And yet, here I am.

How do you get a person that despises and hates you to talk to you?

My Boys

Jamma found a HUGE big brother dragon for Geekers baby dragon so it has become his latest favorite sleeping buddy. This thing is massive and it's slightly curved so he can cuddle him as he falls asleep. So cute!
Chunko thinks he can feed himself now... Even stealing spoons when he's being fed. Which is funny because he usually has the spoon in one hand and chews on the other!

Chunko likes to hold his bottle on his own, too. He's getting really good at it. He held it last night for a full five minutes before he got tired. I think he would have held it longer if he hadn't fallen asleep. He's so smart, I love it!

Geekers can make Chunko squeal with laughter just by being goofy and that is his new favorite game. I love that my boys get along so well and that Geekers loves his baby brother. And even my step-girl is crazy about him. When she's over, we can't separate the two of them!

I have such amazing kids (Yay me!!)!

Wrong Again

So we opened up the green beans and I had the camera ready...

I knew that he'd take one taste and hilarity would ensue...

Yep.... Wrong again.

He loved them! Almost as much as his bananas...

He was licking it off his hands and it was everywhere!

We couldn't feed it to him fast enough...

I know it smells bad in the jar, so it's going to be way grosser coming out!

Anybody want to come change this diaper?

Yummy Nummy

I think my family has become slightly addicted to U-Swirl.... My love annihilates the chocolate and the kids scoop up every piece of candy they can. I'm lactose intolerant so I don't get too much ice cream in mine, but I stuff it full or brownies (oh sweet delicious brownies)... Which is why I'm secretly hoping it burns down in the middle of the night...

I have seen the almighty "190" on the scale!!!!

Which means I have (finally) lost 10 pounds!!! I gained back three due to our weekly visit to U-Swirl, but I lost them so I'm not gonna have a fit.... yet.

I got the Jillian 30 day shred and I can't wait to get started. I do have to wait, though, until we move because I don't want to hurt myself again (my back is finally feeling better). I'm hoping that we'll be moving this time next week, but you never know. I heard it was brutal and you can lose 20 pounds doing it, so I'm ready.... Cross your fingers with me, yes?

Chunko's finally taking a break on the whole growing thing (thank you Lord!!). He hasn't slowed down on his eating, but he is really enjoying all his new foods. So far he's had applesauce and bananas. Daddy thinks he's going to like green beans because Mommy is OBSESSED with them, but he's crazy.... We'll see. I'll have to make sure to get a picture of him rejecting it, hahahahahaha!!!!

You gotta love Chunko's face as he patiently waits for us to feed him! I think big brother's behind me teasing him with some sort of nummy treat he can't have... He's so bad!

Not As Stressed But Kind Of

We got the whole stupid rental house worked out... For the most part. We sent a (very well written) angry letter, they sent back the deposits and last two weeks rent. No big.
Why did it have to be so complicated?
I mean, this is large and succesful management company, shouldn't they know better?
I'm over it.... ish.
We're still waiting for the house to close. It feels like forever, but it's right on track. I hate waiting, but it is kind of my fault for packing the whole house as soon as I heard the word "moving."
I can't wait to be able to decorate the kids rooms and redecorate a whole new house! New curtains and pictures and bed sheets and all kinds of fun stuff! We might even get a new couch! (I secretly hate my love's old couch, but ssshhh it's a secret). My insurance may not cover Chunko, kind of worried about it. I'm sure it'll work out but it's the new stress of the week. There was a glitch when I signed him up and so they're trying to see if they can just pass it off as a mistake or if I have to do this whole "appeal board" thing. I really really really hate insurance and dealing with it. I just don't get it. I miss having southwest medical. They were sooooooo much easier!If I didn't have the cutest little kids to come home to, I think I'd be having a fit right about now.
I mean, how could you not smile and think "Life is so good!"

Watching "Rome" and loving the fight scenes
Driving about the house on his car mat

Telling Daddy all about his day

Chunko the Chunky

Dearest Chunko,
You are officially 19 pounds now (actually it's 19.2, but whatever) and you are almost 27 1/2 inches. You're wearing mostly 6-9 month clothing, but you comfortably fit 9 month onesies.
You have entered the stage of the grab and chew. Anything that gets in your grasp is to be chewed on. You love your chewy keys, your bug crinkle-book and MY zebra.
You coo at us and talk your precious baby talk. You use hand signals to tell us stories even if you don't actually mean to. The other morning big sister asked how your morning was so far and you answered with a grunt, a point to your diaper, chewing on your hands and a smile... translating to: I pooped in my diaper, than I ate and now I'm full.
You yell at us when you're not happy which makes us laugh. You just do quick little "Wah" "Wah" and let us know what you think.
I hate admitting this, but you love the TV, especially "Rome." When it comes on you laugh and jabber at it. You look at us and coo as if to say "Can you believe that?"
You crawled on Wednesday night!!!!!!!!!!!
You got up on your hands and knees and went a full three paces.... we started cheering for you and you dropped. You poor little guy, you were so suspicious the rest of the night and you refuse to crawl or scoot now, just in case we "freak out" again.
You had your first jarred food... bananas!! and you love them. You're still a little confused as to how it works. Sometimes you're hungry and you cry, but if you would just close your little mouth, you would have food (which was stuck to the roof of your mouth).
You adore you auntie and can't get enough of her cuddles. If she's visiting and Mommy tries to feed you, you'll fuss until she takes over. Meanie Poop...
You love Jamma cuddles, too. She picks you up and snuggle right down. She was just joking that she doesn't know what you look like awake because you're always sleeping when she sees you.
Your eyes are a deep rich forest green and your hair is reddish auburn. We have no clue where those features came from, but you look adorable.
You have an amazing sleep schedule (Mommy loves that!) and you go to sleep usually around 11:30 and wake up about 7:00. Mommy says "Thank you!!!"
You are insistent on sitting up on your own and we've doing what we can to accommodate you. We try to prop you up on pillows but you think you don't need them. If you're forced to lie down, you need to at least see everyone else and feel like you're a part of the conversation... or be able to see the TV.
You are such a gift and I am so beyond thankful for each moment.
I love you my Chunko!