UGHH does anyone know why i can get my paragraph breaks to work? sorry for that massively long randomly paragraph in the last one!!!

Yesterday we had Jaden's 4mth month check up. Things went pretty well...she's is growing fast weighing in at 15 lbs 2.5 oz (90%) and 26 inches long (95%) her head was 75%. Only bad news is that doctor mentioned it looked like she has a slight case of thrush. UH oh...my first thought is well, it can't be that bad considering neither of us were suffering from it. She seems to eat normally and I haven't been in any pain. So out the door we went to fill the prescription for a drop of medicine in each of her cheeks four times and day and a cream for me. As we got home and I tried not to stress too much about it all...and then about that time Bobby says mommy, look at this and lifts up his shirt to show a big rash on his chest. Keep in mind we JUST LEFT the doctor's office. WHY does this happen? If he had JUST shown me 30 mins ago I could have asked right then! I quickly panic'd silently and text his teacher to see if he had eaten anything out of the ordinary that day...but of course he hadn't. Again, I tried not stress to much but as the evening wore on I noticed him scratching at it...so I decided to inquire my good friend Nicole. Nicole is a pediatrician and although she promises not to care...I do my best to not pester her with constant questions. I am sure she would enjoy a break when she gets home, ya know? But being the kind, patient friend that she is...she never lets it show if she is getting annoyed. Thank you again Nicole. Anyway back to the story...after a short chat about what all the things it could be I decide he isn't going to die and we put a cream on it and moved on. Bobby's teacher text me today and said he hasn't been scratching...so lets hope for the best. So after all the "not" stressing over ailments from my children that I accomplished over the evening...I found myself feeling still overwhelmed at the end of the night. I have to say adding a second child to our routine has been a million times easier that going from zero to one...but there are still nights when I find myself upset that I didn't feel like I got quality time with either child. Just back and forth and dinner, and messes...and before you know the night is over and I find myself wondering if they ever felt connected to me...or whether I was just going through the motions. This very issue has been the one thing that has haunted me these last four months...but I am determined to talk myself out of it everytime. I KNOW that its harder with two kids...and doing the best I can is ALL I can do. Today is a new day and I just need to try and make it better than the last. You know? In other news, work is going well. If anyone noticed that I dropped off the face of the planet the last year or so...that was a direct result of an OVERWHELMING job in Finance that I took at work. I thought it was something I wanted and although I don't regret the experience I gained there at all, I am much happier to be back to accounting, my first love. I know, I know boring to most...but it works for me. It makes sense. And last but not least...I finally ordered both kid's halloween costumes. Bobby was easy...he picked out a teenage mutant ninja turtle costume. CUTE. And as I struggled to figure out what struck my fancy for Jade, I made the mistake of asking Bobby. A "unicorn" mommy..."a purple unicorn". SAY WHAT?!? Where does he come up with these things? ohhh hmmm Bobby that IS a good idea. I guess I will look around?! I tried, I really did. I googled all sorts of stores that carried unicorn costumes but in the end a Ladybug costume from Carters on sale with a 15% off coupon on top finally won me over. I played it off well though...just leaving the ladybug costume on the ipad randomly while Bobby was near...and then acting so sly I say to Bobby OH LOOK at this ADORABLE Ladybug costume! You think we should get this for Jade? Would she look so CUTE in that?! "Ohh YES mommy I LOVE that!" SCORE! it worked!! until...the next thing out of his mouth was..."and I want to be a caterpillar to go with her". UGHHHHH here we go again...why do I even give the child an option again? I should have just made the choice like a GROWN woman and moved on. BUT its just SOO cute that he has an opinion! So for now we are going to stick with what we have got...but if the turtle costume comes and he isn't going for it...the caterpillar costume hunt will begin. Ohhh the things we do for these children!

More pictures...

Catching up on pics...

Long lost blog...

So I will be the first to admit how bad I have been...I haven't kept up my end of the deal at all on blogging. BUT here's the deal...this blog really is supposed to be for MY family's documenting purposes so I am going to just randomly jump in and start again. I want to try an capture Jaden's little years too! So lets start there! Introducing Jaden Lynne Reed. Lynne is my middle name as well, also my sister's and my dad's. He named all his daughters with that middle name. I thought it was sweet and carried on the tradition. I had originally planned that if I had a boy to give him Thomas as a middle name after my father...so this was the next best thing.

2011 Send off

1) What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Took a baby on an airplane! and a helicopter for that matter. Both terrifying but for different reasons. Plane: afraid Bobby would act terrible, scream, cry, I would receive death glares from passengers. Helicopter: You are much more aware of how HIGH and how dangerous what you are doing really is!


Took a WHOLE week's vacation after Christmas...MUST REPEAT every year. HEAVEN!

2) Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year.

Last Year:  Get out and be more social...I am soo bad about being a home body and I am afraid life is going to pass me by!
Success....I did get out more (in comparsion to the year before anyway). I took a trip out of my comfort zone and I tried to length the cord between Bobby and I a little bit. I will always be an obsessive mother...but I tried to remember who "I" am as well.


This year: Stop cussing.


3)Did anyone close to you give birth?
We had a new baby in my extended family...Landon Olson.

4) Did anyone close to you die?
I lost my beloved dog Kayli. It was a freak accident and I still can't believe she is gone. I miss her EVERY DAY.

5)What countries did you visit?
Never...not a traveler.

6)What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
More time....there is NEVER enough time!


7)What dates from 2011 will remain etched in your memory and why?
The night I lost Kayli. Enough said...

8) What was your biggest achievement of the year?
New job at work.

9)What was your biggest failure?
I'm selfish with my time.

10) Did you suffer illness or injury?
OMG I got SO sick with a stomach bug in early December...I wound up in the local emergency room laying on the floor of the public bathroom in pure agony. Not my best moment.

11) What was the best thing you bought?
I'm cheap...I don't "buy" alot...I guess maybe our family pictures.

12)Whose behavior merited celebration?
Robby works his tail off at work...I appreciate him. (at home...not so much...at work...best worker there).


13) Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?


14)Where did most of your money go?
Rent houses, Christmas

15)What did you get really excited about?
Bobby learning to walk

16)What song will always remind you of 2011?


17) Compared to this time last year are you:

Happier or sadder? Happier!!! My mom constantly says the phrase "this is probably the happiest time in your life...with your first child and enjoying all the life that goes with it". Its true...children bring such happiness to our existence.

Thinner or Fatter? about the same.
Richer or poorer? Richer...just got a raise.
20) How did you spend Christmas? With all the fam...us usual.

21) Did you fall in love in 2011?
nope
22) What was your favorite TV program?Parks and Rec, Real Housewives

23) Do you hate anyone now that you didn't' hate this time last year? I can only think of one person I really don't like...but its been that way for a while. I need to forgive.

24) What was the best book you read? No books...I'm slacking...Im getting back on the book train now though. Went to the library yesterday.

25)What was your greatest musical discovery?
Adele

26) What did you want and get? My new job.

27) What did you want and not get? a new purse and a watch

28)What was your favorite film of the year? Due Date


29)What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
Can't remember...probably out to eat with the hubby. I was 28. Same answer as always.

30)What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

31) How do you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Getting much better! I have been revamping my wardrobe!

32)What kept you sane?
Sticking to my routine

37) Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011?
Don't take your family member's good health for granted. You don't want to even imagine what life would be like without them! Yep, I like this answer from last year!

38) Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?

"When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God"
From the Christmas song "Mary did you know"

Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays everyone! So has life slowed down for any of you? It sure hasn't for me! This time of year is usually BY FAR my favorite time of year. I usually go completely overboard decorating the house, watching christmas movies, play christmas music, baking goodies and on and on the list goes. I am usually so keyed up that I have endless amounts of energy to even help others with their shopping and will even wrap their gifts just cause I love it that much. WELL let me just tell you how THIS season has gone instead. We never did get out christmas lights up outside, I never even changed out my fall wreath on the front door to our christmas one. Half our decorations remained in the box and the ones that did make it out are surely taken a beating with a rambunctious 20 mth old running around. Bobby continues to take out all our christmas cards from the holder every night, our ornaments have been taken off and put back on the tree numerous times and I would be lying if I didn't tell you that most of our presents have been "stood on" by a toddler at one time or another (he loves putting things on the floor and "standing" on them with a big "I know I am naughty" grin on his face). I just got our presents wrapped a couple of nights ago, and our neighbors got store-bought goodies this year instead of homemade. Its just been that kind of a year...maybe it has to do with the age of my child. Maybe it has been due to all the illness my family has been hit with (whole other story). Maybe it has been due to me being distracting with interviewing for a new job. I don't know which...but all have impacted my life dramatically lately so I am trying not to sweat the small stuff. and btw...yes I got the job! YAH!

 But one thing that I didn't let slide was getting our family portrait...thank god. And without any further ado....

Our 2011 Christmas card

 Back

Some outtakes from our session.

Thanks Melinda, don't know what I would do without you!