quick update

I haven't blogged in a while so I figured its time! Life has been pretty good lately (for the most part) I have had some emotional ups and downs in the past few weeks.  I honestly think it has to do with my hormone levels because I decided to get off the pill.  (no we are NOT trying to get pregnant, I got off it for personal reasons regarding side effects.)  I have been really trying to focus on positiveness lately and though it has been hard at times, its working.  I took up jogging and biking again.  I go early in the morning when its still cool(er) out.  That is if Aubrey wakes up close to 5 so I can feed her and get her back to bed and take off before Tyler wakes up for the day.  It is really therapeutic for me and I am hoping this is a long term hobby.  I asked for an ipod for my birthday (even tho I have a ways to go until then) but I think a morning jog with some great music followed by a nice cup of coffee before I start my day sounds like a perfect plan to happiness!  Although it depends on little miss thang because sometimes she decides to wake up at 3:30am and that is just WAY to early to start my day so those are my sleep in days.  Anyways the point is my goal is to be healthy, maybe lose a little weight and I am hoping to be able to run the bix next year!

My kids are doing great lately, Tyler has been using the big boy potty for about 3 weeks now and he is doing so great.  I only put a diaper on him for nap and bed time but I actually think I can phase nap time out soon, I need to buy a mattress protector just in case and then I will...He gets to go to the pet store soon and pick out a fish for his room (his big reward) I think he will really enjoy it!  Aubrey has been on a different formula and she seems to be doing ok, but a little more fussy than usual.  I am starting to feed her cereal on a spoon and may even try some baby food in a couple weeks and if that doesn't help with her fussiness I think I will switch her back to her potato juice. I am hoping that she is just needing more food or cutting teeth or something why she is fussy because its a lot nicer getting twice as much for the same amount of money but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Well that is all I can think of at the moment but I will leave you with a couple recent pictures:

Happy Momma

I am one happy Mommy today.  There are so many little things right now that are just working out so smoothly that I honestly can't complain. I had such a great weekend weekend.  I am a little exhausted today because I feel like we were so busy, and it always seems that when we have things to do our weekend is in FF mode.  As most of you know, Chad and I have a problem being late to things and we figured out this weekend this little trick, we are 2 people and we have 2 kids so we need 2 hours to get ready to leave the house to go somewhere, we usually put off getting the kids ready and ourselves and get caught up in chatting because I feel like we never just have time to talk since he is working so much but this weekend we got down to business and were actually early to Aubrey's baptism! LOL 

It was also Father's day and I actually wanted to give a shout out to my husband for being such an amazing Daddy.  He is so good with the kids. He does everything he can to support us and not only that, he makes his time at home worth it by trying to spend every second with us. I really appreciate everything he does. I got him a weed whacker that he really wanted to show that I appreciate him (from saved up money from doing hair)  its not something that I like to buy for him but he really wanted it so I thought I would make him happy :) I usually like to give him clothes, and shoes ect, but he likes tools. Typical man ;)

Aubrey was batized as well on Father's day.  She looked so beautiful in her gown that my Mom gave to her as a gift.  I wanted to say THANK YOU to my Mom on here as well.  The gown was gorgeous!  Not only that but she also work my old necklace and bracelet from when I was little. That really meant a lot to me that my daughter could wear those and I intend to have her give them to her daughter when she grows up :)  

On another Aubrey note, she has been sleeping in her crib through the night *for the most part* I am so happy that she is in her crib although it was a little sad for me because I already am getting that "aww my baby is growing up" feeling.  HAHA it will pass I am sure.  We also took her to the Dr, today and she said that we could actually try to switch her formulas! This is great news because the stuff she is on is so expensive and smells so bad so I am so happy.  I am really hoping that she takes well to the new formula.

OK here is another great reason why I am sooo HAPPY today.  Tyler has been using the big boy potty all weekend.  He all the sudden on Saturday just started wanting to go.  I knew knew knew if I waited for him to be ready he would get it! I am so proud! It also helped that he saw his cousin Eva doing it on Sunday too and I think he liked getting cheered on by our family.  Today I made a potty chart and every time he goes on the potty he gets to put a star sticker on it, he really likes doing that too. The only thing that we have to work on is getting him to wear big boy undies.  He always wants me to put his diaper back on him when he is done. Its not a hug concern tho. I hope he keeps it up! :) YAY!!!!

Ok, so I can stop with my happy post.  I guess I just felt the need to have a little bit of bragging rights.  Every parent is entitled to a little bit of it :)  I will leave you with some adorable pictures of the babies from this weekend!

I love this face she is making.  She is really into the stage of figuring our how to make different expressions.

 

 

just a quick thought

If I had my child to raise all over again,

I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd finger-paint more, and point the finger less.

I would do less correcting and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

I'd do more hugging and less tugging.

~Diane Loomans

I read this poem and I had to share,...It really has me thinking.  I really need to work on being more positive.  I feel like sometimes I can be so negative and I know my kids pick up on it because Tyler will have  a "naughty" day or Aubrey will have a "fussy" day. I need to stop harping on my hubby for working so much because he is doing it to support us and I need to be more grateful for being able to stay home with the babies, and I need to stop wishing I had more "me" time because lets face it, I'm not going to get it for a few years when I have a 2 year old and a 3 month old, I should be lucky if I get a shower that day! I need to stop complaining so much about any little thing.  What I also really need to do is to stop worrying what others think of me, and stay away from the "negative" people.  I really feel people have an affect on your mood and when you are around people who are constantly in the neg, you will too be right there with them.  I feel like life is full of trial and errors and I am just getting started in figuring things out.  I just want to be someone that my kids can look up to, and not remember their Mommy as a big pile of stress...so as for now my new life motto is "Don't sweat the small stuff"  If things don't go as planned I need to shrug and just remember the BIG picture!

Family

 

Anniversary Weekend

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Mine was fantastic! Very busy, but it was great! Chad had a long weekend so we got to spend a lot of family time together.  Sat, was Eva's 3rd birthday party. It was a little rainy for the party but just a little sprinkle and the kids were still able to play at the park we were at.  They of coarse had a blast, Emily had a new little puppy named Phoebe there too and she is so small and cute

awwwwwww

Ty and Eva playing

Eva getting ready for some cake :)

Then Sat night my sister Beth and I went to the Josh Groban concert.  I am not gonna lie, I was not excited to go, I thought it would be boring because Josh Groban's music is pretty slow pace, I like a little more of up beat type stuff, but I was actually pleasantly surprised at how much fun I had.  He had a phenomenal voice and was actually pretty funny!

Waiting for the concert to start

we had pretty good seats!

We went out afterwards for a few drinks and met up with my friend Andrea It was kinda crazy to be out without my hubby, because I rarely go out without him, and I prefer to be with him, but it was still a lot of fun!

As for our anniversary on Sunday...it was amazing! we spent the morning with the babies, and then took them out to my parents in Le Claire after lunch.  Then we went and walked around downtown Le Claire.  I love those little shops, I really could have dropped some major jack (money lol) at those stores.  We actually did buy the letters I-G-H-T-N-E-R from the store Razzelberries.  We already had the L and it looks so awesome up on our shelf in the kitchen, then when we move we want a fireplace and think they would look sharp on the mantel (I like to think of the future)

Since we didn't have the kids we decided to go check out cameras since I have been really wanting one for a while and we ended up getting one! 

I will have to shoot in Auto for a while, but I plan on taking a class on Photography because I really think it will be a good hobby for me, I have always been a picture person and I want to be able to capture awesome pictures of my babies growing up! Not to mention it will come in handy when they have recitals, soccer games, graduations ect ect.....

Chad and I went out to dinner and just ate our cake at home and just stayed up talking and laughing together, I am so so so blessed to have a husband where I can be so content just staying home with him and spending time with him even when we have a baby sitter!  I love you hunny!

the cake was amazing as we knew it would be, if you have never checked out Olde Town Bakery in Moline, I suggest you do!

Monday was Memorial day and the weather was AMAZING! we played outside for most of the day

So then Tuesday we went to get family pictures and they really turned out great, I was worried Tyler would not be photogenic for them but he actually did better than Aubrey, we were surprised because she is always smiling but she was tired and wanted a nap, they still turned out cute! Check them out on my facebook under family pics, there is one of Aubrey and shes sticking her bottom lip out so far it is the cutest thing ever! 

Now today we had to go to my Mom's retirement party.  Tyler of coarse had so much fun, he was getting  a -lot of attention from the ladies :-)  I am happy for my mom, she will love being off (plus she will get to spend a lot more time with us) :-) alright my computer is acting up so I am going to have to say bye for now! Have a great week everyone!

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary my Sweet Love!
For you, I thank the Lord above
You’ve given me hope, inspiration and truth
Because of you I feel never-ending youth
When heavy storms have come our way
Your love has always made me stay
Each morning I wake and see your face
I know in you, I’ve found my place
Our bond is extraordinary, beautiful, and real
It’s remarkable how wonderful you make me feel
We belong together, you and I
That, the world cannot deny
Never in my life will I find another man
Who could ever fulfill me the way you can
The life we’ve shared these past 2 years
Has proved forever it shall persevere
I will love you forever in every way
That will remain constant until my dying day.

Our anniversary is on Sunday so I thought it would be fitting to share a few wedding pictures and honeymoon pictures.  Now I don't have many because we were trying to cut costs and just had one of my mom's friends do pictures for us, she did get some great ones, but I really wish I would have just spent the extra money and got some proffesional ones...what can ya do.  As for my honeymoon pictures we got some horrible ones because I forgot my camera (I was still drunk for our wedding night and I forgot to grab the camera on the way out) so I had to buy a disposable from the gift shop at our resort...I did a little editing so they look a little bit better but anyways that is a huge regret also, but the biggest thing that matters is that I got to marry my best friend 2 years ago and it was the best thing that has ever happened to me! I love him so much it makes my heart want to explode! Anyways I know I can be a little cheesy but that's just how I roll :-)

This is prolly one of my favorite pictures from the day. Chad looks so happy.  I will never forget walking down the aisle and seeing his face full of tears and a huge grin when he saw me. There are some things in life that are priceless.

our wedding party

my beautiful ladies, Emily, Beth, Katrina, and Anne

my adorable little ring bearer and flower girl, Tyler and Eva

I love this picture, my flowers were beautiful

haha this picture is a little weird, but I like it

this is when he first saw me before pictures

I need to find someone who got a good picture of out cake, it was amazing.  We froze the top and ate it last year on our 1st anniversary and it still tasted Delicious! We decided to start a tradition and get a small little cake every anniversary from the same bakery that we got our wedding cakes Olde Towne Bakery. MMM I love that place, the top of our cake was Lemon with Buttercream frosting. every layer of cake was a different flavor and they were all so great.

our first dance

We danced to Nsync "This I promise you" LOL its fitting because I was a huge fan

Our little family minus Miss Aubrey

Anne burping little Ty, aww look at his little feet!

I can't believe how little they are! Payton is now 11, Eva is 3, and Tyler is now 2 and a half! Where does the time go?

bouquet toss

this is me drunk at the end of the night. LOL

On to our HONEYMOON! We went to Riviera Maya in Mexico, although I was missing my little baby Tyler like crazy we had a blast! We were there for 4 days and 3 nights. We had romantic dinners, we swam with dolphins, we went to a Michael Jackson impersonator show (weird because he actually passed away not too long after) We went to a little club in our resort and danced the night away, we layed by the pool and swam up to the bar. I want to go back! We are planning on it for sure for our 5 year anniversary, I hope it actually happens and I remember my camera! I think it would be fun to go with a group so if anyone wants to go in 3 years with us let me know!

ahh the breeze on our balcony was amazing.

You can't see if but the little card said Mr and Mrs Lightner, I was excited about that to see it in print for the first time!

Chad got a little burnt LOL, I told him to get a base tan before like I did, but he didn't listen...guess he learned his lesson for next time. And I am always taking pictures of me kissin him! haha!

This is a love story that will never end...

So my parents are taking the babies overnight on Sunday for our anniversary (Chad is off Monday for Memorial day)  and we had it all planned to go antiquing, and have a romantic picnic with our cake and some wine, but it is supposed to rain so we will have to make do and just try to enjoy the time we have with each other.  Having kids has taught me one major thing in life, if things don't go as planned its no biggy! There is no use in getting uspet and wasting your time! My new Motto is "Don't sweat the small stuff"  I will def post after our anniversary on how it went! Have a great Memorial weekend everyone!

Photos

OK so I am officially obsessed with editing my photos. I have been begging and begging my hubby for a new camera (one of the huge expensive kinds) because I really want to learn how to take awesome photos. He agrees we really need a great camera and I really want to even take classes (its on my bucket list along with learning the piano), but for now I found that editing on photo bucket makes them look great with just your plain digital camera, this will have to do until we take the next step. I just love to sharpen them and adjust the color for that "high definition" effect. 

i also like to blur the edges a little to give it kind of a whimsical look.

he loves to help

I LOVE how bright this picture is and I love all the different colors!

big brother little sister

they have my heart and they know it :)

Anyways I just thought I would share, I guess I should have put the before and after pictures, but oh well! TGIF!