Winter Fun

This Saturday, we finally got some winter weather! We got a good combo of snow and ice and when E woke up from his nap, we all bundled up to go to the park. Even Tio Tank came along and threw around the ball with E and Brian. Enjoy some pics! xoxo

Trudging through the snow & ice!

Tio Tank going in for the save :)

E is monkey in the middle!

Catching up...

So E got sick last week, so we hit this week running! I am sitting in front of my computer, sipping hot chocolate, and eating a yummy chocolate croissant. I am ready to fire out a few posts from this week, so bear with me because there is going to be some serious posting today! xoxox

Sunny Days, Chasing the Clouds Away

This morning we woke up to blah. It was rainy and plain miserable out. Which would have been fine if we didn't have an appointment to tour a preschool this morning. So E and I bundled up, put on our rain boots, and grabbed the umbrellas. The preschool tour was great and we really enjoyed it. Hopefully we can get a spot in one of the two we have applied for! After the tour we called up BB to see if she wanted to meet up for lunch. The whole car ride to lunch, E was pleading for lunch with BB. Once we got there, he ate a ton, played, and loved on his BB. By the time we were driving home, I could see the sun poking through the clouds. When we got out of the car, I realized it was getting warmer too! E went down for his nap, and I set off cleaning - admiring that sunlight from within the house. My phone rings, I pick it up. It's Brian, he too was admiring the sunlight in his office and decided to come home super early so we could go to the park with E and Ferrous. It was a perfect afternoon. Brian came home right as E got up from his nap, we put on our coats, leashed the pup, and headed out. We took E's new Ravens football that he's obsessed with to throw around. We found a sunny spot and soaked up the sun and fun before heading home for a wonderful evening. I love these boys! xoxox

GO RAVENS! This greeted us at the park :)

Ready to launch!

I'm waiting dad!

running it to the endzone!

the boys :)

Thank goodness for Tiny Town

I am sure that in one of my past posts, I talked about Tiny Town. It's this play area in the mall, and it has make my child happy on numerous occasions. Today, it definitely saved the day. The weather was supposed to get into the 60's (what month is it again?!) and we had planned to go play outside at the tot lot with everyone after a good workout. I even packed lunch for E and I. Left the house and the sun hadn't even peeked out of the clouds, and it was still in the 40's. As I was driving, I also realized that there was no way that the playground would be dry enough for the kids to have fun. When I was making these realizations, five police cars zoomed past me onto the JFX. That is never good. I drove along perfectly expecting stand still traffic, and then saw the wall of police cars and cones that were guiding everyone off the expressway-fabulous. After a VERY scenic tour of Baltimore I make it to the mall and get my workout on for the remainder of class. Sarah and Megan both agree there is no way we are making it outside with sub par conditions. We do some light browsing of sales before taking our three rowdy toddlers downstairs to Tiny Town. These kids ran around like maniacs and loved every minute of it. Megan and N left when N figured out how to open the door and go into the mall by himself. Sarah and I took E and A a short while later to shop (awesome bargains and super cute buys) since E is outgrowing all of his clothes again! We topped it off with some serious people watching and lunch in the food court. We ran to put the kids in the car and said goodbye. E was asleep by the time I hit the JFX and he took a four hour nap. I was able to get a ton done! I love Tiny Town. The sun came out and it was lovely. When E was napping, of course. So Ferrous and I enjoyed it for a bit from the stoop, like a true Bawlmer folk. My legs are so sore I can barely move from the workout. What started out to be a mess of a day turned into a fabulous day!  Enjoy a few pics I snapped of the kids playing and a bonus pic of E and his new hat. xoxo

N and E being sillies

Taking some time to stop and smell the flowers

hamming it up

My sweet E in his new hat

December 2011

Its been about a month since I last posted! I took a break from blogging to focus on our family and all that had happened. In that time, Brian and I did a ton of talking, some crying, and pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps. We went to Texas and Arizona for two and a half weeks to spend the holidays with our families. E was so excited about flying that he was the best passenger (thank god). E was in love with all his family, and they absolutely spoiled him rotten (and us for that matter).  I loved spending so much time with my parents and brothers. It was like being wrapped up in an old favorite blanket that warms you inside and out.  The snow that crested the mountains and fell for three straight days was breathtaking. The hike in the mountain snow we took on Christmas Eve was an amazing memory. Getting spoiled with your mom's cooking is the best. The excitement on E's face on Christmas day was phenomenal, and the best Christmas present ever. Watching my sister in law face her battle with breast cancer head on was overwhelmingly inspiring. Getting a massage was so so needed. Shedding some tears with some family that asked,"How are you?" was healing. Getting asked when we plan on having more children was painful. It was fantastic to see E with all of his cousins. He ran right into the thick of things and loved playing with them all. Making a 9 mile pilgrimage to the mission was cleansing. Seeing my mom sit and read E a bedtime story was heartwarming. Watching my dad sit and draw with E for almost an hour was stirring. E having a special monkey yell with his tios Stevie and Justin was priceless. Brian watching E play in the front yard of his grandparents house (now his sister's house) was surreal to him. To observe my mother and father in law completely melt when E gave them kisses or said, "Nana or Grandpa Gene" was fabulous. Hearing E yell down the hallway for his Nanny Ellen was hysterical. Seeing E play with one of my oldest friend's baby girl was tear jerking. The trip was chaotic, so much to do in such a small amount of time. It was good medicine. It was just what the doctor ordered. We came back missing everyone back in Texas/Arizona; so happy to see our Ferrous Blue, and our big comfy bed. We unpacked, decompressed, and put all the loose pieces from our life back together. So long 2011, 2012 is here and I know it is going to be one crazy, amazing year! Cheers! xoxox

Tough Times

Things have been really tough in our household. We were excitedly anticipating sharing the exciting news with family and friends that we were expecting #2 during Christmastime. We started trying in October and with great success, again, I got my positive pregnancy test on Halloween. We were both thrilled, could not wait to have another sweet baby in our family. E was even talking about the baby, when he'd see the first sonogram picture he'd exclaim,"BABY!" We ordered an adorable shirt for E to wear to announce to everyone that he was going to be a big brother. It all changed last Wednesday. We were scheduled for our second sonogram. At 7:45am we left our house happy and excited to see the sweet pea bouncing around. At 8am we went into the sonogram room and the tech was very quiet. Having had one child already, we kind of know what to look for. We both knew something was wrong because we couldn't see the little flicker of the heartbeat like we had a few weeks earlier. The tech kept trying to find it, almost frantically. Every time she did, it was a flat line. Nothing. She asked me to hold my breath, that maybe she could find it that way. We tried this, in vane, for 5 attempts. Flat line, after flat line, until I broke down sobbing. Nothing anyone can say can prepare you for such a terrible moment in time. Nothing. I was quickly scheduled for a D & C the next morning, and honestly don't remember much from the conversation I had with our Doctor because I was numb and in shock. The surgery went well, and we came home. I was sidelined by how serious the surgery was and how I was now going through the full grieving process. We were both pretty defeated on Thursday. Lots of crying and questions. On Friday, I decided that for the first time in my life, I wasn't able to pull it together. It scared/s the crap outta me. Brian keeps assuring me that I am allowed and entitled to feel this way after this ordeal. I have no idea how I am going to get it together to travel cross country in one very short week. I cannot figure out what the heck to do with the sweet pea's first sonogram picture that sits on our kitchen island. I cannot even think about trying to have another baby right now, even though that seems to be everyone favorite thing to tell me. I understand that something was not right and that is why this baby did not survive, please don't tell me that either, because it doesn't make it easier. Bottom line. THIS IS HORRIBLE. I am also surprised at how taboo the subject of miscarriage is for people to talk about. The only joy I find is in my sweet son and amazing husband. They are the reason I get out of bed.  I am also touched by the love our friends have shown us here in Baltimore. We haven't had to cook dinner or lunch and have had lots of goodies dropped off, which has made life easier.Writing about this is very therapeutic. I know that this will get better with time. I hope that we do eventually get to have another healthy, beautiful child. For now, we are going to take some time to heal. We'd appreciate all the love and support you can give us during this hard time. xox

Playdate!

Friday, we had a play date with some of my girlfriends and their babies/toddlers. I have had the pleasure of knowing these ladies pre-children and my the fun we would have! We love getting together catching up, letting the kids tear apart toys, and then we ALWAYS line them up for a pic. It doesn't matter who is crying or if someone doesn't want to cooperate, we make it happen. Here is the progression of lineups from the last 20 months, enjoy!

The original two

E, C, and A

E, C , and A

E,A,C and baby C!

haha, no one is amused here

clowing around this Friday! These kiddos are SO BIG!

I look forward to many, many more line ups! It's always a good time with these cuties! xoxo