The Work Week

This was my first week back to work and as much as I love both of my children I was excited to get back! I enjoy having a routine and schedule and I also needed some time out of the house with other adults and tasks that didn't involve feeding or diapers!
In order to get to work on time I have to get up at 5:15am to get ready and then feed Tanner. With him going to bed around 10:30pm and getting up around 3:00am and then 6:00am, making myself get up so early and actually get in the shower is difficult but I managed to do it everyday this week. I'm out the door by 6:30am and on the road with a large cup of coffee beside me! School starts at 7:50am and all of my students were very excited to see me return. I got lots of welcome backs and it was really nice to see everyone. We're reviewing for exams and finishing everything up for the year so I have been able to chat with my students and find out how everything went while I was gone.
Each day it has been harder and harder to get up. Noah hasn't been home before 10:30pm any evening this week so I feel like I still have a whole days work to do once I get home, but we're working on our routine and we've done pretty well. Izabel gets a little cranky in the evenings which is difficult when I'm by myself and I'm trying to feed Tanner and give them both a bath but I am blessed with two very good children and they've helped me make it through this week successfully. I am happy to see the weekend and I am praying for a little bit of extra sleep but who knows what will end up happening! Next week is exams and graduation and then I am off work for 6 weeks. By the time I get back in August I should have a really good routine down and Tanner should be sleeping longer at night, so things will be much easier! I hope everyone had a great work week and has a restful weekend!

More Memorial Day Pics

Mimi sent us her pictures from camping over Memorial Day weekend so I thought I would pull a couple to put on here. Thanks Mimi!

Izabel helping to set up camp!
Playing at the park

and they're both asleep!

Playing with Daddy during a timeout from volleyball

Sunbathing with Auntie

Izzy and Mommy

Tanner and Gigi

Our Weekend and Back to Work

We had a pretty nice weekend and I actually got a little bit of extra sleep since it was my last weekend before going back to work! On Friday Izabel went to have a sleep over at Grandma's house so it was nice and calm and quiet in the afternoon and evening. Noah came home late and then went and got us Subway for dinner. We just watched tv and then went to bed. After I fed Tanner Saturday morning Noah took him so I could go back to sleep and get a few more hours than normal. Then I got up and got ready to go see Wicked with my mom. We loved it and thought it was great! We had a really nice time. While we were gone Noah, Gram and Ann worked on opening the pool. It's still a little cloudy but it's come a long way so we'll be swimming soon. I know Izabel is excited! Sunday Humaira came to hang out with us for the day. We went to Landstown Commons for lunch and a little shopping at Carters. After that we just hung around the house and I started getting everything ready for the work week! I got up bright and early to head back for my first day and everything has gone really well. All of the kids were excited to see me and I don't have as much to do here before exams as I thought! It'll be a nice two weeks finishing up stuff here before I am home for the summer! Hope everyone had a nice and relaxing weekend!

Memorial Day Weekend

Happy Memorial Day! We hope everyone had a great weekend! We spent the weekend down at the beach camping at Holiday Travel Park. We go every year with several families and we always have a great time! I was excited to go again this year but I knew it would be a lot of work. Because of Izabel and mainly Tanner we decided not to spend the night so there was a lot of driving back and forth. I started packing and got almost everything ready on Thursday. Then Thursday night Mimi (Noah's mom), Cindy and Molly came into town. Theresa and Molly came over to visit and hung out for a while with me and the kids while Noah went over and played with his Mom, Aunt, Gram, Laurie and Cindy.

Friday morning we got up and started loading the car. There is a lot of stuff that needs to go and we always end up finding a bunch more things we need as we load up the car! After the chairs, grill, coolers, food, diaper bags, clothes, toys, blankets, and who knows what else we had a packed car and we didn't even have the major camping supplies! We share a camp site with Aunt Ann and use her pop-up camper so a lot of the supplies we need come with her. Once we got down there and got everything set-up Izabel got to go play at the park and even took a little dip in the pool! We had hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner and visited with the other families as they arrived. I stayed in the shade pretty much the whole time but still managed to get a sun burn! I'm pretty used to it by now! Then I took the kids and headed home for baths and bed.

Tanner with Cindy and Aunt Theresa
Playing in the wagon...she can get in and out by herself now!

Saturday morning we packed up more stuff (the stuff we realized we forgot!) and headed back down for breakfast. Then we spent the day watching the boys play volleyball, playing at the park, taking walks and playing in the pool. Izabel loved the pool as usual even though it was freezing! We had steaks for dinner and then all four of us headed home to once again do baths and go to bed.

Helping with the breakfast dishes!
Staying hydrated while waiting to go play
Our little slugger! (We tried very hard to keep him out of the sun)
All ready to go to the pool
Playing with Mimi
Jumping to Daddy
Nap time
(I have this same pic from last year but it's not saved on this computer!)

Noah had to work Sunday but I went ahead and took the kids down so they could spend some more time with Mimi before she went back to Vermont. It rained on and off all day and was pretty overcast so everyone just hung out by the campsite. Izabel did get some time at the park and in the pool. Noah came down around 3 and played cards with the boys. We had a great chicken dinner and then packed up as much as we could fit and headed home.

Monday morning Noah went down to the campsite to help pull the camper back to the house and bring the rest of the stuff home. Then he went to work and we just hung out here. Izabel and Tanner were pretty fussy all day since they spent the weekend being held and getting a ton of attention! This is my last week of official maternity leave! I go back to work on Monday for two weeks and then I'm off for six weeks of vacation!

6 Week Checkup

I went in for my 6 week checkup this past Wednesday. I had to take Tanner with me and despite 3 crying babies in the waiting room he was perfect! Everything checked out fine with me and we discussed birth control options which is now a must have! No more babies around here at least for a very long time, if ever! The best part of the visit was getting on the scale to see how much baby weight I've lost and the answer was all of it plus 1 lb! That's right, I lost 25 lbs in 6 weeks with the deliver a baby and breastfeed diet! I still have a ways to go to get to my goal weight but at least I'm back to where I started when I got pregnant with Tanner!

Weekend Updates and Trip to Richmond

This weekend was pretty busy with two out of town trips but we had a little down time at home as well. Izabel spent some time coloring with her new markers until she started putting them in her mouth. Thank goodness they are the color wonder kind so the color only shows up on the paper. She has this thing about chewing on writing utensils. She doesn't put anything in her mouth anymore except crayons and markers! We're working on it. Tanner spent time sleeping as usual. I actually got to lay down for a nap with him on Friday. I had to get up before him because Izabel woke up but he was very comfortable laying on my bed so I let him nap a little longer!

Sunday we drove up to Richmond with my parents. Noah couldn't go because of work but I don't think he minded that much. We actually got out of the house ahead of schedule but we ended up running really late because of the rain. We stopped at the hospital so I could visit Mandy and take her some baby gifts. I visited for just a little bit since we were running late and Izabel was very hungry. Then we headed to my Aunt's house to visit with her and my cousins. They were very excited to meet Tanner. Izabel always has a great time playing with Sydney and Nathan and we all enjoy getting to catch up! Hopefully we'll see them more this summer!

Michelle and Blaine with Tanner

Sydney and Izabel giving loves

Aunt Mary and Nathan with Tanner

Victoria's 1st Birthday!

Saturday afternoon we loaded up the kids and drove to North Carolina to celebrate Victoria's 1st birthday party and visit with Mark, Jessica and Olivia. The rain kept everyone inside for most of the afternoon but we had a great time. There was great food and Izabel had fun playing with all of the kids. Victoria was adorable and we're so happy we got to be there for her big day!

Izzy and Victoria

Time for presents!Wrapping paper is more fun than presents!

The big kids helped open the presents

Tanner with Jess and Olivia

Izabel was a little shy around all the big kids