today i said 'yes!'

Lately I have been feeling like I have been telling the boys 'no' a lot. It's not that I really mean to, I just haven't been in the mood to scub paint off my kitchen table and it's ten times faster if I just make lunch myself. However, I recently heard a pretty inspirational story about a mother who started saying 'yes.' Honestly, I am sweeping the floor five times throughout the day anyways, what is one more time?

So today I said yes. It's not that I let the boys walk all over me, but I did give them some freedom that they don't always get. It may not sound like that big of a deal, but for someone who has some OCD tendencies, letting a 12 month old 'sort' beans is a pretty big deal. The boys and I spent some really good quality time at the kitchen table and it was so rewarding, I think for all of us. Parker was playing with beans.. Pouring, dumping, counting, sorting, you name it. I saw that he was about to use the bigger container and try to dump it into the smaller one.. The 'normal' me would have thrown myself across the table to stop the giant mess that was about to happen, but instead I took a deep breath and watched it happen. Once the smaller container was full, Parker, seeing that there were still more left in his big container, tried to add some more. They immediately fell all over the table and all over the floor. He made his usual 'eek!' face and at that exact moment I felt horrible. I don't want him to think that he will be in trouble for every mess that he makes. Yes, of course, I don't want him running around TRYING to make messes, but if it happens on accident there is nothing wrong with that. I told him that it was ok and that we would just have to work together to clean it up when he was all done. He looked shocked. No reprimand for making this giant mess? I continued by telling him that I understood it was an accident and that it is ok to make messes every once in while. Then he said, 'Momma, I didn't mean it. It made a mess because this one (pointing to the big container) is bigger than this one (pointing to the smaller container) and they couldn't all fit.' Wow! I don't know if it is just me, but I was so proud of him at that moment that he could have dumped that whole container over my head and I wouldn't have cared. He figured it out all on his own. I didn't say a word about the differences in sizes, I just sat back and let him teach himself something. And it felt wonderful.

After the fun of the beans wore off, I asked him to go get his broom so he could help me clean them up. I was expecting him to get a bean here and a bean there, but HE turned it into a competition of who could get more beans. (I still won by the way... I can't let these kids completely walk all over me. Ha!) so not only did he learn from his little experiment, he picked up his mess, with no complaints. It was so amazing to see my little man grow up like that.

Sidenote, yes.. I know I have been gone for some time, so sorry!
*And I am in my beloved iPad and I can't figure out how to add my signature, so for tonight...

-Betsy

daily report

Things I have to report today...

1. Last week was spent wonderfully... A visit from one of my sisters, bumming around the house and a visit from my mother-in-law.

2. I am tired. Like 'drained' tired.

3. My children are driving me insane today.  I cannot wait for naptime so I can cuddle up in bed, with a bowl of apple crisp and some ice cream and catch up on the latest episodes of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (insert judgement here).

4. Last, but certainly not least... The Kelley family is expanding (and so is my waistline)....

Parker is proud to announce (along with Ben, Preston and I):

'There is a baby in Mommy's tummy.'

After the miscarriage in July, we decided to let the cards fall as they may and well.. They fell right where we wanted them to.  I actually never got back to my original cycle after the miscarriage, so I called the clinic (after a very obvious positive home pregnancy test) and rambled on, to an answering machine, about when I thought I concieved, blah blah blah... They made me an appointment to have my blood drawn and then we were going to go from there.  The nurse said it would have to be at atleast 5000 and then they would have me back two days later to see if it double.  Well, I never even needed a second appointment.  My levels came back somewhere around 112,000.  The nurse almost laughed as she said, 'Yeah.. You're pregnant'.  I went in a couple of days later to see the little bugger via ultrasound. 

The baby looks great, and 'it' is measuring right on track... The only upsetting thing is that I have another blood clot on the side of the placenta, so they are going to want to monitor that again.  Hopefully this one will not rupture the way Preston's did (I will save that story for another day).

As of right now all I know is that I feel great (minus being tired) and there is a little vampire/alien thing growing inside me.

Oh... I am due May 6th, 2012

(I was 9 weeks on Sunday)

Yes, three under the age of three.. We ARE that crazy!

post of pictures

Honestly.. I am too lazy to write a lot right now, so here is my attempt at a post for the day. 

Things I Love.. My brats!

We took them to a car show on Saturday, with my parents, and then celebrated my step-dad's belated birthday over lunch.  It was a really nice morning (cold, but nice).  Here are a couple of my favorite shots...

The littlest nugget at a birthday party..

While the other one was running around with the 'older boys' playing guns.

Spending the day playing in pajamas

(and yes.. Parker is sporting his new pink slippers that he picked out)

I know, not the typical 'Things I Love' post, but I really wanted to post these pictures, and well.. I love my kids.  So there you have it. 

Goal for the next 48 hours:  Be back to blog about the overall wonderful time I had a Calvary MOMS Group and post a 'Look What I Made'

you gotta love fall..

It's beginning to be my favorite time of year!

I am sitting here with a cup of warm apple cider, enjoying the smell from the chili that is in the crock pot and loving the brisk air that I felt on my nose when I ran errands this morning.  There is nothing like it.. Fall!

Over the past couple of years I have become slightly obsessed with Halloween/the fall season and year by year, the obsession grows.  I have been scouring Pinterest (surprise! surprise!) and I wanted to share a few of my newest 'loves'... Now if only I could actually make/buy thes magical treasures and have them spread throughout my house.

White pumpkins and initals.. Heaven!

So easy!  Yet, I will probably never get around to making this!

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!

All I need is a new frontdoor (seriously.. embarrassing) and I will totally be all over this!

Too cute!

All this is, is a white pumpkin with tights over it.  Seriously.. Who thinks up this genius-ness?

Such a cute centerpiece!

Looking at all of these, I guess you could say I have a slight obsession with white pumpkins, not just fall! 

There are so many fun things to do and great crafts to make in the fall.. Hopefully I will get around to doing some of it (with and without the kids) because... Ahhh.. Seriously.. I am just so excited!

Not All Days Are Beautiful...

I realized that the days I have something good to say, I am more than happy to sit down and brag... And the days that I want to end, you couldn't pay me to sit down and relive them.  But, I am going to try!

I have a whole list of things that have been 'urking' me lately, but some of them have been given time to heal, so they may not seem as intolerable as they did a few days ago.

Where to begin?

I told you all that the boys were sick a week ago or so.  One word... Fun!

Not only were the boys sick, but I was home alone to deal with the messy diapers, puked on beds and just needy kids.  Whatever.. They got better and we all seemed a little more sane in the days that followed.

Secondly, Parker has turned into a monster (when he chooses to be).  Back story... I hosted a MOMS Club play date... Something that I LOVE doing.  Parker on the other hand.. Not so much.  So, to all of MOMS Club members, I think we are going to be taking a hiatus from hosting for awhile.. Sad, I know.  But seriously, after everyone left Parker was insane.  It was like someone gave him, I don't even know, but it was bad.  He couldn't listen to directions, wouldn't eat dinner (which a HUGE deal in this house) and took more time outs in one day than he's had in weeks!  I complained to Ben about it and he said the typical, 'terrible twos,' but my kids doesn't get those!  Or at least I'd like to believe.. Anyways, I was about to tie him in the front yard with a free sign posted around his neck.  Joke.  But you get the idea.  He was throwing things, picking on his brother, yelling.. You name it, he did it.  Then, the next day we got out of the house and guess what.. The Parker that I know and adore was back.  I'm sure the little brat will return from time to time, but I hope it is a long time before I see those horns coming out of Parker's forehead again.  He still has been acting a little more crazy than normal, and luckily ECFE classes started this week, so I am hoping that the fact that we're getting into our 'fall routine' will help with his restlessness.  I will keep you all posted.

I don't have much to complain about Preston.. He is starting to walk, so I think that alleviates a lot of his frustration... Or he just wants to counter-act the way his older brother has been acting.. Either way, I will take what I can get!   

And then there is the BIG boy... Ben and I have already talked about these issues, so I feel ok complaining to you all... (I have heard that you're never supposed to talk bad about your husband, but I am not about to have a complete 'Ben Bashing Session' and guess what.. This is a major piece of my life that was bothering me, so I'm going to do it anyways....)  Ben started a new job this summer and we are so excited for that.  However, with that has come some pretty insane work hours.  I am used to him being away for days and nights on end, that isn't the issue.. The issue was how his time was spent when he was home.  He works from home (with obvious travel involved) so he can pop upstairs from time to time to have lunch with us, play with the kids or what have you... And then I would ask a simple favor like, 'Can you change the baby's diaper while I finish cleaning up the kitchen?' He would immediately stand up and tell me that he had to get back to work...

RRRRIIIIIGGGGGHHHHHTTTT...

So that was help issue number one.. Help issue number two came into play in the mornings when Preston would wake up.  I know he heard him and I know he was ignoring him, the exact same way I was.. But of course, I would get up with him (to give Ben credit, he did let me sleep in one day).  Not only would Ben not get up with us, he would usually sleep in for another hour or so... Seriously?!?!  He is a total night person, so when he works, he gets a ton done after the boys and I go to bed... However, then he usually stays up all hours of the night and then crashes, sleeps in, and then repeats the cycle the next day.  That doesn't really work for me however! I am not going to make the boys be silent while you sleep in until 11am.. Yes, one day it was 11am!  I could have shot in him the foot! So, those were really fun days at the Kelley house. 

A few weeks ago, in my opinion, he and I were a solid team, and the past couple weeks have been anything but.  I know a lot has to do with him being gone for work and then working when he was home.  We finally got to the point where we 'facetimed' (it's like skype) on our phones while he was at a hotel and I was working on the computer.  What did you talk about you ask?  First our days, and then nothing really.  We both just needed to feel connected to other one so badly that by doing that it made us 'feel' like we were right by each other.  I know, sad! 

I want you all to know that I am not writing this for you to pity me, to make you hate my wonderful husband or for any other negative reason... I am writing this to let you know that even I (yes, me!) have issues with my husband.  It is only normal (and healthy) to have things brought up in your marriage that need tweaking and adjusting.  The other night, when were taking about this, we sat down and really listened to each other.  We didn't make excuses for our actions and we didn't place blame.  We listened to what was the other was saying and now we are making an honest effort to change.  Luckily, our issues are mole hills compared to mountains, and I am thankful that he is the type of person that wants to deal with it before it turns into one.  Neither of us are perfect, but together we make a great team and we know that.  It makes me love him all that much more that he ticks me off from time to time, because if he didn't I would be really scared to where our relationship was heading.  I am a firm believer that people fight for things that important to them and the moment that he or I would stop 'fighting' would be a very sad day.  We are both passionate about our relationship and our passion shows when we work together to adjust the things that are happening. 

Photo by: Behind the Lens Photography

So, contrary to popular belief... We're not perfect.. I know.. I had you fooled, right?

Luckily, life is settling down...  Just in time for it to be shaken up again! I know better than to think that I can have it 'too' easy for too long!

Why I Am Here...

A friend of mine recently asked me why I started/what made me start blogging.... So, I guess I will try to write a complete thought before going off on my typical tangents. 

I have had many times where I have a genius idea to keep track of the boys' milestones, cute things they say or do and even just our daily activities.  However, all of those turn into a huge failure.. If you can't tell by my lack of consistency with blogging.  Anyways...

I mostly started this for them.  I hoped that someday I could print off my posts and give it to them as a book of their 'story'.  But the more I thought about it and the more I wrote, the more I realized that I was the one that really needed this, not so much them! Seriously.. My whole day is about them, I deserve a few moments to myself from time to time! : )

Don't get me wrong, I know most of the time I am either bragging about them or cursing about them to you all, but that is for ME.  Blogging is my way to share my stories, strengths and insecurities with you all.  And with that... Even more reason to write was born.  I know some of you who read don't have kids, but many of you do (and most of you will someday) and the response that I received from what I wrote was outstanding.  I was told that it was like I was writing what others were thinking, but weren't sure if it was ok to say.  Well, I have never been much a person to follow the rules of etiquette, so I will be the 'bad' one that makes you all feel normal.

Seriously though, there are so many moms/wives/women out there that often feel the exact same way that I do and we are all just begging to know that what we are feeling is completely normal.  My days aren't all rainbows and sunshine and neither are yours, and guess what.. That is ok.  I would be more concerned if my life was 'perfect'... How boring and scary would that be?

I started this with the idea that maybe a couple of moms that I know would check it out and maybe my mom would read it to see what the boys have been up to (and I know that my following isn't big by any means), but I never thought I would have the support that I do.  And you may all think that I don't want to hear it, but I love when you guys bug me about not posting for awhile.  That is another main reason of why I wanted to make it public... I want others to know that this is important to me and help me keep this a priority.  You may think you're nagging me, but it is a kick in the butt and a confidence boost all in one when you kindly (or not so kindly) remind that I am neglecting my online life!  So please.. Remind me when you want more!  I can't promise that it will be good, but I do promise to put in an effort.  So, thanks Jessica for requesting this.. It got me to sit back down and remind myself WHY I should be posting more!

Like I have said before, I have big plans for this blog (someday) and with the help/following of you guys, I hope it can become something that I am very proud of!

Promise to Post... Soon!

Hey!  Sorry I have sucked at life lately, but I have had a lot on my plate. 

Anyways, I promise to return (hopefully tomorrow morning) with a most likely not too glamorous post (have I mentioned that the last couple of weeks have sucked).

Night all!  Hopefully I will return to my online haven soon!