Why I love Today

Last night Drew and I were talking in bed before we fell asleep, since thats usually when we get most of our communicating done, and I mentioned Corrinne's 9 month well-baby appointment on Wednesday and then Cash's 2 year check-up the next week. I sat there for a minute as I let the information digest. In a matter of 3 months we will no longer have formula, bottles, baby food, or a baby carrier in our house. We will have zero infants in our house. Just two TODDLERS. That is not an easy thing for me...(don't even get me started on my ridiculous case of baby fever). I mean, which is worse, right? ;)

I was also reminded of how quickly our kids seem to move into the next "phase". Last night was the first time in months Corrinne let me rock her to sleep - thanks to a mean fever. So in honor of how quickly our time here is moving, I'm making a list of all the reasons I love "today":

• Cash's nickname for Corrinne - Ninners - and his insistence on hugging her randomly throughout the day.
• I love how he re-enacts accidents repeatedly to make sure everyone in the family is aware of the fact that he hit his head on the corner of the entertainment center, or that Corrinne fell off the couch (that one was actually funny because I was gone when it happened but thanks to Cash, I know exactly how it happened!), or that I knocked a container of yogurt off the shelf in the fridge and it spilled all over the rug. Nothing gets past you, Cash!
• I love how Cash asks to watch Elmo's World and then Ellen. What can I say, he's got a great sense of humor. And a love for dancing. What more do you want?!
• The sound of Corrinne saying "Mama" never gets old.
• Her belly laugh over the funniest things -- last night it was me blowing my nose. She found it hilarious.
• the hours from 2:30 - 4:30 every afternoon. Silence really is golden.
• when Corrinne giggles at Cash while he's in time out. I know I shouldn't laugh but c'mon. You know its funny.
• Cash's sweet little kisses and random hugs throughout the day. He must get that from his daddy. I'm not much of a "hugger".
• Corrinne's little voice when she thinks she's talking to us. If only I knew what was going on in that mind of hers. Sometimes I'm pretty sure she's telling us off...
• Bath time - lots of squealing, splashing, laughing, and bubbles! Plus they smell really good afterwards.
• Cash's high-pitched voice he uses when talking to Corrinne. My favorite was a few days ago when poor little Coco had a bad diaper rash and was crying because I was cleaning her up. Cash got the tube of medicine, came over and knelt down and said, "wan some med, ninne? wan some med???"
• The picture Cash handed me after class on Wednesday night - its "flowers" made of cut-outs of his sweet, chubby hands glued onto a paper with stems and flower pot colored by Cash. Its hanging on the fridge now, but it'll definitely go into a keepsake box.
• Their sweet smiles and laughter.

Some days are not all rainbows and smiles and I admit sometimes I wish they were older for whatever reason. But I know all too soon they'll be too big to carry (Cash is almost there) or won't want to hold my hand anymore. So for now I'll cherish each moment - the pretty and the not-so-pretty...

Top 2 Tuesday! - Favorite Things About Summer

#1 Laying by the Pool

Whats not to love about a lazy afternoon with the sun shining down on you as you lazily float around in a pool? Well, thats not exactly what my days at the pool will be like for the next several years. Kids don't like to lay out for some reason... ;) Nonetheless, we will be spending plenty of time in the sun this summer and I can't wait!

What a cute, chubby-cheeked little man! Hard to believe he'll be 2 in a couple weeks.

#2 Camping!

This may come as a surprise to some of you - especially my husband - but thanks to Drew I've become a big fan of camping. Its cheap, quiet, and very relaxing. And if we follow my rules -- there's always a pool. :)

I even camped at 7 months pregnant last summer!

Cash's favorite napping spot for the weekend.

I am so looking forward to this summer! Last summer was a blur as we looked at houses, bought a house, moved, and then had a baby. There wasn't a whole lot of time to just relax. So this summer we have major plans to redeem ourselves. There will be a huge family vacation in June, a guys camping trip in July, Baby Girl's 1st birthday in August and countless bbq's, fireworks, play dates at the pool, and trips to Ritters in between. Thank the LORD for summer.

Where's the Febreeze?

Some days I feel like my house smells like a giant dirty diaper.

Today is one of them.

Guess what day it is...?!

TUESDAY!

Thanks to Dave Ramsey's affect on our marriage and budget, today's topic comes quite easy for me - we're discussing our top 2 favorite items under $15!

1. Nail Polish

Buying a new shirt, some new shoes, or new bag isn't always in our budget (hello - living on one income here!). But every once in awhile I just want something new to excite things around here. Lately I've been buying nail polish - its a cheap way to feel like you've just splurged on yourself. My toes are sporting OPI's Koala Berry and at $4.99/bottle this is one of my Under $15 Faves!

2. The Son of a Sailor Salad

You all know I love food! One of my favorite meals recently was the Son of a Sailor Salad from Cheeseburger in Paradise. At first glance its just a salad, but with the asparagus, wonton strips, and balsamic vinaigrette its definitely one of my Under $15 favorites! Just thinking about it makes it feel like summer time outside...

What are your favorite items under $15? Obviously I have others but for here and now those are my faves. I'd love to hear about yours. C'mon! Join in!

La la la-la! La la la-la!

I need you to sit down before you read the next sentence because when this thought crossed my mind the room started spinning and I got all light-headed... In about 3 weeks we will have a 2 year old. (Take a moment. Breathe. Breeeaaathe.) Insane, isn't it? There are so many thoughts that go through my mind when I consider that 2 whole YEARS have passed since I met my little Cashers. It seems like it all just happened. But maybe thats because I relive it every night when I go check on him before I go to bed, or when he flashes his ornery grin at me, and definitely when I get a precious little "Ooo rah!" before bedtime. (sigh)

Cash has just recently become interested in television. Thankfully his one and only favorite show is Sesame Street - one that I find completely tolerable and occasionally hilarious! (Paul Rudd was just on last week. Hysterical!) He LOVES when that furry little red monster comes on the screen and without fail, jumps on our ottoman to "play the piano" with Elmo during his closing number. Then he hands me the remote and says, "More Elmo!". (Children these days. Blessed with the technology to rewind live television.) I'm not even ashamed to say we watch 2 episodes of Sesame Street back to back every single morning.

I've always had an aversion to kids items with TV characters on them. I'm just not a huge fan. But when your kid loves something...you don't really care. And so birthday party #2 will be all things Elmo! I just placed my order for Elmo invites, and cone party hats. There will be a cake in the shape of Elmo's face, and Elmo party packs for the kiddies!

And so the countdown to ElmoPalooza begins!!! It'll be rockin'!

Top 2 Tuesday!

Normally, this would be known as Taco Bell Tuesday. But since Lilly's hubby was off work today, we're post-poning our Tuesday play date to Thursday. And since we're all trying to lose some baby weight, we won't be eating Taco Bell. Boo! I know, I'm bummed too.

So anyways, my girl Laura has been participating in Top 2 Tuesdays for awhile now and I thought I'd join in on the fun!

This week's topic is Beauty Secrets! So here we go...

#1 Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizer

I know this may seem like just plain old lotion, but after spending a small fortune on any and every body lotion on the market, this one quickly became my favorite. Other lotions I had tried made me feel greasy or sticky. This one absorbs quickly and keeps you feeling moisturized all day long! Also I appreciate that it doesn't have that stinky "I'm supposed to smell good but I don't" scent to it. It has a nice, fresh non-scent (if that makes sense). Well worth the $7 price tag!

#2 TRESemme 24 Hr Body Foaming Mousse

Apparently I missed out on the good hair genes and inherited some majorly fine hair. There's lots of it...but its super fine. So products like the above come in quite handy, especially when I'm growing these lifeless locks out to please the hubster. ;) I decided to pick up this mousse a week or ago and it has not let me down...literally! Most mousses give me volume when I style it and 20 min after being outside and its flat again. Not with this one! I feel like it looks good all day long! This just validates my love for its sister product, the Extra Hold Hairspray. TRESemme, you hold my heart. I mean hair.

Isn't She Lovely?

Sometimes I feel bad for other people because their kids just aren't as cute as mine. Which, I can say that because I know every mom out there has had that exact same thought before. Its ok. We'll all believe our children are the smartest, brightest, funniest, and clearly most adorable. But really, mine are. Seriously. ;)

Score one for the Grandmas

Apparently the fact that I gained almost 50 lbs, labored all night and pushed a whole hour before being wheeled into an operating room where my abs were forever changed by one swift slice, then sacrificed my once perky "twins" for breastmilk goodness means nothing to Cash. Because on Sunday, the only person he wanted to hold his hand, walk him to class, and pick him up from class was Nana. Don't get me wrong, my mother-in-law is a fantastic grandma. That has just never happened before. Then to add insult to injury, last night when I calmly reminded Cash that splashing water out of the tub was not allowed he exclaimed. "I want Mamaw." . Apparently my mom is Cash's saviour in times of discipline. (Or maybe she just lets him get away with way more than mommy!)

At least its the grandmas I'm losing to. I can remember spending the night with my grandma and getting homesick at bedtime. Grandma told me that it was all good because Grandma is the next best thing to Mommy. Plus she let us have all the Mt. Dew we wanted. Perhaps thats where my addiction started...

Hello, My Name is Bethany and...

You know you're addicted when you bundle up your two babies and take them out on the coldest day of the week in your pajamas minus makeup, clean teeth and a bra...all for a delicious large Mt. Dew from Taco Bell.

Thank You for the Cross