breathe, breathe, breathe...

I am feeling a little, mmm, shall we say stressed these days. I had hoped to be tying up all lose ends with work and start out December free to decorate, bake and enjoy. It isn't going to happen and I think I am mourning that a bit. Here I am, one week before December hits with 5 sessions left to edit, orders to be placed, a newborn session tomorrow, kids, oh yeah they take a little of my time, a house to keep up on (somewhat), errands to run, company for the holiday. I am feeling a little maxed out to say the least.

and to top that off, Jackson is going through one of his spells again...everything is a power struggle. Right now, in fact, he is on Santa's naughty list. Yes, I am that mom that manipulates with something as wonderful as Santa. I am sure much of the problem is my preoccupation with life. He is a boy who needs lots of attention and affection and I think I am falling short right now.

It is just a season, I realize this, but I sure can't wait until it ends.

So please, when I don't return calls, emails or just plain flake out...please cut me some slack and just call or email again. I promise I have every intention of getting back to you, my brain is just on overload.

Off to clean up my studio for my newbie session tomorrow.

Is Jackson too young to take morning duty with Paige??

Since P has been waking before dawn and also many times through the night, D and I are exhausted so we decided to close our door last night and let her put herself back to sleep instead of running in when she starts to cry. So, this morning after a nice night of rest we both awakened at 7:30am. D opened the door to see where the kids were. He heard voices from the bathroom and peeked his head in to find P on the potty with books and J sitting in the chair, waiting for her to finish. Oviously he had helped her out of her crib and onto the potty. D came back to bed and this is the bathroom conversation that followed...

J-"Paige, you're not allowed to wipe."
P screaming as she always does-"but I need to wipe."
J-"then ask me to help"

Then, after he helped her get her hands washed he took her into her room to get dressed and this is what we heard:
J-"Paige, you need to wear long sleeves."
P screaming as always- "I don't want long sleeves."
J-"But you have to."
P-"No."
J calmly-"alright, then I guess you can just freeze."

hmmmm....I think he may be ready to take on some more of my parenting duties. He has learned well from me and is doing a pretty good job!

Dear Santa...

Jackson wrote his Christmas list today...on his own. I am pretty impressed at how he sounded the words out. The only one totally off is the one he asked me about and I didn't listen closely and told him the wrong thing!!
(robot, spy kit, magnetic transformer, bug kit)

just another day in the life...

today was one of those days that ends before you realize it started. It was a whirlwind. I am ready for my family photo sessions to come to a close for the season. The last two weeks I have had three sessions each week and for me, that is killer. It takes me up to 10 hours to completely edit and post a session, so you can do the math. It is a lot. I know it is a short time each year and it allows me to have a little extra for Christmas gifts (I love giving gifts...definitely one of my love languages). I picked up Paige's Santa gift today and things are slowly coming together. It is a good feeling. Douglas told me he wanted to wait until he felt the Christmas spirit to shop which he then proceeded to tell me might not happen until Decemeber 22. Not happening baby. Your anxiety ridden wife can't handle that kind of stress and procrastination.

So back to the day...one full of excitement...carpet cleaners, grocery shopping, doctor appointment, back to the grocer for prescriptions. Exciting. Then the rest of the day. fwut, gone. J is having a slumber party with my dad who is here visiting until tomorrow and Paige is still screaming for me in her crib. Her new "big girl bed" remains in the boxes upstairs with little hope of being assembled anytime soon. She was demoted back to the crib after some peeing incidents and you know what, I like her there...no getting woken up all night long!!

D is a crazy man trying to finish up some applications by Sunday. It has been a long year. I miss my time with my man. We have to sneak it in where we can, but I do miss of evenings together playing games, watching movies etc. Life is always a-changin.

And now, I need to get a few things done. Just want to be better about updating this thing. Life is passing too quickly and I am enjoying motherhood lately, which I can't always say. It feels really good.

we indoctinate them early!!

Paige was having a hard time falling asleep tonight and D texted me to tell me that she was up in her crib yelling,

"BYU cougars!"

Halloween

I never really enjoyed Halloween until I had a husband and kids. I love planning costumes out (I usually start about July) and have really enjoyed having a family theme. Of course, it is a good thing I start so early, because I was still frantically sewing hours before the Halloween party to complete the costumes.

I thought J wouldn't go for the tin man idea, but he loved it. When people would ask what he was dressing up as he would enthusiastically tell them, "tin man". I think he confused a few people! Paigie loved that she got to be "Doroffy Ann" (her full name) and had the "no quace like home" line down pat.

Douglas is such a good sport. Have I ever mentioned how much I love this man. He lets me dress him up and laugh at him repeatedly EVERY year. I am one lucky woman.

Can't wait to decide what we will be next year...I am thinking twilight...or Harry Potter...or 50's peoples. The possibilities are endless and you will just have to stay tuned....

**note that her shoes are on the wrong feet**