Father's Day gift-pinned

Well, it might be a day late, but I successfully completed a Pinterest project for Sean. He has a bazillion tickets that he'll have to go through and maybe just put the important ones in here. He's been saving them since we started hanging out, I kid you not.

This was so simple that I want to do one each for Abby and Aidan for their hospital newborn stuff...hat, bracelet, etc.

I got a shadowbox frame, sheet of scrapbook paper, and I had the sticky letters. I cut the paper to the sizes I wanted and then used spray adhesive to stick it all on the back inside of the frame. The one piece of paper that doesn't have the sheen to it is just the reverse of the shiny paper. So simple.

{ticket shadowbox}

My thoughts on life right now:

One pinterest project down, a hundred to go! :)

the gift of life

Generally when I blog about the gift of life I'm talking about a new baby, however this time it's completely different. Today my mom is having a kidney transplant, and her living donor is her husband and my stepdad, Mike. They are at UPenn doing the transplant and then recovery for a few days.
My mom found out she had only one and a half kidneys when she had kidney stones around the time of my sister's birth. She has Focal Segmental Glomeruloscerosis. She had always been monitored and then just recently, after battling breast cancer with chemo and radiation treatments and winning {5 years cancer free this summer!}, her kidney function decreased to 11% total. Last fall it was decided she would have a transplant and by a miracle Mike was a match. My mom's a fighter and I know she'll be just fine.

{my mom and Mike at Christmas}

5 more...

Ugh, 5 more stinking pounds or at least that's what I think it is since I'm avoiding the scale is how much I need to lose to get to my ideal weight. You know, the weight that I should have hit on April 26th when I turned the big 3-0? I think part of the reason I'm having a hard time losing it is because I didn't reach that goal I set so I just let myself go. I stopped running, stopped going to the gym, stopped counting calories. Wow. What can I expect when I let myself down? I'd like to blame it on lack of sleep and trust me-it's been lacking, being really busy (I have), but there's at least 20 minutes in my day where I'm sitting on my bum doing nothing and I could take that time to get moving.

So, it's time to get back on the weight loss wagon. I'm tired of feeling bad about myself, hiding from mirrors, not fitting into clothes. I want to feel pretty, confident, and fit into my own clothes and maybe a few new ones too. I need to get off my bum and get moving. If only there was a magic mirror to erase the extra weight in those few places I hate to see it at.

My thoughts on life right now:
What a crappy post. Sorry. 
Had to get this out in hopes of motivating myself. 

30 Before 30

1. Saw Niagara Falls.

2. Flew on a plane.

3. Went to a Broadway show.

4. Won $10,000 from iwon.com. {boy I wish I had that now}

5. Rode in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Nationals.

6. Graduated from college with a master's degree.

7. Snorkeled off the shores of Punta Cana.

8. Went to Europe.

9. Went on the London Eye and walked around the city.

10. Went to the top of the Eiffel Tower and visited both Paris and the French Countryside. 

11. Leased my own horse, Warrior, for a few years.

{Warrior-retired sulky racing standardbred}

12. Got engaged in a fairytale-like way.

13. Bought a house.

14. Got married.

15. Jumped off a cliff at Xel Ha in Riviera Maya, Mexico. 

16. Began a career of teaching special education.

17. Saw Letterman live in NYC.

18. Had a baby boy.

19. Established a family tradition of a North Wildwood summer vacation.

20. Taught 1st-4th graders in some combination/point in my career.

21. Started this blog.

22. Reliving the magic of Santa and childhood through my children's eyes.

23. Got a fancy DSLR camera with hopes of one day learning all its features.

24. Became a member of the Philadelphia Zoo.

25. Had a miscarriage and learned so much from it.

26. Had a baby girl.

27. Went through RCIA and finally became a confirmed Catholic.

28. Became an aunt.

29. Ran my first 5k, and then a couple more.

{Phillies Charities 5k 4.28.12}

30. Fell in love with my husband, over and over again.   

Well, my first 30 years were pretty amazing, and I know that my next 30 will be just as spectacular with my family by my side. 

8 months

What a busy month for you little girl! You celebrated your first Easter, and shortly after got your first tooth. It is the lower left. Within a week the lower right was in also. Here's a little more that you've been up to:

• sleep is not your #1 priority, whether it be a nap or night time...mommy hopes this changes soon
• two teeth, and maybe more to arrive soon
• your bond with Aidan grows stronger every day
• you say "mama" and it melts my heart
• I think "gaga" is daddy, but he isn't so sure
• Aidan thinks you may have said his name a few times too, maybe not, but you sure try
• love to babble
• you hide your face in my chest or arm when you get shy
• roll all over the place
• trying so hard to crawl
• get on hands and feet with hiney in the air, but not really rocking on hands and knees
• can push yourself backwards when laying on your belly
• sit completely unsupported
• went to your first Phillies game
• wearing 9 months clothes, but will soon be in 12
• still in size 3 diaper (and 4 is a long way away, I hope)
• taking 1-2 bottles a day at while mommy is at work, and still nursing
• eating stage 2 foods, with a few stage 3's starting
• hate puffs still, but will gnaw on the biter biscuits
• no longer swaddled, sleep on your side at times, and rarely roll to sleep on your belly
• love to play with toys
• sometimes hold a phone or something to your ear which looks like you're talking on it
• love to be held
• enjoy being read to
• love taking walks and being an observer like Aidan

{1st tooth ~ 4.9.12}

{your new cousin Landon Cole}

{you share an amazing bond}

{1st Phillies game}

Oh Abby girl, we love you so so much. You have brought a love and light into our worlds that can not even be put into words. You give us such a full and complete feeling. That doesn't mean mommy has decided she's done having babies, that's God's choice and mommy doesn't quite feel done yet either. You continue to amaze us every day, bringing joy with every little smile and coo. Thank you for being you even when you don't sleep and being such a wonderful little girl. 

My thoughts on life right now:

8 months? Seriously? 

Where did the time go?

I've already starting thinking about her 1st birthday party.

Packing her too-small clothes away made me sad.

I'm excited for the memories to be made. 

Happy Easter!

{Happy Easter}

This is a very special Easter. Not only is it Abby's first, and our first as a family of four, but it's also the first Easter that I'll be a confirmed Catholic. I went through CCD as a child until we moved the summer after fifth grade. I never completed it and not until I got older did I feel like a part of my religious life was missing. Now that I have children and know how important it is, I went through the RCIA program to be confirmed. It will happen tonight at the Easter Vigil service. I'm nervous and excited, but finally feel a sense of completion. It took a whole lot of time, but the commitment was worth it. And it's happening on Sean's birthday too.

PS-how cute are those two with the bunny? 

My thoughts on life right now:

I'm so glad I went through this process.

My kids are so stinkin' cute.

Happy Birthday Sean!!! Love you!

10 on Tuesday

1. How do you feel about April Fool’s Day?
I think April Fool’s jokes are usually mean.

2. Do you like birds?
Not really. Maybe if all they did was tweet and not poop.

3. How often do you wear your hair in a ponytail?
I would say at least 6/7 days.

4. Do you believe in love at first sight?
Of course, isn't that what Sean and I had? Just kidding. I believe in like at first sight. I believe that sometimes that turns into love. 

5. What is your favorite appetizer?
Nachos or chips and salsa probably.

6. What is your favorite brand of heels?
Heels? I couldn't even tell you a brand of heels I own since I rarely wear them. One day I'd like to own a few cute pairs though, as long as they're comfy! 

7. Are you a picky eater?
Not terribly, but a little bit.

8. Is there a tv show you like that nobody ever talks about?
Just about anything on HGTV...

9. Do you prefer hot tea or cold tea?
Cold. I do like a cup of hot every once in a while though.

10. Gayle or Peeta? (If you don’t know how to answer, read The Hunger Games.)
I guess I need to read The Hunger Games so I know.