Don't Laugh... It's All I Got.

Last week I made Curt take a full body shot of me. I swear, things are so different with the second baby. When I was pregnant with Mason I have one like this of every single week. This time I am just so B.I.G. and I do not really want many photos to document it. Honestly, you may not see many more of the full body shots of me until I loose my baby weight...

This was me right at the beginning of 30 weeks. I had been wearing my hair curly and finally decided to take 45 minutes to do my hair and straighten it. My roots are super long, but so is my hair. I was so proud of how long it had gotten that I decided that I would grow it for a while. I am having the dead ends trimmed up and highlighted in a week and a half. I am pretty excited about that. I know the doctors say it is okay to have your hair done when you are pregnant as long as there is ventilation. But with both of my pregnancies, I have waited until the very end to have it done. Maybe it is just that in the beginning I am so dang sick that I could care less what my hair looks like...

The BIG reveal!!!

OK, seriously, be nice on the comments even if you have to tell a little while lie... Jesus will not mind you sparing a pregnant woman's feelings, it is totally what he would do...

WW- Confessions

I have confessed my love for all things hand-made several times over. I love it when I can buy something that someone has put all of their time and attention into and not because they got paid $5/ hr to go and sit in a factory and run a sewing machine.

I swoon over hand-made.

So, being on a tight budget lately, I decided that I "needed" some improvements for the baby nursery.

1. Out nursery rocker must have rocked 10 billion miles when Mason was a babe. It was looking a bit raged. My parents bought it for us new and it had a baby blue cushions that were not easy to wash, they were not removable. I priced covers on-line and they were going to cost me around $60.... Ewww, I was not going to be able to pay that for sure, especially when my old ones were just fine but ugly and stained...
So, I bought some fabric at Hancock's and went to town... It took me about 1.5- 2 hours. It only cost me $14.00 because the fabric was on sale 40% off... Yippe!

Take a look, what do you think?

I still have to make the arm rests, but I am coming up with my own design on them.

I did not use a pattern, I traced each cushion onto the fabric and winged it. Honestly I have never used a pattern and they scare me to death... I used a staple gun on the automan.

2. This is our boppy. It is super ugly underneath, but you would never know it. I picked up this adorable minkey-dot fabric at Hobby Lobby and it just-so-happened to be on sale as well... $10 and viola! This is the front view. Again, I just used the old cover to trace and make my own pattern. Super easy!

Here is the back view. This was my first time using Velcro. I must tell you never to use the iron on, self adhesive Velcro. It will be a waste of your time and you might get a few grey hairs in the process. I finally got smart and bought the sew on kind and it was so easy, I will never go back... { I also used sew on Velcro on the cushion covers below so I could remove them and wash, something that was not an original feature.}

And, I just have to end with this...

This makes me smile.

He will be so embarrassed when he is 16 to know that I posted this on the Internet, oh well I cannot say that I blame him, I would be embarrassed if my Mom would have posted something like this on her blog {if she even had one} when I was a kid too! But, I think computers were the size of cars back then...


Adios!

Back tomorrow with some super fun pictures I took over the Holiday weekend... I know, I am slow.

PSF- Riding bikes with Friends

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Yesterday, we rode bikes with some friends that live close by. Mason had so much fun with {A} and {J}.

But, you gotta watch out when you are riding bikes with Mason, he will straight up leave you in the dust. He is super fast on his Strider Bike...

I tried to tell him that {A} was the leader and not to pass her... That went over real well, let me tell ya!


He was trying to hitch a ride on the back of {J's} bike, but that did not go over too well... Don't you just love their matching helmets... You are only cool if you have Lightning McQueen helmets...

They found a tower and we tried to get them to pose but this is the best I could get.

ps- No, I did not ride my bike, could you imagine what that would look like??? I am assuming that it is also not very safe to ride a bicycle when you are 30 weeks pregnant- just assuming.

Have a Happy & Safe 4th!

Mason- Potty Training

So, for sometime now Mason has been in big boy undies (we call them skibbies or skibs). He has not been wearing pull-ups (we call them pullies) at nap and not had an accident at nap- ever. He has had 10 straight nights of dry pullies, and he was waking sometimes through the night to tell me he had to pee. So, last night I got brave. I put some skibs on him and off to bed he went. He made it all night long and was dry this morning. I am so proud of him. This whole potty training thing went better that I originally thought. We worked and worked on it for a while but when he was ready that was when he did it on his own terms. I am just glad it happened before the baby comes...

ps- I do know, that he will still have accidents and that we may have to go back to pullies for a while, but I just wanted to document his first night with out wearing a pully and staying dry all night....

YIPPEEE!

Fun Crafts...

My sweet friend Angie had this adorable blanket made for baby Miles... It was so nice of her to do that. She wanted to be the first person to buy something for the baby... Well, Angie, I think you even beat me.!

This is a burp and onsie set I made for Miles... I love vintage stuff and I found this adorable fabric in a scrap pile at the fabric store... Just enough for what I wanted to make... This is a back view of the onsie.

Here is a front view of the onsie. Mason loves the fire truck and so I think I might make him a bigger version of this one so they can match... Hey, do you think the hubs would want one too??? Wouldn't he just look smashing in a t-shirt with hand sewn trucks all over it? I am only kidding...

This is a blue chanel burp and bib set with red ribbon sewn across. The bib is not complete yet because I am trying to get it monogrammed right above the ribbon... I just love baby blue and red combo...

This is just a random bib I made from some scraps that I had left over from another craft that I never finished yet... I traced it and made my own pattern... It was super easy and turned out great! So. much. fun. I just love making my own stuff. Very gratifying. I wish I knew how to sew when I was preggo with Mason. I know it would have made the time go by so fast. Can you imagine how many projects I could have started and finished with out a 2 year old...?

Back tomorrow with some cute pics of Mason and a boppy cover that I made all by myself from start to finish. I even made my own pattern...

WW- Real Pictures of Us!!!

Hello and a Wonderful Wordful Wednesday to all of you....

Head over to see other fabulous pictures at Angie's blog...

This week, I wanted to share my photo editing secrets with you all.... I am sure they are not secrets, but I thought I would share anyways... I do not have Photo Shop, or a mac, so I use a FREE online editing program called Picnik.com.
This is a "before" picture of my "large and in charge" self yesterday at the bank drive through... I dare not show you my face, it is HUGE and swollen.

I just cropped it a bit, added text, an arrow and faded it a bit around the edges... Easy peasey! Oh, and it is FREE!

This is a picture of Mason at the same bank drive through... Please do not look at the stains on the car seat... I asked him to smile and this is the sweet face he gave me... I love him soooo much...


On this one I added a 60's finish, some text, and faded out everything but his sweet face... After all, that is the best part of this picture anyways, RIGHT?

So, if you are none too savvy with Photo Shop and you do not have any other fabulous programs or want to fool with learning how to use them. Head on over to Picnik and check it out... Like I said, it is FREE and EASY!

I feel like I have been deprived since I have been with out a battery charger. But, not to worry, I will be back to posting lovely pics of my sweet and beautiful family this afternoon. Also, I made some fun things for the baby and I cannot wait to show you all...

Stay Tuned

For Real.

OK, to my great surprise, my hubbie does read this blog. I mean, I thought he might come across it sometimes, but he reads it when he is at work... So that leads me to this post... I have to let y'all know, he is NOT by any means a lazy husband. He actually works very hard. I {personally} just think that sometimes he gets a bit.... spoiled. I know I am not the only wife in the world that cleans up after her husband and her children. I know that is my job- to keep my household in order and keep things running smoothly- I KNOW! I actually love the job, it is just that sometimes one can feel.... taken advantage of... Ya know? I will not go into it again and name all of the things that drive me nut-so, but what I will do is name all of the hard working things hubbs has done lately {since all of the hot-rods are missing from our garage}.

- fix the toilet paper roll (broken 4 months)
- fix a broken faucet out side (with the help of my lovely mother-in-law)
- mowed the lawn (on a weekly basis)
- Built shelves in Masons closet
- Spent at least 2 long hot hours hunting for baby clothes in the attic- It is hot in Tennessee!
- Spent another few hours taking the stuff back up that I decided I do not want.
- Changed the oil in both cars.
- He says he will be pressure washing the house & drive way in the next 2 weeks...
- Not to mention for the past 2.5 years he has worked at night while we sleep only to come home and watch Mason while I work in the mornings.... That is a BIG one if you ask me...

So, while he may send my head spinning off of my shoulders sometimes because he fails to do the little things, the man does some hard work. I bet it drives him crazy that my "gender" roll thinking self decided that I do not do yard work in the 90 degree summer. I guess I will settle with putting the lid back on the tooth paste, taking the trash out sometimes, picking up after his and Masons play sessions, and loading dishes I know could have been easily loaded already. (OOpse, I said I was not going to mention those things again... My bad).

I do have a pretty great life, I guess sometimes it is just easy to get side-tracked and think of the small, petty things that drive me nuts. I have decided I will NOT be letting ANY of those things get under my skin for at least the next week...

One small step at a time....

Am I?

Am I:

- the only one who can get the clothes from the floor to the hamper?
- the only one who can tell when there are dirty dishes in the dish washer?
- the only one who can clean {thousands} of small cars off of the floor?
- the only one who can decide when the trash can is too full and needs to be taken out?
- the only one who can replenish the paper towel/ toilet paper rolls?

Am I?

An inquiring mind would like to know... Not complaining, just asking a few simple questions...

* reason for this rant might have something to do with the watermelon size bulge hanging over my waist... Makes it a little hard to bend...

{Full Set}

Here is the full Bridesmaides set that I made for my friend at work.

{$16.00}

{necklace $22.00}

**E-mail me here if you are interested in purchasing more than one set and I will give you a discount.

{Bridal Jewelry}

$16.00

I have a friend at work who is getting married. She needed some bridesmaids sets made for all of her "best girls!" This is the pair of earrings that we came up with. I think they are just adorable. They are almost like a pair I made back in the fall, but they are quite a bit shorter. They have one large fresh water pearl, one small fresh water pearl and one clear/iridescent crystal. All of the beads are hand wrapped with sterling wire. The hooks are hypo-allergenic.

E-mail me at kikiandlele@yahoo.com if you are interested in a pair of these lovelies....

* I will post the necklace soon, it is adorable....

{More EtSy love.... Mom Style}

Posh Pads

I know not all Mom's breast feed. I did for a little over 4 months and I loved every second of it. Sure, it was hard. Sure, I got stared at all. the. time. Sure, my husband was embarrassed by me several times when we were out in public. Sure, I was in Kroger one time and heard another baby screaming (mine was at home with his Daddy) and looked down and my shirt was soaked. But~ I loved it. Like I said, it is not for everyone. Different strokes for different folks. But I honestly cannot wait to do it again. It is one of my favorite parts of having a new baby.

When I was looking for hand-made products for my new baby, Miles, I came across these lovely nursing pads. I hated the paper and plastic ones that I used last go around- they were terrible. I only found one type that I liked when I was nursing Mason and there is no telling where they are now. So, these are definitely on my "Must Have" list.

Posh Pads has 8 different collections. They use bamboo and organic cotton products to make these nursing pads. I just love that!

The pair in the picture above is my favorite because they have cows on them- Oh, the humor... I know I certainly felt like a "milk cow" sometimes when I was nursing Mason...

I will be back later this week or maybe early next week with more {fabulous} hand-made must-haves!!!

Tell me what you think. What was your favorite Mom product??? It does not have to be hand-made.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to my sweet husband. Curt, you are a wonderful Father! Mason and Miles are a super lucky pair to have you as their father here on earth...

Dad, Happy Father's Day to you too! You are a fabulous Dad and I would not be where I am today without your influences in my life!!!

*I wish I had pictures to share, you know my camera drama. I am headed out on the search tomorrow for a new charger, just have not had time yet!

**Since today is Father's Day, we went to the zoo bright and early this morning (that is after I cooked a disastrous breakfast) and it was hot, but we loved it... We bought a membership and will return many, many more times. Our zoo is not huge, but Mason is in love with it. It is safe to say that Curt and I will tire of it long before he will.... I did, however, manage to stop by Wal-Mart to pick up a disposable camera ( I felt as if I was in 1997, winding and clicking that thing, honestly people stared at me...) I did get to document the occasion. Hopefully I can get some of those pics converted to a disc and share them with everyone later on...

***Yes, I am aware that I did not make a post for Mother's day... For the reccord, we had no internet on that day, not sure why?!?. I do have a great Mom and she knows that... Love you too MoM!

{ETSY love- baby style}

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I am a lover of all things "hand-made." My love affair started about 2 years ago when my friend Kacey and I found ETSY. Every now and then, I try and make things on my own, but when I come across something I want/need and I know it is over my head or I do not have the time to even try, I head on over to etsy.

I am 28 weeks pregnant today and so my search is on for "must have" baby items that I never got or ever knew I "needed" with Mason....

My first search was for a baby sling. When I had Mason one of out relatives let me borrow her carrier and Mason went everywhere in it. But she needed it back when she had another baby. So, this is a need. I NEED a carrier to carry Miles in that I can still use my hands and he can feel safe and snug and close to his Mama.

I logged into ETSY and searched "baby sling" and look at what I found... I just love this jersey knit HAND-MADE sling by Lovey Duds. I have picked out my two favorite styles for a boy, but boy-o-boy does she have the most beautiful fabric for girls... I am loving the Amy Butler fabrics that she uses.... But, I am having a boy, so he must ride in style like all little dudes would want to!

Lovey Duds

* Camo- need I say more... I bet I could even get Curt to use this one....

* Did I mention that they are reversible...

*If you do not like print and just want something that is one color, she has those as well...

Lovey Duds ETSY Shop

Of course this one is my Fav-O-Rite!!! I just love it. The price is affordable and you can wear it in a ton of different ways.... And, it comes with an instructional DVD! How convenient!

Lovey Duds, also has blankets, birth cloths and nursing covers.... Oh- MY!

I am so happy to have found this site... Now, my little man can ride in style, be close to his Mama, and his Mama can multi-task...

In my oppinion, hand-made gifts are so wonderful to give and recieve. Even if you did not make it, someone did. They took their time to used their own hands to make a product just for you!!!

*** Coming next week, more products for Mom & baby. One of which I actually made all on my own- the others will be from ETSY!

Please tell me what your favortie mom/baby products are...

Funny Mason

Last night Mason and I were eating dinner.

Part of his dinner consisted of watermelon.

I finished mine and he had hardly touched his, so I reached over and grabbed a piece and put it in my mouth....

Mason looked at me and said:

"Spit it out Momma! That is mine watermelon."

I said:

"You were not eating it..."

Mason said:

"1........2....... time out Mommy, please spit it out now!"


I laughed and laughed until I could not laugh any more....

I love that he counted for me, it either shows he really pays attention, or that I have to count for him A LOT!


*** I have a lovely post scheduled for later, blogger has messed up what I saved so I have to fix it!

Wordful Wednesday~ Sisters Are We

{Katie (sister), Me, Carrie (SIL)}

Family~ Isn't that what it is all about? Well, I think so. Yesterday, my post was about my birth sister, but I feel I must add my SIL. She is great. A Georgia native, she moved to Tennessee to adopt my family and she fits right in. I love her, we love her.

This picture was taken in December at the Christmas parade where my parents live. I am still with out a camera battery charger, so I have been looking back in the archives and discovering picture GOLD! It is amazing the things you miss with digital. Do not get me wrong, I love digital, but sometimes you pass up the good stuff....

This reminds me, it is time for a girls night.... Do you think this post will score enough points to get my SIL to paint my toe nails? I have not seem them in a while, so I am sure they are pretty scary! I would ask my sister, but no gushing post in the world could ever get her to touch any ones feet- she's phobic like that.

Head on over to see all of the other WW post at Angie's Circus~ Just click on the button below!

Tuesday's Tribute- Auntie Katie

Tuesday- not a day I blog on- lately!I am with out a camera- so I am sorry for not sharing pictures with you.This Tuesday I am paying tribute to my sweet sister, Katie.Today is her day in the spotlight.Katie is: A great sister. We never got along growing up- NEVER! She was 5 years younger and way too un-cool for me. I knew she could not cross the street, so I would run as fast as I could out of the yard to my friend's house to get away from her only to look back at her standing at the road crying. I am pretty sure I gave her a hard time- way to often. Sometimes I would let her wear my clothes and sometimes I would fix her hair and make up. I wish now I would have spent more time doing things like that with her. Because a sister is a friend that never goes away. You see- No matter how ugly I was to her growing up, she still loves me. We talk on the phone weekly, sometimes more. She adores Mason, her first nephew. She is beautiful, I must get a picture soon and post it. She is a great interior decorator. She makes the most amazing cakes. She is a bit of a neat freak and for some reason decided to get a white/cream rug to put in her living room. She only lets the elderly walk on the rug with their shoes on- she's nice like that. She has a darling husband- who adores her. She takes everything seriously, but she can party like no body's business. She is sassy and has a tough skin- I must say I think she gets it from all the years of torture I put her through. She is a lot like our Mom, more than she knows. That, however is not a bad thing. We have a great Mom. AND.... She is going to be a MOM!!!!* she secretly wants twins... crazy girl Congratulations Katie~ I love you, even though you do not let me walk on your rug with shoes.... I secretly did it one time and I loved it.... I guess the cats out of the bag on that one....You will be a GREAT MOM, I just know it.

Not Me Monday

Hello All~ This is my first week in forever to participate in MckMama's "Not Me Monday!" Honestly, I wanted to post pictures of my sweet boy, but if you read on, you will figure out why I am still picture less...

Mason certainly has not started pitching the most radical fits this week... I did not head on over to the local book store for some knowledge on the topic.... (i know not all parenting answers are in books (Mom) but I thought it could not hurt)...

I have NOT been craving coffee like an insane person.... So, I did NOT head over to Starbucks and order a decaf Carmel Frap with extra Carmel on top.... NOT ME!!!! It was NOT like the best 10 minutes in heaven I have had in a while...

I have not been drinking Honey out of the jar like water... I am craving it.... YUM!

I did not gag 3 times this week because I cannot deal with Mason pooping in his potty chair... IT is sooooo gross. (Sorry if you are reading this before breakfast)

Mason did not go to the Zoo with my parents and he certainly did not have a blast... I am NOT still waiting on pictures.... ( I know you are reading this DAD!)

Curt did NOT get rid of his last hot rod only to get a new motorcycle.... He did not try and convince me how economical it is on gas.... I am definitely not smarter than that.... I am not aware that he has ulterior motives....

Mason did not confess his love for all thing YUCKY!!! I did NOT find 3 dead beetles in the pockets of his shorts this week while I was doing the laundry!!! At least they were dead!

My camera's battery did NOT die and when I asked my husband what he did with the charger he did not act as if he had not touched it....

(actual conversation 2 weeks ago)
Curt- I am going to clean this desk off, all of the wires are driving me crazy.
Leslee- Ok, honey, thanks...
Curt- what is this box thing?
Leslee- It is my camera charger, please leave it there...
Curt- But it is in the way.
Leslee- Please leave it there, that is where I have always kept it and you have never noticed it before now.
Curt- (thinking to himself) Well, I will just move it to ________.

(actual conversation last night)
Leslee- Curt, my camera is dead and I really need to photograph this jewelry before sending it off.
Curt- I have no idea what you are talking about....
Leslee- Think HARD, yes you do remember THIS conversations (me repeating the whole thing to him).
Curt- Oh yeah, just look around I am sure it is in a drawer somewhere...
Leslee- Nope, I looked...
Curt- Awwww, sorry babe, let me look.
Leslee- Doesn't matter now, I have no more daylight...
Curt- looks- does not find- promises to look more today....
Leslee- Errrrrr........

Lastly, I did NOT get my sewing machine fixed for FREE!!!! I will NOT be getting my sew on this week!!! But I doubt you will see any pictures of my work....

My Super Hero

I know this picture is old, but my camera has been at my sister's house where I left it since Memorial Day. BOOOO! I have missed some very fun photo ops since then, but I wanted to share this one with you. Mason was BatMan last year for Halloween, he loved the mask... I am secretly glad it is lost, there is no telling how many places he would want to wear it.

Mason~ You are Mommy's little Super Hero! I love you deeply and you teach me more than you will ever know. I have become a better person because of you and for that I am THANKFUL! You have an amazing little soul~ I am so proud to be your "Momma."

{Summer Projects}

Of course my sewing machine is broken, poor thing. I think I gave it a little too much hell. Oh well, I need to get it to the shop, or check and see if it has a warranty, I just got it for Christmas.


Lately, because my machine is broken, I have been craving a new project. Of course, I headed to see Ms. Martha and all of her lovely ideas.

These are the lovelies I will be dreaming of until my machine is fixed...

Bias Tape Organizer Tote

I am in love with this tote. I need it, so I must make it... It looks so great to slip down in my purse with all of the papers and junk I am always carrying around.... Planning a trip? Tuck away your passport, directions, maps, agendas or whatever you fancy...

Terry Pillow Covers

These would be just dandy to take to the pool, beach or just to use in the bathroom. Since I am pregnant I am always thinking of ways to get comfortable. I could use these on the plastic chairs at the pool- my back would appreciate me. Plus, I definitely have some towels that need to be recycled. You could always think ahead and get some clearance beach towels at the end of summer and make some and put them up... These would also make a great neck pillow for the HUGE master bath tub I have that has not seen me in quite some time... I miss my long (quiet) baths.

Terry Cloth Caddy

I would also like one of these , Please!

Not only would one of these be great for my bathroom, they would make great Christmas gifts.... You could make one and stuff it with fun bath stuff... Great for a man or woman...

Towel & Tote combo

Can you tell that I like terry-cloth?

Mason needs one of these, I am sure the one I make will have spider man on it or something un-cute like that... Would it not be so easy to wrap all of the pool toys up in that when headed to the pool. Plus after it is clean, just re-stuff it with needed goodies and you will be ready to go!

Will you be making any summer projects??? Please share with me... I love hand made...

Scooping Down The Doop.

Mason has had the funniest saying lately. He makes them up all on his own and Curt and I have no idea where they come from. They are defiantly not from the English language. Some of them we can figure out and some of them we are still working on. But one thing is for sure, he knows what they mean.

Scooping Down the Doop. Still not sure what this one means.
Down the Doop. I think this means something totally different than the one above, he uses it in a different context.
Squirking. I think this one has something to do with his How Wheels squealing tires. Not too sure though.

There are a few more, I cannot remember at the moment. I just wanted to make sure that I wrote them down so I did not forget this incredibly funny stage he is in...

Baby Chicks... :>

Lately Mason has been a terrible eater. He wants nothing to eat, only fruit snacks, pizza and chicken strips... So, I have been trying new things every meal and trying to get him to open up his ideas about food. For some reason out of the blue he has become picky. He does not like crust, food that touches other food, things that make his hands yucky or really anything other than fried chicken fingers and pizza. While these two combos are great for a treat every now and then, I know he cannot be getting all he needs from either. Especially since he refuses all veggies now. He used to love them, I am not sure what is up. I hope it is just a phase... If you have any ideas on creative food ventures for toddlers, I am all ears. I might add, I am not the type to push food on him, if he does not want to eat, I am not going to make him- so please no comments about making him sit at the table until he finishes it all... That just isn't my style.

Funny food story:

I was going to make Mason some cheesy scrambled eggs for breakfast. I got out the carton and he was super excited... He started jumping up and down and wanted to hold one. I had just mopped the floor, so I said he could touch it in my hand... He petted it and talked to it and I thought it was kind of weird that he was being so sweet to a raw egg...

So after he was done I cracked that puppy open and plopped the yolk into the bowl... Mason screeched and started crying... Once I calmed him down he told me that there was a baby chick in there... I think one of his videos about farm animals shows a baby chick hatching out of the egg. I guess that is why he was talking so sweet to the cold, raw egg in my hand. Poor guy thought he was going to get himself a baby chick. I continued on and cooked the egg. I put the cooked version on a plate and put them on his table. He said to me, " Mason not eating baby chicks, Momma!" I could not convince him that it was not a baby chick. He was over it... He had made up his mind.

I hope he does not figure out that chicken strips used to be the baby chicks Mama, then I will only have pizza as a food option...

Help, please... Yummy appealing food ideas.

House Swap.

This weekend we will be swapping houses with my sister, Katie and her hubbie Jeremy.

They have a wedding to go to in Murfreesboro and I have a craft show in Tullahoma.

It actually works out perfectly.

Her home will feel like a retreat with {zero} toys to step on and fancy furniture that has been un-terrorized by a 2 year old...

The best part is that Mason will most likely (he really needs his Momma at bed time) sleep at my parents house and Aunt Katie is going to watch Gabby (dog) for us...

YIPPE!

Looks like we might get that date night after all....maybe.

I guess I had better get to cleaning up... I would not want the trade to be too un-fare would I?

On my mind...

Lately, I have been a "terrible- no good- very bad- blogger"! I have had so much going on and really when I have time to veg, I just veg. I have not even had the itch to get on here and blog. I am sure I have lost some readers due to my lack of posting and commenting for that matter... But I have excuses... Really I do!

#1- I am pregnant and TIRED! All of my time goes to Mason, it is WaaaaY harder to multi-task when your energy level is (-1,000).

#2- My 2.5 year old is a Tasmanian devil lately... Do not get me wrong, he is a good boy, that is not what I am saying. He just goes through everything at lightning speed. Seriously, he does cartwheels around me... He has figured it out too...

#3- I have an unfinished nursery. Not that we are doing much different to it because we are having a boy, but it needs to organized, we have just been storing stuff in there since Mason moved to his (boy-boy room). I would love a re-do, but there are going to be some BIG changes around the Phillips household, so I really want to hold onto all of our extra cash- Sorry Pottery Barn...

#4- I am pregnant- did I use that one yet?

#5- I do have a small business, and lately very small. I am still getting orders, but I am not doing any sort of marketing or anything to make it bigger right now. I just do not have the energy to give it... Do not get me wrong- I love making jewelry... LOVE IT! It is just dead last on the totem pole lately!

#6- Curt has had a crazy schedule, I swear we have only seen each other for like 6 seconds on his way in from work to sleep and on his way out to work... I think a date night is in order and maybe some snuggle time too!!! Did you read that honey????

Well those are all of my excuses, I think they are pretty legit... Seriously, I do not know how I used to get so much blogging done... Maybe one day I will find time like that again, doubt it...

On to other things:

Jon & Kate + 8.
Really- Seriously!!! I thought this show was about the kids? You know the +8 part. I watched an episode a while back at my friend Angie's house. That was all she wrote for me. That lady is rude. She was mean to her husband and she belittled him the entire time. I hate that their marriage is having trouble (which could all be a publicity stunt) and I wish the best for all marriages epically those with kids involved. But if she really acts like that in real life and I was Jon, I would not be okay with that. Honestly, if he talked to her the way she talks to him, there would not even be a show. People would be outraged. But because she is a woman, it makes the ratings go up and people seem to like it. I really do not see what all of the hype is about. Get over yourself Kate~ you need to be more worried about your 8 littles than how loud your husbands breathing is.

Being a Mom-
I know it might be weird that I am writing this, but I have been thinking that this is seriously the best time I have ever had in my life. Mason is amazing. I am so excited for Miles to get here and I cannot wait to see this next chapter of all of our lives begin.
Mason is so funny and loving, he is going to be that kid. You know, the one that always gets in trouble for talking, gets letters home to Mom & Dad, gets "uses time wisely" marked on his report card, grows up to be a comedian. He lives to make Curt and I laugh and he really is funny- I am not just saying that- HE IS!
He declares he is a "Daddy's Boy" but he has "Mamma's Boy" written all over him. Which is fine by me, I will keep it a secret between me and him( and anyone else who reads this). Do not get me wrong, there are days when I just want out pull my hair out, scream bloody murder and get online and schedule a cruise- just me, all alone on the open sea (but I do not). But I really think those moments/ days are the ones that make it all worth while. Because after all, he is only 2.5, his only main goal every single day is to test new limits and see how the world works. I live for the moments when he give me those big slobbery kisses, you know the ones that do not dry for like 5 minutes. I live for the "I love Mommy" moments. I live for the snuggling in the morning and falling back asleep moments. I live for the "I'm hungry" moments. I live for the moments. I do.

That is all she wrote for me for right now. I have been doing some crafting, maybe one day I will get the gumption to show you what I have been up too... Doubt that too... Only because it involves sewing and my skills are not to fabulous.

Uncle Trouble... {WW}

for more Wordful Wednesday's head on over to Angie's!

We (Mason & I) were out at my brother's house visiting his sweet new baby girl... I think Mason was getting a little out of control inside so my brother (uncle trouble) took Mason outside... I walked out just a few short minutes later and this is what I found...

When it rains, my brother has a "lake" in his front yard. I call it "Lake Bennett." This is the shallow part. I might also add that I thought this was so gross and nasty but Mason has an obsession for water... So, I am pretty sure that Uncle Trouble did not have to force him to get in there....

Busted by Mom...



But he does not really care how busted he is because he is going to enjoy it while he can... He knows Mom is not coming in after him...

Mason and Uncle Trouble...


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Boy Boy Potty

*** I am having a Give-A-Way, please check out the post below... Enter! Please!

Mason is getting to be such a BIG BOY! He calls himself a "boy boy!" His bed is a "boy boy bed" even though he hardly ever sleeps in there... He also calls his potty a "boy boy potty!"

We have been testing the waters for a few months on potty training. I am not going to jump the gun and say "he is potty trained", but things are looking great. I have said it before and it back-fired on me.

He has gone 2 days with out pooping or peeing in his pants.

He only wears pullys (pull-ups) at nap and bed time.

He does this funny dance right before he is about to poop that always reminds me to get him to the potty- fast!

He loves to pee on EVERYTHING!

He is not very modest about where he pees and who sees him. That probably is my fault, I let him go everywhere... That is how he learned.

The first time he pooped in his "boy boy potty" I took his picture with it. I know it sounds gross to us, but his is in love with that picture. It reminds him of a great victory. I think I am going to put it on the bathroom cabinet next to his potty chair. I wanted to put it on here- I asked my Mom what she though- She thought is was a bad idea!

The only thing he will poop in is his "boy boy potty". He will pee in the big potty but for some reason sitting on the big potty scares him. Mammie bought us this little wooden chair made by Mennonite's (sp?) in her town. It was the last one and they are not making anymore. I want 5 more. One for each of our cars and one for upstairs in the bathrooms up there... Oh well. I guess we will have to cart this one everywhere.

It was our MAIN goal to have him potty trained by the time Miles gets here. It is looking good so far. But I will not declare it until he has been going for a few weeks...

Potty training is almost harder than breast feeding but it does not hurt. It is so time consuming but so worth it.

It is a great thing we have a carpet cleaner, we have sure needed it several times...