It's Been A While

Hello Friends and Family,

It's been too long since I last posted.  Life happens and time just slips on by.  I didn't realize how true this REALLY was until we had children.  I feel like our time with the girls is gone in the blink of an eye.  Every night I ask the girls their favorite part of the day.  Their answers vary, but the majority of the time it's when we were spending time together, as a family, or with friends. 
Without a doubt, they know they are loved.  By Dan and I, family, and friends.

Since I last posted, we had a baby!!!  I know!  I didn't even post that we were expecting in September of 2013, but she is here and is 10 months old!  I still need to write her birth story!  Yikes.  That is one that will be with me forever!  It was that great, or not so much.

Update on the kiddos:

Natalia has a year of preschool under her belt.  She LOVES her teachers and the friends she has made.  She has a great passion for learning and I hope it stays with her through her school years.  She was in Awana, she played T-Ball, she is becoming more adventurous, and still has the kindest heart of any 4 year old that I know.

Leona is 2.5 now and has the attitude to prove it.  She is a fun, energetic, adventurous girl.  She is my "Sid The Science Kid."  She has to know EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING.  She is very curious and very intelligent.  She is daring and loves a good challenge.  She is going to do great things in her lifetime, I just can't wait to see what they are!

Susanna is such a sweet, laid back girl.  She is so funny with her facial expressions.  She always has to know where I am at all times.  If I leave a room, most times she isn't happy.  She loves to roll around and play with her toys and things that don't belong to her.  She is little, but mighty.  She is a great sleeper at night, naps during the day are on a day-to-day basis.  She LOVES her thumbs and it will be a hard habit to break.  She is a cuddly girl. 

I'll write more.  But, this for now is a good start. 

B.H.

CONTEST. . . . .

Hello!!!

The family and I went to Champaign with Dan while he attended a conference for work.  After the conference on Wednesday we headed to Eureka to see some dear friends.  While there I captured a photo, and it needs a caption.

This is where YOU come in.  If you leave a comment with a cool caption and it gets selected, you will win something pretty amazing.  But, YOU MUST write the caption in the comment section.  If you sign in as a guest, that's fine, just leave me a name or something to identify you.

Here is the photo that NEEDS a caption:

Ok.  Comments will be closed tomorrow (Friday the 2nd at 9:00 PM) and a winner will be selected.

Happy Thursday



Beth

Years From Now. . . .

I like to think I am a good planner.  I am semi organized and pay attention to details.  I like to be in control of certain situations and the older I get, and the longer I am a mommy, I realize there are some situations I am not able to 100% control.

In my mind our Christmas card pictures would be flawless and the girls would be smiling and we would be told how wonderful we were to work with.

Not. The.Case. For 2012.

We arrive 5 minutes early (which is always good when you have a toddler and infant) in time to change an accident and comb some hairs.

I brought Thomas and baby for the off chance they might have 2 people helping with pictures considering there is only one camera for the location we were at, but not so.  The extra workers just sat around talking about the latest movies out.  (HELLO, help us get these girls to smile PppppLllllEeeeeAaaaSsssEeeee?!

After all of the shots were taken, poses were struck, and tears were wiped we were able to relax and get to ready to view our portraits.

Do you want this package that is twice the amount of your house payment for the month. . . .ah no thanks.  We just want to use the Groupon and get these girls some dinner.

We had narrowed it down to 3 pictures that we both liked.  Then, it was down to 2.

One was a traditional you stand here, he puts his arm here and the girls don't look at the right time.

OR

I hold one girl, you hold the other. One girl has a semi smile on her face and the other is in a daze from being tossed around like a sack of potatoes. But, included in the picture is the most favorite TOY(did you find it??) of the oldest girl, which in years from now will be something to look back on.

The second choice makes me tear up and so very happy that Dan and I were able to immediately agree that we needed that for our picture package pose.

Merry Christmas from The Harkness Family 2012 :)

(There now I don't have to send you a card, right??  Just kidding.)

In one month this sweet girl will be ONE year old.  That was the fastest year of my entire life.  But, the other day when it was super windy, I decided to head to a local park with the girls and captured some pictures that just melt my heart.  What do ya think??  

Having fun in the leaves. It took her a while to figure out the whole throwing multiple leaves, but she got it!!!

One little monkey sitting in a tree. . . . 

I took this picture for the sole purpose to see how long her lashes are in pictures, and goodness gracious.  Women pay good money for lashes like that!!!  Heart breaker on our hands for sure!

Time to say goodnight and another post will be up soon. . . . .

Blessings,
Beth

(Leave some love in the comment box.)

Memories. . . .

In May of 2011, just months after finding out that we would be parents again, my grandpa passed away.  It was a hard time for all of us.  He was the glue that held our family together, and almost a year and a half later, I still believe that.  But, that is not what I am posting about.

We all have stuff.  We had to go through his things and donate, sell, or take what was in his house.  This was hard for many of my family members, myself included.

I was able to have a few things that meant the most to me:

 A table that was in their kitchen, that my brother and I used to color at.  I will soon have that table in my basement (unless we can make room for it upstairs) for my girls to sit and color at, maybe with their Uncle.

Card tables.  Who uses those anymore??  We do, and for the longest time I had one in my living room, that my grandpa asked to use during a party, and it took me a long time to take it down.

A painting for our kitchen that my grandpa painted by hand.  It was an adult version of color by number. 

My parents took a small table and two chairs that Mike and I used to sit at during Holiday meals.  The "kids" table.  As our family grows, and our girls get older, they will be sitting at that same table during the Holidays.

A Jerry (from Tom and Jerry) glass that I had always loved, but was never able to use.  My aunt liked it just as much for her iced tea.  :)

In this picture there are Fudge Striped Cookies.  These cookies are more than delicious.  They are a memory.  My grandma would buy these when my brother and I were coming over.  I would like to think that this is the only time, so Dad if you know otherwise, please don't tell me.  These cookies symbolize something more than just "cookies."  These are a new tradition that my mom has chosen to continue with my girls.  My heart was happy the other day.  When we got home from DC (Dan and I took a very quick trip there), and my mom and dad(HI!!) watched our girls.  When I unpacked their suitcase, I found a small bag of these cookies with a welcome home note.  It's the small gestures like that that make my heart happy, and the fact that my sweet girl shared one of those cookies with her mommy.

*I was shopping one day when Leona was just a new born and Natalia was not having a good day.  I felt like a walking zombie and was ready to call in sick!  We were in an aisle far from cookies, and on a shelf with toothpaste, was. . .. you guessed it, FUDGE STRIPED cookies!!!!   I think it was my grandma saying that though things maybe crazy right now with 2 under 2, it will be ok.  She was right.  I have managed 10 months with 2.  There are days when I go places with God only knows what on my shirt, dishes left in the sink until bedtime, and dust patiently waiting to be wiped away, but making the memories is what this whole mommy thing is about right?**

Miss you Grandma and Grandpa.  I know you would just love your grand daughters and I can only imagine what kind of goodies you would give them to make them feel special, like you did for Mike and I. 

The end.  (when tears start falling, it's no longer safe to type.  I might fry the keyboard or something!)

Generations

I love the closeness I have with my mom and dad.  I love even more that they are able to see their grandbabies often as well.  I don't remember how often I was able to see my grandparents when I was younger, but I don't think it was weekly or twice a week.  I know that my girls are to little to remember this, but they are creating memories for the Mimi and Papa that will last forever.

*I am blessed to have the parents I have.  But, even more blessed to have them be the grandparents of my children.*

They say a picture is worth a thousand words:

*This picture has me in happy tears.  I can't think of just one caption for it.  It makes my heart happy to see this.

This too:

*I can almost hear a conversation between these two:  "Mimi, he is eating lunch."  "He is a slob-o, he spilled hay all over."  My mom is honest and I chuckle when I hear slob-o.


(We spent a few hours walking around the zoo and Natalia and Leona took so much in that day.  Thank you Mom and Dad for spending a Saturday afternoon with us and the stinky animals.




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TEN MONTHS OLD:

How in world is this sweet girl 10 months old already?  She is an absolute sweetheart and I can't imagine her not here.  

*She has 2 teeth fully in, the 3rd is working it's way in.  We found out the 3rd had came down when my mom heard her grinding her little teeth together.  Nail.On.A.Chalkboard.  Ick.

*She army crawls and hand/knee crawls like it's her job.

*She is solely on table food and MUST feed her self, or else she will not eat.  You have been warned future babysitters.

*She pulls up on anything she can get her tiny hands on, even on things that aren't supposed to be pulled up on.

*She is drinking whole milk and looks forward to each and every bottle. 

*She says Mama, dada, baba, lala, goo goo, gaga,

*She sleeps from 8/8:30- 7:15ish, and still takes 2 naps 9:30-10:30 and 1-3:30/4

*She loves to be around her sister most days.

*She recognizes familiar faces and hates when mommy leaves, even for a second.

*She is ATTACHED to her pink elephant snuggle blanket that she sleeps with.  I tried taking it away to wash it, and she felt around for it while her eyes were closed!  Ha.  I like that she loves that elephant.  I had a security blanket for a LONG time, and I turned out ok.

*She is the cuddliest(made up word??) baby I know and I love rocking at night with her.

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Ok.  That is the end of this post.  I need to read and relax before we start another day.  

Blessings,

Beth

Oh, you JUST work at home?

I get asked frequently by random people what I do.  Ha.  Do they really want to know?  If so, they will need to sit down, because as a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom) my list goes on and on, but in the end, I smile and stay I am a stay-at-home mom.  They reply, must be nice.

I guess if you don't have kids, you can't fully know what a SAHM mom does all day, can you?  I don't care what anyone thinks, I have NEVER had a bon-bon before and I don't sit on the couch all day.

I am one person with many titles:  Teacher, referee, cook, doctor, boo boo kisser, diaper changer, bottle feeder, clothes washer/folder, organizer, cleaner (to some extent, ha), MOM, Wife, Friend, daughter.

My paycheck does not come in the form of a check, but rather Hugs, kisses, drawings, new discoveries, smiles, and cuddles.

I found a poem that describes how I feel:

A Stay-at-Home Mom Am I

What can I tell you
About the life I am living
Will I impress you
With all the things I did?

It may not mean a lot to you
But my life has meant lots to me
The greatest two days of my life
Was the births of she and she.

Since the days my kids were born
Little girl and little girl
I haven’t worried much about me
I was absorbed with her and her.

Spent days in the kitchen
Cooking up lots of stuff
Spent time playing
Never really cleaned enough.

Never got the cobwebs
Dust seemed to be everywhere
But boy did we have fun
Which was beyond compare.

Watching those Disney movies
Ordering a pizza or two
Playing with our puzzles
Saying “I love you.”

I wouldn’t change a thing
About how my life is lived
Because the best thing of all
Is doing what I do.

Being a mom of two
Watching them both grow
Has brought me so much happiness
More than anyone will ever know.

A stay-at-home mom was I
Not a fancy title did I have
But I have memories I will treasure forever
Of the best life I could have ever had. 

How so very true.  Some of the words were changed to match my current situation, but regardless, she understands, and wrote a poem about it.  I have never regretted giving up my days in a daycare center to be a SAHM.  I do miss the cable TV we once had, but had to get rid of, and not being able to go on vacation this summer, but in the end what matters most is being able to watch my girls grow up.  

I know that some of my readers (Hi CW and KK!!!) are working moms and I am NOT saying that I am better in any way, shape, or form.  I give kudos to the working moms out there too.  I don't know that I would be able to handle working, on top of the household things that I take care of when the girls are napping.  

Regardless if we are a working mom or are able to stay home, we are all after ONE goal:  To give our children the best possible life we can.  So, to the lady who thinks I just stay at home and it must be nice, think again.  It is many jobs/rolled up into one and I bet you get a break at some point in your day, or can use the toilet alone.  That won't happen around here for a long time, and in the end, I would not want to have it any other way. 

Ok.  My "break" is up.  Thanks for reading!

Beth

Identity

Last week our church had 4 night of VBS!  It was a lot of fun and very exhausting.  Natalia came with me 2 nights and assisted in the babysitting class.  Some of the girls in that class happened to be in my photography class, so they were able to meet Natalia.  They came to the class and told me how cute she was.

As the parents were picking up their kiddos, one of the girls walked by and I heard her say to her mom, "That's Natalia's mom!!!!"

I knew the day would come when I would go from Beth, to Mrs. Harkness, to Mrs. Beth, to Natalia's (Leona's) mom.  But, I thought it would be when she was in kindergarten.  I sat back after hearing that, and thought about it.

It is an absolute honor and privilege to be called Natalia's mom.  So, when I hear that again from the girls at church or our neighbor boy, I will smile and say, "Yes, I am Natalia's mom," and make sure that Natalia knows how happy I am to be her mom!