Record keeping, again

I'm going to (again) be updating the blog with some of my random facebook posts & photos from the past year so that I can make my blurb book out of the blog.  A few weeks ago I came across a company that *finally* caught on, and created a program to make a book out of your facebook feed!  Finally!!!  But I already have this one going, and I have been really thinking about what I post on facebook and my reasons for posting, or the implications of it at least.  So it hasn't been incredibly active lately.  I have phases of more posting, but I have been in quiet a long phase of resistance lately.  Resisting it feels right, actually.  But it's a great record of funny things the kids have said, photos, milestones, etc-- so this is my little record-keeping "scrapbooking" project.  Transferring snippets back here again. 

We're Back! And I'm Older...

What a horrible blogger I have been! So sporadic!

But I'm filling myself up with my days, and it's been good.

I don't think that blogging is a 'waste of time'. I really enjoy writing & documenting & journaling, as well as reading over at my friends places. But I have gotten tired of the computer and the TV and anything else that sucks my time away. I had stopped computer-ing while kids were awake, but then began to backslide a bit here & there. So now I'm back to naptimes & bedtimes, which is the reason for the lack of posts. Because even though my kids sleep multiple times per day, I'm realizing that I'm not feeling fulfilled if I spend the entire naptime on the computer. In fact, the opposite is true. I feel behind. Like I should have cleaned the bathroom or something. Or, at the least, read a book or showered or something.

I'm noticing a lot of bloggers are taking bloggy breaks this summer.
Not that this is a bloggy break, either. Just a technology protest of sorts.

Anyways, I came back to say HI.



Kevin and I just got back from our vacation! We were away from the kids for 4 whole nights!!! We enjoyed ourselves, and yes, I missed them! I bawled when I dropped them off, I got teary-eyed a few times as we boarded the ship, but I didn't cry any other times. (Can you believe it!?!?) That doesn't mean they weren't in the forefront of my mind. I had nightmares every night and all day kept talking about this cute thing Jake says or that cute thing Austin does. I'm so happy to be with my babies again!!!

You're probably wondering why I haven't covered the post with vacation photos yet... that would be because my camera went missing right in time for our trip. Sweet! Can you picture my frantic search when, the morning of our departure, I realized that it's not in it's charger where I thought I left it? What a nightmare for a picture freak!

So, photos pending-- I need to develop my little disposable camera.

Oh, by the way, I am now THIRTY!

HOLY COW!!!! I'm not in my twenties anymore! That is shocking. I know, it's not old. But it is shocking. I am happy with where I am right now. Married to my guy, mommy to two beautiful boys, steady jobs and a home in a town that we love. If I have to be thirty already, at least it's at a time when I feel settled & fulfilled. Thirty. It still shocks me every time I think or say it!

A girl I met on our vacation told me that thirty is the new twenty. Hmm... maybe I like that.

Kevin thinks that 40 will be harder than 30. I don't think so. I'm going to embrace 40. But I'm just not quite ready for my 30's. I feel so young! Like 25-26 young!

The days when 30 was old still feel like they weren't too long ago. And now I realize that the young kids who I thought I related to, actually think that I'm old! Oh no! heehee

P.S. 30 isn't stressing me out. These are just some of my random 30-thoughts. It does shock me because I don't think about age that much, so it kinda crept up on me & takes me by surprise. Kinda like when I dyed my blonde hair auburn and I would see my reflection in a window. I really don't care much about it, though. It's a funny thing, I didn't expect the 'surprised' feeling!

God is Good!!!!

Two things that made me smile (and cry like a baby) today:

THIS long-awaited post by my sweet friend. Woo Hoo!!!!! {{Ash, we are rejoicing with you! Wishing you endless sweet moments with your little family back together again! xo}}

and THIS sweet note (letter to self in 1987 by Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer)

It was a good, honest try...

So much for trying to make my own banners and editing html on blogger!!! I tried for a good 2 hours and I'm sleepy... but I had fun!

I know I will be more successful with a different blogger template, but I'm afraid of switching templates without first backing up my blog.

Is it possible to lose everything in this process?

And, again, I just don't know how to back up my blog. So feel free to chime in!

Wedensday's Memory Verse, and other random thoughts

Oh no! My brain! The more verses I add, the more I mix up the locations! (Ephesians 4:29, no, 4:13, no, 3:17...)



So I'm still reviewing each one so those locations can sink in, but I'm going to press on and add another one this week.






My bulletin board is full, but I can't bring myself to remove any of the verses because I love them so much!!!



So here it is, I really love this one:



"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)





This one was the runner-up:



"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1Peter 1:13 (NIV)



(If you want to memorize two this week, help yourself, but I sure won't!) I love that this (2nd) verse is a call to action. I'm working on self-control. Controlling myself in finances, controlling the words I speak, and controlling my emotions/frustration. I'm telling you, that last one, I can't do it without God! I can't do a lot of things without Him! Since I had Austin, my life has changed. Of course in the obvious ways, you know, being a mommy-of-two. But my world has seriously been rocked, and I'm so thankful for it, because it's caused me to realize (again) that I'm not in control and I can't do it without Him. I don't want to! I had been crying out for years and years, that I felt far away, that I had distanced myself and didn't like it but couldn't get back to how I used to be. He hears and answers-- in His time and in His way! Yes!!





I haven't posted in a while, (for a few reasons.) My maternity leave ended so I'm back to work, and I also have the new goal to not use the computer when Jake is awake. So when I do use the computer, I'm often on for a quick moment to check emails and read the blogs of a few friends (new & old!) And of course, I always manage to find a random topic (or 7) that need(s) to be googled and researched thoroughly. What did we do before the internet!?

So I haven't had much time to post. Which has prompted me to think about this blog a bit. I didn't intend to be a blogger. I especially didn't intend to write personal things on here! I debated whether I should continue it and what direction it should be going. I really do love it. It's a nice outlet, a nice record to look back on, and a great community of friends.

Through reading and getting to know you all, my friends!, I've grown so much. Although I love using this space to reflect on and record the joys and blessings in our lives, the other stuff is just as much a part of the journey. It's through struggles that we learn and grow.

SO, (conclusion to my rambling), I've decided that if I'm going to write anything personal in this place, I want it to be real, so I need to post even the harder things. Still, I'm not sure how often I will be divulging such personal glimpses of myself. I'm not great at that. We'll see. I just can't go around posting Bible verses without exposing the fact that I don't always live up to the ideals I have for myself and my family! I'm just an ordinary girl, trying to live my life to His glory. And definitely learning as I go, as we all are.



So for now... I'll just be writing whatever, whenever- and sharing pics of whatever, whenever.

And I'll try not to think about who is reading and what they may think! You all have been such a great support system and source of encouragement and inspiration! I thank you for that and maybe by allowing myself to be more open, I can be the same. If nothing else, a reminder that you aren't alone. (Say, when you cry like a baby over spilled milk, literally. I've totally done that!) LOL

And to remain true to my blog's original purpose... pics of MY BOYS!!!!! I love 'em, I love 'em!!!
BTW, these little guys are more fun/interesting/captivating than anything I have EVER written!!!!

Pictures of the last few days

Here's our stroller in the new configuration. We LOVE it!! Jake had fun pushing his brother around the beach today!



ETA (Edited to Add): I've been spending more time on the internet when Jake is awake. I hate this! I've been feeling actually very terrible about it, and made a resolve to restrict my internet time to naps and after bedtime. Consequently, I stayed up *way* too late lastnight & tonight. BUT, we had a great time at the beach today, and we actually got out of the house and went to church. (What happened once we got there is an entirely different story, which I won't get into right now. Suffice it to say that I probably caught 5 full minutes of the service and 1/2 of a song. And I arrived early, so that wasn't the issue!)

So anyways, It's not that I spend hour upon hour online, but I have been thinking quite a bit about how I get 'trapped' on the internet and how it's taken quality time away from my kids. (Not to mention the many other things I could do that would be a better use of my time!)

And then today I ran across this, which totally brought it home. It's been a great conviction and my new resolve, but, wow, I will NEVER forget these words:

"...Give your children lots of tiny moments. When they approach the computer, turn your chair around and look them in the eye, and if you find more in their eyes than on the screen, get up and take them on a nature walk or read a book to them. Pandemonium will still be there when you return."

Oh! My little heart!!! Especially as I remember the times my baby boy has come to my desk reaching to me and saying, "up!" "up!" ...And I scoop him up onto my lap and continue what I'm doing. Ooohhh!

I win! I win! I win!

A BLOGGY MAKEOVER!!!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!! I'm so super excited! So stay tuned, this place is about to get a bit more "Megan", yay! (P.S. I have *never* won ANYthing! It is fun! Next stop, Super Lotto! LOL)

Thank you, Melinda at Rag Tag Believer. I can't wait to see my purty new look!

Dropps Laundry Detergent

I'm not writing this so I'll have an extra entry in the giveaway (though it's a cool bonus!) I'm really excited about it. I've heard such great things about this laundry detergent (Dropps), and the contest is to win a years supply. (I currently use Charlie's Soap, and *love* it! This detergent is also earth-friendly, enzyme free, etc...) So I definitely entered and wanted to share the opportunity with all of yous!!! {{ Head over HERE to enter! }}

A not so picture-perfect moment, which is just perfect

These are cell-phone pictures. And they aren't great-- at all! But I had to post them. They capture something of my life. Some beautiful imperfection. I'm a mom of two boys under two, and I'm learning as I go. I'm growing as I go. These boys are my pride and JOY (not to sound cliche, it's true!)

So this first picture... I'm holding the camera (phone) up and trying to take a self-portrait of myself, Jake and baby Austin (in the front-carrier... can you see his little profile?)





















But in mid-photograph, something upsets Jake and I end up capturing a picture of me doing what I do. Being a mommy to my babies. And I absolutely love it. It makes me SEE myself in action, as a mom.

(I'm always the one taking the pics, and if I'm not taking it, it's because I've handed the camera to someone and it's a posed group shot). So for me, it's a really cool picture.

This is right where I want to be, and exactly what I want to be doing! Kissing boo-boos, giving hugs, reading books and saying bedtime prayers-- just soaking in all these moments. With my hands full and my heart SO overflowing.

Ahhhh, I am thankful~*


......I have no words.....























P.S. Sorry for a "me" post. I'm not sure what my blog is all about. I love it though. I don't want it to be about me. Our family & friends have enjoyed keeping up this way, and seeing pics of the boys. That was the primary goal. But it's morphed into something else. I have loved having a place to contemplate some of the things I'm learning. And occasionally I've posted some information from my frequent researching. It's a bit of everything. It's also a creative outlet, an online scrapbook and even journal maybe. I love the friends I've met here. It's also really cool to have for my boys to look back on- just more evidence of how much their momma loves them. I've always kept a journal as an outlet, but I stopped keeping a regular journal when I got married and graduated college. This (kinda) fulfills that desire.

Free stuff...

OH NO! This has kept my interest for many of my (few) spare moments the last 2 days. I've heard so much about it so I thought I'd just check it out. I was thinking it would just be small, and maybe, you know, uninteresting items. But there are some very generous people out there hosting amazing giveaways!!! Darling handbags, aprons, baby carriers, blog layouts, jewelry... I cannot believe how many people participate in this! I wish I had something to give away! But I have certainly found the time to enter a few of these contests. Though now I'm back to mommy stuff. Have a beautiful day!!!

You're the lucky ones!

just kidding!

Thank you for the tip about blogger having invite-only options! I also discovered how to add that nifty "TITLE" up there! Woo Hoo! I've been *wondering* how you all do that!!!

So, since now nobody else can read this but you guys, I can expand a bit. ... ... But now I'm so freaked out that I don't think I'll say much more than this-- Kevin's job and the safety of our family are the reasons that I had to make it private. I didn't hear any stories specifically about blogs, but I did hear stories about bad people targeting the families of four persons in the same line of work as my wonderful hubby. Luckily they caught the guys before they carried out their plans, but it is scarey that there are people out there like that! It's HIGHLY unlikely that anybody would randomly run across my blog, recognize him, *and* find enough identifying/locating info!! But my sister and husband ganged up on me and scared me into it-- and it didn't take much. It was just a realization that even though it's SOOOO unlikely, any tiny ounce of a chance that I'm putting my precious family at risk is enough for me. It's that dumb job again! :) I love that he loves his job, of course...

Anyways, gotta get to bed-- sorry for the boring posts!

OH! Austin's 2-wk check up was good. He's now 9 pounds and 20 1/2 inches. WOW! Just over 1 1/2 pounds of weight gain in just two weeks, all from mamas milk! (Jake was the same birth weight, and I was impressed by his whopping 8-11 weight at his 2-wk check... and Austin has exceeded his brother's! He is 1/2 inch shorter. Fun to compare, but everyone says don't do it. It's just fun & interesting. I love my boys!!!)

Go look at the moon, it's brilliant!!! I stepped out of the hospital tonight and was taken aback by it!
It was super busy at work-- it's so nice to be home in my comfy clothes with my guys (hubby & baby)! I'm about to pick up my project and enjoy some knitting & chamomile before bed-- so relaxing! This is the start of a pair of 'shorties' for new baby. I am winging it a bit... no idea what the size will be, how they will fit or look-- they might end up looking more like a soaker or diaper cover. We'll see! It's been good to dust off the looms though~*


P.S. PLEASE tell me that you are having problems with Blogger too (& it's not just my computer!) ... for *weeks* now, I've been having trouble EVERY time I try to view 'comments' on other blogs, and especially when I want to post comments... Anybody else? I'm hoping this will resolve, it's getting ridiculous!
*~*~*~Have a beautiful night! ~*~*~*

SURPRISE! I'm three months pregnant... (again)... I can not believe it. But I guess if you don't know already, nows the time to share the news. Just to answer the question on everybodys minds: we weren't 'trying' and I absolutely don't feel "ready"!! I have 6 more months to get there though. Kevin is super excited! So that's the biggest reason that I haven't posted in forever!! I've been using every single spare moment (think: Jake's twice daily naptimes!) to catch my own rest. I'll try to be better about posting, especially as I get my energy back, I'm anticipating feeling better any day now! (Fingers crossed!) Jake is doing great. He'll be 10 months old in just a few days! He scoots all over the place, says Dada & Mama (and a few others: ba=bottle, oh=UhOh, nana=banana), and he eats everything from fresh fruit to grilled cheese! (He's growing so fast!) He just got his 6th tooth too! P.S. the picture (ultrasound) was when I was 8wk. We have another one on Wednesday. Hopefully we'll get a cute picture from that one! Here's a little hint, in case you are brave & want to try to interpret the picture below... It's upside down. Not the most clear pic either! The other 3 pics are from a recent little trip down to our little beach. Jake really wanted to eat the sand this time!