This is the Title of an Uncreative Violinist.:)

In a very rare occurrence, I'm stealing a few minutes on the computer downstairs (where it's faster to type than on my tiny smart phone) to post an update, while the 3 year old and 4 month old baby are BOTH taking late morning naps.  Rare, indeed. While Elliott is a typical baby, taking 2-3 naps a day--a short one in the morning and usually a very long one or two average naps in the afternoon before settling in for the evening--Maddie, on the other hand, hardly ever takes her naps anymore :( But she's had a cough for the past few days, which I'm keeping my eye on, and I actually convinced her to get into her bed so she could feel better to travel to grandma and grandpa's house this week. It worked! So now I find myself in front of the computer...and I have no idea where to begin :/  So much happens with two kids; I feel like there isn't even enough time to process any thinking sometimes.  But I will say that I absolutely LOVE being a mom.  I love it.  I love...

Life happens fast. That basically seems to be the theme of every post now, right? ;) My sweet boy is almost FOUR months now, and he has been smiling and cooing like craaazy!  I love him so much! Looking dapper:) Mommy/Elliott selfie💜 A friend snuggling Elliott during library story time:) In the last week or so, he has started to take some pretty long naps--4-5 hour long ones (hallelujah!)--and sleeping mostly through the night. I put him down anywhere between 8-10 pm for bed, and he usually wakes to feed between 3-6 am and goes right back to sleep until 8 or 9 am. Pretty good! His big sister, on the other hand...:/ Maddie is changing so quickly; along with learning at an incredible rate, the threenager tantrums ARE REAL,  unfortunately.  Some days are good, but the days where she acts out , I have to continually remind myself that her world really was turned upside down with the arrival of her little brother. She does love him, but she predictably h...

What a difference it is to go from one kid to two, as is evident from my blog absence for almost two months:/ I was fully expecting a newborn baby to be a handful for me--and it IS work, don't get me wrong-- but it's the THREE YEAR OLD who is keeping me on my toes!!!:/ This has been a big change for us; some days Ryan comes home from work and I'm still in my pj's,  and other days I somehow manage to shower, dress and put makeup on AND have even made meals for some other new mommies at my church (because I looove cooking for other people! I seriously do!). So each day varies. This time around, the time feels like it's zipping by even faster and I know that's a fact because I have taken fewer pictures of Elliott than I did of Maddie, which makes me incredibly sad. Time just gets away from me, and I often get overwhelmed with all the other things I'd like to accomplish (like not drown in laundry at least for a few days a week, and actually clean my disgustin...

Hello, world! Our little prince, Elliott Ryan, was born Friday morning, June 29th, at 10:13 am after a very quick labor and delivery (thank God!). Weight: 6 lbs, 0 oz. 18.9 inches We love him so much! While his entrance wasn't expected until the end of July, I had this strong feeling for a week that he'd be arriving soon:) We are adjusting to life with two kiddos, and sleep deprivation all over again:( but we are happy and healthy and I am INCREDIBLY grateful to be able to nurse this time. I'm looking forward to writing about Elliott's birth story soon. In the meantime, the past few days have been filled with endless diaper changes, a baby attached to my boob and lots and lots of snuggles and kisses:) Happy Fourth of July!

I'm 31 weeks along today--ugh, where IS the time going?! Most days I'm really feeling fine--huge-- but good overall. Baby boy is moving a LOT which makes me happy.  Pretty soon, I'll be transitioning to seeing my doctor every two weeks, and then once a week in the last month. Oh, boy! Obviously,  I have less time to obsess over this pregnancy since Maddie is nearly 3 years old and keeps me busy. I am sure that is why the time has flown by so quickly...but I think that's a good thing! I still haven't done much in the way of preparing for the baby, but that's because we've been given so much, I'm not worried about it.  I am planning on sleeping in our guest room with the baby for the first month or so until he is ready for the crib. Then we will move maddie into a big girl bed (yes...she still sleeps in a crib!) and move the crib to the guest room and it will become his room.  Some people have given me strange looks when I tell them about that plan...an...

Time for a monthly update, haha! Of course, the last month saw a flurry of activities with Easter stuff and trying to keep ourselves busy while we waited for warmer weather...which seems to have FINALLY made an appearance this week! Yay, spring (for real)!!! Mommy/Maddie Starbucks date:) Natural playground at a local park Playdate with 3 sisters and my friend who moved an hour away :( Checking out the Wizard of Oz exhibition at Easton town Centre  Working on that bow grip! Easter egg hunt on a cold Saturday! She made out with lots of candy and $6.50! I love her face in this picture  She finally did #2 in the potty so she got her present:p Ballerina playdate with a neighbor friend A precious photo I captured during our easter weekend visit with grandma and grandpa's house Obsessed with ballet!!! Trying to keep up with Swan Lake!  It finally hit 70 degrees in columbus, so we hit up a new playground...