happy birthday to my superhero...

We've been so busy, that I've barely had time to blog and wish my little superhero a Happy 5th Birthday. He's been so excited about turning 5...me, not so much. I remember, so clearly, the day we found out we were pregnant with Oliver and the day I gave birth to him. I can't believe he's already 5. I feel like he was a 7lb 10oz baby yesterday and I woke up to find a 50lb 5 year old in my bed. Amazing. Oliver is clever, curious, silly, goofy, sensitive, loving, caring, active, talkative, and all boy. I love him dearly. I'm so lucky to have him in my life, everyday. Happy Birthday little man.

summer is coming to an end...

It's summer and I haven't made time to blog. I don't even know what to say these days. The kids say something hilariously funny every day - I can't even remember half the stuff they say. We're laughing alot around here. Sad summer is almost over - the hubby and I have to go back to work. Oliver is starting kinder in August and every time I think about it, I cry. Can't believe he's almost 5. Why does it go so fast? I know he'll do well and surely make his teacher laugh as much as we do. Leni will miss her big brother - they are so close. I'm trying to enjoy every last minute before mid-August and hopefully we'll have some great memories.

2 going on 16...

Leni, my 2 year old daughter, is anything but a typical 2 year old. Her language and vocabulary is, to say the least, A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I can say that because I have a soon-to-be 5 year old boy who talked alot (and still does), but you never could understand one thing he was saying. She's been talking for a long time now and we're astonished everyday by the things she says. She already knows her colors and shapes, and has for awhile...although that's not what I'm talking about when I say she amazes us. She's 2 going on 16 - this is what she told me the other day...

"Mommy, stop bothering me. I no like you."

Uhhhh. What? Her words can already cut your heart like a teenager would do. I wasn't sure whether or not I should laugh or cry. Everyone keeps saying, "Wait till she's 16." I don't think we have that long. It's more like, "Wait till she's 4." Maybe we'll get lucky and she'll be a quite teenager. Maybe?

queen of hearts...

From time to time, I like to post things I find beautiful here. Like this dress from Etsy. Although it's for little girls, I would love to have one for me and my daughter. Isn't it fabulous? Feathers and leopard print - every girls dream. Who wouldn't feel like the Queen of Hearts in this dress?

crowded hive on esty...

You can finally purchase the fabulous Crowded Hive bracelets on Esty!

probably, not a good sign...

My daughter loves to dance around the house naked, in her plastic play heels. My husband isn't amused when I joke, "That's not a good sign."

dearest blog, i do apologize...

Dear Blog,

I am sorry, once again, that I am neglecting you. It's summer and, quite frankly, I'm enjoying my days being a stay-at-home Mom, relaxing, and pretty much doing nothing. Basically, if you're not a kid or a Corona, you're not my priority right now. I'll be back soon...maybe.

Love,

Jaime

happy mother's day...

Before I was a Mom, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom, I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom, I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom .

Before I was a Mom, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom, I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom . I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

- Author Unknown

happy birthday leni...

Happy 2nd birthday to my precious little princess, Lennon Elizabeth.

siblings...

Having two kids is the hardest thing I've done, but it's the best thing I've ever done. Every morning, when Oliver and Lennon wake up they hug each other so tight. Oliver tells Lennon, "I'm going to squeeze you until you pop" and Lennon always gives Oliver a kiss on the cheek and says, "I love chew Ah-you." It melts my heart and makes me cry every time. It's the best. It's what love is all about.

a shout out to my uncles...

Frank and John Navin of the Aluminum Group, the local pop outfit named after an Eames-designed line of furniture, recently redecorated Schwa in six days on "no budget." Local music publicist Kathryn Frazier, who's handling press for chef Michael Carlson, hooked them up after John's apartment appeared on HGTV's Small Space, Big Style. The brothers are "working on a new Aluminum Group record probably titled 'The Aluminum Group Presents Frankie & Johnny.'"

Love you guys.

girls, girls, girls...

Oliver has discovered girls. My heart is broken. He told me today, "I love Ryleigh." I asked him why he loved her and he answered, so confidently, "I love her because she is beautiful and nice and she loves me because I am handsome." Although I agree with Ryleigh, I was hoping he wouldn't discover girls for a bit longer. He has so much time to grow and be a grown up, why so fast?

no whinning...

It's been awhile, but we've been up to so much lately that I rarely have the time or brain power to muster up typing on my blog. I've missed it though. Moms take on so much that I wonder how we do it all without being medicated.

Anyhoo, Spring Break was great. I enjoyed every little minute. I truly enjoy being with my kids 100% of the time. If I could be a stay-at-home Mom, I would be in a heartbeat. It's one hard job. It's 24/7. It's tiresome, but worth every minute. I admire all my friends who get to stay home. They work so hard.

Of course, we're back to work. Not that teaching 4 years olds isn't hard too. Sometimes, I wonder why the hell I do what I do. I spend all day with twelve whining little kids and then I come home to two more whining little kids. Needless to say, my body, mind, and soul are TIRED when I get home. Whine, whine, whine.

Ten more weeks until summer and I can enjoy my kids 100% of the time and r-e-l-a-x. I started working out again (since being diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee - how the hell does someone in her early 30's get that) so I can get bikini ready and enjoy my four favorite things: the sun, my children, Michael, and Corona!

spring break...

Trip to Old MacDonalds Farm: $32
Trip to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo: Free (Thanks to Jagi & Aunt Ryan)
Lennon be trampled by a lamb: Priceless

i'm sorry...

Dear Blog,
I'm sorry I've neglected you. I've been busy with work, kids, hubby, house stuff, health stuff and life. I promise to write soon, but not tonight. Tonight, I've had one too many margaritas.
Love,
Jaime

oh, brother...

I always thought I'd have 4 boys. I'd say don't ask, but I took that pin and string test in 7th grade at a slumber party and it said I was going to have 4 boys. The notion stuck with me ever since. After I had Oliver, I didn't really want anymore children. I was so head-over-heels in love with him, that I didn't want to share him with anyone. I truly didn't think I had enough love in my heart to love another child as much as I loved Oliver. My heart was so consumed with loving Oliver, there was no way it had any more room. Then, we decided to give Oliver a sibling. Michael really wanted another baby and we both come from a family of 3. The thought of Oliver being an only child made me sad. I enjoyed having siblings and Michael did too, and I was sad that Oliver wouldn't have that same experience. I read that Time article about how siblings shape our lives more than our parents and I gave in. We had Lennon. And to my surprise, I feel in love with her instantly. I love her just as much as I love Oliver. It wasn't a matter of size with my heart, it just grew bigger. I know it may sound funny, but those of you who have children may understand. The love you fee for your children is hard to explain with words, but it's the most wonderful, precious love you can feel. It's a love that's unselfish, forgiving, caring, has no boundaries, and will last forever. So, I guess that means my heart has room to love one more little one...

it's not work if you love it...

My sister is doing it. She's taking her passion and love and making a business out of it. I admire her. Isn't that what we all would love to do?

Check her out at Ryan Flores Photography

i. hate. laundry...

I. Hate. Laundry. Period. For those of you who know me, I'm a total clean freak. Serious clean freak. Freakishly clean freak. I'm always cleaning, tidying up, wiping up...cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. It's an obsession. Serious obsession. I can't stop. Not a healthy one - probably - but an obession all the same. I'm a bit OCD when it comes to my house. But laundry, I hate. Seriously. H. A. T. E. Hate. I can clean the clothes all damn day, but don't expect me to actually fold them an put them away. And since having children, it seems the task of laundry has gotten more difficult for me. I have piles (and I mean piles) of clean laundry on top of the ironing board, the baby bassinet (don't ask why we haven't actually stored that away), the futon, the chair, the shelves in my closet. You name it - I pile laundry on top of it. The ONLY time it gets folded is if we have company coming over. Then I hurry like the dickens to get it all folded OR I end up throwing it ALL in my closet so the place looks clean. If only I could have the power to blink my eyes and make it all disappear. Ahh, that would be nice.

imperfectly perfect love...

Ok, so I admit it. Sometimes I have no idea what the hell I'm doing. I mean, I love, love, love being a mom. It's the best. Truly. It's a love I've never known and cherish every moment. I've always wanted to be a mom. But sometimes, I wonder how the hell I got here and what the hell am I doing. I don't always get it right. I might even very rarely get it right. And shit, it feels good to say that and it feels good to know that other mom's feel the same way. Do you? Yeah, sometimes my kids go to bed wayyyyy to late on a school night. Sometimes, they eat cereal for dinner because that's what they want and I don't want to argue. Sometimes, I let them watch TV from the moment we get home until they fall asleep. Sometimes, I bribe with the lovely idea of sugar tasties. I make mistakes. I'm not perfect. I don't always get it right, but I love my kids. I love them forever and unconditionally. And, I tell them I love them. Everyday. All the time. I guess I give them the imperfectly perfect love that only I know how to give.

maybe therapy won't be necessary...

Do you ever wonder how you can have one of those really bad mommy moments, where you're yelling at your kids (and they're yelling and crying too) and you're frustrated, and you're ready to run screaming out the door and down the street. You start to feel guilty and wonder which neighbor is calling CPS and which Lifetime movie your life resembles. But then, everyone calms down and your little one says or does something so sweet and lovely, that it's all forgotten. Your heart melts and you remember why you decided to become a mom and how much you love it, no matter how damn hard it is. But you question yourself, will he or she remember this horrible moment? Should I start looking up therapists now?

Then I stop wondering and remember, it's the good things we remember not the bad. And, at the end of the day, it's all about how we love and care for each other. It's the small things. We all make mistakes. I'm still learning how to be a Mom of two, plus juggle being a wife and work, and life. I'll always be a student, needing to learn more, but as long as I learn from my mistakes and make the good moments really GOOD, then maybe, just maybe, my children won't need a therapist after all.