The Magic

I read about this over at Pioneer Woman (one of my favorite blogs) and it just made my day! It is so precious and totally hip at the same time. If you go over to the Ryan's (the father and photographer)blog, you can read about each week's pictures.
Cole's (the mom in the video and Cole's wife)first son was diagnosed with Smith-Magenis Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. Ryan put together an album that you can buy on i-Tunes, that 100% of the proceeds benefits PRISMS, an organization that supports families of those who have been diagnosed with SMS.
I know I am going to check it out! How about you?

Magic- A Belly Grows from The Panic Room Videos on Vimeo.

Baby's First Christmas Ornament and the Turn of the Century

Could my day get any better? I am not sure but it feels lucky so far so I plan to buy a lottery ticket tonight!

The weather is oh so wonderful and mild, Jack finally got a good night's sleep last night, my boss is back from her 10 day vacation, my husband is probably not going to be working late as much, I got to eat lunch at MY NEW FAVORITE OBSESSION, Canvas, and I got to eat it with two of the greatest gals I know, AND,

are you ready?

drumroll please....

I got to hold Stacy's new baby girl- Carrie!
OK- so my day would be more perfect if I had taken a picture of the little cutie pie, but, I will settle with the holding her.




I intended to get things done ahead of time, but with the last minute things happening with mom's blood clot in her lungs(I know, it IS a big deal- another post another time)...I got a bit distracted and didn't get to put this little beauty together until last night!




Baby's first Christmas. Such a precious time for a precious little family.
It was great to catch up with Stacy. She managed to corral me and Leigh Anne together while she was still on maternity leave. Leigh Anne, Stacy, and I worked together at a staffing company called AOC back at the turn of the century....( wow- that sounded weird, but it is true 1999-2001-ish). It was so nice to sit on the deck in the warm sunshine, talk about our babies and eat yummy food. It was similar to what we used to do after work at AOC, except back then, it was not so much about yummy food but more about yummy drinks, and definitely no talk of babies. Too bad we couldn't stay longer. Hopefully we will get all three boys together for a play date soon!

If you need me, I'll be at the Lake

We had a DELIGHTFUL time at Lake Oconee this past weekend.
LeighAnne, thank you so much for having us. We had the best time at the super cool sand bar.
People. It is a sandbar in the middle of the lake, that you can anchor, get in the water, and walk around.
And you know what? It is actually sand. Not gooey mucky lake bottom.
Can I get an AMEN?

OK- so I am such an idiot I turned my camera sideways when I filmed this, AGAIN....anyone know how to change that?
AND...sorry LA, but you and I are chattering on and on in the background about pictures, and how you don't want any of you because you are pregnant and how terribly UN flattering the pictures that your aunt takes are! HEHE! I think you were trying to drive the point home that

I AM NOT TO TAKE ANY PICTURES OF YOU!

I get that- I totally respect it- and, (can I get an AMEN?) I am with you sista!

SO

all others, you have been forewarned, you might want to turn the volume down on your computer, turn your moniter sideways, and enjoy the cuteness that is Jack walking down the dock to the boat.
The End.

lake oconee two years old from Melanie Marsh on Vimeo.

CANVAS

An old colleague of mine called a few weeks ago and asked if I could paint some monograms on canvas for a triple baby shower that she was throwing! (Must be something in the water in her circle of friends!)

Anyway, I was THRILLED! The first one she wanted as a trio or three seperate canvas's. She told me that the baby boys' bedding was Carter's Animal Parade at Babies R Us and to use that for the color scheme.





I am so excited about the way it turned out and am LOVING the bedding!




The second one was a friend who knew her colors, but we did not have the bedding. Sage green, brown, cream, and tan was all I had to go on, so I just went with it an created something sweet and fresh!

The last one was for a little girl and her bedding is Cocalo Jacana at Babies R Us.

The bedding was so adorable and fun that I cold not resist using more than just the colors!

I sure hope the shower goes well for my friend this weekend- three mom's to be...it's got to be a big soiree!

Maybe this shower will drum up some more business for handpainted monogrammed canvas's!

As for me, I am off to Lake Oconee with my best guys and the Frye's!

The weather looks like it is going to be beautiful. Hopefully we will get some relaxing squeezed in to a fun filled weekend!

boo boo bees

I just have to say that Jack's current breakfast is usually an english muffin with butter and fresh blueberries.
Now Jack can talk pretty darn good. Most folks understand everything he is saying, but for some reason english muffin comes out as: ling lish fun fun and
blueberries comes out as boo boo bies.

Like all words that he has had a challenge with in the past I know he will correct this soon, but I do not ever want to forget how it tickles me to hear him say those words....SO ADORABLE!

Easy as ABC

OK- I decided to quit moping around.
A couple of days off from work usually helps remedy most any ailment! Pity Parties included.

When Jack was sick, he was saying his ABC's over and over again! He can say them all the way through just as easy as pie. Getting the whole thing recorded is the hard part!

We had a great Labor Day weekend! Hope yours was great, too!

When Your Best Does Not Feel Good Enough

Do you ever just feel a little down? I am not looking for a pity party or anything, but I just cannot seem to get my spirits up lately. Everytime I feel like I am on the upward swing, something seems to come at me and knock me down. The spiral just keeps heading down, down, down....

I can't get Jack up early enough in the morning to get out the door in time (yes I know, I should be happy that he is not getting up at 4:30 anymore)

Once we get out the door and get to Mrs. Kim's I have a major mess of Pop Tart to clean up since that is the lovely breakfast that I have time to give him so that he can whoof it down in the car.

Once we arrive at Mrs. Kim's ,the clinging starts...the begging for mommy to play, the legs wrapped around me, the not putting his feet down when I try to sit him on the floor.

THEN, when Mrs Kim lures him away, he hears the screeen door and runs back to me crying and my hearts RIPS IN HALF as I turn my back on him and close the door.

After a few minutes in the car, my frustrations turn from guilty momma to road rage as I realize I am YET AGAIN going to be late for work.

Once I arrive at work, I am greeted by some emails about how things are not looking as good as expected once they install and how our design center hours simply are not accomodating enough.

The day goes on like that with a few ridiculously nice people sprinkled in (we really do have some FABULOUS clients:) Pick a few colors for some exteriors, do some quotes for blinds and shutters, put together some selections for some market homes and before I know it, it is almost 5 o'clock.

A quick call to the hubs confirms what I knew before I even picked up the phone...he has to work late, can I go pick up Jack?

Gladly.

So, off to Kim's I go- as fast as I can because I will not make her 5:30 deadline if I am not flying!

I arrive to a very content, sweaty, sweet little boy who would REALLY rather not leave the excitement of Mrs Kim's backyard. So, on the opposite note from the morning, I am begging him to come HOME with mommy (sometimes bribing him with french fries for dinner).

Once we arrive home about 6:15 I begin plotting something for dinner. Bath time is at 7pm if we want to catch Caillou so I have to act fast. This usually leads to something thrown together that I feel just about as guilty about as a Pop Tart, but hey, at least he is not starving, right?

Once dinner is eaten and kitchen is semi- cleaned, it is off to the tub for Jack. He is pretty good about playing in the tub with the exeption of not wanting to lean back to get his hair rinsed lately. Then, if you are paying attention, you have probably already guessed it, Jack does not WANT to get OUT of the tub, so I have to drag him dripping to his room as he kicks and cries while trying to dry him off.

This is usually about the time Dan arrives home.

Diapered lotioned and jammy-ied up, Jack's current routine is getting into Mommy and Daddy's bed and watching Caillou.

Once Caillou is over, he says "night night" and I put him in bed. He is pretty good to go straight to sleep.

Usually I try to put a load of laundry in the washer at this point, but only when I am feeling really energetic because quite frankly, at this point, I am pooped and I don't plan to wait to get it in the dryer!

This is where my 8:30 or 9 o'clock bedtime comes in and I will not even try to deny it!

This is a typical day...sometimes Jack's bed is wet when he gets up, or jack poops in the tub at bath time, or one of the dogs dislocates his shoulder...you just never know what might come up to throw our well oiled machine off course....

wait a minute...I am talking about all this as if it is a BAD thing...but hey

We woke up

We had a pop tart in the pantry and milk in the fridge

We had a car to drive to Mrs. Kim's

We HAVE MRS. KIM who is the best caretaker EVER!

I have a job

Dan gets paid by the hour right now so long hours...I TRY NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT!

We have a wonderful house that we call home

We have food in our pantry that I can throw together for dinner

We share a few quiet minutes together as a family even if it is watching Caillou

I have a warm clean bed to sleep in

If I am REALLY lucky, we will all wake up and do it all over again!

OK-I think I just got the attitude adjustment that I needed:)

if you are still reading- thanks for sticking that one out with me- painful, I KNOW!