Raising Cubs in a Campground

Monday began at 4:25am when my alarm went off . In order to be on time for my 7am flight we needed to be out the door by five. The kids did great getting up and ready and I was waving a tearful goodbye from the curb at the Lindbergh terminal by 5:35. Unfortunately Airtran doesn't fly out of that terminal anymore. What a way to start a trip! I quickly called Brian who was able to take the loop around and pick us up and drive over to the Humphrey terminal where, according to Sam, "Let's try this again." Air travel makes me nervous enough, but to be traveling with a baby, all her gear, and get the news that I'm in the wrong terminal...Let's just say, I didn't stop sweating for hours. They were already boarding as I hustled to the gate so I had very little time to get situated. No extra seats meant that I had to nurse Julia wedged between two men. Thankfully she fell asleep as soon as the aircraft began it's march down the runway. The flight was o...

We may not celebrate Halloween or go trick-or-treating, but I'm a sucker for a cute costume.

Sorry to keep everyone in suspense about our Chicago trip. I do plan to write about it soon. It takes weeks to see the pictures from the 4 hours we were at the studio and who knows when/if an agent will want to represent her.

I know it's not technically jet lag because I never crossed a time zone, but after traveling with a 12 month old for 19 hours today I feel like I crossed an ocean. It doesn't help that our plane left Chicago 2 hours late or the fact that I was in the row in front of the exit row where the seats don't recline. I'll save my report on the photo shoot for the morning (or at least the part of the morning that comes after I get 6 hours of sleep). It's good to be home. p.s. The airport play set I picked up for Sam at the airport is tucked safely under his arm as I type this. Having a box in your side can't be comfortable, but it was that or open it and let him play with it at 11:30 at night. I opted to let him snuggle with the box.

If you have a minute, would you please say a prayer for Julia and I that we'll have safe travels in the air and on the roads of Illinois? We leave our house at 5am tomorrow in order to catch a plane for Chicago. We'll be back late tomorrow evening - hopefully with good news about the future of Julia's modeling career. thanks! carrie p.s. This is the farthest away from Sam that I've ever been. I'm leaving him in very capable hands which helps ease some of my anxiety. Thanks Mom, Sharon, Rena, and Gene for staying with my Sammy Sam.

YES HE CAN! Sam would give Bob the Builder a run for his money with his tower building skills. He uses all 48 blocks at once to make towers taller than he is. I swear he had no help from us unless you count keeping Julia busy so she doesn't "help" him.

On the days I have pictures I'm dying to post, blogger won't let me. Grrrrrr.

So I thought making a game out of figuring out how many times I put the kids in and then took them back out of the van today, but I'm too tired from the eighteen times I performed this task to be creative. For some reason I get paralyzed by the not knowing of Brian's job search and ignore my to-do list. Normally I get a thrill from taking a pen and slashing a line through a completed chore/project/phone call etc... Lately I've been frozen and unable to accomplish much besides playing with the kids, photographing them, and doing my best to maintain a sense of normalcy in our not-so-normal lives. Even though Brian didn't get the city job he interviewed for, I still feel better now that we at least have an answer. Today is proof of that. We were up before 6am in order to take Brian to work. The kids were happy and sociable despite being woken up much before they normally do. We all marveled at the glowing moon as it made it's decent towards the horizon during o...

70% How Addicted to Blogging Are You? Free Texas Dating Kim , saw this on yours and had to test it out for myself. I did it a second time and got 78% - probably a more accurate number.

The Nov/Dec issue of Mothering Magazine is finally here. On page 29 you'll see what we've been waiting for....

I may have found my new favorite color to dress Julia in. Check out those eyes!

I had the chance to meet Sam and Julia's newest playm*te over the weekend. I can't put into words how absolutely perfect Maisie is so I'll let this picture do it for me.

Thanks to Daddy we might have found our new favorite spot to pick pumpkins. "Mine." "I'll take this one" I love kids with pumpkin pictures. Don't you?

For fear that I'll get even more behind I'm going to publish these photos of how we spent the morning of Sam's birthday on October 13th and hopefully post the party pictures soon. Getting healthy and celebrating the birth of Maisie are keeping us busy this weekend. You'll be able to tell from the photos that Sam had a fantastic day. Our Sammy Sam has brought so much joy, humor, silliness, wonder, and love into our lives. We love you Sam! Riding in the back of a squad car - without seat belts or car seats! Isn't that a rifle next to Julia's face? Happy Birthday big bro! Can you see the kids and I at the front of the new ladder truck? Put out that fire Sam!!! Sam kept asking why they were bashing the car (see ax in middle photo). Sam's expression was pretty much frozen like this the entire morning. (We had just taken a spin around the block in that fire truck.)

It's probably time to stop watching Oprah while I breastfeed Julia at bedtime when she stops nursing to sit up and clap along with the audience members.

Sam: Knock-knock Me: who's there? Sam: poooooooop.

...if someone says they are coming for an appointment between 11:30 and 1 is naive of me to think that they'll be here and gone in that time slot? (I told the Realtor we'd be available either between 11:30 and 1 OR after 3. Ya'd think they'd have half a brain and realize that means she can't be in the house after 1.) The kids are tired, I'm tired, and we're all sick to some degree so come on appraisal lady!!!! Hurry up and get here so I can put my kids down for their naps!!!!!

...if someone says they are coming for an appointment between 11:30 and 1 is naive of me to think that they'll be here and gone in that time slot? (I told the Realtor we'd be available either between 11:30 and 1 OR after 3. Ya'd think they'd have half a brain and realize that means she can't be in the house after 1.) The kids are tired, I'm tired, and we're all sick to some degree so come on appraisal lady!!!! Hurry up and get here so I can put my kids down for their naps!!!!!

This is why I haven't been blogging about Sam's birthday celebrations over the weekend. Julia woke up Sunday morning making a wheezing sound. We watched her closely and were definitely concerned, but when you don't have insurance you don't just take them to the ER on a whim. It once took us 6 months to pay off an ER visit that would have been avoided if I'd only taken a couple Tylenol first. Don't get me wrong - we want what's best for the kids, but I know the signs of respiratory distress because of Sam's breathing trouble as a baby/toddler. We monitored her closely at home until 6:45pm when things started going downhill. After sitting in a steamy bathroom with the shower running her breathing became very labored. I knew this was something that needed treatment right away. A quick call to the pediatrician confirmed this and off to the ER we went (right at bedtime). From the time we walked into the ER, to the time she was receiving treatment was o...

...was Sam's due date. but he was two days late. He was definitely worth the wait.

Brianna She's a sweetheart. She's on the go (a lot). She's funny. She's beautiful. She's a joy to have in our home.

Each year I take upon myself the task of deciding on and making our Halloween costumes. We don't trick or treat in the neighborhood (we've taken Sam to the mall once or twice) but our friends throw a party complete with bonfire and hayride. Here's the host in all her glory last year. We focus on having fun, getting together with friends, and being creative (read: cheap) with our costumes. One year Brian, his sister, and I were a row of foose ball men, another year I was "Smarty Pants" (I sewed the Smarty candies all over a pair of black pants), last year we were Park Rangers with our bear cubs.... This year Brian informed me that he was going to make his own costume. No more family themed costumes for us. :( I'll still probably try to link the kids and I together somehow. Over the weekend he informed me that he needed a box about 4 feet high for his costume. "Why?" I asked. "Not telling" hmmmmmm.