Summer lovin

As I sit on my front porch with a book, the cool breeze and an ice cold Popsicle in hand, I enter in to a zen like moment. 

I'm relaxed. 

J is taking his nap and I'm soaking up this moment. 

We moved in to our home late December, the trees were empty and the snow was covering the ground.

This is our first summer in our own home.  

As I glance over at the children playing around our neighborhood with their water guns and blow up pools, I realize that we've moved to a pretty good area. 

We got lucky, not knowing much about the street or the people, there are plenty children for J to grow up and play with. A park and a pool just a short walk too, I've also noticed that we picked a good home with lots of trees covering the house and yard.  My front porch is shaded and I can sit out here while reading. 

There are bunnies running around and squirrels chasing each other up the trees. 

Man, I've missed summer. 

I've been trying to get out daily by either taking a walk or biking around with J. 

Today we hit up the neighborhood park for a little dip in their kiddie pool. 

J was more concerned with chasing the big kids around and checking out their water guns. He loved it though, and the best part is, it's an easy walk from my house as well as it's free to get in. 

When I was younger you could always find me at our neighborhood pool. No joke. I was ALWAYS there. 

I plan on getting J to the park and pool at least 2-3 times a week. 

Let's just hope that the rest of the summer isn't super hot and humid. 

What is your favorite thing about summer? 

-Nicole 

Give Me Strength

It's been a while. 

I'm sitting here typing this as my 16month old is screaming.. Like ear piercing screaming. Why? No clue. J has also decided that when we tell him 'No' or he doesn't get his way he will grab his face and squish it..or he will throw his head in to something or hit something ( like the wall or chair).

He has tried to bite me a few times and has pinched me a few times.. We're working on that.

Is this the "Terrible Twos?"

Lord give me strength.

Seriously though,The screaming is bad..and yes of course I'm worried about him throwing himself down or head in to things.. It's like a 'trust fall'. I don't get it. 

-- Any advice on this and how to get through it would be wonderful.-- 

Don't get me wrong, I still love love love this crazy bratty child.. ( even though as I let him down from his high chair he went straight to my kitchen and broke my silverware drawer) And I know this is only a small glimps of what we will deal with helooooo teenaged years.. But really y'all, I'm worn out. Straight up.

Yesterday I did NOTHING. I didn't clean the house or worry about laundry, I let Joseph climb and crawl all over me as I stayed sitting on my butt and we watched TV all day long. I didn't eat a legit meal we just snacked.

J won't eat anything right now anyways due to some teeth making their way through, so we shared some Greek yogurt and some snacks and just had a lazy Monday. 

I'm ok with it.

I needed that lazy day. With all of the recent events.. It was wonderful.

What I feel like I need more right now, is just a 'ME' day. 

Not saying that I don't enjoy time with J, but seriously y'all.. It's me and him 24/7, chasing him around..watching him climb on EVERYTHING ( is a 16 month old supposed to climb on everything?) and get in to everything! 

Well except the little bit of time that I'm at work and c'mon, that's not a 'me' time.

I've looked in to Care.com for some babysitters, I may have to just stick with that. We also joined the YMCA here but the child care hours to even get a work out in don't work with our schedule.. I don't really understand why they aren't available all day long, but that's for another time. Perhaps I'll just take J to the pool and work on his swimming. 

Forgive me for this post, I'm just a it'd bit stressed out. 

-Nicole