Rockin' the Bump-2010 & 2012

I know, I know I am on a bloggy break, but I just couldn't help myself when I saw that Shell was doing her fabulous Rockin' the Bump link up again this year.  So I will be short and sweet and get to the pics!

The top two photos were when I was pregnant with Nolan...I think I was 23 weeks.  I was 28 weeks in the bottom left with Conley, and the last one I was 39 weeks.  I really love this one because it's just a sweet moment between Nolan and I.  I can't believe how much he's grown since then!

Now it's your turn, show off those sweet baby bumps and link up with Shell!

Are you following us on Bloglovin'? Google Reader goes away soon!

Natalie

Random Thoughts Wednesday

I am calling today mom-brain random thoughts Wednesday...who's with me?

1) Our A/C unit went out last weekend the day before a 90 degree day. AWESOME!

2) It was fixed on Monday because we were too cheap to have someone come on Sunday. Let's just say that felt like the longest day on the planet. Or the hottest? It was 85 in the house even at night!

3) Conley now has a second tooth. You can barely see it, but it's there.

4) I started attending classes at Real Hot Yoga, and I really am liking it.  Have you tried it? One class gets up to 105 degrees!

5) I'm really excited about going white water rafting this weekend!

6) I have started to search for condos to stay in for our family vacation to the beach in September. It really gives me a headache. I seriously hate searching for the best deal!

7) Did you notice I updated the photos in the sidebar? I will soon share the rest from Conley's 9 month session.

8) I ordered Conley's birthday shirt, banner, favors, and invitations.  I can't believe he's almost one!

9) We are going to take the boys to the aquarium in a few weeks, and I can't wait...I think Nolan will love it.

10) I am going to attempt to take Nolan to a $1 summer movie that the movie theaters offer around here. I think he will do great! First movie up is Rio...now to find a babysitter for C...

11) We have officially upgraded Conley to a bigger car seat. Say goodbye infant carrier! This means I have successfully went to the store with both boys, some with Nolan walking some with him in the big part of the cart. I also have eaten lunch with Nolan in a booster and Conley in a highchair. I feel like I should get a gold star!

12) I am thinking of taking a bloggy break next week--no writing and no reading blogs. I haven't really taken a break in over a year, so I thought it might be a good time and just to enjoy the summer.

And this post wouldn't be complete without some random photos of the boys!

How's your random Wednesday going?

Natalie

Father's Day Weekend

Father's Day and my husband's birthday are sometimes on the same day or just a week apart. So that means I have to use my thinking cap on what to get my husband for TWO occasions!

This year I decided to be a little more crafty than usual and actually did a few Pinterest crafts.

My bloggy friend Emmy posted this idea, and I couldn't help but try it out!

I also did a "ticket booklet" that included tickets for a massage next Friday, golf with his dad next Saturday, and a white water rafting trip for the two of us next Sunday. The last photo is a bag full of Hershey's kisses!  You can find the printable here.

My husband is a wonderful dad to our two boys.  I love watching him play with them...Nolan runs to see him as soon as he walks in the door, and Conley lights up and giggles as soon as he sees him.  He puts his family first, and I couldn't ask for a better partner.  Happy Father's Day sweetie!

Natalie

This Little Guy...

Nolan has been attending Little Gym since last September on Monday nights with Daddy. It has been amazing to watch my little boy come out of his shell and be a little more adventurous. His temperament has always been on on the more reserved...more cautious side.  Recently though he's been becoming more independent and trying to get out of his comfort zone. It's amazing to watch him branch out and become his own little person.

My husband was out of town, so for the first time I had to take Nolan to Little Gym while my mother-in-law watched Conley. I have not been out of the house with just Nolan in 10 months! Obviously when you do the math, that's the exact age of Conley. So to celebrate, we headed to get some ice cream after Little Gym. It was so fun to just be with my little man. I really have missed the one-on-one time with him and can't wait to have more dates with him in the future.

He's at such a fun age, I just want to freeze time and enjoy it to the fullest.

Do you make time for one-on-one dates if you have more than one child?

Old School Blogging: ABC's

Tag you are it!  That's what happened to me over the weekend I was tagged by the lovely Alison and Katie (who I met in real life!) for the ABC's of Old School Blogging. If you want to join in the fun, link up with The Miss Elaine-ous Life and let's hear your ABC's!

A) Attached or Single? Attached for the past 12 years, and married for almost 6 years.

B) Best friend? My best friend is definitely my husband. He's been there for me through everything and is still here!

C) Cake or Pie? Cake, and chocolate cake at that!

D) Day of choice? Probably Friday....or maybe Saturday.

E) Essential item? Definitely my iPhone...and a bottle of water. I feel lost if I don't have either!

F) Favorite color? Hmmm...that's actually hard for me to answer. Used to be blue, but I do love a good pink or purple.

G) Gummy bears or worms? I would have said I loved the sour worms, but recently I have been eating Nolan's Annie fruit bunny snacks (like gummy bears) and they are pretty much AMAZING!

H) Hometown? A small town that most people have never heard of!

I) Favorite Indulgence? A good cup of coffee, a good book, or my toes in the sand at a beach.

J) January or July? Winter is my least favorite season, so I'm going to go with July!

K) Kids? Two little boys!

L) Life isn't complete without? My husband, my beautiful two boys, my close friends, good food, and good books!

M) Marriage date? A beautiful fall September day in 2007.

N) Number of brothers/sisters? One brother.

O) Oranges or apples? Apples. I'm not much of an orange fan, but my husband and son love them!

P) Phobias? I don't think I could ever learn to be a diver...in fear of being stuck underwater...or being in a submarine.

Q) Quotes? Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. -Albert Einstein

R) Reasons to smile? My boys or husband being sweet or saying something funny, a favorite song, a good book, a glass of wine, or a day at the beach.

S) Season of choice? Fall is by far my favorite. It always reminds me of going back to school, and there is nothing better than the crisp fall air.

T) Tag 5 People: Amanda, Emily, Erin, Cam, and Lindsay!

U) Unknown fact about me? I always thought it would be cool to learn how to play the violin.

V) Vegetable? Zucchini or yellow squash.

W) Worst habit? According to my husband, I never close the toothpaste tube all the way which drives him crazy because some always ends up squeezing out all over the cap.

X) X-ray or ultrasound? I'm going to say ultrasound since it has been of my babies and the x-rays have been two broken bones when I was young.

Y) Your favorite food? Mexican food!

Z) Zodiac sign? Scorpio

Now it's your turn :)

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Natalie

Nine Months In, Nine Months Out

My happy little boy is now 9 months old....well technically he will be 10 months in a few days but we'll stick to this for now.

You really are a happy little guy---unless you are teething which you are right now.  You have one bottom tooth half way up, and the other bottom one is about to cut through. You are pretty much a drool machine now. It doesn't make it any easier for you that you are recovering from a cold right now too.

This month you took your first bath with big brother and loved it. You are a lover of water, and had a great time in the baby pool I set up. Whereas big brother decided he would have more fun running through the yard.

 You still love all foods except that time Daddy let you try his cottage cheese...you gagged and made the face that said, "This is terrible!"

You are still not crawling...you seem to be happy as a clam just watching your brother run around. You now can stand up though when propped up, and you seem to realize there is a whole new toy world at this level.  You have become very interested in this and especially Nolan's train tracks.
I'm ok with you being immobile...means I get to hang on to my little baby a little longer, and I think you enjoy being my baby.  This time is fleeting so I'm going to soak it up as long as I can.

You've said your first word this month which happens to be a very fantastic one, "Momma." It's the cutest, and Nolan loves saying, "Conley is saying Momma!"

We had a food incident at lunch where a door-to-door salesman knocked on the door and interrupted me feeding you prunes. As I answered the door, you decided to feed yourself. Here's the result:

You seem to be saying, "What mom, I was hungry!"

We are rapidly approaching your first birthday, and I can't even start to process this.

We love you very much baby boy, and thanks for being such a joy and making us a family of four.

Happy 9 months sweetie!

Natalie

Over at Emmy's

Today you will find me over at the wonderful Emmy's guest posting about how my husband and I met.


Please go check it out, and show Emmy some love---she is a wonderful blogger, mother, wife, and friend. I know you will enjoy reading about her family's adventures as much as I do!

Don't forget to follow us on Bloglovin!

Natalie

Bad Mood Momma

Have you ever just woken up and been in the worst mood ever?  That's me today.  I seriously must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed because I am one short fuse today.

It's probably because I've been sick since last Thursday.  I was thinking Conley was just having allergies, but in reality it was cold that he passed on to Nolan and myself.

Luckily the boys just had runny noses.  My cold however started with a burn in my throat and has continued to be a doozy with snotty/runny nose and a cough that really hurts.

Before kids, I rarely got sick.  Now it seems it happens more often, and when I get them they linger forever. And then they usually turn into some type of sinus infection.  I never had a sinus infection before kids!  UGH! My SIL and my mom stopped by on their way to the beach, and my SIL was like, "Do you have allergies? Because it seems like you are always congested."  I had to laugh because she's really only known me since I've been pregnant....and when I'm pregnant I'm all stuffy...both times.  I also saw her at Christmas which was when we were all recovering from a cold---so yep I was all congested.

I'm not sure what being pregnant did to me---but it definitely messed up my immune system and my sinuses.

Conley is also teething....he only has one bottom tooth, and it's not even all the way up.  We really are going to have a long road with this little guy.  Oh and not to mention Nolan is continually testing me lately.  Not sure if it's cold...or his age but that boy is really pushing my limits.

So that's me this Monday...all Debbie Downer.

How is your week starting out?  Hopefully better than mine!

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Natalie