The Next David Beckham???

Adam and I work really hard to keep Aidan involved in activities so he is never bored and so he gets used to being active.  Most recently Adam signed him up for soccer.  He plays for an hour every Saturday.  Next year we will sign him up for outdoor but this year we just wanted to get him familiar with the game.   Adam goes with him every Saturday and they have a great time.  A few weekends ago they let me join them to check it out and take some pictures.



Reason #659 why my husband is the best

Adam: Hey baby, what do you want to do this weekend?

Me: Well I hadn't really thought about it. Why do you have something in mind.

Adam: Well I know you love a good project, so I thought I would let you choose and we could get something knocked out this weekend.

Me: Are you serious?

Adam:  Yup. Whatever you want.  You get something crossed off your project list and I get to spend the time with you.   So you choose, new tile in the entryway, wainscoting in the bathroom, the counter top installed in the laundry room.  Just let me know.

Me: You are the best!

Aidan Get's Baptized-{Forreal this time}

I guess there was a little glitch with my Blogger yesterday. I had originally posted this Monday but the pictures did not post so I pulled it.  Here is it. Hope it works now.

This past weekend we FINALLY {better late than never} had Aidan baptized in our church.  Typically Catholics are baptized as infants but we drug our feet on this for way too long. It was a really rainy Saturday so we kept it short and sweet.  The Baptism itself was laid back and we all had lunch at a restaurant around the corner after wards.  

We had pumped Aidan up for the big day all week so when we got to church he was so well behaved and not nervous at all when it was his turn.  Deacon Mark performed the Baptism and he was great.  I got super emotional when they welcomed Aidan as the newest member of the church. 

Adam and I chose Aidan's Godparents early on.   We wanted to choose two people we knew would truly care for Aidan like he was their own if anything were to ever happen to us.  We knew we wanted one of them to be a family member so we chose my brother Bobby and we chose my best friend Candace because when Aidan was born, Candace immediately loved him like her own and she is my oldest and dear friend.  She knows everything there is to ever know about me.   I know that they would both take marvelous care of Aidan and will do their best to guide him in his spiritual upbringing.  Aidan is already crazy about his Auntie Kansas and Uncle Bobby Geeko so the fact that they are now his Godparents just sweetens the deal.  Thank You both so much for doing this for us!




Aidan patiently waiting.




Deacon Mark did such a great job. 








Here we go!




Daddy was in charge of his towel.




Looking out at Grandpa {my dad} to make sure he was paying attention. 




Prayers.




His white garment and I'm crying.



Candace looks so happy and pretty here.



Lighting of the Baptismal candle.



Family photo. Take 25.



Handsome Little Catholic Boy {with squinty eyes}.



Thank you so much Julie for taking these photos!  I would have no memory of this day if it weren't for you! And of course to my family for coming and supporting the little man on his big day! xoxo



Someone Pinch Me

One night last week I was preparing dinner {who are we kidding, I don't cook} just randomly standing at the kitchen window and Aidan was riding his bike in the driveway.  I watched him ride up and down, up and down {all while wearing his safety goggles and no shoes but that's another story} and I literally looked around and thought to myself  "Is this for real?".  I am a Mommy standing in the kitchen of  my home that I share with my family watching my amazingly cute son ride his bike in my driveway.  Five feet past him is my sweet, handsome husband watering flowers with a smile on his face.  Seriously, all of my dreams have come true.  I am so so so so so BLESSED.

Thought of the Week

"There comes a time in your life, where you walk way from all the drama and the people who create it.  You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad and focus on the good.  So love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't.  Life it too short to be anything but happy.  Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living."  -Unknown

I read this quote this week and it was so fitting.  Sadly, I've had to let go of a friendship recently.  There does come a time in your life where you grow up and you move on and some people unfortunately get left behind.   I am really hoping that person can find some peace and direction in their life.  I have to remind myself that sometimes making a point or having the last word isn't what is important.  I am really looking forward to spending more time on my relationships that are most important to me and sleeping well knowing how lucky I am to have those people in my life.
 xoxo

More Questions

These questions that I am re reading in my email are pretty random.  It is fun anyways.

Rachel asked...

"Is your marriage really all it's cracked up to be?"

If I were a cartoon character, you would have seen a bubble appear above my head with question marks floating around in it when I read this out loud to myself.

Yes.  No. Back to Yes. I don't really know how to answer this. 

I think sometimes your expectations going in to a marriage can be different leading someone to be let down at some point but ultimately I think Adam and I do a good job staying on the same page about where we want to go with our marriage, how we want to grow together as a couple and as a family.  So thus far, we are kind of neck and neck in our expectations for our marriage which is why I think we are doing so well.  Is that to say we are great, happy, madly in love ALL THE TIME...Hell to the NO.

We have bad days, weeks, months.   I still wouldn't trade him in for the world.  I still get up every morning and reach over to his side of the bed and think to myself  "gah, I love this man".    We make a great team.  I choose to sing his praises here on this blog rather than bore you with our issues.  So while it's not perfect {at all}to me, it is all it's cracked up to be.

It Will Get Better...

Last Fathers Day I wrote my dad an email expressing to him how much I love him {and if you know me, I really, really do love my Daddy} and appreciate him and everything he does for me and how sometimes I feel like I have let him down.

You know Adam and I did a lot of things backwards and I can't help but wonder if the months we have struggled to make it paycheck to paycheck and now having to come back to work are a result of that.  I feel a sense of guilt and I over analyze it a lot.

All I ever wanted to accomplish in my life was something, anything to make my parents say "we are so proud of you April".  They are such incredible people, if you met them, you would understand.  They make you want to be better. 

But back to the letter.  So I wrote my Dad with the hope that he would write me back a little something along the lines of a Thank You and a yada, yada, yada you haven't let me down, don't worry about it kind of thing.

What I got back was something so much greater.  In an email he wiped away so much worry and put so much faith and hope back in my heart. I hope he doesn't mind me sharing the letter with you.  I have it saved in my email and from time to time when I'm having a really bad day, I open it up and it makes me feel like I'm not alone and THINGS.WILL. JUST.GET.BETTER. 

April,

Thanks for the wonderful Father's Day letter. I think the level of appreciation for letters has probably far outweighed the short lived buzz of gift certificates, or ties, since the invention of Father's Day. You really moved me with your sentiments, and, at the same time, gave me the opportunity to set some things straight between you and I, things that have needed to be cleared up for a long time.

I've always been moved by particular paintings, every now and then, when I found some money, I'd buy one. They comfort me to various degrees, and over the years, I've fallen in and out of love with each of them, except one, "King Crate".

"King Crate" is the image of my life as a young boy, as a young man, and as a young father. When I look at the boy in "King Crate" I know how he feels. I know that he, like me as a young person, sits there waiting for his life to unfold, not knowing the future, sometimes without a plan, sometimes without the confidence or courage to execute a plan when one finally presents itself.

Long before I knew why I'd fall in love with that painting, it frightened me, it represented some things that drove me, that kept me awake, that caused me to question myself.  I'd wonder why I didn't  have a plan, why I couldn't  force some things to be better, to be worth more. Sometimes I'd agonize over how to save someone, sometimes from a form of danger, sometimes from themselves, sometimes, oddly enough, from me. 

I couldn't tell you when the scenes I imagined "King Crate" saw, softened, or became less frightening, I just know they did, and I also know that through the process, I learned an amazing thing.

{King Crate, Tony Hernandez}

April, we are all "King Crate".

I have always loved you, I know I always will. I didn't know what kind of daughter you'd be, you certainly had no idea what kind of father I'd be, like the kid with the empty eyes,both of us just sat on the crate that is life, and waited for it all to unfold. It's still unfolding, it unfolds and it turns up the Adams and Aidan's of our lives, the Bobby's and Jordan's, and my great love, Deb. It turned up you. 

If I can leave you with you some soft advice, and my appraisal of the worth of my daughter, it's this, first, don't worry, where you are in your life is just where you're supposed to be. Your mother and I, and lifetimes of other young couples, have been where you are in your married life at this point, and all of us remember being there, and all of us remember how hard it was, it will get better, hang tough, it will get better.

And now my appraisal.  April, your worth, your gift, is your heart. You may surpass your mother in this rarest of qualities. No one I know has more heart, few people more compassion, this is your talent, your chance for success, keep it healthy and open. Paint a beautiful life.............

                                                                                                                                                                        Dad 

Back Yard Progress

It's  SPRING!!!

A couple weeks back I blogged about wanting to do a little something in our backyard.  Aidan loves to be outside and I wanted to have a space where Adam and I could relax while he ran wild just feet away in the comfort of our own backyard.  We also LOVE to cook out and have friends over when the weather is nice. Two years ago Adam installed a stone patio and we bought some furniture but I wasn't in love with it.  So this year I was determined to add to it and spend minimal amounts of money.  We have made some progress:

We purchased the IKEA "gazebo".  We LOVE it. 

Adam worked a few days last week planting flowers in the planters along the wall and in the yard. They make the space.  When we moved in I bought Adam our stainless grill as a house warming gift and last year he installed the smoker/charcoal grill. 

We acquired this Pottery Barn outdoor sofa with cushion in almost perfect condition.  The galvanized tub we used as a swimming pool for Aidan was he was a baby and now we are going to use it as a coffee table.   Adam made the base with those legs and we ordered a piece of glass.

This is not the rug I thought I wanted but when I saw it in real life, I loved it. I need new

outdoor pillows but I haven't found anything I love. Maybe I will just make them?  I could splurge and buy some of these, these and these.  Can't forget these.  What's a week with no food when you have great outdoor accessories?

We spent the majority of the weekend out here.  Lounging around on the sofa and the boys played baseball while I caught up on some sleep.  Napping outside in this weather has been the best.  Friday my brother Bobby and Julie came over for dinner and we really enjoyed ourselves.   We can't wait for more of those nights.

I still have some serious work to do out there but it's coming along.   Look for tons of future posts about nights in the backyard!

Dream Job

Last week sometime I asked y'all if you had any questions you wanted to ask me and so this week I'm going to answer them.  First up...Monica asked:

Hey April,

 

I love your blog and I think your family is awesome!!! I know you just started working recently and I was wondering what your dream job would be??

 

Thanks,

Monica

Thanks for the question Monica. For those of you that don't know, Monica works with me.  As a matter of fact, we share a desk.  Haha. 

But to answer the question before I had Aidan, my big dream was to be an Interior Designer.  But I lost myself in a relationship for a little while and that dream kind of fell of the map.  

Then I got a new man and happy again and I spent a little time working for a kitchen design company.   Learning a little bit about the construction side of design.  I loved it but I was still spending my Saturdays in fabric stores, furniture warehouses and flooring showrooms daydreaming about bringing fabulous rooms together.

Fast forward and I got pregnant.  A baby comes out of that equation {obviously} and suddenly being a Mom is all I want to do.  It became and still is MY DREAM JOB.  I can't speak for all mom's but I would imagine that all of us want to just stay home and raise our kids.  I spent the last 3 years and 8 months with the best thing that ever happened to me.  Everyday he got up and I helped him grow and learn and thrive and come on, who wouldn't love that?  Plus, he paid me in hugs and unconditional love. 

So there you have it Monica, my dream job is to be a Mom.  Maybe a mom that could afford my own health insurance so I could always stay home but that shizz it out of control expensive soooo here I sit in an office typing this post while a nice friend is watching my son so I can make sure if he hurts himself, he'll get the best care.  But now that I think about it, I guess that is part of the job.

A Whole Lot To Say with Not A Whole Lot of Time

I am seriously missing my blog these days.  I apologize for the lack of posts.  Especially for those of you that depend on them to get through your slow morning at work {cough Amanda} . But you know what I am missing more? Aidan. Adam. Sleep. All of the time I had three weeks ago. 

The new job is going really well.  The adjustment part...not so much.  It took me a few days to remember that I have never worked and had a family.  I have no clue how to juggle them both.  So the fact that I drag myself out of bed exhausted every morning, almost in tears because I know I am going to miss Aidan so bad some days it hurts is probably pretty normal.  It still sucks. 


I sit at my desk some days and wonder if the person that just picked him up from school thought to ask him how his day was.  They probably don't know what was on the school's calendar and so when he says something like " I made my muscles and laid down" they don't get he has been to yoga class.  I am torturing myself. 


The really nice thing about the whole deal is, when Adam is home he takes care of the laundry and dishes and makes the beds so there is nothing for me to do but be a mom and wife when I get home.  That is the best part of my day, pulling in the driveway and seeing a 3 foot mini Harvey peering through the glass door like he's been waiting there since I left. Which is not the case because his father is the best time ever. 

I am hoping the weeks will start to fly and before I know it, I'll come in to work and it won't hurt so bad to be here and not with the kid.  Because guess what?  Quitting. NOT AN OPTION.

Is It Friday Yet?

I just had a five minute imaginary conversation with my cup of coffee begging it to wake me up.

Haircut

Our cat Spike Jones was in desperate need of a hair cut.  He is an outdoor cat and after spending significant time rolling around in dirt and leaves and refusing to let me brush him, he had a huge matte on either side of him.  I of course Googled how I could fix the problem myself and all I really could do for him was take him to the kitty groomer.  
$61.00 and his self esteem permanently damaged, this is what he looks like...
And in an attempt to make he and myself feel better, I keep singing " I'm too sexy for my fur. To sexy for my fur. So sexy it hurts."

Sorry the pictures are weird. I posted this from my phone. 

Hiccups

Natalie's Nesting Shower

This past Saturday, I hosted along with a girlfriend of mine {Moment} our girlfriend Natalie's baby shower.  The second I happily volunteered to host Natalie's shower, I knew I wanted to go with a "Nesting" theme.  I thought the idea of using nests, birds, feathers and lots of pink sounded so pretty.  I was prepared to scour the Internet to find just what I wanted but lucked out when the shelves of every craft store started filling up with Easter decor which of course included everything I needed.  Moment and I spent a late night painting mini birdhouses and hot gluing moss to every surface possible and I think she would agree, the outcome was beautiful.  

This was the invitation.  My mom was sweet enough to let me host the shower at her house.  She has a great space for entertaining.  

 Moment made a delicious pink punch that everyone thoroughly enjoyed. 

I will have to ask her for the recipe to post. 

The day before the shower I came home from work and Adam was unloading some tulips to plant in our yard. 

I immediately stole a pot of them to use and covered it in a linen fabric I had hanging around.

 I had an idea of what I wanted the centerpiece to look like but didn't know how I was going to accomplish it.  I was able to find this tall, pink metal vase and the height was perfect for what I wanted to do.  I am not a huge fan of artificial florals but since I needed to make this ahead of time, that is what I used. 

I hot glued some moss and added this bird and nest to it.

I emailed Natalie's Mother in Law and asked her if there was any way she could supply me with some pictures of Pete, Natalie's husband to use for the centerpiece.   She had pictures of Pete AND Natalie  as babies that she was going to use at their wedding so she emailed them right over to me and made my life so much easier!

I cut and hung several pictures of them both from the "tree".

 

 

I thought it was a cute way to include Pete in the shower and it kept conversation going as to what everyone thinks baby Scarlett will look like.

A few months back a friend of mine from high school had posted on Facebook some items she was selling in an upcoming yard sale.  When I saw this bird house, I knew immediately that I needed it for this shower.  I messaged her and told her to hold on to it for me.  It was the perfect addition to our gift table. 

The small bird house I bought unfinished and was one of the ones Moment and I painted and hot glued sheets of moss to.  The little birds just clip right on.  I bought the mini cake stand at Home Goods for almost nothing.  I love that I didn't realize the little bird looked like he is rolling right of the roof of the house when I snapped this picture.  Whoops!

A small bird cage.  I just couldn't resist when I saw this.   I just added a bird and nest.

Everyone has seen the clothes line done at a baby shower.  It worked perfect here to spice up my mom's fireplace mantle.

Scarlett's initials and the flowers Moment liberated from someones yard for us.   I don't think we could have purchased flowers in a more perfect color. 

Little Details...



I found this bird shaped post it note at the craft store and this idea just popped in my head.  We bought mini clay pots, painted them, an unfinished wood oval, painted it, glued half of a popsicle stick to the back, glued that to the bottom of the pot and filled it with moss.  Super simple way to label food and drinks. 

Because you know people do not have any clue what a finger sandwich is. 

For the favor I made {well really my mom made for me} pretzels covered in chocolate.  I love sweet and salty together.   She was a little slow when it came to adding sprinkles but don't worry Mom, I won't hold it against you. 

  THE CAKE.  I sent Natalie's mom a picture of a cake that I liked and she had a friend of hers make it.  Her friend is in the process of building her business and of course now I can't remember the name of her company but I can tell you her cakes are amazing and so well priced.   The cake was carrot cake and cream cheese frosting.  Soooo good!

Natalie enjoying her guests

I wanted to do something similar to a blessing ring for Scarlett and when Moment and I were brainstorming ideas for the shower we came up with the idea to ask everyone to write a letter to Scarlett and send the letter  to Moment. Then she will create a scrap book {her specialty and gift} and send it to Natalie.  Here she is showing some of our guests the scrap book.  I will have to get a picture of it when it is completed.

Natalie getting ready to cut the cake.  Isn't she gorgeous and her bump is the cutest.  She is doing some pregnancy modeling.  If she wasn't one of my closest friends I would probably hate her for looking this good. 

Gifts

The story behind this little dress is so cute.  Natalie's step father Tim, grew up in a house full of boys and has two sons himself.  He is thrilled Natalie is having a little girl.  He bought this smocked dress for Scarlett and the picture doesn't do it justice.  The smocking is beautiful and look at that little collar.

Tim also insisted he buy Scarlett  her fist pair of Mary Jane's.  She will be so glad he did.  The patent leather is so cute.

Feathers and animal print.  Two of my favorite things.   This hat is so tiny and so cute.   It would be perfect for Scarlett's newborn photos.

I love this photo of Natalie. I think she  is the epitome of proud mommy to be.  She looks so happy.  And that onesie.  If that is not all girl, I don't know what is.  Pink, bows and RUFFLES! 

 I am so glad I was able to do this for Natalie. 



Natalie is one of the greatest things I got out of a previous relationship.  Her ex boyfriend was one of his friends.  We of course kicked the boys to the curb and our friendship grew.  I have a small circle of girlfriends and I am so blessed that Natalie is part of it.  She shares my love of DIY projects and we are always laughing.   I was visiting her in August when she informed me she may be pregnant.  My heart almost exploded.  A few weeks went by and she confirmed there was in fact a bun in the oven.  I traveled back to Boston in February to help her with her nursery {pics to come} and loved having the time alone to chat about all things baby.  With Natalie's brains and huge heart and Pete's ability to figure anything out on Google via his iPhone they are destined to be marvelous parents.   My family along with their families and I am sure all of their friends, cannot wait for Scarlett's arrival in May.  Adam and I specifically look forward to family vacations with the Warren's and having another couple to share hilarious parenting stories with.  

Congrats to Pete and Natalie and Cheers to the arrival of Scarlett Houston and the immense joy and love she is going to bring in to your home and in to so many hearts.  
xoxo




Thank You Moment for co hosting with me & Robin for all of your help with the food.  Thank You Pam for making the diaper cake and Christy for the amazing broccoli salad.  Thank You Mom, for all of your help as usual.  I don't know what I would have done without you helping me run last minute errands and setting up the day of.  You are the best!!  And of course for letting me use your house.