La Fiesta!

Our kids are started early on Mexican food!



Emery with her first chips at El Sombrero.



Jesse, with his first bowl of chips during his first trip to Papa's and Beer.

No Contingency Clause Here

I'm glad and I'm sure you are too that my JOY comes from the LORD and not my circumstances. My happiness and peace of mind are not contingent on the every day happenings in the Ladd home.

I just wanted/needed to make that clear. I tend to be a glass half empty kinda blogger.

I have more good days than bad days around here and I don't necessarily blog about all the good ones, because well blogging is cheap therapy! Ha!

And frankly I like to keep it real and I know that when I read that other bloggers/friends are going through the same struggles I am, I feel less alone, So I share my struggles hoping you can feel the same: less alone in the big ol world of mommyhood/wifeness.

Plus rainbows and sunshine blogs are just kinda boring to me and I know it aint tha truth! I know every one's got good and bad days just like me.

So that's my disclaimer. Trust me, I've seen my share of REAL problems, tragedy, loss etc. I have no real problems here. I get that.

My children are my greatest blessings, I want a million more! I mean have you seen my kids? Who wouldn't want more?

Operation: Get Myself Together

I am fruuuummpeeey.

I've got to get it together! Being stuck in the house for a month does nothing for your self confidence let me tell ya!

Not only does my body look like a deflated whale, I'm lucky if I get my teeth and hair brushed every day.

So I'm making a hair appointment to get a cut and some color to hopefully jump start my return to the real world!

For a stay at home mom it's easy to get stuck in the mind set that appearance doesn't matter, because you've got "nowhere to go or anyone to impress". I struggle with this BIG TIME especially after having a baby.

After waiting 9 months for the big day, it's kind of a let down once the baby comes and there isn't this huge life change to look forward to anymore.

I've found myself thinking, "what is there to look forward to now??"

Benji's going to The Masters in April, has his DNow coming up, his beloved turkey season, golf season... TWO beach trips AND Brazil in June, NOW THAT is something to look forward to!

I get to look forward to staying home by myself while he's gone! Yes!

Okay, Okay I know. No body wants to hear me complain. But this is my blog and this is where I am today.

I know it gets better, I know this is my choice and just a season in life. I know how fast it goes. I just have to remember to take it day by day, because if I look at the big picture it gets way overwhelming.

The Best 100 Bucks I've Ever Spent

The best money I've spent in awhile was spent on my new telephono!

I would be for sure crazy by now if I didn't have my new DroidX. It was my "thanks for having my baby" gift.

The best part about it is the camera(and the facebook access of course).

I love being able to snap photos of Emery and Jesse at a moments notice because we all know how fast moments pass with little ones. :)

We are having a great time cuddling and loving on our new baby. AND loving on our new big sister....even though she tries our patience these days, she is still adorable and super loving MOST of the time.

My mom came up this week and spent Thursday with us. She basically kept the kids while I napped and went to eat lunch with Benji. I'm soooo soo so thankful we live close enough to family that they can come up for the day. She helped me so much that day just by playing with Emery and giving her some extra attention.

Boarding School For Pre-School

For realz. Emery is making me CrAzZZZaaaAyY!

She Keeps getting up at night. SCREAMS her head off at her door. She'll scream anything to try and get us to come to her. "I need a spanking!" "Put me back in the bed, right now!" "I got a booger!"

These battles never end. When you get them sleeping through the night on a consistent basis, THEN they start with behavior issues. Which is what I see this as, not a sleep issue but a behavior issue.

The best way we've been able to handle it is to just ignore her, but man that is hard! especially now since there is a 3 week old in the house. Thankfully he still sleeps through it but I know he won't forever.

AND it is super frustrating because she usually does it in between Jesse's feedings, meaning he's awake, then she's awake, he's awake, then she's awake.......all night.

I totally didn't mean for this post to be all about the frustrating side of parenting a toddler but it's what's on my mind at the moment. Jesse is asleep and I sent Emery with Benji to church.

Hoping maybe she'll catch some religion and start obeying us at night!

Welcome To The Family

Here is Emery's first time ever seeing Jesse.

Some how I missed this moment. I think I was still in the O.R. Good thing there's pictures. :)

I love love love this. My heart is so full when I see them together.

Emery had been sick for about a week right before, she was sooo tired, but she was sooo good at the hospital. Such a sweet and patient child. She was really excited to finally meet this Jesse we had been talking about so long.

She was also very interested in how the "Dr. get baby Jesse out of Mama's belly???" How do you explain that to a 2 year old.

We love you sweet Emery, you're the best big sister ever!

Jesse's First Hours

Like I said earlier, this time around the birth was so fast! It was a whirlwind so I'm glad I've got pictures to remember what all went down.

Some of the pictures of Emery seeing Jesse for the first time are so precious and I know I will treasure them forever.