A Splashpark Moment

Just a moment from our week, a moment to savor and treasure always...What magical moments happened in your life this week? Feel free to share them here! I'd love to stop by for a visit!

Best of Friends

They might be 9 months apart, but you'd never know it. These two boys play together like the best of friends.



They have so much in common. Perhaps it's their love of trains...or maybe it's just their laid back manner..Whatever it is, it sure is special.




Perhaps we always just knew they'd be close friends. Just like this one here...this one that's no longer IN the belly.



Little Theodore who was in his mama's belly just last week but is now is his mama's arms...I'm sure he'll be close friends with Miss Maura...I can only imagine how'll they'll all grow up together...but I can't wait to watch it all happen!

A Sharing Moment

Just a moment from our week, one to remember...savoring always...

What is your moment today?

Crossroads of Summer

Here we are...I'm feeling nicely settled in to this current life I've got going on. Maura is home. We are comfortable, but not too comfortable. After all, a seizure could still be lurking around the next dark corner, but I can't stop living because of them, you know?


See how comfortable? Some of us even venture outside in underwear! Imagine that!

So I've got this year...there is a lot I'd like to do in this year. I mean, I'll be home from now until next summer at the very least. While I didn't exactly plan for it all to start the way it did, I'm ok with it. Maura has obviously thrown some excitement into the mix, even more so than a typical new baby. She's going to keep me busy as it is! But I still have a list....things that have been lingering in my head that need doing...things that there is never time for...and now is the time to make it happen!


I mean, cleaning closets certainly isn't fun. People come into my house often and comment on how wonderful it is. They don't know the clutter that resides behind those closet doors! I need to organize my life, so I can breath mentally, and then I can maybe even accomplish something bigger, like Etsy! And maybe Etsy will work so well that I can stay home with my children for more than a year!

What's your big plan?

Summer fun - Baseball at the Thunder!

I remember my summers as a child being filled with amazing memories: hiking in Lake George, Bubbling Springs swimming, Dairy Queen nights, Cosmos games, and even summer camp. In the summer now, we try our best to fill it with amazing experiences for Patrick. I say Patrick because Miss Maura isn't quite old enough to fully enjoy it just yet.



Practically around the corner from us is Waterfront Park, home to the Trenton Thunder baseball team. We've been here for 10 years, but we've never gone to a Thunder game! It was time. Last night we headed our for an evening on the water watching baseball.



We didn't get much baseball watching in, but it was still fun! The stadium has a playground for the little ones and the activities that run all evening kept us distracted. We even got to "meet" Boomer - a personal friend of mine. Patrick was overwhelmed when Boomer gave him a baseball!



How are you making memories this summer?

A Washtub Moment

Just a moment from our week...one to savor and remember always... A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words...What is your moment this week?

A Dress for the Girl

For years, I've dreamed about this. I'm a sewer by nature. I've always wanted to make baby girl clothes. When Patrick was born, he got a few things...some pants, a blanket, a book, even a pair of shortie overalls...but somehow, it just wasn't the same....with a girl, you can do so much more!




Of course, when she came out, visions of dressing her up in homemade clothing ran through my head. While it's only been 2 months since she came, it feels like forever! Of course, she is already off to a good start in the homemade department!



This dress is a basic pillowcase dress. It was really easy to make! She'll have plenty of room to grow in this little one. It could even be worn as a top later on.

What have you been crafting up for your little ones lately?

Dear Katie...

You were my first baby. I remember the week we brought you home. You slept with the stuffed animals like ET and we couldn't find you. You were the cutest little thing. As you grew, you slept above my head. Even when we bought our house, I'd announce, "Katie! Bedtime!" and you'd come running. I always said you'd be welcome wherever the baby was. That never changed. But I know that when I brought Patrick home, you changed.



You didn't love him. You tolerated him as best you could. He'd cry at night, and you'd get up and leave. I understood. You never did him wrong. You still don't!



I know that you are mad at me for bringing another one of these "creatures" into the house. I know that you probably think I'm insane considering the now "big" one chases after you! Katie, I love you for being such a tolerant little kitty. Don't ever stop being such a cool cat!




Love,
Your mama too!

Maura's Photoshoot

I know she's two months old, but we've obviously had a few obstacles!



The other day, Maura and I set up shop in the bedroom and took a ton of pictures. Our goal? a birth announcement. Hey! I just got one in the mail for a baby born in DECEMBER! I'm not doing that bad, right?



These are a few of the outtakes from that shoot. The lighting in our bedroom is just ideal.



It casts perfect shadows. I think the paint might also have something to do with it. It's a nice sage green...one that's very specific. I know this because when I was pregnant with Patrick, I picked a new improved sage green and painted over the old sage green which just didn't cut it...and now it's great!




Anyway, my 50 mm lens is acting a little wonky (I don't recall dropping this one) but we got it working. I'm happy with the outcome!




What do you think?

Some New Chairs!

I'm notorious for garbage picking right in my neighborhood. I'm rather shameless about it too! So when I saw two of these chairs in the trash recently, I thought I was dreaming! Were they REALLY throwing them out? No! They couldn't be! Could they?



I didn't grab them right away because I truly believed it was a mistake, they were just "near" the garbage...not actually garbage! But when I was walking around the neighborhood that night, there they were, closer to the street. There was no mistake! They were on the curb!



I had to rescue them. In all of my post partum glory, I dragged the two of them home. One of my neighbors saw me and I explained what I was doing and what a score I'd found. You see, we often compete (friendly, mind you) for the best trash scores in the neighborhood. Boy was she impressed!



A few days later, I took the time to stain and seal these beautiful chairs. Now, they add to the seating in my little backyard! They weren't ready for the trash just yet!

A Silly Family Moment

Just a little moment from our week...a moment we treasure as a family this week! Thanks Amanda for your inspiration! What is your moment this week?

Not so Independent

Just when life was starting to feel a bit normal, Maura let's us know that she's special in her own little way. While Independence Day is meant to be spent celebrating our independence, ours was spent dealing with Maura's epilepsy. There we were, at our Fourth of July party, enjoying the beautiful day when Maura was watching one of our friend's dogs. I saw her start to get "excited" until I realized she really wasn't getting excited, she was seizing.

How could this happen? There we were surrounded by all of our amazing neighbors, and nobody really knew what was going on save for a few people. Maura was relapsing. So much for a seizure free month. By the time 8 o'clock rolled around, Maura had 2 more seizures. We were back in seizureville and it wasn't pretty.

Luckily, we have a great doctor down at CHOP who got back to us right away and we ended up increasing Maura's meds. It was rocky for a few days as they started working again, but we may just be out of the woods for now. At least there wasn't another trip to CHOP, save for a quick stop today just to drop off the scale we rented and have some blood drawn to get her med levels.

After the first one, I was horrified - not because she had a seizure, but because she could have another . Through this latest ordeal, we were pushed past a new threshold - the middle of the night seizure. We survived. She survived.

Maura's brain seems to have calmed down for now. We won't be so quick next time to think we are done without the beast hiding in the nearest shadow.

A Lawn Mowing Moment!

Just a moment from our week (in a pink diaper I might note) that I am loving, treasuring, and remembering always! Thanks Amanda for your inspiration! What is your moment?