Let the Summer begin!

You have no idea how HAPPY I am to have all three of my kids home with me!  Well, not HOME per say, but with me at work at least!  It is so wonderful to have my Hannah Banana here at the office with me!  I LOVE having her here and it brings back all the memories of the times the two of us once shared here at the headquarters!  Layla is overjoyed to have her big sister to play with and Cameron is enthralled with watching them both. 


These little cherubs have gotten me through these last couple of weeks which have been tough.  I thank God for them every day because I know without them, I wouldn't have survived.  I realize that even through the difficult times in my life, I can look around me and see that God is good.  He has given me these blessings.  I am forever grateful.


Mr. Cameron has taken his first few steps.  He's not quite there yet, but I assume it will be very soon I will be chasing this monkey all about.  He has showed us two more pearly white chompers making it a total of 4 so far.  I cant stress enough how GOOD he is for me.  The smiles, the giggles, the love.  I just could eat him up.  His expressions are priceless!  We have been playing with all of his birthday toys and I can surely say that it is a refreshing change to have Boy's toys in the house!  He still loves when I sing to him and I taught him how to blow kisses yesterday.  God I just love him.  I love every single second with him.


The girls are still growing like weeds.  It's hard for me to believe that Hannah is about to be 7.  SEVEN!  Seriously?  How... how does the time pass so quickly?  We are looking forward to a wonderful summer together.  A fantastic birthday party is planned for her and she is extremely excited.  As am I.  We started her summer workbooks today and I am looking forward to spending more time helping her with her grammar and math.  (Although I am sooo not good at the Math!)  She will be attending Equestrian Camp for a week this summer and I am over the moon with excitement about this.  She is just going to LOVE it.  I wish I could go to camp with her.  I am living vicariously through her!  I am also researching a place to where she can maybe take some art lessons.  She is certainly the budding artist in our house and can keep herself amused for hours drawing.  She is such a talented little girl that I know so many good things will come her way.


Miss Layla has stepped into the TERRIBLE THREE's!  Whewww she has been a bit of a handful lately.  She has amped up the whining and crying and she has become this demanding child.  She wants it and she wants it now!  Whooaaa  hoping that this phase passes quickly because it is so out of character for her.  Aside from these little episodes, she is still the love bug that I have always, and will always, adore.  My cuddle bunny who still loves her Mommy at the end of the day.  Whose Mommy loves her beyond measure.  She has grown so much these past few months.  She is so tall that people sometimes misinterpret her age.  She is still a bean pole with hardly any meat on her, but knock on wood, she has been doing well with her health.  I am praying to the Lord to give us the next 24 hours of health so that the girls can attend their dance recital germ free!  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!  So much looking forward to tomorrow since it is also Layla's first recital. 


I have made some difficult decisions in the past several weeks in order to find ways to simplify my life.  There has been a lot of stress on me lately and I am trying to find ways to make life a bit easier so that we may sit back and enjoy the memories more.  This has not been an easy decision for me.  I am the type of person who "thinks" she can do it all and do it with a smile on her face while saying everything is great.  Truth be told, I can't do it all and I have finally come to this realization.  With Billy working 12 hour days, I am left to care for the house and the children.  Moreover the bazillion other responsibilities that I have.  I can't do it all and I have had a tough time admitting that.  So I am learning to say, "No" a bit more often and decluttering our schedule so that it is not so hectic.  I am not taking everything away as I feel as though it is important for the girls to stay active in one hobby this summer so I have signed them up to dance.  Both on the same day.  I have shelved photography at the moment as well.  This was a tough decision but I know that it is only for the time being.  My family needs me and I need them.  I will go back to it, soon.  This is not to say that if someone wanted a sitting that I wouldn't do it if I could find the time.  I am just not actively looking for business at the moment.  My plate is full.  I am learning to accept this a little more each day. 


Looking forward to some lazy beach days along the way.  Cheers to the beginning of summer!!!


"WHEN WE ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO CHANGE A SITUATION, WE ARE CHALLENGED TO CHANGE OURSELVES."

Cameron John's First Year

Happy 1st Birthday Chubba Luv!

I will admit, I woke up on the grumpy side.  I didn't intend to and it's as if it just snuck up on me.  To be quite honest, I went to bed with that grumpy feeling.  Knowing that at 3:54AM, a whole year would have passed since the day we first met.  I'm going to snap out of it in just a bit, but it is just so hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that one whole year has passed.  I swear it was just yesterday...I was going through all the motions of giving birth, excited out of my mind.  I swear it was just yesterday that the two of us cuddled in the hospital bed and I sang you your first song.  It's breaking my heart to know that your entire infancy is over.  I've cried at least a dozen times today realizing this fact. 

I know I am being so very silly, so here is the part where I snap out of it.  I am so happy you have come into my life.  You have changed me in so many ways.  I cant wait to experience many more memories with you!!!  To be a mother to a son is such an honor and a privilege and a totally new experience for me.  I love this journey that we are on together.   I love everything about you, but most of all, I love your great big smile.  So today, 365 days after you came into this world and changed me forever, I wish you a Happy First Birthday Cameron!  I LOVE YOU CHUBBA LUV!
xoxoxo

2 More Days

Mr. Cameron,  I cant even believe that in 2 days, you will be ONE YEAR OLD!  My little darling man... how exactly has this time gone by so quickly?  Wasn't it just yesterday I was in all my glory about finding out you were a boy?  Wasn't it just yesterday I held you in my arms for the first time and wouldn't tell the family if you were a boy or a girl until they came to see you?  Wasn't it just yesterday we had you in the swing down the beach and you would sleep the days away?  Wasn't it just yesterday you and I would cuddle ourselves to sleep at night when you were just a few weeks old?  Awww Man how did this time just zip on by?  As much as I miss it, I do look forward to the many more memories we have yet to make with you.  You are such a love and I cant wait to see your face on your birthday and at your party.  I cant wait for you to flash me that two tooth grin that lights up your whole face.  I love you my little man and I am SO happy that you are finally coming back to me after being so sick with that yucky virus and 105.5 fever.  We've had quite the week, but now you on on the mend and I got my little darling boy back.  Thank You Lord, for giving me this gorgeous little miracle of a gift!

Miss Hannah, ohhhhh we've had it tough the past couple of days haven't we?  I hate when we have these tough days.  Yet at the same time, when it's over, I recognize the love you have for me all the more.  After it's all said and done you want to be near me and talk to me and I recognize this as your way of being sorry.   It's always so hard to be tough on you and discipline you because I am afraid you will think I don't love you.  When in fact, I discipline you because I do love you my banana.  I love you to the moon and the stars and back.  We're going to work on this whole "math" thing.  We will get you to understand it.  Grammy's going to come and work with you too!  I promise it will get easier.  You just have to promise me to work on your attitude and your fits.  I've got to get you to understand that you cant get so angry and flip out the way you do.  It only makes matters worse.  You are so much like your Daddy though, it does make me smile.  I love you my girl.  I hope you got many compliments on the shirt Mommy made you for Favorite Sport's Team day at school today!!!

Miss Layla.. OH MISS LAYLA!  You have been such a booger as well that I am beginning to think there is a full moon.. even though I know there isn't.  You are testing your Mama aren't you?  Pushing the limits?  Copying your sister's behavior a little?  It's okay.  It's all normal three year old behavior and I can take it.  I'm just not use to you being so disagreeable.  You were always happy just being in my arms but now I see this whole new sense of independence in you.  I guess this is your way of showing my that you too, are growing up.  Why is it soo hard for me to see you this way?  I want you to stay in my arms forever and ever!  The other night you told me you had a secret to tell me.  You told me that you were marrying Joseph.  When I asked you who would come to you in the middle of the night when you were scared you replied, "I'll just go in he's bed."  Then I asked you who would take you to the bathroom in the middle of the night and you said that Ana would.  You told me that you were marrying Joseph and that was it..  That was the deal.  You would wear your princess dress and your crown, but not to worry, you still loved me.  LOL  God I love you my princess.  As tough as you have been lately, there are still so many moments throughout the day when you give me the comic relief that I so much need! 

Until next time...

I love you my babies!!!!
xo
Mommy

Weekend Away

We headed on out to Long Island for the Holiday weekend and had ourselves a wonderful time.  It was a break that I very much needed.  Unfortunately, the night before we were to leave, Billy got called in to work the entire weekend.  He needs to take any work time he can get being that his job is so unpredictable with this economy.  I was completely bummed, as was he.  I had reservations about doing the drive and being away with all three kids by myself, but I am not the type to just forgo a fun weekend so off we went.  We left Saturday morning instead of Friday evening because I was a little worried about the drive alone with the kids in the dark.  Thankfully, it went quite smoothly.  Of course, there are always some minor bumps along the way... the DVD players busted before we even got out of town and I ended up waiting for Target to open so that I could purchase some new ones.  I'm adventurous, but not stupid!  I needed those babies to keep the ride smooth for the kids!  We made it to Long Island without hitting traffic and the kids did great in the car. 


We love spending this time with Auntie Jill and Uncle Dave and are always so happy to enjoy our time with them on Long Island.  I have always loved this area since it was a place I use to frequent while I was at Hofstra.  We attended Uncle Hungie and Jill's Memorial Day festivities out east in Islip at Dave's parent's house.  This home is breathtakingly beautiful!  I love to go visit the Hungerfords and just take in the beauty of their home.  It sits right on the canal, only a few houses down from the opening of the shore.  Their backyard is beautifully decorated with gorgeous flowers and plants.  Their patio heads out back to a dock with their family boat.  This is not to say that I wasn't a neurotic mess trying to keep the kids away from the water.  Being that they are water babies like their mama, this was quite the feat.  Even when Mr. Hungerford took out the life vests for them, I was still completely stressed out.  Life vests only meant that they could take more risks.  I found Hannah trying to sit on the post of the dock hanging out over the water.  Let's just say that I was a bundle of nerves over this   Thankfully once nightfall hit, they seemed to have finally listened to my frantic "Stay off the dock" yells.  I don't think I would normally have been so nervous if Billy was with us because he would have been an extra set of hands to help me keep track of them.  (But then again, knowing me, it wouldn't have made the darndest difference!)  Needless to say once the night hit, the girls took much joy in the sparklers Auntie Jill had bought for them.  They truly had a wonderful time and really enjoyed the new friends they met.  I completely enjoyed myself mingling amongst the guests.  I knew hardly a soul there and yet everyone was so very nice and easy to make conversation with.  I felt perfectly at home amongst these friends.  I was even able to sit down and chat with Billy's cousin Jessica whom I have met, but have never had the pleasure of actually sitting down and speaking with.  What an adorable soul she is!  We bonded for hours chatting it up.  She moved out to NYC a few years ago and I loved hearing of her adventures since it was, once upon a time, something I had always wanted to do.  I have always been a girl completely fascinated with Manhattan and I loved hearing about her adventures there.  The evening was the comfortable break I most definitely needed.


We spent the rest of the weekend enjoying fun filled activities such as Mini Golf.  Did I mention how much my kids love the water?  As we grown ups were trying to perfect our game in the blazing sun, you could find Hannah and Layla trolloping about in any little pool of water they could find.  Under the windmill, by the gingerbread house, literally standing in knee or ankle deep water.  It was quite funny and I have to say, I let them do it just so they could get a littler refreshed from the hot sun that was blaring down at us.  It was quite comical to see myself, Dave and Jill sweating our buns off playing Mini Golf and taking it so seriously while the kids really could have cared less, just as long as they could touch water1 LOL


Jill and Dave are two of the kindest people I have ever met.  They are always doing and giving and loving to make memories with us.  They adore the kids even though we pretty much took up full range of their home.  Their generosity is unmeasurable.   I can tell you that 99% of my children's wardrobes come from them and Jill's love to shop for them.  I don't think there has even been a time when she hasn't handed them a bag full of clothes, or a treat.  My favorite part of my time with them was Sunday night when we sat out on their patio with drinks in hand just talking about life.  It was a memory that I think I will keep with me for a long time to come.  Doing nothing but bonding and talking and laughing.  These are the moments that I treasure most.  There is nothing like Family and I surely love the fact that they are part of mine.  If I could only find a way to give back to them a quarter of what they have given us. 


Monday morning we decided to treat to girls to a manicure pedicure.  It was completely hysterical to watch Layla's expressions.  She was so into it and so adorable to watch.  Hannah was thrilled as well and let me tell you, Mama was so relaxed and happy to get a little pampering for herself.  After our girl time, we headed back home to pack up the car and drive to my best friend Denise's house.  Denise and I met eighteen years ago.  EIGHTEEN!  Holy cow!  We met at Hofstra orientation and literally became instant friends.  We have always said that we had to have been sisters in another lifetime.  Her friendship is one that I so treasure and although miles away, she has been with me during the best of times and the worst of times.  Her friendship is so easy.  It's just meant to be.  There is no cattiness.  There is no jealousy.  There are never any cruel remarks.  There is just two friends, so much alike, raising their families.   I wish to God that we lived closer because I cant imagine how much better life would be with her by my side.  The time spent with her is never enough for me and I am so grateful to get these blurbs of time with her.  Her husband Chris also went to Hofstra and was part of my friendship circle there.  Their courtship was that of a fairytale and it is so surreal to see them eighteen years later still connecting and goofing on each other the way they always did.  It seems like just yesterday Denise and I were peering out our dorm tower window watching Chris as he walked back to his dorm... although I do believe his name back then was, "Cute Boy".  LOL 


The kids had a BLAST playing with her three children who are close in age to mine.  They get along SO well and I love to watch their comradery.  I can't believe that Skylar is about to be eight.  I have pictures of her laying on my belly as a newborn the first time I took Billy down to meet Denise.  Who knew that almost twenty years later, we both would be married with three children.  Two girls and a boy for both of us.  So many similarities between us that I hope when this life is over, I get to live my next one with her in it as well.  We stayed for dinner and then got the kids in their jammies before heading back home.  There were tears to be had from the girls as they didn't want to leave their NY friends.  We also said goodbye to Denise's house as it has been sold and she is moving to a different town.  I am so excited for her because I know that this will be her forever house and I am so excited to visit this new palace.  One of my FAVORITE things about her homes is that the second I step through the front door, there is that air of comfy coziness.  There is that warm feeling of a family living there.  From the pictures that hang on the walls of the kids growing, to the toys laying about, it just feels like home.  It's the feeling that I use to fantasize about when I was a young girl visualizing of what my family would be like.  The laughter of children, the playing, the excitement, the witnessing milestones and the carefree way about it.  I always get that when I am there.  I was surely sad to leave but I am so excited for another visit in the near future.  I also left with my car weighted down with my favorite hand me downs for Layla and Cameron.  My girl Denise is this crazy shopper who can find the most adorable clothing and never pays full price.  From Crew Cuts to Babystyle... it is all so adorable!  Layla and I had a blast going through everything this morning and she is already on her 3rd outfit out of the bin.  Even Mr. Cam was adorned in this adorable button down shirt today.  LOVE ME MY DENISE hand me downs! 


The next couple of days I will be a busy bee preparing for baby Cam's First Birthday.  I can't wait for the party and I am thinking he may be walking for it as well.  That boy is all over the place!  He likes to pull himself up on my pants and take strides with me while I walk.  He is so darn funny.  That face of his is just so chubby and yummy I could eat him!  My baby boy... turning one.. in less than two weeks... sigh... if only I could keep him this little forever!