I absolutely love getting out and doing things with my children. I love to be excited to experience anything big or small and getting to experience that with my kids thrills me. I hope to pass on this enthusiasm to them. In life, I definitely sport a pair of cranky pants now and then. And I also own a pair of "My-Patience-Is-Getting-VERY-Thin" shorts as well... but over all, I want to be happy. I want life to be good. I want things to appropriately be exciting, thrilling, magical, fun, happy, relaxed, loving. Worthwhile.

Down moments? Sure. Of course. But I want them to know that those "bad" moments aren't all encompassing. You can move on. You can choose not to dwell. There is something brighter just a few steps ahead if you are willing to take the steps towards it.

Jump!

lv,
Court

 Look, Gray! That is a camera and this is how we vlog.


I was cleaning off my memory card and I have my filming devices set up to automatically take still shots as they record. You get a lot of awkward pictures this way (think: mid-sentence mouth, half blink eye, funky expression) but you also get a lot of gems. Genuine moments captured instantly.



That's right. He gives kisses now. And he gets a death grip on your face before forcefully pulling you in and planting that juicy number right on whatever part of the face he can get to.

 You can't see it, but we are nursing here. So sweet.

Gray and I are buddies. No one gets him like I do. I am so glad he came into our lives.

lv, Court

So it happened. I just celebrated a BIG* birthday. It insistently thrust itself upon me the way birthdays do... whether you are ready for them or not. My birthday always marks the end of the holiday season. In my family, it is game on from Halloween through my birthday (the 3rd).

We quietly celebrated with dinner out and cake/gifts at our house. I plan on having an actual party at the end of this month... something fun with a pretty cake. It has to be PRETTY, I instructed to Kyle. I learned a long time ago that I am the only real party planner on both sides of the family. If someone gets a neat, thought out party... I'm involved. It used to hurt my feelings because I would put a ton of effort into all the little details and such that make an event really special... but my birthday would arrive with no agenda, no thought out plans, no real effort. You know what that equates to in your mind... no one cares enough to put in that special effort. I am a pretty dang positive person but year after year, this would get to me. I would feel sorry for myself. BUT... I decided a couple of years ago to get over that and not be so sensitive about it. Now I know if I want something more special, than I can make it happen myself or nudge someone in the right direction... and that is TOTALLY okay. Plus, I get to be involved in the planning, which I enjoy. =)

So, long (whiny) story short... I told Kyle: We must play games. They (the games) must be mindless so that we can all talk. It must involve black and white attire. And pink. But not a dumb shade of pink. It must contain a photo "booth" room. And it must have a FANCY PRETTY CAKE.

Why am I being so demanding? Because, like I said, this is a BIG birthday. You know... the milestone kind. 

Tangent:
Sophie sang and/or wished me happy birthday starting 2 weeks before my birthday. "Happy Birthday, Momma!" So sweet.

Sometimes birthdays don't seem as big a deal when you get older, but I don't like or agree with that. They should always be a big deal even if the celebration is low key. They're important, just like you.



lv, Court

I recently did a review on Piggy Paint via my vlog. Long story short - super awesome eco friendly nontoxic nail polish. If you go right now and watch, you still have time to enter the giveaway included with the review. (Now being early Friday morning, November 3, 2011.... this afternoon, I am announcing a winner.)

Ever since I had a little girl, I have day dreamed about all the girly fun stuff we can and will do together. While playing with this product, I got to live out one of those day dreams. We had SO much fun painting our nails and goofing off together. I loved it. I loved it so much. I made a video of our nail painting session to include with the review but it ended up being much more than that. I think it beautifully captured a fun moment between a daughter and a mother - Sophia and I.

So, I am sharing it with you. Since this was part of a review, it does showcase Piggy Paint, but that is okay since it was their wonderful product that led to this mother/daughter evening. =)

So we pretty much celebrated Halloween from Friday to Monday, Monday being the actual day of Halloween. I love love love that Sophie was so into it. She never got scared but recognized that things WERE "scary". She would tell us something was scary and then giggle in delight. She totally got the fun of it.

Friday: Trick of Treat at Daddy's Office

Saturday: Zoo Boo

Monday: Halloween

BTW, I love Halloween. =)

lv,
C

Blast from the Past: Kyle and I at a Halloween Party in 2008, dressed as June Carter and Johnny Cash. We were mimicking a pose from "Walk the Line", hehe. =)

10 Weeks. It has been 10 solid weeks since I had Grayson and things still feel out of sorts. There still isn't a solid routine or schedule. Our bedroom is still a temporary (I hope) baby squatting zone. My house is still in a state of "I had a baby and can almost -but not quite- keep up with the clutter" mess. And my belly still looks 12+ weeks pregnant.

Okay, more like 18 weeks pregnant.

But anyway. Here is the kicker.

It is okay.

Yes, I am coming to the realization that this seemingly off balance lifestyle may actually be -gasp- perfectly level.

And completely foreign to me.

Only it isn't, because if I really look back far into my memory, I can distinctly remember the same feelings after I had Sophie. Yup, I felt the same way after having my ONE baby. Oh, poor naive past Courtney. Future Courtney wishes she could tell you how much simpler things are with just one.

But to get back on the subject, I am finally reaching that point where enough is enough and just like I did after Sophia, I am slowly stepping it up and getting my life back onto a track that I feel comfortable and more in control of. And who cares if the new track is a lot bumpier than my past tracks?

The scenery is so much sweeter. 

lv,
CH