I keep smiling...

About four months ago, my boss pulled me in her office to finalize my maternity leave plans. Since I work part time and in a department of two people, including myself, we discussed the need to hire someone to "replace" me while on leave. This person would work the same days that I did, sit at my desk, assume my responsibilities and because the nature of my business is advertising sales, take care of my accounts and my clients. We set out to find someone, and it really didn't take too long before a lady was hired. She started a good month before I left, giving her plenty of time to learn the ropes and for me to notify my clients who would be able to assist them while I was out on leave. Perfect scenario.

A little after she was hired, my boss pulled me in her office again to talk about a big annual project that our company does and that I did quite a lot for last year. She wanted to strategize and figure out if this is something that I could do while on maternity leave, but at home. It seemed very feasible. We mapped it all out and even after Tierney was born, kept in constant contact via email and phone about the progress.

During one of our phone conversations, my boss told me that she wanted to discuss something else with me. She had been talking with our owner and they wanted to offer me a chance to stay at home with my girls, therefore, they offered me a job as an independent contractor for the company. She told me to think about it and then when I was coming into the office for a meeting with her about the big annual project, we'd discuss it more. After I got off the phone, I felt so good. Naturally, I called Kevin and he thought it sounded great, but we needed more info. So, in the girls and I went to my office to show off Tierney and have the meeting with my boss. She explained their thoughts, expectations and what the job would be, and I accepted.

As I was driving home, I was quite giddy because 1) it's my true heart's desire to be home with my girls, raising them, being there for everything with them; 2) this was an answer to prayers; 3) my desire to be home was never anything I had mentioned, discussed or talked about at work to my boss or even to co-workers and 4) I was basically given a promotion as I won't be working in the same department or doing the same kind of selling. As I made calls telling family and friends about this incredible gift I was given by my boss, I kept smiling. And, I keep smiling, even weeks later.

35 months & 6 weeks

Brooklyn is exactly 35 months old today and it's also Tierney's six week birthday. These milestones, if you will, are leaving me with the distinct feeling that my girls are growing up way too fast. I look at Brooklyn and I no longer see a toddler, she's totally a little girl, having lost all of her baby look. She can carry a conversation like she's an adult. And, Tierney is growing like a weed. At her one month appointment last week, she weighed 9 pounds, 5 ounces and was 22.5 inches tall (that's almost 2 more pounds and 2 inches taller that when she was born). She's smiling and cooing. It's so incredible. Both of my girls will always be my babies, no matter how big or old they are, and I feel so blessed to be their Mommy. I love them more than they will ever know.

Here's a few fun current photos of them...

Brooklyn in Daddy's wig

demonstrating how old she's about to be

An attempt at catching Tierney's beautiful smile

Sisters before their baths, just talking away

A trip to the grocery store

Brooklyn has found a new catch phrase that she throws in from time to time when she's surprised by something, and even though we don't really want her saying it, I am going to borrow her phrase: "Holy Crap!" I'm saying this in response to the amount of money that we saved at the grocery store this afternoon.

Our neighborhood King Soopers had a grand reopening today. They sent out a 10% off coupon to either everyone with a King Soopers card who shopped at the store, or most likely to the residents within a certain mile vicinity of the store. We got that coupon in the mail last Thursday, and I called Kevin and work all excited and told him our weekly grocery shopping trip would wait until today. So, Kevin worked a half day today because he covered the election last night at work, and when he came home we ran a few errands with the last one being to the grocery store. As we drove up, we knew that we were not the only ones with this wonderful idea. The parking lot was so full it quickly reminded me of the mall parking lot around Christmas time. Cars were going up and down aisles, circling around trying to find a spot. We found our spot and joined the other hundreds of shoppers eager to explore the new store, sample the food and drinks that the staff was providing and to get a deal on their groceries, just like us.

It really was a mob scene at the free sample stands. I couldn't help but notice these two girls, who I assumed were sisters jumping from one sample stand to the next one. I also noticed or rather bumped into who I think was their grandmother at the sushi sample stand. There was two pieces of sushi left to sample and there was her and I, so you'd rationally think that there was one for me and one for her. Nope. She looked at me and then at the samples which the two girls had just almost cleared out and said I suppose you want one too. I said yes, but if she was wanting both, it was fine. She grabbed her one very quickly and told me to have the other, which I did and gave it to Brooklyn to try as she didn't miss a beat with interest in having the free samples. As we wandered further into the store, I noticed the two girls were moving very fastly from stand to stand several times devouring all the free samples. So, my thought was the grandmother figure that brought them there clearly was using this grocery shopping experience as the girls after school snack. I just felt sorry for the other people that the girls were running over in their pursuit of a free snack.

Then just a few minutes later, over the intercom, we hear that everyone needs to check their grocery carts to make sure that the cart they're pushing has their groceries in it and not someone else's. I just kind of chuckled to myself and looked at Kevin. He said that there was a man who lost his cart, and was looking for it. After the announcement, Kevin said he saw the man going up and down aisles and when he came down the one we were in, he looked in our cart to make sure the food in there was not his. Okay, first off, how sad and lazy that someone took another person's cart, but then you start to wonder why doesn't the guy just start his shopping over. I realize that yes it would be frustrating and probably a pain in the butt to have to start your shopping again, but I guess as long as you didn't pay for anything, have a kid or your wallet in the cart, it can be done and it will all be okay. The guy did end up having to grab a new cart and start all over, but he didn't look too happy about it. I guess the lesson here is hold on to your cart, you never know who you're grocery shopping with.

When we finally made our way to the checkout lanes, I got to say hi to the very friendly cashier that I always try to go to when I go to the grocery store. She was on the 15 items and under lane, so that didn't work but I did get to say hi and show Tierney to her. We talked a lot when I was pregnant and she asked about my baby before I even had a chance to show Tierney to her. As the checkout lady was scanning our groceries with Brooklyn's help of handing groceries to her, she asked if I had my King Soopers card. I said I did but wanted to wait until the end to put the number in. After the final item was entered, I put in the phone number for the Soopers card, and watched as the amount that was due dropped further and further down. And, then I handed my coupons to her (the 10% off coupon amongst them), and watched the amount drop even more. Kevin got to see it too, and let me tell you that yes, I may be a dork, but watching the amount drop so fast and at the end of the order before you have to pay just makes my day. And, how much did we save you might be asking? Well, we saved 38% of our entire order which came out to $64. That made my day, and it made this grocery shopping experience so memorable that I had to share it here!!

Tierney's Baptism

This day marks a very special day for our family, and a very special day in particular for Tierney as she was baptized. As our pastor told us before the baptism, there are three times a child is born. The first upon conception, the second upon birth and the third on the day of their baptism. The pastor encouraged us and Tierney's godparents to remember this day for Tierney each year and celebrate it as her spiritual birthday. We've done this with Brooklyn's baptismal birthday and we plan to do the same with Tierney. We praise the Lord for our baby girl and promise to raise her in His word and by the example we set.

"Teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the

Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." -Matthew 28:19

A photo to commemorate the day with our family
and Tierney's godparents (Todd & Jessica) and their kids.

There's only one October

Our family just loves this time of year with the leaves changing and the temperatures dropping from the hot summer heat to the cool crisp fall air. The cooler weather means that it's time for our annual trip to the pumpkin patch which can only mean Halloween is right around the corner, followed closely by Thanksgiving, Brooklyn's birthday and Christmas. The last three months of the year are just the best.

Here's a few shots of our annual pumpkin patch trip.

And, our pumpkins with their pumpkins... Brooklyn and Daddy all dressed in their Halloween best...

(Tierney went as a baby and Mommy went as well a Mommy of two!)

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Next up for our family: Tierney's baptism on Sunday.

A beagle, a table and a leash

Here's what happens to one 7-year-old beagle who invests all of his time after our dinners tripping those cleaning up, jumping up on the chairs and table in hopes of gaining another scrap of food, licking the trash can and recycling bin, and pretty much, just being a big dork! Yes, Kevin grabbed his leash and collar and tied him up to our kitchen table, the one that he cannot seem to leave alone after meals. I was nursing Tierney in another room and when I heard and saw what was going on, I started laughing so hard. I paused the nursing for a few moments because I was laughing so hard and I ran and grabbed the camera to take this photo. He only stayed there for about 10 minutes, and did it teach him a lesson? Heck no. To learn more about our dog, check out Kevin's column about how smart our lovable beagle is.

Happy Birthday Daddy & Tierney!

Today is a special day in our household. It's Kevin's 29th birthday and Tierney's 1 week old birthday ... both October babies! We've had a great day. Kevin got to indulge in some of his favorite foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and well Tierney, she's a breastfeeding champion. Not only do Daddy and Tierney share October as their birth month, they also share the same hairline and the same fingers and toes. It's always fun to see who your children look like, or better yet, which features they have of each parent or in our case of our other child. She definitely has Brooklyn's little nose! We're ending the night with some great family time, and we're really enjoying being a family of four - it's just the best!! And, as per my sister-in-law's request, here are some more photos of Tierney enjoying her first week of life.

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Tierney - 6 days old

Sisters & Best Friends

Mommy & her girls
Flying baby
Our dancing baby