Stephanie Rocks!

I asked Stephanie to do a quick mini shoot of me... I needed some shots for a layout I need to do, and don't have any good pics of me...

anyways, take a look, and let me know what you think!

www.chasingbrady.com

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full circle...

you go through your entire life surrounded by psychos of sorts...

the kind who thrive on the drama,

or just ARE the drama.

you weed them out,

you choose not to have relationships with family members who

are like the dirt stuck under your nails-

a pain the ass, can't figure out how to get rid of it,

and just ain't doing anything for you.

only to come along years later, happily married with 2 fabulous kids, living the idyllic life.

only to look down and realize

you have dirt stuck under your nails again, and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it.

full circle.

irritating at times.... wish I could just get a hold of some nail clippers. :)

Happy 21 month birthday Megan!

Hard to believe in a few short months you'll be two. Your blonde little curls are now growing almost to your shoulders, and your body has been stretching and lengthening...every time I look at you, you look less like a baby and more like a little girl. I can't help but feel a little sad.

And yet, with each new feat, I am proud mama, grinning from ear to ear when I hear you say a new word or accomplish something new.

You now have started nodding your head with gusto. A deliberate motion that lets everyone know just how much you are in agreement with something when asked. Most effectively put in place usually when asked, "Is that good Megan?" It's always accompanied by an adorable grin, so it's become our new favorite thing to do.

Cameron's favorite is telling you to "shhh" with his finger up to his lips, because you turn around and mimic him- it's hilarious. That and " 'cuse you!"- all it took was one time of me saying "Excuse you!" when I found you standing on the coffee table, and it's now your favorite phrase to use on people.

you also love to say "all gone" and "all done" with this cute little shake of both hands anytime you're finished, or someone else is.

I actually got you signed up for a class at Little Gym last month. I feel pretty bad at times for the lack of organized activities I have you in compared to the swarm of them Cameron was in at this age, but it's pretty tough to get going this time around on those things with scheduling, and it's not as if you lack for things to do and never get out. Once Cam starts school full time (*sniff*) in the fall, we'll have some Mommy & Me time that I plan to use for these kind of things though. I don't really think you care either way, but it makes me feel better as a mom to make things a little fair and balanced.

Besides, gymnastics are totally up your alley. Read: small children who have no fear of climbing, heights, falling, and are extremely flexible, careful, smart and willing to try anything need apply. That's you! Done deal you're in!

You and your brother absolutely love being outside. I fear this immensely in the coming months, because children seem not to posess the same temperature gauge as adults, and never seem to notice that there is not enough oxygen in the air to breathe, and that it's 105. So I foresee many sweaty days in my future, and lots of pool days. But you could really just swing all day, and be a happy camper. Your brother has gotten down the fine art of pumping himself on the swing, and is quite proud of himself, so between the two of you the playset we gave you two for Christmas gets its use almost daily.

I looked in review, and realized I hadn't done a birthday post since your 18 month, but since I have done little updates here and there in between, I'm not going to go over it all. But your second Easter found you right smack dab in the middle of 'getting' it... you loved the Easter egg hunt at the church, and had NO trouble tearing right into much of the candy you found in those little gems called plastic eggs. You screamed at the Easter bunny though, and wanted absolutely nothing to do with him.

You also have a new cousin in your midst- little Ethan was born at the end of March, and you love him to death (unless I'm holding him) as you do any and all babies these days, real or otherwise.

That will lead into your other love of food... hasn't changed.... you still have a love affair with it, and we still wonder where it all goes. You know how to circuit a party like no tomorrow, finding the next sucker who give up more food to you. I'm not sure I even want to know how many cookies you consumed at our Memorial Day BBQ, but it was many. very many.

The last few months have seen a few trips to the Children's Museum, the zoo ( you love the water at the museum, and the seals at the zoo), and we've been at the gym almost every day in a vain attmept on my part to look like a superstar, so you have a hour or so away from Mommy, which was quite and adjustment at first, but the ladies in the day care are so sweet, and love on you, and you eat it up, and now run in there with glee when we walk in. Mostly we've just been outdoors as much as possible, trying to enjoy the great spring weather.

This coming weekend will mark you and your brother's first full weekend staying at Gramma's... we're going to Aunt Adrienne's graduation, then up to Dallas for Uncle Stephen's wedding, so you'll be getting spoiled rotten while we're gone. Which makes me feel so much better when I'm missing the two of you like crazy.

You're growing like crazy, and you rock. You're so adorable, and everyone who knows you is smitten. You learn and grow and explore every day, working hard to keep me on my toes! I love you tons Miss Megs- happy birthday!

Love, Mama

(pronounced MAAAAMAAAAAAAAA!!!! with authority by you when you want me)

sniff

The kids were given a watering can at Easter from Gramma full of bulbs to plant... a few were lilies, and Megan's bloomed the other day... she just loves 'sniffing' it. :) Which translates to burying her face in the flower until she has pollen all over her nose and mouth. Too cute.

12 on the 12th...

of this month! yay! back on track!

here we go:

1. Breakfasts of champions- you can always tell when one is because it can hang out on a paper towel. these are flax/fiber/way healthy ones that I'm feeding my children, just to redeem myself a tad. We're headed down to some friend's house this morning, and Brent's going fishing with the guys, so we're heading out early for a Saturday morning.

2. Brent & my breakfast of champions on the go. it just wouldn't be much of a 12 on the 12th without some SB on here, now would it?

3. Alisha and I take the kiddos to Cadillac Bar at Kemah for lunch.YUM. Yes, the guys are fishing all day on Mom's day weekend. they rock.

4.cheap thrills for the kids- ducks and fish.

5. the kiddos played in the fountains for a while- when did she get so long?

6. headed home... finished up the mom's day project for Gramma- these looked waaaay better in Parent's magazine than ours did, but thank God Gramma's take "it's the thought that counts" to a whole new level. At least the vase they're in is cute- we did that last week at Mud Pie.

7. Thoroughly enjoying my mom's day present from the anitameister- it inspires me to smile every time I look at it!

8. some yummy frosty beverages for Brent and I out back (the kids had popscicles)- Mike's hard lemonade blended with frozen mixed berries-YUM!

9. Blowing bubbles, playing on the swing set and in the water table... my kids just never wear out!

10. This is a ponytail. Do you have ANY idea what this means??? It means my baby's hair has grown long enough to go from pigtails to a single ponytail. *sniff*

11. Cameron and Brent playing some soccer. Still working on wearing the kiddos out. :)

12. ahh.. the warm glow of the computer screen. what a great way to finish a day!

Megan eats ink pads just for fun...

I swear this girl does everything she can do damage my credibility as a parent... the fun never stops...

Stand up!

a new one for KMA... was done in wee hours of night... you know that period of time where you can't decide...

do I want a Diet Coke to perk up?

nah... I'll be be up all night...

a glass of wine?

nah... hardly worthwhile when I'll go to bed soon...

and so, I drink water.

and yawn.

and create.

and this is the result. :)

Here's another for KMA:

and one I did for fun... I swear those ribbons are straight IRL- I've been using my new

BG precision mat (which I was totally skeptical of, BTW) and LOVE that thing!

and one I did for Scraplovers- Prism Papers and Queen and Co. were the sponsors this month, so I did TWO layouts with NO patterned paper! *gasp*

in other amazing Daddy moments...

Brent and Cameron were in charge of coming up with the hat for "Crazy Hat Day". after two hours of cutting, 3 glue sticks, and some wild imagination, this is what we had. And I wonder how he got the 'ladies man' award...and yes, Cam's hat was definitely the craziest. No one else had ears attached, that's for sure.

mr. lettuce...

is still here.

yeah.

the turtle.

the one that was supposed to be let go yesterday when Brent got home, ended 'hanging out' in the backyard with the family, then crawling back in the damn cage!

so predictable.... men and turtle.

bad mom alert...

so here I was, hanging on the computer.





Cameron was watching a movie, and Megan was playing with misc. office items (not scissors, though, promise) at my feet. When Brent is home, this is normally the "Daddy playing with children time" but you know... anyways, I digress....





She was quiet. I was thrilled. Doesn't happen often that Megs is content for long, but the tape measure and the ruler seemed to be doing the trick for a couple of minutes...





until I looked down...

and there she is, bless her heart. Passed smooth out. on wood floors, no less.

the shame.

the guilt.

that nagging urge that still made me get up and get my camera to take a picture, and then tell the story.... part of me is saying, "Are you insane?!?! This lets people know just how neglectant of a mom you can be! WHY would you share, or tell about this moment?!?" and yet I do it anyways....

... new member of the house....

sweet pea Brent (calling me on his way to the airport): Tell Cameron to go check out the back porch when he gets home in the pet carrier.

alarmed me (not at home): WHY? what is the pet carrier doing out, and what the heck is in it?!?!

SPB: something. just tell him to check it out.

me: NO. what the frick is in it?? and why would you do that right before you leave??

DAB: I just found it when I went outside.

me: WHY? WHY would you bring it into our yard, and WHY would you put it in a carrier, and WHAT THE HELL is it?!?!

DAB: a turtle. he was crawling across our driveway.

me: so why didn't you just let him go on his merry way?

B: I thought Cameron would think it was cool.

me: and he will. and he'll want to KEEP IT. and you're GONE ALL WEEK.

B: I put lettuce in there and some water. he'll be fine until I get home.

me: fabulous.


Now I have a son, who is in love with a TURTLE, who he has now named "Lettuce" ("because that's what he likes to eat") and a husband who is in L.A.

Nice.

Men. Hmpf.

On another note, Cameron's last day of preschool was today. *sniff* I'll post pictures later. They gave out awards to all of the kids for something special about them. Do you know what my son's award said? Are you ready for this?? Some kids were most helpful, some were best dressed, etc. etc. Do you know what my son got?










"LADIES MAN"


what the crap am I going to do with him when he's a high school kid? Add that to the fact that the Sunday school teachers call him "McSteamy", and I'm getting a little concerned....

12 on the 12th....of March...

yes, just a little delayed.... I haven't forgotten about it... well, I did for April, but I've got May. But didn't want to post May before March, so here's March:

1. Cameron and I made this in the morning- a foamies bunny house. for Easter. yes, I feel a little dumb talking about this so late... anyways, it was cute, and we had fun.

2. see "Patient Megan" layout a few posts down... this was the pic.

3. It was spring break, and my neice Em and her friend were up for the week. We met Brandy and Sabrina for lunch at Chili's.

4. My brood and Brandy all headed to the mall- my son trying on some bug eye sunglasses for size.

5. Brandy spending her retirement savings at the Loft. God love that place.

6. Let my kiddos play for a while at the indoor park. Brandy was childless, so she went shopping on her merry way.

7. Em and Kaleigh above us, taking a break from spending my money they had siphoned off of me.

8. Cameron, and our shopping bags, waiting for the valet. (Brent, don't look. this post is entirely too late for you to wonder how much I spent that day.)

9. Pooped kids. Go figure.

10. Dinner. Just wanted to show that I do cook, since most 12 on the 12th seem to land on days that we order things that come in plastic or cardboard for dinner.

11. Megan and Daddy on her way up to bed. (woot!)

12. Me, my Diet Coke, and the new Scrapbooks, Etc that came in the mail. Children are in bed. Teens are on computer. Peace. Bliss.

Have a super fabulous weekend!

we've started out grand- Brent took the day off yesterday, and we took the chitlins to the Children's Museum and ran around a bit... man, I've got some freakin' cute kids. Humble, aren't I?? :P this was Cameron doing a puppet show... we don't let him hang out with wild animals normally.

this is Megan driving the bus to Mexico. she's had a bruiser of a week. scratched herself in her sleep last night, fell down the stairs (yes, almost the full flight. yes, I watch my children. yes, I was right beside her. no, I couldn't catch her fast enough. no, she had no injuries. nope, she didn't even cry. yes, I did. yes, Cameron thought it was cool and wanted 'roll again and again and again' down the stairs too.) and has a knot on her head from bonking it this week as well. either Calgon or CPS is going to take me away, just not sure which will come first.

and isn't it funny how Daddies can amazingly give a different perspective on something that you've done so many times? Like guess which kids are going to want rides in wheelbarrows every time we go to the children's museum from now on??

yeah...guess who's getting a good workout every time she goes to the children's museum from now on?

also stopped by PB and picked up some oversized clothspins.... I'm in love with everything oversized lately... I think it makes me feel smaller, which is always a delight.

oh, and in case you need to do some same day, or next day, delivery on flowers, teleflora is the place to check out. someone I know had a total brain flake and realized that they hadn't ordered flowers when all the mom's day cards went out, and woke up at three this morning frantic. not me, just someone I know.....

and on that note, everyone have a super fabulous Mother's Day!

new stuff....

some new... some from last month. All are layouts I've done for KMA for April and part of May....

Megan's newest thing is saying "sshhhhhh" with her finger up to her lips- it's freakin' hilarious, especially when she catches perfect strangers off guard that are talking nearby. Keep trying to get a picture of it.

Next week is Cameron's last week of school... so sad it's ending, but excited for summer! woot!

family was over this past weekend... look at this big 'ol chunk- no great pics, but he's still adorable!

nobody puts baby in the corner...

yes, I went to the 20th anniversary screening of Dirty Dancing. No, I am not an ultra fan who has seen the movie a bazillion times. I do however have a girlfriend who is who wanted me to go. :)

It was packed! I had actually never seen the movie all the way through. Even watching it on the front row (we were late) it was still pretty good, and the crowd was amusing enough- they cheered chanted and quoted throughout the movie. Rock on, DD lovers unite!



Here's one of my latest creations....

and what is up with everyone's blogs??? UPDATE ALREADY.

you know you're a texan when...

you're grilling out and eating corn on the cob by April... :)

Megan got to chow on her first corn cob- and oh, did she CHOW!

It's also one of the very few veggies my son will eat with some excitement.... I wonder if they could put broccoli on a cob...

love days that go like this...

Megan is also now 20 months! Happy birthday Megan! Did this layout for Scraplovers- and I'll have to do another post soon for her.