The Villano Buzz

Twins' Nursery

2011-06-06T19:05:00.005-04:00

The nursery is about as complete as it is going to get for these babies. We painted all the walls and ceiling, had crown molding installed and changed out the ceiling light for a chandelier. All in all, I am really happy with the way it turned out, especially considering it used to be our guest room. You would be surprised how difficult it is to come up with a room that fits both genders, which is why we ended up with the pink, blue and brown coloring.

A view from the door coming into the room:

A view of the wall between the closet and bathroom:

A view from the closet: I hope they like it!

Update on the Twins

2011-05-31T16:35:00.009-04:00

Today marks 32 weeks for me and the babies...such a big milestone for their development. I went to the perinatologist this morning to have the babies measured and have their biophysical profiles done. Both turned out great! Baby A "Reece" is measuring 4lbs 5oz and Baby B "Gabriella" is measuring 4lbs 4ozs. They have each gained a pound over the last two weeks! According to the doctor, they are estimated to weigh 7-7.5lbs each by the time they get here on July 5th ... craziness!!!! I don't have a new belly pic, but here are some pictures of the twins from my ultrasound two weeks ago and today:

Gabriella's side profile at 30 weeks...looks like she is waving :) Reece at 30 weeks with no feet in the way of his profile finally...chin tucked down in his chest Reece's side profile at 32 weeks...feet all stuck back in his face again

Gabriella at 32 weeks looking straight at us...she is in a weird positon across my belly but facing downward...hard to get good pics of either of them these days

I am getting so excited to meet them...only 5 weeks from today!

All-Stars

2011-05-31T16:17:00.003-04:00

The all-star season officially kicked off this weekend for Chase's team, the Sandy Plains Cougars, at the Lake City Classic in Acworth. It was a fun-filled weekend...three days, six games and lots of heat! The kids seemed to have a good time, but really started to drag by the third game in a single day. They will have to build some endurance as the summer goes on, and so will us parents that are there with them! The Cougars didn't win the tournament, but really put in a great effort. Here's to hoping they have a better outcome at the Shaw Park tournament that starts this Thursday. Here are some pictures from the first game of this weekend...so fun!

Twins Update - 24 Weeks

2011-04-04T11:37:00.004-04:00

Went back to the perinatologist this morning for our monthly check-up and they are doing great! Gabriella is measuring perfectly to date and weighs about 1lb 5oz. Reece is also measuring perfectly to date and he weighs about 1lb 8oz. All in all, they are growing just as they should, which in turn means, I too, am growing a lot! I feel huge and people continue to remind me of that everywhere I go. The doctor says I look just as I should for growing two tiny humans, so I will take peace in that and carry on :)

The doc got a sweet pic of Gabriella in 3D today, so I thought I would include that in this post. She kept giving us these little smiles in between sucking her thumb and/or hand...so cute! I can't tell who she looks like just yet. Reece was not being quite as cooperative, so no new good pics of him. He was too busy kicking his sister in the head during the whole appointment!

OMG!

2011-03-09T16:32:00.005-05:00

I didn't even realize how much bigger I am with these babies than I was in previous pregnancies...that is, until last night! Jay took the picture posted below and I was shocked when I looked at it. I knew I felt big, but it is amazing that I didn't see just how big I really am.

Here is a picture of me at 20 weeks with Chase. Yes, it was my first pregnancy and there was only one baby, but there is really no comparison!Now I just worry about what the next 16 weeks hold...I am only 5'2" for goodness sake!

Better late than never...Cole's 4th B-day Party

2011-03-06T20:43:00.003-05:00

Cole's 4th Birthday 12-21-10...Cole's Birthday Party 3-6-11

I know, I know, it is terrible of me to wait so long, but it has just been one thing after another. Christmas is a difficult time to have a party with his friends and I felt terrible during the whole month of January. When February finally got here, I made the reservation for a party, but that left us having the party the day before my birthday!

So, today was the day and it was so much fun! We had all of his friends join us to bounce and play for the afternoon at the Bounce House. Needless to say, Cole could have cared less that it was so far passed the actual day!

The Birthday Boy - playing basketball

Cole and his buddy Parker on the slides

He blew out the candles before the singing was done and was fairly proud of it!

Halfway There

2011-03-03T13:33:00.002-05:00

Well, I have officially made it past the halfway point with twins. I am coming up on 20 weeks on Monday and am just grateful that things have been fairly uneventful so far. I am growing at a much more rapid rate than in my previous pregnancies, but I guess that is to be expected with two babies growing in my 5'2" body.

As for the boys, we have been very busy with all sorts of activities this past month. Baseball started for both boys, so we are at the field most nights with practice. Games start this Saturday, so it is about to get even crazier! Chase is on the Orioles for the second Spring in a row and Cole is on the Astros. Both are really enjoying the season so far and I am enjoying being so involved with their teams before the babies come.

Jason and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary this past Tuesday and I will celebrate my 31st birthday on Monday. Other than that, we have just been taking things week by week!

I go back to the perinatologist on Monday and will scan in some of those u/s pics afterward. Now that the babies are getting so much bigger, the u/s pics are much better. In addition, I will try to remember to have Jay take a picture of my belly to post soon.

Half and Half

2011-02-07T13:06:00.003-05:00

Jason and I headed back to the perinatologist this morning for our 16 week check-up and to see if these babies would cooperate and show us their "parts." They both took a little poking and prodding, but eventually they showed us what we wanted to see. I am so excited to announce that we are having...
...
a BOY and a GIRL!

After 7 years of buying only blue, I can finally add a little pink to the mix! We are so excited to have boy/girl twins and to know that they are both growing well! I will post some ultrasound pictures a little later :)

Donuts with Dad, or in our case, Papa

2011-01-21T17:58:00.003-05:00

Thursday, Cole's class had donuts with dad. Jason had to be at his office for work-related obligations, so I turned to my dad to see if he would go in Jay's place. I met my dad there and we walked Cole into his class, since my dad had never been to his school before. Cole was very excited to have Papa there and thoroughly enjoyed eating the frosting off his donut and showing him around :)

Bunk Beds...

2011-01-19T15:37:00.006-05:00

That is how the sonographer described the babies placement to the boys. They think it is so funny to tell everyone that their babies are in bunk beds already, and I think it is pretty cute that they are so excited. Baby B is on top and Baby A is on the bottom:

We went in last Thursday for our 12.5 week appt and to have all the 1st Trimester screening stuff done. Turns out that the babies are very healthy and growing very well. Both measured a few days ahead of schedule, which is really good since Baby A was originally almost a whole week behind Baby B. Here are their sweet profile pictures:

Baby A

Baby B

The last thing they did was tell me what they think the sexes of the babies are based on what they saw on the u/s. However, I am holding out till Feb. 7th for the confirmation on those before I announce anything!

Snowed In

2011-01-12T16:14:00.003-05:00

Snowmaggedon 2011 hit Atlanta and has totally frozen over the city! We measured more than 6" on our back table. Although I haven't enjoyed being trapped in the house this long, the kids have had a real blast playing and sledding in it. We finally ventured out to Zaxby's today and I felt like a prisoner that had finally been released from jail...felt so good to be somewhere other than the house!

Me and my sweet boys heading out to sled at the neighborhood park!

Brotherly love in the snow!

All in all, it has been fun but I am ready to get back to normal now!

I'm Back

2011-01-12T16:03:00.002-05:00

Not sure if I am inspired to get this blog back up and running now because I feel like a prisoner with the snow or if it is because of the new babies on the way. Who knows what it is, but I am hoping to keep up with it this time.

As a little update on our lives since my last post (which was a very long time ago):

Chase started Kindergarten this year and just loves it! I am so proud of how well he is doing and how much he enjoys his teacher.
Cole is back at the church where he did 3-yr old school last year. He is in a 4 day program now and has such wonderful teachers to spend a few hours with each day. He enjoys his independent time away from the house as much as I enjoy a few quiet hours.
We have had a rough ride trying to have another baby, but are now being blessed with two! We are due on July 26th, but will probably have the babies by late June/early July. We are both excited and nervous to go from a family of 4 to 6! I am sure this blog will be filled with lots of details about the twins along the way.

My Little Fish

2009-06-16T16:38:00.003-04:00

Chase started swim lessons in May and has now completed two sessions at the Woodstock Swim School. After those two sessions, he can swim from one end of the pool to the other without floaties, float on his back unassisted, and dive down to the bottom to get dive rings/toys. He still has his moments where he gets scared that he can't do it (usually about halfway across the pool), but I think all in all, he has proven to himself that he can do it if he wants to.

I didn't get many pictures of his last lesson today b/c my camera died minutes after we got there (go figure!). However, I did get a picture of him after he dove to the bottom to get the rings and one of him with his teacher, Mr. Francisco. Francisco was awesome and a GT student to top it off...you know that scores extra points in my book! I am so proud of my little fish!

...now, if only Cole would stop crying at lessons long enough to learn something...

Backyard Transformation

2009-06-16T16:31:00.003-04:00

Over the last few months, we have worked diligently to create a backyard that is suitable for two wild and crazy little boys! We started with a yard that had multiple dropoffs and unusable pinestraw areas and ended with a wonderful play haven for the boys. Now, they can run loose and exert energy somewhere other than in my living room :)

Before

After

Because Chase did it...

2009-05-12T14:32:00.002-04:00

That is the reason for everything that Cole does these days. He thinks he is the same age as Chase and wants to do everything that Chase does. That is really cute until you have a morning like I did yesterday. I was woken by my two little boys as they rambled on and on about something and I attempted to ignore them and catch a few more minutes of sleep. However, after a few minutes I felt the need to check into whatever it was that they were talking about (and it proved to be a good thing that I did). I entered their bedroom and it smelled like pee, so I knew it was going to be bad. Turns out that Chase had an accident during the night...it happens, no big deal. This time it turned out to be a big deal. Apparently when Chase woke up, he told Cole that he wet the bed and left out the part about how that was a bad thing to do. Cole proceeded to stand up, pull down his pajamas and his pull-up and spray the entire bed, stuffed animals and the floor. When I asked what happened, he told me that "Chase wet his bed, so he did too!"

I am telling this story now so that I can laugh about it over the years. Needless to say, I was not laughing yesterday while I cleaned carpet, beds, sheets, and animals! Hope this gave you a good laugh for your day.

Spring Break: Day 1

2009-04-06T20:42:00.004-04:00

Easter Egg Decorating Day

The boys and I bought a sports egg decorating kit the other day and have been waiting on a day that was fit for the activity. Well, the weather for Spring Break day 1 fit the bill! I set everything up on the island in the kitchen and then surprised the kids when they got up from their nap. They were very excited and so anxious that they didn't want to leave the eggs in the dye for more than a minute (that is why some don't even look colored)! They each worked diligently on their eggs and then proudly displayed them for photos. It was a lot of fun and very cute!

Play Ball!

2009-04-06T20:29:00.003-04:00

Chase has begun yet another baseball season! He has gone from being on the DiamondJaxx to the DiamondBacks. Last season he played 4-yr-old T-ball and got a little bored with batting on the tee and not really keeping score. So, this year, we requested that he play up a level and on a 5-yr old coach pitch team. It has been a lot of fun so far, but very busy. We have multiple practices and games every week...making for a lot of mommy taxi time (and very little blog time)!

Must be tough...

2009-02-24T15:03:00.003-05:00

...to be a kid these days! I don't recall having the luxury of headphones and movies in the car when I was little. We just played made-up games or sang along with the radio. Cole on the other hand, doesn't know how to just ride in the car, even for a mile. Regardless of where we are going or how long we are going to be in the car, the first thing he asks for is his headphones and a movie. One afternoon, I decided to stop and grab a few pictures of him chilling in the back!

A "Zoo"tiful Day

2009-02-19T14:28:00.004-05:00

The past few weekends have felt like Spring and we have been loving it. Even though I am not totally ready to throw on a swimsuit, I do enjoy the samples of warmer weather that we have been receiving lately.

Our family has tried to do as much as we could outside before the cold came back again. One of our outings was to the zoo with our neighbors. It was so much fun and such a beautiful day to be outside! Below are just a few of our pictures...

Chase and Cole looking at one of the exhibits

Cole telling Michael about the animals

Chase flying on daddy's shoulder

Family Shot

Chase at the lion exhibit

Cole's New Love

2009-02-19T14:04:00.001-05:00

I thought it was bad enough that one of my boys had interest in girls, but both is so much worse. Chase's friend has a little sister, Whitley, that Cole is totally crazy about. Every time we pick Chase up from school or her mom is on carpool duty picking Chase up from the house, Cole has to know see Whitley. He gets all shy and smiley whenever she is around...it is just so cute!

The other week, I got the pleasure of keeping her at my house for a little while. Cole loved having her around!

WhitleyCole hugging her as she tries to crawl away (already playing hard to get!)

Hugging again (I promise he isn't hurting her even though it looks like he has her in a chokehold)

Camera Crazy!

2009-01-16T14:16:00.003-05:00

As we have done in past years, Jason and I decided not to exchange Christmas gifts this year, but instead just put the focus on the kids. So, I guess when he gave me a new camera on New Years Eve, that counted as "not a Christmas gift". I was totally surprised and very excited about my new toy. As everyone knows, I am a little camera/picture crazy with the kids. Becuase of my love of capturing all life's special moments, I have really wanted a Digital SLR for the last few years. Now I have one...yay for me...however, not so much for the boys! They are so tired of me using them as subjects for testing all the settings. However, I did manage to chase them around the house enough to capture a few shots!

Christmas at the Villano House

2009-01-06T20:42:00.002-05:00

Christmas was a little crazy at our house this year with me being under the weather. However, we made the most of it and tried to enjoy every moment with the kids. Santa visited the kids and left them some great presents (as if they needed anymore toys in the house).

Chase with his Power Ranger helmet

Cole and his power tools...dangerous isn't it!

Cole opening his Buzz Lightyear gun
The boys at their new table from the grandparents!

Brotherly Love!

Cole Turns 2

2009-01-06T20:23:00.004-05:00

Since I am really behind on my blogging, I thought I would post a slideshow with tons of pictures from Cole's second birthday. It was a wonderful time with family and friends. And, Cole truly enjoyed every minute!

Annual Gingerbread House

2008-12-15T10:06:00.005-05:00

Usually our gingerbread house is a Chase and mommy project, but this year Cole is finally old enough to help. After thinking about how to best split up the work between the two, I decided to split the house into Chase's half and Cole's half. It was very funny to see the difference in the two. Chase is very methodical and concerned about using every last candy piece to make the house perfect. Then there is Cole, who I spent most of the time telling not to eat the candy or icing. He liked decorating and did a great job, but would have been just as happy if I had let him eat the whole house instead. It was so much fun to have two helpers this year!

Gettin ready to start...

Cole adding decorations to my icing drops

Chase concentrating on the project at hand

Cole debating whether to eat or decorate with the candy

Chase fixing Cole's side for him

Santa in the Hood

2008-12-15T09:55:00.003-05:00

Santa made a stop at our neighbor's house on Sunday morning to visit with the kids and eat a little breakfast. The kids so loved seeing Santa in a peaceful environment (ie. not the mall). Although they have already done the mall visit, this was too much fun to miss. This year just seems to be a huge breakthrough for the two of them. Neither Chase nor Cole is scared to sit in his lap and they both just talk his ear off. I am starting to think it is because they have each other, but who knows!

Hectic Holiday Season

2008-12-09T17:10:00.004-05:00

So, the holidays are just not going to be a great time for me to blog. Things are just so busy and I just can't dedicate the little (to no) free time I have for blogging. Ever since Cole was born, the holidays have been more than just Christmas, as he was born on the 21st. Not to make excuses, but I am trying to prepare for his 2nd birthday, still working on a contract basis, trying to prepare for Christmas, playing tennis, trying to keep up with my great friends, spending time with my family and attempting to keep up with my regular duties here on the homefront. Bottom line, blogging hasn't been a high priority. However, I do plan to post pictures as I can from birthdays and holidays between now and the new year. Hopefully 2009 will provide a little more freetime for me!

Cole's Cold

2008-11-24T22:52:00.003-05:00

I mentioned that Cole had gotten sick before we left. Whenever he gets any respiratory illness, he always ends up on a nebulizer. This time, I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures of him while he was getting one of his treatments. He just looked so cute laying on daddy's chest cuddling with his lamb!

A trip for me and my boys

2008-11-24T22:28:00.004-05:00

Earlier this month, the boys and I hopped on a plane and headed to Jason's mom's in South FL for a quick trip. We did so much while we were there: parks, playgrounds, walks, the beach, dinners out, visits with great grandparents and shopping! It was a wonderful getaway and we are still having a hard time adjusting to how cold it is back here.

Pictures before our 1st big plane flight (Chase's 3rd and Cole's 1st)

Pictures from the beach

The boys out shopping (notice Cole's black eye? He is an accident waiting to happen!)

Cole eating a italian on our last night

Playing catch up

2008-11-24T22:20:00.003-05:00

I hate that I am so behind on my blog right now, but things have been very crazy here. I took the kids on a little get away to FL to have a break and enjoy the sunny weather. But, prior to leaving, I had a stomach bug and Cole ended up with a cold. While we were there, Cole shared his cold with Chase. When we got back, I came home to a sick husband. To say the least, it has been a sick Villano household over the last few weeks. With the holidays coming, I am going to do my best to keep my posts up! I intend to post pictures from our FL trip shortly.

At Last!!!

2008-11-04T20:12:00.007-05:00

All I can say is that it may not have been the prettiest game I have ever watched, but it was truly monumental! Jason and I sat in the stands on Saturday night screaming louder than ever before as Georgia Tech finally defeated Florida State. I say finally b/c it hasn't happened since 1975...yes, I said 1975! And, we were there to witness it firsthand. It was so much fun and the celebration continued for quite some time. Luckily it was the same day as Chase's last baseball game, so I had my camera on me to document the post-game flooding of the field.

A Season to Remember

2008-11-04T20:03:00.004-05:00

This past weekend marked the end of the third season of sports for Chase. To say the least, it was the best season so far! I just loved watching him play baseball and I know that he loved playing. He loved it so much that he was mad at me when I mentioned that Saturday was his last game. However, he ended the season with a bang, with multiple great hits and some great defensive plays as well. The moms were even calling him the team's power hitter...makes me smile just typing it :) After the game, the coach presented Chase with his very first trophy (soccer just gives them medals at this age). He couldn't stop talking about it and even took it with him to spend the night at Nana and Papa's house that night. Now we just wait till Spring for baseball to start again...can't wait!

Halloween Activities

2008-11-03T08:54:00.005-05:00

Somehow, every year, Halloween seems to go on for a week. And, this year was no different. One of our neighbors threw a Halloween party for the kids on the weekend before Halloween, Chase had a fall costume party at school and then, finally, there was the actual trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Since I am so behind on my blogging, I am going to post a blend of pictures from the events below...

Chase (the Power Ranger)

Cole (my cute little monkey)

Chase and Cole (one of the only shots of both together)

Chase and Spiderman Hunter

Cole and Gracie in the Magic Pumpkin Patch

Mommy and Cole

Papa with the boys

Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-20T14:56:00.005-04:00

Sunday we made our annual trip up to Burt's Farm in Dawsonville to get a few pumpkins and some fall pictures of the kids. However, this year was very different from last...it was crazy busy! There were people everywhere and longer lines than I have ever seen. Since we made the trip just in time for the kids naptime, it was understandable that they didn't have much patience. We opted out of the hayride and just decided to pick out some pumpkins, eat some boiled peanuts (mommy's favorite!) and get what pictures we could before a major meltdown occurred! It seems that our plan worked pretty well...there were only a few small meltdowns along the way and some serious resistance to pictures as a family. All in all, it was a beautiful fall day, a great drive through North Georgia and more great memories for the Villano clan!

A Buzz Birthday Bash

2008-10-17T13:28:00.006-04:00

For Chase's actual birthday, Jason and I decided to take him to his first "real" football game. We took him a few times when he was a baby and a toddler, but this was the first time as a big kid. We left Cole with Grandma and spent a whole day just me, Jay and Chase. We headed down to GT early on Saturday morning and let Chase get a taste of tailgating for the day. He met one of Jason's frat brother's little boys and just had a blast playing with him most of the day. We took him to traditional gameday activities, that we don't usually do, like the Wreck parade where you cheer on the team as the players follow the wreck to the stadium. Then, when it was gametime, we headed off to the stadium. We had 7th row seats on the 45 yard line. Our normal seats are much higher, but since it was vs. Gardner-Webb, a lot of people didn't go and we were able to use some neighbors' seats to get closer for Chase. Little did we know that the game would be so close, but it made for a fun ride! Chase had a great time and so did we!

Chase in the stadium before the gameChase and Jonas at the Wreck Parade

Me and Chase at the GameJason and Chase at the game

4 years gone by...

2008-10-15T08:57:00.005-04:00

It is hard for me to believe that it has been 4 years since Chase came into our lives. When he was born, I thought that time was moving so slow, and now, I look back and it has flown by! He has become this precious little boy with one of the sweetest souls you will ever meet.

Then (October 2004)

Now (October 11, 2008)

Pictures from his birthday weekend to come...

Good Times with Grandma

2008-10-09T12:57:00.004-04:00

I have been a little delinquent in my posting over the last few days (which is why there are about 4 new posts today), but it was for a good reason! Jason's mom, Janet, has been in town visiting with me and the kids. I say me and the kids b/c Jason is always traveling when she is here. It has been a lot of fun and we have been keeping very busy with the boys. We are just so grateful that she was able to make it up for Chase's 4th birthday this coming weekend!

Grandma and Cole when we were out shopping!

Grandma and Chase cooking dinner

Backyardigans Birthday

2008-10-09T12:44:00.005-04:00

Cole's girlfriend, Gracie, turned two last week and her parents threw a huge backyard party with the Backyardigans for all of her friends and family. Cole loved being at the party, getting to have cake and playing on the playground. That was, until the Backyardigans really showed up! Cole (and Chase) did not like the them in person! They must look so nice on tv when they are a few inches tall...not so fun in person, when they are two or three times bigger than you! As you can see, until the Backyardigans left, someone was holding Cole at all times, and Chase wasn't too far away either! Cole almost came around and gave Yuniqua a high-five...but he changed his mind when daddy got him close!

Picture Day

2008-10-09T12:43:00.001-04:00

Chase practicing his smile before picture day at school...

Fall is Here

2008-10-09T12:39:00.003-04:00

As Chase left for school the other morning, it was the first time I really felt like it was Fall! Both boys put on little hooded jackets before we left the house and I had to snap a picture or two. I just love this time of year!

Game Ball

2008-09-29T14:58:00.004-04:00

Saturday was Chase's second baseball game and it was quite a special one. He was catching balls and making plays like he really is starting to understand how it works. He played so well that the coach awarded him with the game ball! I was (and still am) so proud of him! I didn't get a great picture of him with his game ball, but I posting the one I did get.

Chase sliding into home

Playing pitcher

Chase with his game ball!

Brotherly Love

2008-09-25T19:48:00.003-04:00

Much to my surprise this morning, Cole woke up not feeling very well. He has been fine the last few days and hasn't had any symptoms of being sick. So, I think this is just all related to teething, with him cutting so many teeth at one time. Regardless, Chase was very concerned about his baby brother. Chase watched me holding Cole on the couch and just kept asking for me to let him hold him. It was so cute, even with Cole looking so pitiful, that I had to take a quick picture.

As you can see, we are all back to normal this afternoon. The boys spent the evening coloring together in the kitchen, like most evenings while mommy cleans up from dinner.

Ahh...Beer

2008-09-18T13:57:00.009-04:00

And, so it begins, another beer admirer is born! I guess it is only natural for boys to be amazed by beer. I guess my only question is why they aren't amazed by a can of Coke? Every little boy just loves beer, first Chase, and now Cole.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2008-09-18T13:57:00.004-04:00

Tuesday was Jason's 28th birthday...ha, I am no longer older than him! The boys and I decided to have a quiet family birthday party at the house for him when he got home from work. I made dinner and the boys made homemade cards that they taped to the door for him to see as he walked in.
And, my mom brought over a red velvet cake for him. The boys thought it was so cool that it was daddy's birthday (and that they got to eat cake)!

Time with Baby "Ewwa"

2008-09-15T21:02:00.003-04:00

Erin and Ella (or "Ewwa" if Chase or Cole is talking) came to our house to play again today. The boys just love her and I love getting to spend time with Erin. Here are a few pictures from this afternoon.

Chase's 1st Game

2008-09-15T20:49:00.004-04:00

Chase played in his first T-Ball game the other weekend and it was by far the cutest thing I have ever seen! There were kids going all over the place, running the bases out of order, hitting a ball and then fielding it themselves, etc. There was even a point where Chase was playing 1st Base and made a great play...that is, until he threw the ball at the base to get the kid out. After talking with his coach, he now he knows that he is supposed to take the ball with him and step on the base or throw the ball to someone instead. In the end, all of us parents were completely entertained!

At First Sight Photography

2008-09-05T22:45:00.007-04:00

I am so excited to have a preview of the pictures from our family photo shoot in Downtown Woodstock a few weeks ago. We used a friend of a friend of a friend who is just starting her photography business. All I have to say is looking at the pictures she has done for us as well as others, you would think she has been doing this for years! I would highly recommend her to anyone, especially if you have young children. She is so patient and great with the kids!If you want to see more of her work, check out her blog: http://www.atfirstsightphotography.blogspot.com/ or visit her website: http://www.atfirstsightphotography.com/ .

Here are the pics from our preview...

The time has finally come...

2008-09-04T13:53:00.002-04:00

Chase has started baseball! I think this has been my dream since the day we were told he was a boy. As a child, I spent almost every weekend at the ballpark with my family. Whether it was me playing softball or my brother playing baseball, we were always there. And, let me tell you, those are some of my greatest childhood memories, and I am so looking forward to making new memories my own kids!

I only took a few pictures at this practice, but the first game is this Saturday, so there will be more to come! I can't wait to see him in his DiamondJaxx uniform!

We Belong in the Zoo

2008-09-04T13:46:00.004-04:00

On Tuesday, we made a quick trip down to the zoo while Jason was still off work. It was so nice outside and there were very few people at the zoo, so the day was very pleasant. We buy an annual pass each year b/c the boys just love going to see all of the animals! I think the car magnet we got with this year's pass says it all..."We Belong in the Zoo!"

Family afternoon in the park

2008-09-01T15:37:00.004-04:00

Today we ventured to this amazing park near our house...little did we know how wonderful it was! Apparently it is the largest playground in the state of GA. The picture below is of the playground for the kids over 5, but there is also one the same size for kids under 5.

Anyway, Jason took a few days off to make this long weekend even longer, so we have been trying to get out and do fun things as a family. Needless to say, the kids loved this so much that they didn't want to leave when it was time to go. I am sure we will be back more often after that visit!

Cole on the slide

Chase in motion on the swing!

Cole hanging out in the bucket swing

Chase finally climbing on something other than my furniture!

So Lucky

2008-09-01T15:32:00.004-04:00

I just thought I would make a point today to say how grateful I am for my two precious boys! Sometimes I think I just get so caught up in my busy life and forget to just stop and say thanks for these tiny blessings!

Chase's First Day

2008-08-26T13:40:00.006-04:00

Today marks another milestone in my life as a mom...the first day of preschool. Chase got up this morning so excited about meeting new friends and getting off to preschool, even with the horrible weather. He was super cute about the whole thing and explained repeatedly to Cole, that when he gets bigger he can go with him to preschool. It is nothing like daycare used to be as he only goes 3 days a week from 9 - 12, but it still felt weird to go through the carpool line and drop him at the door to a teacher. However, when I picked him up, he just looked so happy and proud to have been at a "big boy" school for the morning!

One last picture before we leave the house!

His new bookbag that he has to take home every day so that I can sign papers...seems a lot like real school!

Chase and his picture he made for his new teacher (waiting in the carpool line).

Playdate with Ella and Aunt"E"

2008-08-20T17:44:00.003-04:00

Today we invited our friends Erin and Ella over for a little playdate. Erin and I have known each other since we were young children and now, here we are having playdates with our own children! It is just so special to have such a great friend to share all of the mommy experiences with...plus, Ella is too cute for words!

The boys enjoyed having a little girl in the house, especially Chase. He is so mature now and was just sweet as can be with Ella. He would share with her and help her get things to play with. I was so impressed with the way he acted around her. Then there is Cole, who was not quite as receptive. I don't think he got his nap out before they got here, so he was a bit irritable. In addition,I think he was a bit jealous of mommy being around another baby.

Overall it was just so good to see them both and catch up on our new lives as stay-at-home moms! We definitely plan to make this a regular thing, both with and without the kids!

First Kiss

2008-08-20T08:09:00.002-04:00

So I was hoping it wouldn't happen so soon, but what can I say, Cole can be such a cutie sometimes! It all started last night when we were playing with our neighbor's little girl, Gracie, at their house. As dark approached, I mentioned that we needed to leave. Before I knew it, Gracie is pointing at Cole to give him a hug. Then, it happened...Gracie gave Cole a big kiss on the lips! Well, I call it a kiss, but they really just opened their mouths and pressed up against one another. Still, it was so cute and I am just so proud that he picked such a cute little girl for his first. I didn't have my camera with me, but here is a picture of Gracie from another playdate...just a doll!

A Family Day at Stone Mountain

2008-08-17T09:53:00.007-04:00

Well, prior to me quitting my old job, I was the Summer Party planner for the office. Since I had already planned this day out at Stone Mountain for the company, they invited us to come along and partake in the fun! We had so much fun, starting with a big catered picnic at one of the outdoor pavilions at the bottom of the mountain.
After that, we headed off to see the sights with the Underwoods. The train was the first requested activity by Chase. Plus, we thought it would be a chance for all of us to cool down just a little bit! Turns out, the train brought the rain...as soon as we got off, it began to pour!
After waiting out the rain for almost an hour, we were back out and on our way to the SkyRide to go to the top of the mountain. Much to our surprise, when we got there, that part of the park had no power from the storm. So, the kids played for a while and then Dannie and I decided to take the babies to her hotel room for a little R&R (no nap as of 4 pm is a little scary). After trying really hard to get them to rest, as seen in the following picture, we gave up and headed back for some dinner.
Once dinner was done, we attempted the SkyRide again, just Dannie, me and the kids. What an adventure...on the top of a huge rock with three little ones going every which way! It was crazy but a lot of fun.
Once the sun set at the top of Stone Mountain, we headed back down to watch the Laser Show. We all had a wonderful time, and much to our surprise, both kids made it to 10:30 at night without a nap! Needless to say, they crashed before we got out of the parking lot to drive home!

Cooking out with the Underwood Family

2008-08-17T09:46:00.003-04:00

It has been a while since Cole and his buddy Logan played together, so we thought it was time to get the Underwood's over for a cookout. Braxton and I used to work together at GDS, and through him, I became friends with his wife Dannie. Dannie and I were pregnant together and ended up having Logan and Cole exactly six weeks apart. They are so cute together and had a really good time playing outside in the yard, even with Logan falling and getting a big bump on his head!

Three for a day

2008-08-14T19:56:00.006-04:00

Today I decided to give a very pregnant friend a much needed day off to enjoy herself before baby Jack arrives next Friday. I took her 3-year-old daughter Sophia to spend the day with us. We had quite a day...I picked her up early this morning, went to bounce at the Bounce House for a few hours, went out to lunch, stopped in Publix for a few things and then came home to bake cupcakes and play for the rest of the day. Whew, just reciting what we did makes me tired! Anyhow, the kids really enjoyed baking with me, especially the frosting part. As a matter of fact, I think they ate more frosting than they put on the cupcakes themselves.

I know all of you moms are looking at these pictures and wondering what I was thinking letting them use knives. Let me just assure you that these are Pottery Barn Kids knives and are not sharp...just perfect for spreading frosting!

After Cole woke up from his nap, he enjoyed a well-frosted cupcake as well! I guess this is what he would look like if he could grow a mustache!

Two old friends hanging out together for a day. Oh yeah, did I mention that they thought it was fun to hold wedding ceremonies over and over again today? I am just curious as to whether or not Chase asked Mr. Dave for his permission!

We can't wait to meet baby Jack next week!

Good Times with the Goodakers

2008-08-11T09:09:00.006-04:00

We had our old neighbors (Chip, Theresa, Sydney and Madelyn) over the other night for a cookout, following a full day of shopping for me and Theresa. Chase has known Sydney and Madelyn since he was born and tells everyone that they are his sisters. So, we can't let him go very long without seeing them or he gets terribly sad. After a long day, Chase and Sydney curled up on the couch for a movie.

Since Cole nevers slows down, he hung outside with Madelyn and watched Chip and Jason play card games.

Our family truly misses seeing them across the street everyday!

It's Potty Time...

2008-08-11T09:02:00.003-04:00

Well, it has begun...Cole has decided he wants to potty train. Sometimes, I think he does more playing on the potty than anything else. He plays basketball with the trashcan, reads books, trys to suck on his toes, pretty much anything you can think of, he does it! So, the other day he decided to use his shorts as the object of entertainment. He kept putting them on his head and then pulling them off to shoot a basket with them. He is actually pretty funny and has gone potty quite a few times!

Let's Bounce...

2008-08-07T13:49:00.005-04:00

Well, today was our weekly playgroup in the neighborhood. Instead of our usual pool or playground meeting, we ventured out to the Bounce House. There were about 8 moms from the neighborhood with their little ones, so it was a nice social event for the parents and a great use of energy for the kids! As you can see, the kids had a wonderful time...

Chase, Hunter and Kyra thought it would be fun to try and go up the slide...it didn't work too well.

After our fun morning at the Bounce House, a few of us took the kids to McDonalds (Old McDonalds, if you ask Chase). To say the least, both of mine were asleep before we made it to the house!

Computer Crazy

2008-08-05T19:11:00.004-04:00

So, Cole's new favorite thing is my computer. Every time I turn my head, I find him up in my office chair typing on my computer. It is to the point that when he is quiet that I know exactly where he has run off to! This picture is from the other week, but I assure you, nothing has changed since it was taken!

New Kicks!

2008-08-05T14:00:00.003-04:00

Well, I was going to post this a few days ago, but we recently had our modem go bad. I don't know how I even survived before we had internet. I have felt lost for the last few days, as I lived without any internet or email activity. The UPS man must have thought I was psycho as I ran to the door to accept the package with our new modem a few minutes ago!

Anyway, although the boys don't really need to go back-to-school shopping, I always feel the need to join all of Cobb and Cherokee Counties for tax-free shopping. This year, the boys needed shoes. With both of them growing like weeds, none of last year's shoes fit. Chase is now in the sizes where they look like big kid shoes (Jason made fun of me as I teared up looking at his feet). Chase got a pair of Saucony tennis shoes and Cole got some little Keds. They were so cute, I made them let me take a picture of their feet!

Playdate at "PLAY"

2008-08-01T15:13:00.004-04:00

Today we joined our neighbor Shannon and her daughter Gracie for a playdate at "PLAY" in Roswell. It was an indoor activity center for kids with foam pits, trampolines, a bounce thing, etc. Chase and Cole both loved it and didn't want to leave. I guess we will be venturing back there again in the near future!

Here we go...

2008-08-01T15:06:00.003-04:00

Well, this is going to be interesting...I am attempting to join in on the trendy blog thing (for the second time). Since I have become a stay-at-home mom, I am thinking that I will have a lot more to share with everyone a lot more often. Since there are so many people in so many places, I am hoping that updating this blog will be a good way to share all of our wonderful family adventures. I am not a big writer, so expect more pictures than anything!