Kallahan has something to say...

It was obvious yesterday when I went to eat with the boys and Granny that Kallahan had discovered his voice.  I took a quick little video with my phone  (again sorry for the poor quality) because it is too cute how he has continued to talk throughout the day.  However, by the end of the evening and into the wee hours of the morning it was not nearly as cute.  I think this cowboy has decided he will scream for his bottles, we’ll have to work on this one.

"A baby has a special way of adding joy in every single day." - Unknown

Weekend Whoas!

1)      Saturday 7am:  “It’s time to get up, it’s sunshiny mommy” – bittersweet but the sound of his little voice started the day off right

2)      I finally figured out the perfect ratio of skim milk  to tea to sweetener for my dad’s famous hot tea – L.O.V.E

3)      Saturday date night with the hubby was great.  Even if it was work related it was nice to get out.

4)      Our table took the coveted “best decorated” table award at the chamber banquet!

5)      Baby Kal slept 12 hours on Saturday night!  Granny was “Super Nanny!”

6)      Sunday 7am:  Tyler & I both see a balloon bouquet float by our bed.  We both laughed and looked down to find Keeler carrying around the balloons we brought home for him from the chamber banquet. 

7)      This sweet lil' cowboy's hair just makes me smile – I think he has been cursed with MY HAIR it will not stay down!

8)      Keeler letting me know that he saw some jeans on TV that I need, “mommy, you can just pull them off!” (Could he be referring to Pajama Jeans? – score!)

9)      We attempted to recreate a meal from Olive Garden.  We made their salad dressing, breadsticks & Chicken Alfredo on Sunday night and it was nothing short of AMAZING, fattening but amazing!

10)    Our youngest nephew turned three today!  We can't wait to celebrate with everyone next weekend.  Happy Birthday Bryon, we love you!!!! 

Happy 5 Months!

Dear Kallahan,

You are five months old!  Wow, how time is flying.  I can’t believe that next month you will be half a year.  You are such a little cutie pie.  This month you have gone to your first friend’s birthday party.  You have been somewhat sick this month with a stuffy nose so we have been running your humidifier and having you sleep elevated.  It seems that you are now starting to feel much better.  Knock on wood, but you were the only one in the family that has not come down with a stomach bug this week.  Keeping our finger’s crossed. 

You are so happy!  You love to be talked to and are starting to babble more and more.  You are reaching for objects (even with your feet). Now when you see your bottle coming you get so excited.  You reach for it with both hands and try to manipulate it.   You love to play with your toys and now that you are feeling better you will just lie on a blanket and play.  We have tried to feed you rice cereal with mommy’s milk and applesauce on four occasions but you still not quite into it. 

You are still taking cat naps throughout the day.  Typically after your feedings.  Sleeping at night has become a bit of a struggle.  You do not like to go down when it is dark.  Mommy and Daddy are still rocking you through your fits and it typically takes about 30 minutes to calm you down.  Once you are down you usually sleep through the night.   Mommy is going to start researching “sleep training” this weekend.  On a good note, your little laughter is nothing short of magic. We love your laugh so much that we’ll do just about anything to get you to giggle – the best is when you will crack yourself up in the mirror.  The magic of your happy giggles can wash away the stress of even the worst of days. 

Happy five months sweet Kallahan!

Love, 
Mommy

Cowboys both at 4.5 months

I had to dig in the snapfish.com archives but I found the picture that I have been thinking of.  These are pictures of both of the lil' cowboys at four and a half months.  I can’t believe how much they resemble.  How did I get so lucky to have such cute kids?  We are so blessed to have two healthy, happy cowboys.

   

This weekend American Implement is hosting a table at the annual chamber banquet.  The theme is “Totally Awesome 80s”  Our table is geared around toys in the 80s – it’s so cute! 

Lastly but most importantly, I ask that everyone keep my dear friend, Sabra, and her family in your prayers.  She lost her father this week.  Her family lives in south Texas about six hours away.  I wish that I could be there for her but I know that God's comfort is needed most during this time.  We LOVE you Sabra & Sam!!

Love is how you stay alive even after you are gone." - Morrie Schwartz

Photos thru Video

I think it’s a typical mommy struggle to get pictures of your kiddos but I am struggling more than ever to get one, yes just one good photo of my precious boys. Below is short video of how my photo shoots typically go. Even though I am usually discouraged because I never got that one shot I decided to make a little video to recall the moments – because all moments with these two are worth treasuring. I hope it makes you smile as much as is does me!

Self-Improvement Update:

I have managed to go jogging or cross train every day since I set my goal (aside from rest day on Sunday) and have not had any sodas!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

We had a great Valentine’s weekend.  We decided to concentrate on celebrating with the little cowboys versus getting all mushy and romantic and I LOVED it!  I surprised all my cowboys with a special Valentine tin bucket filled with all their favorite things (candy, shampoo, Band-Aids, etc…) and then made Keeler’s favorite meal, spaghetti.  He was such a man when he said, “mom, me and dad need to get you a Valentine….  I have an idea, I know, this meal!”  My thought: how nice, give me a meal that I prepared for you, ha.  After we finished “my dinner”, Tyler built a fire and we played Candyland.  It was one of those days that I never wanted to end.

Look what my cowboys sent me today!!

Self-improvement

My friend Jill is organizing a local 5k on March 31^st.  Initially I wasn’t going to be able to participate because this is the same weekend my Jr. Civic club is hosting our annual 5k. However, we have pushed our race out until April 28^th…so this means I can run on March 31^st.   I have not ran in FOREVER but I have been having the urge to get back into it so when I figured out this race was doable, I recruited a friend (that has also just had a baby) and we have started training.  Today we got up at 5am and went on a 2 mile run/walk/jog venture.  It was great but I discovered that I am so out of shape.  I experienced side cramps like I have never had before.  Immediately I knew why, Dr. Pepper.

"Hello, my name is Kelley and I am a Dr.Pepper-aholic."  I know that it is not good for me but when I got pregnant I started getting so tired I convinced myself that I needed one a day.  And since I had the baby I convinced myself that I needed one, maybe two a day because I am pumping and I needed the extra calories.  But in reality, I know that it is terrible for my health and that is why today marks my first day “Dr. Pepper Free.” Yes, I have quit cold turkey.  This morning, I have a caffeine headache, I am shaking and irritable but I know this will pass.  I did not drink any pop from 13 to 25 so I know I can survive.  I am going to replace the addiction with green tea, cheers everyone!

“Become addicted to constant and never-ending

self-improvement.”- Anthony J. D'Angelo

Happiness depends upon ourselves

I wasn't going to post anymore this week but today on Kellys Korner  her featured Show Us Your Life Topic is Working Moms.  I decided to link up my blog and share something that I have actually wanted to write about that I focus on everyday since I went back to work after Kallahan was born: the balance that I strive for while being a mom and working full time. 

At times I feel guilty about going to work and leaving my little cowboys but what makes it worthwhile is I love my job.  Yes, I LOVE my little cowboys more but I really feel that I have a great balance.  I am the Director of Marketing at large John Deere dealership.  By no means did I ever imagine that I would know the difference between tractor tire sizes and combine header widths but I do, and my husband thinks it’s pretty sexy!   Every day my job is exciting from producing customer events to designing print ads.  I go home and feel like I  have contributed to the success of an amazing business and industry.

The top 3 reasons why I am able to have a good balance:

1)      A GREAT DADDY!!  My husband contributes tremendously.  He takes the boys to the babysitter each day, helps clean the house and typically makes dinner.  As most of you know, I suffer from having a major lack of cooking skills and more importantly lack of interest.  Hey, Keeler and I love single item meals like rice and oatmeal but daddy complains so daddy usually cooks.

 

2)      A GREAT SITTER!!  We are fortunate enough to have wonderful childcare for our little cowboys.  My husband’s grandmother watches the cowboys.  She is so great with them.  She is so energetic and loves the boys as much as we do.  Since she is family (and I love her so much) I am able to go visit the little cowboys during my lunch hour.  This is great way to squeeze in an extra hour with my guys during the day!

3)      A GREAT JOB!!  I truly love my job.  I can’t imagine making all the sacrifices I do to work if I didn’t love my job.  Yes, some days are better than others but in the end, life is too short to do anything that you are not passionate about. I also feel that I make a better employee because I am a mom.  Since I had my family, I know that I have to keep my job secure.  Since my husband is a self-employed farmer I carry the insurance.  With little cowboys in our life, insurance is more important than it has even been.  I also work faster and smarter.  My end goal is always to work as efficiently as possible to get home to see my cowboys. 

Happiness and balance is a choice.  I could choose to focus on the negatives, like I  wish I had the option to stay at home and I wish I lived closer a large city but I choose NOT to.  I make the right choice for me each day.  I focus on the fact that I am proud that I have a good career and I  help support our family.   I feel fortunate that I am able to contribute and enjoy it while I do! I am truly blessed.

“Happiness depends upon ourselves” – Aristotle

Little Cowboy's Back!

We went to Amarillo to pick up Keeler from “his vacation” last Thursday.  We were all so happy to be reunited.  He was not nearly as emotional as I was prepared for.  Keeler had a BLAST with his grandparent’s and my sister’s family.  They took him to all his favorite places and really worked together to make him feel as comfortable as possible.  His Mimi even bunked up with him every night.  He  enjoyed going to the monster truck show with the guys while us girls had a fun night of shopping on Friday.  It worked out to be the perfect week for him to stay because Thursday was my mom’s birthday.  This means we got to celebrate my mom’s birthday while we were in town.  I hope that she enjoyed the family time as much as we did.   We also got to see some of our favorite people on Saturday evening.  We had dinner with Shay, Ashley & Brynlee and Mark & Lydia.  It was great to catch up and see how precious Brynlee is getting!  These babies are both growing entirely too fast.  Slow down! 

Baby Kallahan & Byrnlee

The few days without Keeler were quiet.  Tyler and I didn’t know what to do but we enjoyed the one-on-one time with the baby.  Since we got back home Keeler has made his presence known!  Last night I honestly just had to grab him and hug him because I didn’t know what else to do with him.  Since I walked through the door all I had done was discipline him and I hate that.  I feel like it was God’s way of telling me that it would be okay when I read this post today: My help comes from the Lord 

Keeler has gone to his valentine party and preschool today.  He was really looking forward to it.  The other night he helped me attached suckers to his valentines, it was so fun!  I can’t wait to hear all about the party.  Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!