Why I can't get anything done...

I can't get anything done. No seriously. I start something and then I see this sweet but whiny face. I'm starting to see it in my sleep. Actually he's starting doing this at 3am so I actually am seeing it in my sleep.

Then, next thing I know, I see this face and I just want to squeeze his cheeks.

Which brings me to what I want to talk about this week, cause this is my blog and I can talk about anything I want. You don't have to read it if you don't want to. You can just look at the pretty pictures of my kids.

I've been thinking lately about how as mothers and women we're trained to put others first. Admittedly some women go further in their need to please those around them than other women, but I think that to some extent girls are expected to be pleasant and helpful. "Be a good girl." I tell Sophie this all the time, but I don't say it as often to Max. I've been overwhelmed lately with taking care of the kids and cooking and cleaning that I don't seem to have any time for myself. However, even if I did have some time to myself, I'd still be racked with guilt that I'm not accomplishing something on my mile long to do list, or building a block tower with Max or doing a puzzle with Sophie. You might be wondering what I would do with all this alone time and I have a plan, first I'd pour myself a vat of wine and then I'd sit in my bathtub (with or without water) and think about how quiet the house is, maybe I would read something and paint my toenails. Bliss I tell you, bliss. I also think it's different as a military spouse because a lot of times Dave just isn't around to pitch in. So the kids are so used to Mommy doing everything that they (and I) never think to ask Dave to do things, plus only Mommy can do it right (according to Max and Sophie). All in all I'm pretty lucky, I know that, but I'd like to be lucky and have some "quiet time".

I'm pretty much done with my whine fest for today. On another note, if you've been wondering why there aren't as many pictures of Sophie as usual, this is the reason.

I get about five photos of her making faces...






Before I can get one of these. She's still pretty stinkin' cute though.

Sophie's Room In Our New House

Next on our tour is Sophie's Room. Sophie ended up with the biggest bedroom and she also has the biggest closet. Which turned out to be good since all of the collected baby stuff is sitting in there until Dave and I make a decision on what to do with it all.

Her bed was passed down on Dave's side of the family and was his childhood bed.

We got the desk and bookcase at Target a couple years ago. I've since bought her a new desk at a secondhand store, but I'm planning on refinishing it before I put it in her room. I'm also still looking for a chair and have been since we first bought her desk. I have a very clear vision of what I want and I haven't found it yet.

Dave and Sophie on Dave's most recent birthday celebration.

Max's Room in Our New House

So this post took a little longer than I had planned to get up because a big event happened at our house this past week. Someone decided that now would be a good time to take the crib front off Max's crib and turn it into a toddler bed. For some insane reason I also thought that sounded like a great idea and allowed someone who will remain nameless to proceed. After being woken up at 5:15 am and now 4:50 am for two consecutive days I'm less sure that our bright idea was really all that bright. However, we're working towards Max sleeping in his own big boy bed which is a big step in him becoming more independent. Although I guess I'm not really sure how much help a 16 month old needs in becoming independent. Max is quite sure he can do anything he wants.

Max's changing table/dresser. The rocking chair was a gift from my Aunt and Grandma W. And, yes, Max is checking out the diaper pail in this photo. Boys are yucky.

A little collection of tchokes given to Max. The photo in the frame was taken by the wonderful Gina Geigley when Max was 10 months old.

The infamous crib turned toddler bed.

How Max gets out of bed.


I took Max in for his second haircut yesterday. I was told (by my lovely mother) that he was starting to look like a girl. He had the sweetest little curls, but it's finally getting warm here and I decided he really did need a haircut. Plus Dave was pestering me about it. I guess he didn't want everyone thinking Max was a little girl either. But I say "CURLS". They were too cute.

The Playroom

I just had shelves installed in the playroom. It's by no means done, but it's a lot closer. This is the view looking into the playroom from the hallway. The boards we used were originally Dave's Dad and they look great.
Here's looking at the shelves. The kids table was a Christmas present from my parents. The lowest shelf is at 2 feet. It's tall enough to be used as a table surface for the kids.

Here's the little kitchen that Santa brought Sophie when she was two and her easel.

Another view of the kitchen and the toys along that wall.

Here's the couch. I'd like to put some sort of shelving to the right of the couch where the wire shelves are now. I'd like something with a little more storage. I've been looking at craigslist for the perfect piece.
Sophie showing off her baby waffles. I love her little squinty eye thing she does when I tell her to smile.
Max reading in the tent in the playroom. His hair is getting long... and curly.

New Routine

We're slowly getting into the swing of things at our new home. Finding a new routine, new friends, and new activities has been a rough transition for Sophie and for me. We did take a quick break to hop on down to California to visit Dave's parents and check out Sea World. I'd like to draw everyone's attention to Dave's mustache. He's been telling me he loves it and is planning on keeping it. I told him he could plan on sleeping on the couch if that's his final decision.

Sophie kept trying to pull the starfish out of the water for a closer look. She didn't get the whole breathe underwater concept.

Max loves to play outside. He actually tells me "outside" when he's ready to go. We try to walk to the mailbox when the weather's nice.

Seriously the mustache is killing me.

Easter

We had quite an Easter this year. We had some new friends over for an egg hunt and Easter dinner. It was loads of fun.

Max's Easter basket

Sophie's Easter basket

My sweet friends from Hawaii made this Peter Rabbit banner for Max's baby shower and I thought it was perfect with my Easter decorations.

I have to tilt the dining room table crossways in the room to be able to fit both leaves and all 8 chairs.

Max's first Easter egg. I totally set this photo up. Setting the egg down, calling Max over, pointing to the egg. Begging him to pick it up.

Sophie didn't need any direction. This girl has candy radar and she was going to get as many eggs as possible.

Happy Easter!

Home Tour Part 1

We LOVE our new house. Love it. I have mostly finished the unpacking. There is about four boxes in the garage that I need to unpack and three upstairs in my closet. Dave's mom was instrumental in helping finish the unpacking.

I'm not completely sold on some of the positioning of the furniture. I've been debating hiring one of those web decorator's to give me some advice on layout and whatnot. Enjoy the tour...

Here's the living room/breakfast table/kitchen. I've ordered drapes (you can see them here) for the large window on the left, the dining room window and I have a small panel for the kitchen window that I will drape over the window.

Another view of the living room area. The hallway on the right leads to the dining room, guest bath, and entryway.

The console table and small bookcase on the left are new as well as the faux bamboo tree by the television. Doesn't faux sound so much better than fake?

The baskets under the console table have some kids toys. Not sure if I love those baskets, but I already had them.

Love our new kitchen. I have a gas stove, which terrifies me on a regular basis. I just know I'm going to catch a dish towel on fire.

Fun little niche in the hallway and our marriage certificate.

My collection of milk glass. I was thinking of adding a framed photo to the bookshelf to break up all the white.

Here's the dining room. I'm not sure if this is the way the table will be positioned. I had a dinner party last night and I had to move the table to fit the extra leaf. The table was orginally parallel to the buffet.

Dave's bar. Fully stocked.

Last but not least, no post would be complete without photos of the hooligans...

I found Sophie in here on the day our security system was being installed. Don't worry it's not locked. I had to bribe her to get out of the dog cage.