These are the Moments ...

Sometimes it is easy to become frustrated as a mother. It is easy to get lost in the laundry, dishes, diapers, and whining. Today, I had a project that I really wanted to complete during nap time. I put the kids down and was 15 minutes into my cleaning when Tyler woke up. My first instinct, honestly, was irritation. Doesn't my 15 month old know how much I need his nap time? I went and got him out of bed, gave him a drink, and sat in the rocking chair with him. He immediately cuddled up to me and within minutes we were both asleep.
Ken found us this way and took our picture. When I woke up, my irritation was gone. My cleaning project sat, hardly even started, but let's face it, my little boy is growing up and it won't be long until I can't cuddle up and take a nap with him. These are the moments that make me remember why I wanted to be a mother. Why I've sacrificed to be a mother. Why there is nothing else I'd rather be doing.

Congrats Ken!

Ken has achieved 10 years under his belt at IBM. We are happy with the extra vacation days that this provides for him, but IBM also gave him a 10 year award. He was able to redeem this for a variety of different gifts. He is an awesome husband though and used his reward to get me a new pot/pan set! We're lucky to have such a hardworking and dedicated husband and father!

Mowing the Lawn

The other day, Abraham told me that when he got big he wanted to be a Daddy ... and a runner guy, a really fast runner guy. Anyway, he loves his Dad and loves especially to help him outside with yard work. Ken has taught him to be a great pinecone spotter and many times he'll bring cars out and just play on the sidewalk while Ken works. So, the other day when I saw this

on clearance at Target, I couldn't resist.

I'm not sure who was happier with the purchase: Dad or son.

I'd say it was worth my $6, wouldn't you? In all honesty, I wish now I'd bought 2. I have a feeling before too long they'll be another little shadow out there. We're going to have the best mowed lawn out there!

Summer Catch Up (lots of pictures ahead!)

There have been several fun events this summer that I haven't blogged about. So I thought I'd post some of my favorites and re-cap some of the fun things we've been doing.

When we visited the Science museum with my in-laws, it ended up being a great deal to go ahead and purchase a membership. So one day the boys and I went with our good friends out to the museum. We took about 10 pictures and at least they are all looking at the camera in this one!Here we are on our train ride!Do you see the butterfly on my shoulder? It landed there and stayed for a little while. It was really cool.I thought this sleeping picture of Tyler was so cute. Exhausted. Ken's sister, Kristy, came with her boys and our neice to visit at the begining of July. We had a great time with them, but because I'm really lame I didn't get many pictures. Every day we took a "Picture of the Day" for Alexandra to send home to her parents. This was my favorite. Of course, we had to head back to the Science museum with them. Cousins on the train.Tyler got to ride with Dad instead.

If babies can wear trendy little head bands with huge flowers on them, I thought I might be able to get away with it too!

We loved having our family come to visit. It was a really great time and next time I'm taking more pictures for sure!

One Saturday we decided to take a walk with the boys to a bridge here in Raleigh. You can cross right over the freeway.

For some reason, we thought Abe might like looking at the cars going underneath us. *like* is probably an understatement. Tyler was equally fascinated.

And last, but most definately NOT least .... Abraham is potty trained!! Hooray!!!

It was actually pretty darn painless and took less than a week until he was completely out of diapers, even for naps and night time. I'm so happy to have one less set of diapers to buy and change and we are so proud of our big boy!!