A New Brave Face

Today I feel silly for having such a pity party for myself about moving. I feel like apologizing to everyone who ready my icky post.

There are people in this world with out a roof over their head. There are families who sleep on dirt floors. There are children sleeping in train stations because their families lost their jobs too. So, my selfish party seems so stupid, so unimportant.

I have refocused to a new cause- Being thankful that Curt has a job. Being thankful that we have GREAT renters for our house. Being thankful that we have a somewhere to call home while we re-start things and get ready to build a house (sometime in the future).

Here is my "Thankful List"

God

Curt

Mason

Miles

Health

Curt has a job

I can stay home and raise my boys

Great family to help us

Great friends to help us

Prayers

Mercy

A warm home

A great family member who is letting us invade her house while we get on track- Thanks Mammie.

Do not feel sorry for me when I have pity parties. I am only human, all humans dwell in their own sorrows sometimes. But I will dwell no longer- not over this. God has provided for my family and I will rejoice in him and be glad----- Glad that we are all healthy, safe, live in a free country and have food and shelter....

Today, I am putting on my "new brave face".

Eggs, Eggs, Eggs

I was nursing Miles on the couch the other day and Mason said he wanted a drink. I have his drinks placed in the fridge so he can reach them and bring them to me and I can open them. I said, "you can go and get a juice and bring it to me."



Honestly, I lost track of time because I was watching Dr. OZ. Mason must have been in the kitchen for around 2-3 minutes.

He came in the living room and started talking very fast saying, "eggs, eggs, eggs- Momma... All those eggs got all cracked up... They have baby chicks inside- eggs, eggs, eggs." I will admit that I freaked. How in the heck did he get eggs and what is he talking about????

I walked in the kitchen to find the egg carton opened and all of the eggs from the fridge lined up on the edge of the bar. When I say on the edge, if I would have sneezed some of them would have fallen off. I guess Mason has added scaling the fridge like a rocky cliff to his list of hidden talents.

The good news is that none of the eggs broke on the floor. The bad news is that we lost 4 eggs in trying to get them back into the carton. It seems that Mason's sweet little inquiring mind wanted to know how it feels when you smash one on the counter. Then he loved it so much that he kept on doing it. I could not get them out of his hands fast enough. I was trying to juggle the camera, Miles and get some eggs back into the carton safely...

I hope I can always remember his sweet and funny little stories. Good thing I have scrap books and a blog...

Sad.

I have to be honest. This is my pity party, if you are not interested in hearing any whining, please skip on to the next blog.

I am sad about moving. I feel as if I am just making friends in our neighborhood. Now I am having to start over. Mason has friends that he loves to play with. I have Mom friends that I love to chat with. Curt has friends that he loves to hang with. Mason had a school and teachers that he loved and that I loved. We have doctors we love. We love our church. We fit here.

Apparently God has another plan for our lives, a new track for us to take. I know that Curt lost his job and this job that he has taken is the best for our family. I know that no matter what, we would have had to move. I am at peace with that. I just think it stinks to start over. But we are friendly people, we made the friends we have and we can add to the stack. But that still does not change the fact that I am feeling sorry for myself. Comfort makes everything easier. We are comfortable where we are. Easy was our life. Easy it will be again, as soon as all is settled.

Packing, Packing, Packing....

....really stinks. I hate it actually. But it has to be done. We are getting closer. The end will arrive soon...

I have new updates to share. We are not moving to Atlanta anymore.

We are moving to Crossville, Tennessee.

We are happy! We will have family very close by.

Atlanta would have been fun, but Crossville is the best option for our family.

We are moving 99% of our home on Saturday, the other 1% will stay behind with Curt to finish his last week at work.

I really love Murfreesboro and its location to everything. I am sure I will fall in love with our new town, it might take me a while, but I know I will...

Halloween 09

I must say that this year Halloween was put on the back burner. I usually love to buy cheesy decorations for Mason to enjoy and we normally end up with at least 4 pumpkins on our porch. I swear, this year, we woke up on Saturday and realized it was Halloween and we did not even have a pumpkin... Curt picked one up on his way home from work and he carved it up for us, power tool style...


The hubs and "skelly bones." Miles was a skeleton, Mason called him "skelly bones." Miles slept through the whole trick-or -treating thing while Daddy carried him...

My little Iron Man keeping his head warm. Mason is such a smart boy, he decided early on that he would hitch a ride on whatever stroller he could find available in between houses... Here he is with Lincoln.

Here is the finished product of our pumpkin. I swear I actually participated, I was just behind the camera the whole time...

Butterflies In My Tummy

Doesn't this picture make you get them too?

So, I Joined...

not sure what happened to my post date on this one.... my PSF is posted below... check it out!

The 21st Century, that is...

I got one of these snazzy little gadgets... I am absolutely in love with it so far. I have never really had an ipod, we had a nano and I never liked it too much, it got washed after a trip to the gym. I would love to have an iphone, but we are Verizon people. So, I got the next best thing. I know I have only scraped the surface of what this amazing little gadget can do, but I am eager to learn. If you have one, I would love some tips.

What I have done so far...

-Downloaded pod casts. They are amazing and I just love to listen to a little Dave Ramsey while folding the laundry.

-Downloaded some learning tools for Mason. Flash cards, alphabet games and interactive tools. I think I like them more than he does. He normally just makes my screen sticky. I do not mind too much though.

-Downloaded some games to play, mostly for Curt, I am an app person.

-Found some super cool picture editing apps, even a photoshop one.

-Converted all of my CD's to itunes.

-Downloaded about every free app and song I could find...

-Found some fun music.

-Erased it all by accident.

-Found it all again, by accident.

That is about it. If you have any secret ipod tips that I should know, shoot them my way.

As I sit here typing, Mason is "cutting" my hair with a pair of plastic toy pliers... I just love to get a new look...

p>

PSF~ Madagascar

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Have you seen the movie Madagascar? It is one of Mason's favorites. I love the beginning where all of the animals are preparing for the humans to come to the zoo.


We made a trip to the zoo last Saturday with my Mom and SIL. When we got to the monkeys {i know they are not monkeys, but I cannot remember their name} they were showing off.

This guy was putting on the best show, swinging from branch to branch. He knew we were looking at him and the crowd would cheer for him when he did this little {hanging from one arm} stunt. He had so much personality.


This little guy or gal could have cared less. He sat by his creek soaking up the 60 degree day and he sat up for a minute to look over at the crowd. He was not amused.

Here he is basking in all of his glory.

Mr. Smiles

Miles.

You are such a joy.

Your new nick name is Mr. Smiles.


Isn't it obvious why?

Just seeing my face makes you smile from ear to ear.

Thanks buddy, for being my "Mr. Smiles."

I love you.

Wordful Wednesday ~ Fall

I {heart} fall.

It is my favorite time of year.

I got married in the fall and both of my boys were born in the fall.


I could just sit under this tree all day long and read a book or take a nap... The colors of fall make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.



Such peace and beauty.




The colors are delicious.





Have a wonderful Wednesday... See you back here tomorrow for a new post...

Tuesday Tribute ~ My Momma

Eventhough I am pretty sure 7 Clown Circus is not hosting this week I still wanted to do a tribute...



My mother is amazing. She is my own support group. When I need her, she is there, no matter what.

Recently I had discovered a lump under my arm.

I went to the doctor and she sent me for an ultrasound. When the ultrasound came back the doctor sent me to a "breast surgeon."

I was scared.

I called up my Mom and immediately she took the day off and planned on going with me. It was so amazing to have her there. If she was scared, she did not show it one bit.

I felt so at ease and honestly I was not worried at all.

The surgeon came in, he did his own ultrasound. He said that it was not a breast mass. He said, "I can take it out today." Then I was scared out of my mind. I hate pain, I have the lowest tolerance of pain of anyone on the Earth.

I got all numbed up, the doc came back, I made him double check and make sure I was numb. He took out the lump and it was all over. I got sewed up and I was on my way.

The doctor told us that he was sure that it was nothing by the way it looked.

I am happy to report that he called me on Friday and my lump just happened to be a cluster of dilated oil/ sweat glands.

Praise Jesus.

Thanks Mom for being my support on this very nerve racking day.

My New Crafing Buddy

People say we look a-like. They say we look like sisters. She gets mistaken for me all the time. I think it is mostly the blond hair and the light skin... She is my brothers wife. Her name is Carrie and she is the best Sister-in-law ever... Heck- she is my only sister-in-law. I have always struggled with things we have in common. We live an hour away from each other and so it makes is hard to connect. Yesterday, at a family dinner, she showed me some hair bows she had been making. I was full of GLEE! We sat and talked about crafting and I shared tips with her. We made patterns together and it was so much fun. Bless her heart, because now I am going to likely bug her to death to craft with me. Because after all, crafting is fun, but it is way more fun when you have someone to do it with...

PS- look for a post every day this week... I can actually commit to this because I have finished them already... Apparently, the key for me is to do all my posts at one time and schedule them to post during the week...

What I've Been Missing

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

If you are looking for my PSF look at the post below, you will find it there...

For those who know me it is no secret that I LOVE TO MAKE THINGS. Sometimes I get a little carried away, but that is what can happen when you really love to do something.

I have been missing "my outlet" which is crafting things like crazy lately.

I have decided that I will be re-vamping my much neglected ETSY shop. In fact I may open a whole new one. Well, maybe not. Still not sure about that one.
I want to start in a new direction. I have recently been told by a few friends and family members that I should sell the "other" stuff I make... "Other" meaning not jewelry, I already sell that.

I have really been missing making things and I got a ton of practice this summer and so now I am ready to sell "other" things. It should be an adventure.

My jewelry line has been much neglected as well... I kind of just put everything on hold while I was pregnant with Miles. Now I am ready to start it up again.

I am going to be advertising on other blogs, doing give-a-ways and some major sales for Christmas...

So, keep your eye out for what I have going on. When I get my ETSY updated, I will be posting the link HERE just for you to see.

These hand-made shirts are my absolute favorite lately. There are so many possibilities. Now that I have had plenty of practice, I have it down to a "T".






So keep your eye out for new designs as well... I will be selling these for a great price as well.

Wouldn't you just love to get one of the adorable shirts for your daughter, niece, neighbor, best friends child, grandchild??? I can also make a matching hair bow if you are ordering a girl shirt...

Prices to come soon. New, updated shop to come soon. "Soon" in my world means, most likely in a week or so. I do not like to work while my kiddos are at home or awake. So I will be doing all of my work while Mason is at school and Miles is asleep or after bedtime...

My Iron Man

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

He picked it out all on his own. Apparently my days of choosing costumes for him are long gone.
"It has muscles like Daddy," he said.

Showing off the muscles. This picture also gives you a little glimpse of our home lately, boxes galore... I swear my house smells like cardboard.


He "tried it on" for 3 hours. He also tried to "try it on" and wear it to school this morning.

There is not a criminal out there that will be able to defeat "My Iron Man."

A Whale With A Polka-Dot Tail

My Sweet babe and his baby blues. And, yes, I am aware that the whale is gingham...

This is the shirt I made Miles before he was born and I think it suites him just fine.

Q-T PIE

First on camera smile... A little blurry, but so worth it.

This is what happens...

When your monster truck can't keep his big tires off of little brother...

Grandparents: you may want to skip this one...

Time-outs are the worst thing in the world for Mason, at least for the time being.
I actually hate putting him there, because he hates it so bad.

I know you are not supposed to have contact with them while in time out, but I could not resist.


I may seem cruel, but I am far from it.

He is so stinking cute even when he puts me to the test and pushes my limits.

So, It Is Official...

I have the most amazing life ever...

7 weeks old tomorrow and just amazing. This little man has taken a place of my heart that I did not know existed. I thought my heart was full with Curt and Mason, but I was mistaken.
Just over 3 and wilder than ever. These sweet eyes steal my soul. He has become quite the little comedian and more of a Mommas boy {even though he will not admit it}. He is learning how to ride a bike with pedals. He has the balancing part down and we are just working on pedaling. Yesterday he pedaled 3 or 4 times all on his own. Time be still, my first sweet boy is growing up way too fast.

Relocating

It is official, we are relocating to Atlanta. We are headed down this weekend to look for somewhere to live. We already made a trip to look for houses, but we found nothing we loved and we felt so unsure of buying when we do not really know the area. So, we have decided to rent and apartment until we can decide which area around Atlanta will suite our family the best.

Our house is cluttered with boxes and the process of packing up our lives has begun. We are embarking on a new adventure. Trying to look at all of the positives and thanking the Lord for our many blessings is our attitude.

Miles is 6 weeks tomorrow and I cannot believe how fast the time flies. I am trying to cherish every single moment with him at this stage. I feel like when I had Mason I was so worried about trying to do it "right." The way the book said, the way so-and-so said, the way I learned at a certain class. This time I threw all of that out of the window and I am enjoying this stage so much more. Miles is a very chill baby, he sleeps, eats poops and sleeps. Although, in the past 2 days he has started smiling and almost cooing. I am still trying to get it on camera.

Mason is a pistol. He had his 3rd birthday, which I never documented, but pictures soon to come- maybe in the next 6 months- HA! He is so funny and he knows it. Short story. The other day I was trying to help him ride his new bike around the neighborhood, it has no training wheels. He had his feet on the peddles and I was saying to him "Mason, push your feet forward, push..." he stopped what he was doing and said, "Mom, what do you fink I am doin?" I just stopped and laughed. He was actually pushing his feet backward applying the brakes... He just had the directions mixed up. He wants to do any and everything himself. He definitely pushes me to the limits every day, almost. It is so true that the "3stage" is way harder than the "2stage". He loves his baby brother and kisses on him constantly. I really have to watch him though, this morning Miles was laying on the bed and Mason reached over and started to try and pick him up and hold him. I, only slightly freaked. I had to explain to him that he needs to get a little bigger before he can hold Miles all by himself.

So, we are all doing great and having a fabulous time. I should really be packing now, even though it is not really any fun at all.

Our New Family

My boys, the lights of my life. Aren't they adorable?
Doesn't being new look so hard???


Bringing baby boy home... First car ride for Miles.


Chilling with Daddy in the hospital while Mommy had the best shower of her life... Ahh, the first shower after having a baby is always the best. Am I wrong?


Sweet profile.

Oh man, just sweetness....

I know the grandparents are going to love these... I am so badly trying to catch up. I promise updates will get better, maybe I can commit to 2 a week, for now anyways. We are trying to find a new home and move with in the next 2 months and we also have a new born...



Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Novice, I Think Not!

My very good friend, Kacey over at Chronicles of a Mommy has decided to expand on one of her many talents- photography. So convenient that I have a new born and she has a snazzy new camera.... Miles and I went over today while Mason was at school and she snapped and clicked away. He was pretty cooperative, about as good as a 3 week old can get.

Plus, I thought you guys would like to see some pictures that were not from the hospital. My little man has a great personality.

My heart is melting.


Turning to moosh.

could just snuggle him all day long.

So amazing.

Check out those baby blues...




Go on over and check out her blog... She always has something fun to talk about.

So Much To Tell....

Please forgive me for being absent. We have been so busy around our house...We had a baby! Jackson Miles Phillips joined our sweet clan on September 2nd at 12:39pm and he was 20 1/2 inches long and 7 lbs 5 oz. He is such an amazing baby. I am not sure if it is him being a wonderful baby or us being so much more relaxed now because we actually have a clue as to what we are doing... He sleeps a lot, poops a lot and eats all the time. It is so surreal to have a new baby and he completes our little family. We never knew we missed him, but now that we have him we could never go with out him. Mason is adjusting well to his new baby brother. We have had a few requests from him to take Miles back to the hospital, but other than that he adores him. Miles gets tons of love from his big brother and Curt and I just know they are going to be great friends... Sorry that you cannot see the baby in this picture, he was eating. When Miles was born he was super hungry. He started nursing right away and nursed for about 50 minutes.

This picture was taken the day before Miles was born. It was Mason's first day of school. He had a blast and there were no tears from me or Mason.

Although I love the time with Miles I have actually had a hard time deciding what to do with my time while Mason is at school. I know it will all fall into place.

On a much different note, Curt found out on our wedding anniversary that his department is downsizing and that he will be loosing his job in Nashville as of 11/15/09. To avoid loosing his job we might be moving to Atlanta. Actually there is a very BIG possibility we are moving there. We really love our home and our friends and how close we are to family. But a new adventure might be exciting, at least that is how we are trying to view it. We have been looking for homes in the area north of Atlanta and will be meeting with a real estate broker in about a week or two to schedule some home viewings...

I would love to have some new pictures of Miles and Mason up, but I lost my card reader again... Oh well, hopefully I can get some up the next time I have a quiet moment... Just know that even though I have been absent from blogging, I have been rocking my baby and spending tons of great time with Mason... I am loving every minute of it...

Bed Rest

I have been a terrible blogger.



I have excuses....



I am on bed rest, have been for almost 2 weeks...



Ewwww. Hypertension.



I guess I could have been blogging this entire time, but really, bed rest makes you feel off beat.



Curt's Mammie has been here taking care of us, she has been amazing- I could not ask for better.



The good news is that I am not completely confined to the bed, at least that was not how I took it.



So, when I feel good, I do some stuff and when I feel bad, I do nothing.



Here are some things that have been going on...







A punk kid was going too fast on our road and hit our mailbox. It was pretty exciting for me!!! Like we did not need anything else to deal with right now... Oh well, hopefully it will be fixed in a few days. For now, this is what it looks like...

I got crafty one day. I have a friend who wanted one for her little girls for her birthday... I love how it turned out. Kacey, I hope you do not mind me showing it!!! I was just so proud of my first ever girly shirt.... Yes, the button on top is crooked, I did that on purpose...

Before I went on bed rest, we made a trip to the park one day. I sat on the bench and milked the "9 months pregnant thing" and Curt chased Mason... It was a great day. I just love these two to pieces... I cannot wait for our new addition, Miles, to meet us on Wednesday....

Yup- You heard that right, we are inducing on Wednesday. Hopefully I will have some great pics up sometime on Thursday! Until then, I will be sitting my bum on the sofa trying to soak up my last days of just being Mason's Mom. We will be reading, watching movies about dirt bikes and dune buggies and getting in lots of snuggling.

Getting Closer

I had an appointment today for 36 weeks. I am happy to report that baby Miles is nice and healthy and getting ready to come and meet his new family! I am dilated to a 2 and a little over 50% effaced. The doctor went ahead and moved my induce date up from September 8th to September 2nd!!! So I have about 20 days until my sweet family of 3 becomes a family of 4!!!

I am feeling great, not sleeping much and I spend most of my time back and forth to the bathroom. But, overall, I feel like a million bucks!!!

Riding Bikes with Dad

Mason has a love for all things "bike" especially the ones that make noises and have motors... He also happens to adore his Daddy and everything that he does. So every-now-and-then Mason gets to take a spin around the neighborhood...

These two are so adorable...

Zoo-lishious

We went to the Zoo on Tuesday. It is one of Mason's favorite places to go. We also took one of Mason's favorite friends, Jack. His Mommy and little brother, Hudson, came along too. A great time was had by all...

Here is Mason and Jack showing some love trying to hug each other... They are pretty good buddies.

The GIANT snake on the playground was the most favorite attraction. The playground was the last stop and Mason had a MAJOR melt-down when it was time to leave...

Jack riding the carousel, just look at those BIG blue eyes...

Looking at the one of the exhibits...




I think this was the last time I will be able to take Mason before the baby comes, but we will definitely be going again in the fall when it cools down...