Issues

I have a BIG issue....well...it's not life-threatening or anything and I doubt anyone would find it the least bit concerning....BUT...it is an issue to ME, nonetheless.  This problem may even sound petty or unimportant, but, trust me, I count my blessings each and every day. However, I always fall back to the same old pity party.

Have you guessed what my BIG issue is, yet? Well, I am having the most difficult time leaving the kids at home and heading off to work each day. It is something that has always been hard for me, but it has become increasingly hard. Sometimes I think that I am on the brink of an emotional breakdown.  It's not that I dislike my job (although it can be VERY trying), it's just that I am leaving the cutest kids behind at home.

Okay, okay I know that I am completely fortunate. YES. unlike many jobs, I get the holidays and summers off with the kids. YES, I have a job while millions of Americans do not. My job is what helps us provide things for my family that some families are struggling to provide in these difficult times. So, YES, I know that I am fortunate.

I simply feel frustrated and saddened by the whole situation. There are so many reasons why I would like to stay at home. It seems like my children are growing up and I haven't the time or the energy to notice.  I treat 52 children each day with the utmost patience, respect, and love that I can possibly give. Many of these kids need those three things because they lack it at home. However, at the end of the day, I find it extremely difficult to provide the same patience and energy.  I must admit, I am irritable at home....very. much. so.  I have a short time with the kids each afternoon before cooking (although, trust me, it's not a four course meal) and preparing for the next day begins. This leaves Cody to play with the kids for quite some time. I have very little quality time with them. No wonder they often prefer their daddy over their momma....who is the one that they spend more time with (and for Cody's help I am truly thankful)??? 

We are also struggling with some behavior issues with the twins.  I feel like two different methods of discipline and expectations are a HUGE contributing factor to these issues(speaking of us and the sitter). Yes, I know Faith and Cameron are only 2 (almost), but to my parents' recollection I NEVER had the terrible twos, and, personally, I really don't believe in that.  If anything, the twos are terrible because it is an age where they are into everything and highly self-centered....NOT blatantly disobedient.  So, staying at home, I KNOW, would alleviate some of these issues....end of story.

I am really at my breaking point with all of this, although there is really nothing that I can do about it. I have a meltdown AT LEAST once or twice a week, whether it be in my car on the way to work or Sunday night.  I have also developed a bit of insomnia. I may fall asleep fine, but wake up at all parts of the nights stressing about something that I need to do or forgot to do....which then leads me to the thought that I have a bit too much on my plate....staying at home would fix that, right? The sleeplessness makes everything that much worse.

OKAY, I know that this is a HUGE pity party!  I don't even know why I am typing it all except that it feels nice to let it all out :)  I give each thanks each day for a job and the wonderful sitter that we have at home. I am also in prayer that I can come to peace with this and I may have the strength to overcome all of the negativity that I have.  Lord knows that I need it!

I do apologize for being such a downer!  Bear with me, I promise to post a funny kid story next time!

Picture Perfect, Perfect Pictures

So, here are a few promised pictures from the photo session that we had last week. I am SO. VERY. PROUD of them. I never tire of looking at them....I truly wish I can hang every single one of them in my house.

If you would like to see the entire photo shoot (and I PROMISE it is worth your time!), simply go to http://handmphotography.com/ , click on order online, then our photo session. You can use your own personal email address but use the password patrick1030. These photos will be up until November 11th. 

Ahhhh....now, how am I gonna' choose which ones I like best???!!!

Milestone after Milestone

Oh, how my Mallory is growing up! Many parents are sad to see the infant days disappear, but I LOVE the age that Mallory is at! Each day, I look forward to the something new that she is doing!

For a couple of weeks, Mallory has tried very hard to scoot across the floor. She has been fairly successful with the"army crawl," but, today, she took off! She is yet to get on her hands and knees, but she army crawled from the living room into the kitchen. She is becoming a rather fast crawler, too!

She is also beginning to play pat-a-cake! Usually, I clap my hands and she copies. However, today I asked her to play pat-a-cake, and she immediately began to do it! I snapped some pictures....I am SO PROUD!!!

 Playing pat-a-cake

Making her way into the kitchen..she is so proud...like me!



Destined for Greatness and First Name Basis

Ahhh...I don't know exactly WHY I am surprised by ANYTHING that my children do...but I am....Faith and Cameron particularly. Although I am SURE that Mallory will be up to mischief (as you will see in a later post), she isn't quite up to the level of mischievousness that "the twins" (as they have come to be known) are at.  If I could rate their level 1-10, it would definitely be a 10+.

ANYWAY, funny story for the day...

As I was playing with Mallory on the floor. I turn to see Cameron looking like this....

Yep, that's what WE call the "booger sucker!!!" I am super pumped that Cameron (Faith and Mallory, too) LOVE the booger sucker. Most kids kick and scream by the sight of the thing, but my kids think that it is hilarious (although you wouldn't be able to tell it by this picture)! I am positive that my "Little Booger Sucker named Cameron is destined for greatness BECAUSE....



...not only is he interested in sucking his own boogers, he is interested in sucking the boogers of others!!! He came after me AND Faith. Obviously the child is interested in the medical field. I am convinced that we have a doctor on our hands! HaHa!

Now, we have one child destined for greatness while Faith's new thing is being on a first name basis with her daddy...meaning...she calls her daddy Cody. At first, it was rather cute and she would only do it on occasion. When she consistently referred to her daddy as Cody tonight at dinner...well...that was enough. Of course, Cody claims that it is all my fault since I call his name constantly to do this and that...and...I must admit that when Faith says Cody's name it often sounds like, "Co-deeeee!" I am guilty of calling of him in the hustle and bustle of dinner, preparation for the next day, and bedtime routine. If anyone has advice as how to stop Faith's new "thing," please let me know!

Busy Sunday...Halloween Round 1

If I thought LAST weekend was busy, well, I did not know what I had in store THIS weekend. The only perk is that I have fall break. Therefore, I have an extended weekend! YAY me! Anyway, let's jump right in with the happenings for the day...

Today was Mallory's six month photo session. Mallory is actually seven months, but I wanted to make sure that she could sit up very well for her pictures. So, we scheduled for seven months. Of course, I wanted to get a few pictures of Faith and Cameron, specifically with Mallory, so they came along as well. We were to meet Heather (the photographer) on the UGA campus at 10am this morning. That seems like a good time, right? Well, that's what I thought....BUT...I often forget what it's like getting all three of these kids ready and out of here. It's kinda like childbirth...or so I've heard...since I really didn't "give birth."  You forget how terrible it is....if you didn't, you would never have any more children, or, in this case, EVER go anywhere! Ha!

So, 10am...yeah...we could do this...AND we DID this! However, we didn't do it without my having to get up at the crack of dawn, having every drawer in the house pulled out, socks and clothes thrown all about the house, sippy cups and remnants of breakfast and every other meal laying on the floor, and the list of chaos could go on. My goal was to leave the house at 9am. At 8:10am, I was yelling to Cody, "OKAY, one baby bathed, TWO to go!!!" We DID get all three bathed including ourselves, and we managed to exit the house at 9:10am although my hair had only been brushed with my fingers and I had not a speck of makeup on. Maybe Cody and I will join the pictures NEXT time. :)

Anyway, the pictures went GREAT. It WAS a bit chilly outside, but the kids did not mind. Mallory was a pro and smiled the entire time. I THINK that we achieved some pretty great pics of the twins with Mallory, as well. When I get these photos, I will be sure to post some....and there should be some funny stories to go along with them. Faith and Cameron were quite the entertainers and did the most hilarious things!!!

NOW...on to the afternoon. First, we took a nap...IMMEDIATELY after we got home. ALL OF US!!! We then decided that we would split trick-or-treating into two days. That would make it much easier for everyone. I was truly surprised by how into trick-or-treating Faith and Cameron got. They held their candy buckets and really played the part!

 Aww...how sweet!

 Having fun with their cousins Nathan and Autumn...they really got cranked up...and, no, they had not had ANY candy (you see that we had chagned into something more comfortable).

 Mallory got a Halloween Hello Kitty instead of candy!

 Pebbles, Bam Bam, and my little Candy Corn!

 He knows how to get some candy!!!

We are ready for round two tomorrow...well...kinda!

Fall Fun

October has been such a CRAZY month! Last weekend, we packed many events into two days!

Let's begin with PCPS's Fall Festival. I volunteered to work that morning, but I wanted the kiddos to come and join the fun, too. Cody was not crazy about keeping up with three while I worked, so we agreed that he would bring them later. Therefore, that left him to get all three kiddos ready and to Putnam County by his lonesome...WELL...thank goodness for YaYa. She came to the rescue and helped him out! Here are some memories...

Faith was very much into playing the games. Cameron preferred to sit back and watch.

Mallory was all smiles, as usual!!!

Cam and Faith both agreed that the cotton candy was delicious! I LOVE this picture. They are both reaching out wanting MORE!!!

Later that afternoon, Cody let me go shopping on my own. My birthday had been weeks before, and I had yet to do any birthday shopping! After we got the babies down for a nap, I headed out to Athens! Cody called Pat and YaYa over and all had a blast at the tractor pull...

THEN, on Sunday, we headed out to the pumpkin patch. Call me a bad parent, but I decided to leave my sweet Mallory behind. We didn't take the twins to a pumpkin patch at that age, and I thought she would be more miserable stuck in a car seat than she would be at home rolling and crawling all over the floor! Let's not forget that I have two toddlers to chase....I wasn't sure if we could handle all three!!!

 Faith and Cameron LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the "bouncy thing."

 There was a "mini hay bale maze." Yes, my TWO were the ONLY ones standing on the bales. They crawled up and over. :)

Ahhh...now I know why we decided to leave MJ with MeMe and Poppy! These two were EVERYWHERE!!!

You have NO idea how exhausted we were at the end of that weekend! BUT...we did make some great memories ;)

Playing Catch-Up

WOW...what a very bad blogger I have been! Work has kept me busy and there was the little problem that we had NO Internet AND a crappy computer! Sooo, we are back with a brand new laptop and a new Internet service. I have been very excited to blog. I can not tell you how many times I said, "Hey! This (meaning something that the babies are doing) is SO blog worthy...I can't forget it!"
 Well, guess what? I did. Therefore, I will try my best to give some highlights of the last couple of months....oh....and check the previous posts...I added some promised pictures. :)

Let's begin with Mallory. What can I say about our Mallory? Well, she is developing quite a personality....a very endearing and sweet one! She is one of the most content babies that I have ever seen. She rarely meets a stranger and she always offers a big smile. Oh, and did I mention those BIG blue eyes. I hope that they never change. They are just beautiful (and I am sorry if I am making any of you nauseous with my boasting...but I think that I am entitled to some bragging rights, here!). She will soon be 7 months old!!! I can not believe it!

Mallory is now army crawling and sitting up...the fun is definitely beginning!

She LOVES her daddy!

Now, for the Faith and Cameron. They are busier than ever! Each day, they surprise me with something new and cute that they are doing. They are so cute and adorable, and I try not to let them get away with everything. Faith continues to be the more forward one, always leading the way with her dancing and funny little attitude. She is very bold.  Cameron would rather sit back and observe before easing his way into something! It's amazing how different they are. It's amazing how we love all three just the same but in different ways.

As you can tell, Cameron is till very much into climbing and getting into areas that he is not allowed to be in....AND...when you catch him, this is what he does....

....and with THAT face, how can you NOT smile???!!!

Faith continues to entertain and hide behind doors and anywhere else!

They DO work as a team....this is one day that they had disappeared out the back door. I found them sitting on the golf cart. We try to keep the doors locked at ALL times.

There are so many more pics that I would love to share, but that might take ALL night long. I promise to try and keep up this time. We usually average AT LEAST three funny stories a week!