Date night and a Concert

Last night Justin and I had an awesome date night. I had gotten him tickets to the Eric Church concert for his birthday and we just turned it into a date night! Well played on my part:) We dropped the kids off to my parents at 4:30 and headed to dinner and drinks. We had heard a lot of a new place in town called The Blue Moose so we thought we would give it a try. It was good, but pricey. Probably wouldn't be a first choice again for us to go back to.

 We talked my Dad into taking our picture before we headed out-we never have pictures together!

 Wow-my hair is getting long!

After dinner we had to run by the house-I forgot the tickets!! Seems like it is always something. Then it was on to the concert. We actually met up with a guy Justin goes to school with in Wichita and hung out with him and his girlfriend some before the concert. We got in and found our seats-they were in the nosebleed. We got lucky though because our friend Lindsey had low seats, got upgraded to floor seats, and let us have her seats!! They were awesome and we had a blast!!!

 You can see the shadow of my hand holding the camera!

It was so nice to have a night out and enjoy our time together!!! We even went and met his cousin at Bullfrogs after the concert-got home at 2!!! I am WAY too old for that. 

Time for Summer...

Tonight we decided to brave the pool and start our Summer!!! Taegan had a bit of a rough morning leaving preschool for the last time, we got a Sonic kids meal for her for lunch, and I promised her we would swim tonight. You never promise a four year old anything that you aren't actually willing to do!!! We suited up and headed out!!! It was a bit cool, but she had a ball. Laekan on the other hand-would prefer the water to be much warmer! He wasn't a fan tonight. 

 He sure looked cute though! And kept pointing at the pool.

 Not so sure about this Dad.

 This was the position he stayed in for his time in the pool.

This girl on the other hand-didn't want to get out!!

Summer we are ready for you!!! 

Last day of preschool

My little girl has finished her first year of preschool...where oh where has time gone?? I am in denial that I only have one year left at home with her before she heads to Kindergarten. She had a blast this year with Miss Beth and even cried today when it was time to go home because she will miss everyone. She is just like me-I am not good with good-byes or with change. Poor girl gets that from me! I am excited because I saw a cute idea and I am eager to keep this for her until she gets out of school. I got the book Oh the Places you will Go, by Dr. Seuss and I will have each teacher that she has write a little thing to her at the end of each year in the covers of the book. I hope this turns out as well as I am envisioning! I can't wait to have fun this summer with both kiddos. I am going to try to actually enjoy our time together instead of making to-do lists in my head while we have fun:) Let's see how that goes!!!

 Isn't she cute?!

Always on the go!!!

The Birthday Party

We decided to have immediate family and grandparents over for his first birthday. For Taegan's first birthday we did a big party with lots of friends and family, and to be honest I wasn't mentally able to do that again and I didn't want the added stress. Justin agreed with me and so we decided a small one would be fine-and he wouldn't remember it anyway:) Here is the party in pictures. We did it at 10 in the morning and served brunch and cake. It was a fun time with the family, even if Laekan didn't like the cake!

 Super cute Monkey cake!

 Daddy's boy.

 Look-I can read Daddy!!!

 Here, I can help.

 A real dump truck for me?!

 My own work bench.

 Singing to him.

 Wanting to touch the flame.

 Thinking about diving in...

 Over it!

 Daddy shoved his hand in it.

Clean me up Mommy!

12 months old...

Laekan Harper-I know that I already did your birthday post, but I wanted to do a monthly post so I would know what you were up to at one year old! I can't believe it is here and you have been with us for a year. It seems like you have always been a part of our family and I'm not sure what it was like without you. I remember being so worried that I wouldn't be able to love you like I loved your sister-WRONG. You stole my heart the minute I heard you scream and there is no turning back for this Mommy. I am head over heels in love with you and couldn't ask for a better "momma's boy" right now:) Here is what you are up to at 12 months:

*You are wearing size 3 diapers during the day and size 4 at night.

*You are wearing 12 month clothes and 18 month clothes, depends on the brand.

*We moved you to one nap a day on your birthday actually(because of the party!). So you go to bed at night at 8, wake up at 8, take a nap from 12:30-4!!! You LOVE to sleep!

*We haven't found much food you don't like!

*You are a pro at the sippy cup and love your milk-with no flavoring either!

*You haven't done a sign yet, and I'm not sure that you will?

*You are saying ni-ni(night-night), ma-ma(milk), ma-ma, da-da

*Still pulling up on everything, climbing the stairs and anything else in sight

*I finally bought you a push behind toy to encourage walking-you have taken 8 steps with it.

*You will stand alone for 2-5 seconds

*You are really starting to interact with Taegan and love playing in her room.

*You now have a pillow, three animals, your blankie, and a blanket in your bed-you love them all.

*You will give "loves" to your animals and people. You lay your head down on them-so sweet.

*You don't like it when I cook dinner and don't give you snacks while I am doing it!

*You love watching Baby Einstein in the car and recently discovered Mickey:)

 This was a tough picture day...

 Trying to get away.

 Daddy had to hold him:)

 He LOVES his new police car. Will just sit in it and watch everyone.

Such a handsome boy.

We sure do love you so much little man!!! 

Laekan is ONE!!!

This morning for Laekan's birthday all four of us were home and it was awesome to have a day together. Justin had gotten home at 1 in the morning from traveling all week and took the day off so that we could have time together. The kids loved having both of us to themselves all day!!! We woke up and headed to have donuts for breakfast, then it was off to the zoo to see the new penguin exhibit, to the library to register for the summer reading program, and then home to open presents. It was an awesome morning together!!!

 The penguins were just being fed fish and Taegan thought it was super cool.

 Checking out the Big Cats.

 Let's get this party started!

 Thanks Sis for showing me how it works.

 The happy Birthday Boy!

 I can drive this? And honk the horn? Alright!!!

 There is NO denying that he is the Daddy:) Twins...

Sweet, sweet baby boy!

We love you Laekan Harper!!! Happy First Birthday!

Checking in...

It has been a while since I have checked in on my weight loss. I should be honest here(and this is my blog so I can) and say that I fell off the diet about two weeks ago. I was sitting at 8.8 pounds lost!!! Then I hit a wall-a big wall. Let me backtrack some...I am a tad OCD and that has always been me growing up. I want things done and done right. I want things where they belong and I want things to be "perfect". This really hadn't caused me too much issue until I had kids. With Taegan I tried to do everything by the book and it really did work out well with her. I was only going to have one so I poured everything into her-and then we decided to try for a second.

I went through a TON of emotions when I found out I was pregnant and for the beginning of the pregnancy most of the emotions weren't good. I wasn't sure I really wanted another and I had no clue how I would love it like I loved Taegan. That went away about halfway through the pregnancy and then I got excited. I could do this-I wanted to do it! Laekan arrived and I was so upset with myself for having those thoughts early on-I was in love with this little guy. Things were going well for a while and then I started getting OCD again(I haven't ever actually been diagnosed with that). I wanted things around the house to be done well, my work I wanted to be done well, raising the kids and disciplining had to be "perfect", teaching Taegan and Laekan had to be done just the right way. I will say that with other things with Laekan we actually were pretty relaxed with for the most part. All of this stress and anxiety really started to build and build. 

I thought the diet would help me focus on ME and relax some. I was very uptight with my weight and my lack of exercise. I knew I could do better and I was kicking some butt at the start. I could notice a difference in my appearance, others commented, and my clothes were starting to fit and even be big! Under all of that I was hiding the huge amount of stress and I couldn't keep going. I started sleeping every chance I could to not deal with everything. I couldn't focus on what it was that I actually needed to get done so I would just do mundane things around the house to feel productive. I was getting a shorter fuse with the kids and I really wasn't talking much to Justin. He knew things were getting bad and I finally faced the fact that I needed to go see my Dr. I went last Friday and am being treated for depression and anxiety. Admitting all of this isn't easy-but I want others that might be in my shoes to know that it is okay to get help. I have started some meds and I am four days into them. I wouldn't say the change is anything to write home about yet, but I am able to get some things done instead of wanting to go to sleep. I have actually been able to read a book(that I have had since Christmas) and not feel guilty that I should be doing other things. In fact I am almost done with it-just since Friday!!! 

So-I am down 7 pounds and I started back on the diet again this morning! I can do this and I will do this. I will do it for me first, Justin, Taegan, and Laekan next. I want to be skinny(or skinnier then I am now) and much healthier. I am having some help with my other issues and now I need to focus on the rest of me. Here is to a fresh start!!!