Not-So-Good-Homemaker

Since deciding to stay home with the girls, I have off and on struggled with feeling like I am not great at my new job as "homemaker".  I don't know how to sew, don't have dinner waiting on the table, don't teach my girls baby Spanish (but they do know who Zack Morris is, and I think that's quite possibly equally as important), I don't do this, I don't do that.  Enough, I say!  I am as good as I can be at it and am a work in progress.  My girls are happy, funny 1 year old's.  My mission is to have a much better sense of humor about being a homemaker & mom, to forgive myself when I mess up and to lean on the grace of God, because heaven knows I can't do it without Him.

ANYWAY.

I read this article today and it was so timely and made me snort.  Several times.  It's the first time I've read her blog, but for sure not the last.  Read, and enjoy.  Even if you're not a homemaker, it's still funny.  Especially the part about Gandalf.  You're welcome in advance.

http://kasm.blogspot.com/2010/07/few-more-obvious-tips-for-not-very-good.html

1 Year Stats

For posterity, here are the girls' 1 year stats:

Elle
Weight - 20lbs 11oz
Height - 29.75 inches

Kate
Weight - 19lbs 13 oz
Height - 29.25 inches

Kate is our petite one for now!  They got great reports at the doctor though they were thoroughly offended that their parents allowed them to get shots.  Don't worry, I gave them bites of the pineapple upside down cake samples at Costco to make up for it.  Which, by the way, is quite delicious.

One.

Kate and Elle are 1.  ONE!  Did this happen when I wasn't looking?  I can't believe it.  I remember in the hazy days of early mommyhood feeling like I was walking and moving so slowly through the days.  And then I blinked and it's 12 months later and my sweet girls are now 1. 

Elle and Kate had a fun weekend full of celebrating with family, eating cake, subsequently taking baths, opening presents and ignoring them in favor of the AWESOME tissue and wrapping paper they came in and, in general, being the belle's of the ball.

Here are a few highlights:

 Kate in her fancy birthday PJ's - complete with a little belly showing and a Grandbob hiding.

Elle doing a little light reading in her new big girl chair.

Kate

Morning storytime with GGM (Great Grandmother)!

Boy, do we love our birthday tutu's, Mom.  I mean, really.  Give us the cake, already.

Kate is already practicing her ballerina moves.  First, tiptoes.  Next....JAZZ HANDS.

Mimi got the pink memo and coordinated nicely with Elle!

Kate and Uncle Preston.  Or, as we like to call him, Uncle Text.  He hearts text messaging.  And his nieces.

The bday girls with Papa and Coco!

Present time!

Kate loving her new quilt from Grandma Burns.  Please note Elle in bottom of the frame, playing with the tissue paper.  Tissue paper was her life that day.

My name is Elle.  And my motto is "Face First."

Much to our surprise, Kate took a slightly less aggressive approach to her cake*.  She loved the strawberry icing. 

And Elle?  Well, I think you can tell which icing was her favorite. 

*Please don't be jealous of my wicked cake making skills.  You can't get this kind of handiwork in a bakery, folks.

All in all, a very happy birthday weekend for the girls.  Topped off with an Auburn win and a visit from their BFF, Charlotte.  After they came down from their sugar high, they were POOPED!

And now, for the "tender" part of the post, as Tyler would call it.

God has taught me so much through these two precious little people this last year.  How to love more than I ever knew I could; how to be patient even when I feel like it's the most foreign concept in the world; that it's not all about me; how to appreciate my husband and what an amazing father he is; how to roll around on the floor again and laugh hysterically at funny faces and zerberts; how to find peace in a warm baby and a rocking chair; how to savor every moment, good and bad, because they are so fleeting and I'm going to miss them; how to take deep breaths; how to be so thankful that He blessed us specifically with these 2 precious, distinctively different and amazing souls to care for and love and teach and nurture; and how that responsibility takes my breath away each day.

Happy First Birthday, Kate and Elle!  I love you so.

The Graduate

My itty bitty, teeny tiny, baby brother graduated from Auburn this past Monday.  War Eagle!  I'm so proud of him!  And the fact that it's my alma mater makes me just a smidge prouder.  :)  It is captured for posterity below, mispronounced name and all.  Please excuse the shakiness as no tripods were used in the making of this video.  And might I say, the girls?  They were CHAMPS through the whole ceremony!  They didn't have to be strolled around at all and just sat there a.) playing with Grandbob's tie and camera, b.)  making the rest of us laugh by making faces and c.) sleeping on Daddy.

Congratulations little brother - you did it!  

YMCA

We joined our local Y not too long ago and each member of the family had to get ID cards.  Never in my life have I seen a funnier ID card than Kate's.  The lady taking the picture was even like "Are you sure you don't want me to retake it?"  To which Tyler replied, "No way.  It's awesome."  And I agree.  It's awesome.  And she will probably hate us for it one day!  But right now?  High comedy.

Feast your eyes on inmate #090309:

I mean, COME ON.  Between the Dirty Harry expression and the strawberry swimsuit, I can't handle it!

And though Elle's is not nearly as funny, for posterity, here she is:

I like how she is completely uninterested in the camera and I'm trying to hide behind her. 

Oh, these girls.  They kill me.

30 Rock(s)

Today is my darling husband's 30th birthday and I just wanted to give him a little blog love on this big day!  We had a great celebration over the weekend with family (thanks, Roysters!) and tonight we're going out to dinner.  Hopefully.   The girls are a little under the weather, so we'll see how it goes.

In honor of his 30 years, here are 30 things I love about Tyler:

1.)  He is a wonderful father
2.)  He is a wonderful husband
3.)  His sense of humor
4.)  He is wicked smart.  For real.  Try to beat him at trivia.
5.)  He has strong beliefs and he sticks to them.
6.)  He always goes above and beyond what is expected of him.  At home.  At work.  In life.
7.)  His eyes.  The girls have beautiful blue eyes, though I must admit I was hoping one of them would have his amber-colored ones!
8.)  His silliness
9.)  His even-keeled temper.  He is the opposite of me in that respect and I'm glad he's around to keep me in check!
10.)  His sweet dance moves.  Ask him about them sometime.
11.)  How he relates to people
12.)  The love he has for his family
13.)  He loves to travel. 
14.)  His freckles
15.)  He is not afraid to ask questions.
16.)  How he smells.  Unless he's just played softball or worked in the yard.  Then, gross.  This is the part where he would say "You love my pheremones."  And then I would snort.
17.)  He's an extremely hard worker, but he knows how to relax.
18.)  He doesn't hold grudges.
19.)  He would do anything for pretty much anyone he knows.
20.)  He loves to learn.
21.)  He's fun at parties.  :)
22.)  His love of Snoop Dogg.  It cracks me up.
23.)  His laugh.  It's kind of infectious.
24.)  His hugs.
25.)  He is very laid back and doesn't get uptight or upset very often at all.  Here's hoping this rubs off on Kate & Elle!
26.) He is a kid at heart.  I know he will always keep me young!
27.) He's a sports fanatic, but will watch So You Think You Can Dance because he knows I love it.
28.)  He's thoughtful. 
29.)  He's kind.
30.)  And oh so handsome in a suit and his glasses. 

There are a gazillion more things I love about him.  Happy Birthday, TyTy!  Thanks for being born.  :)

Elle Bit Me!

I'm sure a lot of you (yes, all 5.7 of you loyal readers) have seen the youtube video entitled "Charlie Bit Me".  And while Elle and Kate are neither talking nor British, I present to you their latest video entitled "Elle Bit Me!  And it really hurt...."