where's brandon

on this new years eve i sit and wonder where my favorite cd, a crow left of the murder is? past the suds of my sparkling cider, i slightly remember a friend borrowing it.. saying something to the result of "i'll bring it back soon"... hmm.. so one could safely assume this would be within the following year? no? exactly.. so i am only hoping that this new year will bring back my beloved cd to delight me in the joys of it's lyrical quality. oh how i miss brandon and his boys... if only i could relish in his voice just one more time without having to illegally download it. why oh why did my parents teach me to share?

well i said it was on...

and i meant it. i'm going to start out with a picture of andy that i really like. why? because this is how he looks at me with that "what the hell are you doing?" look. me and andy have a great relationship... we are close in age and we have always been buds growing up. i know we can joke around about anything (andy--except calling me fat right after i had the baby.. that is still not cool, even though i was pretty fat-HA).. and we just have fun together. so excuse me while i get him good.


still on...


and now it's really on... so these are just a few shots.. i have more.. but i think this does it. does it andy?

never wake a sleeping baby

the other day akyra just would not sleep no matter what i tried. i brought her into bed with me and she seemed to snuggle right in. of course, as soon as i got out of the bed she really got comfortable. why is it that kids always love to sleep in their parents beds? even as young as 4 months, she's somehow gotten her way. i let her sleep with daddy in the bed while i go out to the living room and begin my day.

takes me back

just in case anyone needs a little entertainment.. these are a few good flicks from the 80's. actually, me and my brother must have watched each of these a couple hundred times. if you like john cusack.. the sure thing is damn funny and has some good movie lines to quote. shout out to my bro andy.. you know this.

oh it's on..

so my bro thinks he can create a blog site just to post embarrassing pics of me? well.. he's in for a little treat. i'm sure i have a lot more pictures.. andy, remember the banana costume mom made you wear? i do! and i am not afraid to use it if i have to. IT'S ON!

drinks anyone?

christmas eve we had a great time at my dad's house. apparently my daughter has learned the art of bartending. she made me an awesome apple martini.. and now i'm thinking of having a party just to show off her skills. i guess i shouldn't encourage her too much.

nice beanie

here's a rare shot of my brother andy holding akyra. for some reason he thinks she's too fragile to hold.. or maybe it's just that she seems to want to jump out of everyone's arms as if she were going to take off running. i guess it scares a lot of people.

and the other picture is just me making fun of my brother's beanie. the beanie is nice, but why keep the hang tag on? i told him i was putting this on my blog site and he thought i was kidding. sorry andy, you know i love you.

has anyone seen our lost puppy?

a shout out to our lost little friend joshua.. merry christmas! he just moved away and we already miss him. of course i think he's called us ten times today, but that's besides the point. he's away from his friends and family and we want him to know that he is loved. jagermeister shots for everyone in his honor!

my girl

happy birthday hannah!

my little girl is 6 today.. i can hardly believe it. i remember holding her the night she was born and thinking that she was the most beautiful thing on the earth. it was truly the day that my life changed for the better. i finally understood what people were talking about when they said "when you have a child.. you will know what it's like to unconditionally love someone." and just like that.. i knew. for six years, i have been blessed by her sweet smile and her loving personality. i don't always know what i did to deserve such a great child, but i am so thankful.

party poop

oh ya.. here's a pic of us after matt said we had to stop decorating the tree.. he said it was bedtime? what?! you can't interrupt this team of highly skilled ornament hangers!

holidays

i love the holidays.. the lights.. the music.. but mostly spending time with friends and family. here are some of my favorite shots from the last month.

back to work

i went back to work two weeks ago. i can't believe that my three months off went so fast. here is akyra at one week old.. so little and new. i had so many plans and figured i would be getting so much accomplished. how fast you forget how much time it takes to care for a newborn. between naps and feedings.. i tried to nap and feed myself. what an accomplishment, at least i thought so. ha! now working has added another dimension.. or just more work. get ready for work.. feed the baby.. get the big girl ready for school.. pack her lunch.. pack the baby bag.. don't forget the milk i pumped the day before.. and if i manage to remember it all, then i win! by the time 10 pm hits and everything starts to wind down for the day.. i look at matt and think "tomorrow i will have more energy".. wow.. who am i? it's crazy being a mother, but it's an honor i would never trade. i feel sorry for all those people who have too much time on their hands. who don't know what it's like to have projectile baby poop splatter all over their once nice bed at 3 am.. they will never know why i cry tears of joy at akyra's first laugh.. or wonder why i can't stop kissing the her chubby little cheeks (cause i sware they are just for me).. i would rather spend every minute with her, but i know that's just not my reality. on the bright side.. i can look forward to the day when i get home and she runs to me with a smile that is just for her momma.

nightie night

i love this picture. one of my favorite things is watching matt play with akyra at night. as soon as he walks into the room she is all smiles, trying to get his attention. if she only knew how hooked her daddy already is. i can picture her as a teenager getting away with anything just by flashing that smile at him.