Been a While

Well, it's been a while... over 2 months to be exact!  Pulled an Angela...  have a great idea with a great beginning, a good middle, and it fizzles at the end.  Oh well... to be expected I guess.

Tonight I found the emails Josh and I would send to each other while we were dating/engaged.  It's fun to read those things.  Because we didn't live together and both had jobs where we couldn't talk on the phone, many of our deep conversations occured over email.  For example, my dog Jake was a real discussion-maker in our early relationship.  Josh and I would try to work it out via email.  Not such a bad idea, ya know.  You can type something in huge capital letters because you are SUPER UPSET to get it off your chest, then rewrite like a sane person with normal type and far less cussing. :)  Nowadays, though, we are much better at communicating face to face.  I guess, just like everything else, it takes practice.  I add this to this post because "it's been a while" since I read those.  Brought back some wonderful memories and reminded me why I married that wonderful man of mine.

Update:  We had our first Christmas here at the Sweeney house!  It was so wonderful that I hardly want to take it down and box it up!  The WHOLE MONTH was soooo great.  I'm really sad that it's going away.  I enjoyed it so much!  I'm already looking forward to next year.  With that in mind, here is what I need to remember going into Christmas 2012...
== Do all the cookie baking in as few days as possible to keep the kitchen to a minimal mess.
== Ask Josh what cookies he wants.  He doesn't like "bobo" cookies...  whatever the heck that means.
== Make sure to look at the Advent calendar nightly.  Forgot a lot of that this year.
== Do the wrapped Christmas books again.   Soooo fun for my baby boy.
== Start preparing Christmas dinner earlier than I did this year.  Have the casseroles prepared for the oven well in advance.
== Cover the brisket so it doesn't overcook... again.  (Sheesh... still sad about that.)  Or cook it in the crock pot.
== The brisket's sauce can be sauteed and still be good.
== Start the appetizer before you start the meal... duh.
== Follow Gina's suggestion:  Put a list on the fridge of everything that needs to be cooked in the correct order and check it off as you go.  Makes it more of a no-brainer.
== Plan dinner so there is plenty of time to play games and such.  Start traditions like that, too.
== Start Christmas shopping in Oct. or before at yard sales and stuff.
== Don't forget to put the reindeer food in the yard.
== Don't forget to let the kids make an ornament marking the year.

Despite this ridiculously long list of "duh" moments, Christmas was really the best one every.  I'm really going to try to celebrate Christmas every day and thank God for giving me his Son on that very special day so I can share it with my kids.

I <3 Christmas.

4 months old and sooo happy!

The kids loved seeing Santa!

Santa came to our house on a firetruck!  It was really cool!

That Buddy the "Oof" was one naughty elf!

Seriously... how stinking cute!

Our family Christmas!  Great memories!

Uncle Ben and Nick playing the "tar".

Poppy and my Sweet Girl.  

34

34, 34, 34.  Wow.  Didn't see this coming.  When planning my life at 18, I didn't plan past 25.  I'm not sure why, but I am sure glad that I made it past that!  I'm also kinda glad I didn't plan above that.  I couldn't have planned a life like this.  I have a great husband, a wonderful son with a heart of gold, and a beautiful little girl who I look forward to getting to know as she grows.  It's amazing!

They (who ever "they" are) say that life isn't measured by how many breaths we take, but how many take our breath away.  I was never a big fan of that quote and I'm an avid quote collector.  But, last night, I realized it was right.  After opening my birthday gifts (everything I asked for-- sun visor, mandolin slicer, cakepop maker, watch, and other kitchen stuff (Hooray!)), Josh took me to Eez for dinner and TCBY for dessert.  We had the best time!  Half a martini and I was 3 sheets  to the wind (just like old times!) and we had some awesome conversation.  Well, I think we did... I was a little loopy, after all.  Anyway, I felt like we were on our first date!  It was so great!  No kids, no cell phones, constant conversation and hand-holding.  Those were moments that took my breath away.  Hanging out with my husband really made that birthday truly special.  It had to have been the best.  God has blessed me sooo much!  My cup runneth over!

You reach a certain age where the stuff doesn't matter.  I'm totally there...

Main Squeeze Monday

Ok... so I totally forgot about Main Squeeze Monday!  Got a lot of catching up to do, I guess!

Why I Love My Hubby
1.  He makes awesome chili!  Seriously!  You should definitely try it some time!  As a matter of fact, come on over.  We have some leftovers in the fridge right now.  ;)
2.  (Get ready... this is a big one...)  He makes a real effort to compromise.  When we bicker and have to leave the room to keep from kicking each other in the shins, he really tries to compromise with me so there is a middle ground.  (Well, as close to the middle as either one of us are willing to get.)
3.  He has the greatest laugh.  Sometimes when he tells a dumb joke or thinks something is funny that seems stupid to me, I laugh because he laughs and it's down-right cute.
4.  He plays He-Man with our son.  Josh lets him beat him with his Nerf sword while trying to teach him to play fair.  It's really funny!
5.  He still has his Bible from when he was a kid.  He keeps treasures in it, which I think is really neat.  It sits on or near his nightstand in arms' reach.  And, he can pretty much answer all of my questions about it.
6.  ** Bonus:  I love to watch him walk away...  he has the greatest butt.  ;)

Heard Something FUNNY the Other Day...

K, first let me start off by saying that it's been a while since I have been on this blogspot thing!  I guess you guys need some updating!  If you are on my facebook, the pictures I have on here are already posted on there so these are repeats.  Sorry about that, but when I get a cute picture, I want the world to see it!  Ha!

Heard something funny the other day...
My friend Angel and I were discussing another friend.   I was commenting on how perfect she always seemed-- so cute and eloquent!  It seems like she has got. it. together!  Angel told me that that's what I seem like, too!  WHUT!  SHUT YOUR MOUTH!  I laughed at that comment, I tell ya!  I have never heard such craziness!  I spend so much of my day having to freeze in the middle of the kitchen with my hands on my head trying to remember which room I was heading to and what I was supposed to do when I got there!  Never in a million years would I have thought I was considered a "have it together" kind of gal!  Thanks, Angel!  You made me feel great (even if you were fibbing a tiny bit.  :)  )  Now I try harder to be that "have it together" kind of gal!

Lesson learned:  Stop "callin' them as ya see 'em" and start calling them as you WANT to see them.  Praise a little more and you may begin to get what you want.  I am thinking about my toddler here.  If I praise him more, he may quit that whining crap and actually act a tiny bit sane and patient.  This is a lesson I was taught years ago but forget to practice some times.

Here are some updated pics of my Sweet Girl and her big brother!

Love those smiles!!!

Main Squeeze Monday

As Josh and I were laying in bed last night, he brought to my attention that I had not written about him yet on our blog!  I hadn't realized that I had forgotten him!  I guess I was so wrapped up in redefining my life with 2 kids that I completely glazed over on writing about the true inspiration for this blog... my sweet husband.

Josh and I have been married for 4 years now.  We speak often about how it feels much longer than that, all while loving each other as if we had just met.  It's crazy how time plays tricks on you like that.  In our 6 years of knowing each other, we have met, dated, gotten engaged after 4 months, gotten married, bought a house, and had 2 kids.  Whew!  That's a lot!  And, no, I would have never expected it would have happened like that.  (But some of the best things in life are completely unexpected.)

Last night Josh asked me if he was "my type" when we had met.  Honestly, no.  Not because he wasn't my type, but because the guys I had dated that I thought were my type had turned out to be completely the opposite, so how was he going to be any different?  At the point I met him, I had given up on finding the right guy and had completely given it to God.  Clearly, I was unfit to pick a mate.  Two weeks later, I met my Mr. Right.  Who'd a thought?

It took a while for me to realize that, indeed, Josh was my type.  I had always wanted a funny, motivated guy who was really cute and smart.  I had met many of them (some lacking in some areas, I will admit).  But, over time, I began to realize that "who cares about me" was left of the list.  I think that's what most unmarried women seem to forget about... putting themselves on that priority list (Married women/moms forget to put themselves on a different priority list, but we'll save that for another post.).

When I met Josh and our relationship evolved into dating, he put me on his priority list-- a new feeling for me. His love for me showed up in such interesting and unexpected ways.  The biggest was that he went to bat for me.  He was right there when I needed him, always.  And, although sometimes we didn't see eye to eye, he would ALWAYS try to see it from my perspective.  He made/makes me feel important and valued by listening and compromising and making me feel heard.

Now, after 4 years of marriage, it has gotten better and better... and it was great to begin with!  He knows me soooo well and brings things to light that I never knew about myself.  For example, he knew my "love language" was words of affirmation loooong before I figured it out.  He has also taught me so much about being a good grown-up in general, not to mention being a better wife and mother.  The biggest change in me since we met is that now I can see it from a different perspective and realize that life doesn't revolve around me (although sometimes I think it should!  Ha!).  We are a team with this HUGE support system of family and friends.  Blessed beyond measure!

Of course it isn't all roses and butterflies around here!  Don't get me wrong!  While we have it very good here in the Sweeney house, there are times when I want to strangle my husband.  Granted, it's for dumb stuff like leaving his clothes on the floor, or needing help finding things that are right in front of him.  But, all in all, it's quite awesome.  We have something that I always wanted but never knew existed.

Now, in his honor, I'm going to give "Main Squeeze Monday" a shot and, pending free time, I hope to tell you 5 things about my sweetheart that makes me so grateful for him.  Big things.  Small things.  Crazy things.  Lovely things.

Here are the things:
1.  We eat healthier together.  Healthy dinners almost always are eaten at home.  Without him, I'd still be eating fried rice and spaghetti weekly.
2.  He is great at making our yard look awesome!  It's always so neat and tidy!
3.  He pats my butt when I'm in the kitchen.  Old people in love do those things.  :)
4.  He works so hard for our family.  Sometimes he dislikes his job and carries it as burden for the hours he's at work, but when he comes home, he leaves it at the door and is present with us.  That's a really hard thing to do but he does it everyday.
5.  He makes me laugh like crazy-- all the time!  He used "doo doo" in a sentence the other day and I cried I laughed so hard!  It still makes me giggle!

Josh, I love you so much and I am so glad to have you!  You are a great husband, dad, friend, son, etc!  I admire you!  Thanks for loving me!

Who'd Thought?

You hear from parents all the time about how much they love their kids... a whole different kind of love than spousal love.  It's an organic love-- definitely hard to explain but so simple in theory.  I love my kids like that.  I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is very little in life they could truly do wrong to make me un-love them.  I used to be so quick to criticize parents when they were suckered into stuff by there kids, but now I see how easy it is to be suckered, or should I say "blindly led".  I find myself laughing at my son when he is so CLEARLY manipulating me and I am so falling for it!

But, that kind of love is not what this post is about.  I became fascinated today by something indirectly related to that love.

I found myself amazed that I love my son sooo much and am so grateful to have been chosen by God to create such an amazing person.  Yet, somehow, I was tempted to leave him on the side of the road because he had pushed me too far!  Of course, I would never have done that, BUT I DID ENTERTAIN THAT THOUGHT FOR A SPLIT SECOND, LET ME TELL YA!

What pushed me to that edge, you ask?  Well, as he was eating snack in the car, he told me he was finished and held out the bag.  I reached back to take it from him in the same way we always do.  He looked at me in the rear view mirror and dumped that bag ON TO THE FLOOR!  What!?  Are you kidding me?!  Then, I said he should never do that again.  Then, he looked at me square in the eye and threw his cup on the floor!  WHOA COWBOY!  I was so angry!  I began looking for pull-off to have that all-important stern talking-to! Uh!

You know, I am aware we were up against naptime and lunch and all that all-important stuff.  And I'm aware I should have planned my day differently.  And, yes, I can admit that if I had been truly conscious of all this and gone earlier, I could have been spared this toddler behavior, BUT STILL!

Now, once we got home, he went potty... normal, right?  Yes, until he walked out of the bathroom with a match-box car in his hand.  He said, "Mommy, I got pee on my car."  SERIOUSLY!?

With that comment, it became very, very clear.  All these behaviors had one common denomenator.  He's his father's child.  :)

(Love you, honey!)

New Pictures of the Fam!

It's been a while since I've uploaded pictures of our clan!  We've had a great time with our new addition.  It's like we have always had her, yet somehow she feels brand new!  Our big guy is loving being a big brother although he is having a hard time sharing Josh and I with her.  Outside of that, life is going really smoothly!

Up for a Possibly Stressful Evening???

Ok, here's the deal... Josh and I are up for the annual budget review in our household.  You know, the "gotta be on same page financially" conversation.  Fun.  Fun.  They say that the $$$ conversation is what most marriages argue most about.  In our case, it's really not... at least until we get to the analysis of it all.  No fun.  Let me say that we always feel better once it's over... a sort of renewing of sorts.  We walk away prepared for what is to come and feeling good about how we have done so far.  I guess I can liken it to the process of eating the best steak you have ever tasted.  The whole process is down-right nasty, but the end result is nothing short of awesome.


So, tonight is the night.  And, in honor of the possible stress that may come of it, I am going to post here the scripture verse that is currently hanging on my fridge-- 1st Corin. 13.  Hopefully reviewing it again will keep the thought of what TRUE love looks like fresh as I move through this evening.


⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.


Now, praying I can keep this handy all night long...

She's Arrived!

On August 15, 2011, our Sweet Girl arrived in our seemingly perfect lives, only to make it more complete than we could have imagined!  She was born at 4:18 pm, weighing an even 8 lbs and measuring 20 inches.

My induction began at 8:00 a.m.-ish, and, event though I had been through it all before, I was terrified!  Once the initial anxiety wore off, I was just fine and had just enough epidural to take the pain away while still being present in the moment.  It was so great to finally see this amazing angel God had given us... this perfect little being.

Josh was immediately in love with his baby girl and immediately felt the caveman-like desire to keep her safe from all unseen dangers, which I thought was awesome.  I was just all about some sleep before the deprevation began!

She's a great baby-- loves to sleep and chill out.   So far, she'll fit in fine with us.  Now, when she turns about 13, we might change our opinions!

Today is a "What Love Looks Like" Kind of Day

Wow... it seems like weeks ago I found out I was pregnant!  I was about 3.5 weeks when the stick read positive and I was sure I was in for a looooong haul.  Now, a VERY short time later, I'm getting ready to get my last shower and have my last breakfast as a mom of 1.  My brain is very full this glorious morning-- full of memories, anxiety, gratitude, to-do lists, and emotions.  It's like Hurricane Katrina in there right now.  The only thing I can liken it to is the morning of the first day of school, except on crack.

Last night we decided to enjoy the 66 degree weather and slept with our windows open.  There was this wonderfully sweet smell that wafted through all night last night and, on my million trips to the bathroom,  I couldn't quite put my finger on where I had smelt it before.  I think it was the same sweet smell that I remember when Nick was born because the only other memory I could pair it with was cracking ice packs and sitz baths.  (Sheesh, I know.)  I wonder if it's a olfactory brain thing or really a beautifully sweet smell on a beautifully sweet day.  Either way, I'll take it. :)

While there are a million things racing through my head, I can't help but cry for no good reason.  And, if you know me well, I hate crying.  I try to avoid it at all costs.  But sitting on my computer this morning, reading facebook statuses about school starting and binge drinking, I'm boo-hooing like I've lost my mind.  (Technically, I guess I have!)

All in all, today is definitely going to be a "What love looks like" kind of day.  This Sweet Girl will be surrounded by all of the love and goodness that God can provide.  And I am so, so grateful that He will be there with Josh and I showing us the best of what His love looks like.  What an amazing blessing!

Good-bye friends!  See you when I'm a mom of 2!  (AAAAAAAHHHH!)

Tomorrow, tomorrow! I'll love you, tomorrow! You're only a day away!

Well, tomorrow is the BIG DAY!  Our Sweet Girl will arrive in this big world!  I am really excited to meet her and be her mommy!

I'm a little nervous, too.  Labor and delivery is a completely powerless endeavor.  I will be at the mercy of pitocin, hormones, doctors, and God.  It's it's complete submission... but so very worth it in the end.

It will be reaaaaalllly hard leaving my Sweet Boy because we have had so much fun together, just the 3 of us, but I know he is really excited to meet his little sister.  I think I'm most excited about the moment when he comes and visits her and his reaction to her.  He LOVES babies so I know he will be in awe of getting to hold her and help Mommy.

Many blessings this week!!!

See you in a few days!!!

Finished nursery

Just in time!  We finished our nursery for our Sweet Girl!  Now she has an official place in our home:  her Mary Poppins nursery! 

Thanks to Aunt Sandra and Cousin Tim for help!

It's a jolly holiday with Abby!

Framed pictures of Bubbe and Nana as Sweet Girls!

Opening a New Chapter

So, with lot of peer/family pressure, I have started my new endeavor of creating a blog where caring (and curious) people can follow the ups and downs of learning to show my family what love looks like.  


First of all, let me explain the blog title.  Once, a long time ago, Hubby and I were joking with each other and I said, "Well, that's not what love looks like!" and there it stuck.  Now we use the phrase in all conversations, serious and silly.  It's kind of become the measuring tape by which we live our lives.  Are we making choices that show what love looks like spiritually, emotionally, socially, etc.  If I could, I would have a family set of bumper stickers made.  :)


In this blog, I hope to share with you all the ways our family shows big love and little loves to God, each other, and  to ourselves through thoughts, words, and deeds,.... and craft projects!  (Hey, we all communicate in different ways!)

I have enjoyed reading other people's blogs about their families, so I thought it's our turn.  I think I'll be much better at this than writing things down in a baby book or journal.  Afterall, my mom was right (but don't tell her)... my handwriting is atrocious.


With all that said, enjoy our journey of growing from a family of 3 to a family of 4, as we are expecting our next sweet bundle of joy on Monday!  I hope you enjoy the highlights (and learning experiences) of our journey!