Tuesday

 Good morning Tuesday.

As I sit here next to my sweet Cooper listening to Roman squeak on the floor and watching the news my heart is heavy. I said goodbye to a great man on Sunday. My Grandpa Dean was 86 years old. He spent his life working every minute he could. It was rare to see him sitting still unless he was in church. He was a strong Christian who never shied away from sharing the gospel of Jesus. He was a hard man to know at times but we love him so much. I am so happy that he is at peace now. 

I am so happy to be home with all of my boys. I spent yesterday with my mom and brothers remembering good times and making fun of each other (it's how we show our love 😉). It was exactly what my heart needed. I got home late last night after my boys were all in bed. It is so wonderful to wake up to happy baby noises and love from my sweet boys. 

The next couple weeks will be bitter sweet as we finish saying goodbye to Grandpa. Hold your loved ones close. Their time here is limited. 

Nicole

Sunday Morning Snuggles

 Happy Sunday! 

I love Sundays. Sundays to me are quiet. They are a day to recharge. I get my weekly dose of Jesus. I can always use more Jesus in my life. 

Growing up we always took naps on Sunday. With 3 little boys in my life naps don't happen very often for this momma. I plan to bring that tradition crack when my kids are older. 

I'm starting my Sunday with some puppy snuggles from Miss Penelope, my favorite blanket, coffee and Harry Potter. I've read these books at least 5 times. I've been reading them with my oldest son Cooper. I kinda got sucked in so I'm reading ahead while he's at his dad's. perks of being the mommy. 

My sweet Roman is in his walker singing me a song and Houston is watching some weird movie... 

Have I mentioned I love Sundays?

Nicole

It's Time To Plan Our Big Day!

After 2 1/2 years of waiting, and fighting, and waiting more my divorce from Mr. Wonderful is FINALLY official. This has been a very long time coming. I have been divorced in my heart for years but I am so relieved and excited that it is official!

Now this means that I get to move on with my life!

I get to plan my wedding to the love of my life. Houston picked my shattered heart up and put it back together. He helped me thru the hardest part of my life. I will forever be graateful to him for that. I can't wait to be his wife! 

Now comes the fun/challenging part of planning a wedding. We are also in the process of buying a house. If we buy the house that we really want we will have our reception in the back yard. It is this awesome log cabin style home with an AMAZING view. I'm trying to keep my hopes in my pocket but its getting to be a challenge.

We will be getting married in August so it will be very warm. We are going to have a cocktail party for our reception. I'm thinking lots of sunflowers, twinkle lights and candles. I want it to be fun and laid back. Good food, friends, family, fun and laughs. I have this picture in my head of what I want it to be. I really hope I can make it happen.

This week I will be meeting with our photographer. We will also hopefully be writing an offer on the house we want.  

Lots of big things happening this year!

Nicole

Sunday Morning

This is what my Sunday morning looks like. 

The dogs are chewing on a ball of yarn. The baby is finally sleeping well now that it's morning (and in my bed no less). There is micilaneous trash and junk piled on just about every surface. There is no where near enough coffee in my cup to make me want to clean it...

It's not perfect but it's real life. That little baby might keep me up all night and take every ounce of energy I have to give but he has my whole heart in his tiny little hands. 

I'm gonna go back to perusing Facebook while I caffeinate. 

Happy Sunday!

Nicole

 

Roman Michael

It's been exactly one month since we welcomed this little miracle into our lives. It wasn't the smooth natural delivery I had envisioned. Houston wasn't by my side to hold my hand while I pushed. They didn't put him on my chest so I could snuggle my brand new baby boy. This little guy made his appearance over 8 weeks early. My water broke on a Saturday night. We went to the hospital here in Elko. I was started on magnesium (yuck!) then flown to Salt Lake City early Sunday morning. The magnesium successfully stopped my contractions. I was also given 2 steroid shots to speed up little man's lung development. I was moved up to the postpartum and I spent the next 5 days there in the hospital on bed rest. Poor Houston had to go back to work the Monday after I was put in the hospital. Roman was at 31 weeks gestation. Our goal was to keep him in until 34 weeks. 

Unfortunately after 4 days Roman's heart rate started dipping. They started me on magnesium again and the dips lessened so they took me off. I wasn't able to eat while I was on magnesium. Once they took me off and I was able to eat Roman's heart rate started dipping again. My doctor decided to do a c section because the dips were caused by him putting pressure on his umbilical cord. It turned out the cord was wrapped around his neck. Unfortunately Houston was too far away to make it in time for delivery. He made it about an hour later. 

Our sweet boy made his appearance at 2:52 p.m. on July 22nd. He weighed 3 lbs 7 oz and was 17 1/2 inches. He came out screaming so no need for any ventilation or oxygen. He has been a strong boy since that first minute. 

He spent 3 weeks and 6 days in the NICU at St. Mark's Hospital. The staff was amazing. Roman being in the NICU was so hard for all of us. The NICU does what is called Cluster Care. Roman was fed, changed and his vitals were checked every 3 hours. We were encouraged not to bother him in between so we spent a lot of time driving back and forth to the hospital. 

For the first 3 weeks Roman was in an isolette (which is basically a baby incubator) because he wasn't able to maintain his own body temperature. While he was in it we were only allowed to hold him twice a day. We looked forward to those times with our little man so much. It was so hard to see him in that little box but not be able to hold him.

Roman was able to come out of the isolette after about 3 weeks. Once he was in an open crib his last hurtle was getting all of his nutrition by mouth. Up to that point he had been relying heavily on his ng tube. It was like one day a switch flipped and he decided he was going to eat from the bottle all the time. The day they took out that ugly tube we almost cried. Once he mastered that it was just a matter of making sure he kept up his progress. 

He was discharged on August 18th. Less than a month after he was born. All of the doctors and nurses we talked to before he was born told us to plan on being there until around his due date which was September 17th. He came home a month before we expected. 

We were lucky enough to have Houston's brother Cameron and his wonderful wife April to stay with during all of this. They live about 10 minutes from the hospital and they opened their home to us. Having a home to go to between feelings and at night made a world of difference for us. I don't know what we would have done without them. 

To say we are happy to be home is the understatement of the century. We have an amazing support group of family and friends that got us thru with their love and support. We are so blessed that our baby is so healthy. Being in the NICU and watching the other babies struggle really puts things into perspective. 

We are going to enjoy watching our little super hero grow so much! 

Here are a few pictures of our journey. 

The look of love on daddy's face 💙

 

Meeting Cooper for the first time. 

And Nixon. 

First time he got dressed. 

No more tube!

We're outta here!! ✌
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 

 

Mondays

I always knew that once my kids started school for real, Monday would take on a whole new meaning. I just didn't understand how much. 

We just started our third week of school for my munchkins. Cooper is still loving Kindergarten. However, he does not love having to get up and eat breakfast in the morning. Is it really so hard to eat a fresh homemade waffle without me having to remind him to keep eating every two seconds? Apparently it is.

Maybe one morning I just won't feed him and see how he likes that.

Then again, maybe not.

Nixon only goes to school on Tuesday and Thursday. This means that the other three days of the week he yells at me because he wants to go to school but can't. And by yells I mean screams.

This morning he came very close to getting squished like a bug by traffic. He ran away from me and darted into the road because he didn't want to sit in his booster.

Yes my heart stopped.

Yes I swatted his naughty bottom. It doesn't happen often but he earned it that's for sure.

Okay I better get on with my day.

Happy Monday!

Nicole 

Back To School They Go....

Well I guess "back to school" isn't quite the truth. 

My boys both started school in the last 2 weeks. 

 This little cutie started Kindergarten!

It wouldn't be a Cooper picture without his dirt bike.

My little Nixon Mark started Preschool. He was SO excited.

I was not so much, but I kinda was. It was very confusing.

He is only going 2 days a week, for 3 hours a day so it isn't too terrible.

In getting the boys ready to start school this summer I had it in my mind that I would have some extra time on my hands. You know time when both children are at school and my house is clean so I can sit on my patio and read a book, have coffee with a friend, do any of the hundreds of projects I have pinned on Pinterest...

I could not have been more wrong. It is all I can do to keep up car pool, doctor appointments, Open Houses, Laundry, Dishes, etc.

I don't even want to talk about the last time I mopped my floors. 

I have the nagging feeling that I need a little more organization in my life. A solid plan of attack. Something to help me keep it all strait. 

Fortunately a little over a month ago I ordered something to help me with just that!

It should arrive today.

I am excited to say the least.

I'll post pictures and more info when it gets here.

Is the anticipation killing you too?

Hehe

Nicole

Kitchens!

I love kitchens! I spend a lot of time in my kitchen cooking for my little family. It is definitely the heart of our home.

 

I am always looking for new ideas of how to decorate my kitchen. Our home is a year old and all builder's grade at the moment. It needs some character for sure.

 

I was browsing the kitchen gallery at www.HGTV.com for a little inspiration. Here are some of my favorites.

 

 

I love the light cabinets, rustic pendant lights and those chairs are beautiful!

 

The mix of light and dark cabinets in this kitchen really caught my eye and those chairs look really comfy.

 

I LOVE everything about this room! There are so many textures. The wood on the ceiling is beautiful. The whole room is so bright and open but it still feels so cozy.

 

The pop of color that the read island adds is really pretty.

 

That brick wall is to die for! I also love the pendants.

 

Oh the things I could cook up in this kitchen! I'm not usually a big fan of all stainless steel but I think I could live with this ;)

 

I think the thing that makes a room feel really cozy is a mixture of textures. I love the look and feeling of rooms that combine wood and stone with softer fabric finishes and light colors. It's my happy place.

 

Ok now I am motivated to get some stuff done around my own house.

 

Happy decorating!!

 

Nicole



Happy New Years!

It was a quiet New Year's Eve for my family. The boys and I got back from visiting my mommy for a few days around 6 last night. I unloaded everything got everybody situated and we were in bed around 9:30. We're exciting like that.

 

I've never really been one for resolutions. I feel like it is just setting yourself up to fail. Too much pressure. I like to set goals and have a certain frame of mind.

 

This year my goal is to stop excepting less than I deserve from others and from myself.

 

I think the from myself part is going to be the hardest.

 

I have high hopes for 2014. I am going to make some big changes in my personal and professional life. Hopefully I'll get myself back on track.

 

Look out 2014 I'm coming in swinging!

 

Happy New Year!

 

Nicole

 



Christmas Eve

Most days my boys are awake before me. I usually wake up to my 2 year old yelling at me from behind his baby gate. I usually groan a bit, then get up and let him out. My boys have always been early risers. By early I mean there was a time when I was lucky if they slept until 6. As they are getting older they are starting to sleep later but my internal alarm clock is still set for 6.

 

This morning I started tossing and turning around 5 a.m. I have always been more of a morning person. I like the quiet. I like watching the sky come to life as the sun rises. I love the warm feeling that travels thru my body with my first sip of coffee. Mornings make me happy.

 

Today is a special morning. It's Christmas Eve!! I am ready for the big day. The hubs and I will probably be up super late putting toys together. My mommy will be here late tonight with the last piece to Cooper's big present and to surprise the boys. The especially love their grandma.

 

I might be just as excited as the boys for Christmas. It is going to be magical. I can't wait to see their little faces light up when they see the indoor trampoline that Santa is bringing them!

 

Nixon just woke up so I will end my rambling by saying Merry Christmas! It really is the most magical day of the year!

 

Nicole

Thankful

Today I am thankful for microfiber couches, my steam cleaner's upholstery attachment, hot running, my washer and dryer, modern medicine and being a stay-at-home mom.

 

For any of you mom's who are reading this you have probably figured out that I have a child with a stomach bug. Its an ugly one too. The kind that has stuff coming out both ends. Poor kid.

 

I can't imagine having to leave my poor sick kid with anyone while I go to work. It would rip my heart out. I am so grateful that I can stay home with my babies. 

 

Also on the agenda today is finishing 100 cake pops and 100 sugar cookies for a friend. I also have a kitchen that needs to be put together for a certain 2 year old. It will be a busy day.

 

Well I am now sufficiently caffeinated (for now) I better get started.

 

Two days until Christmas! Yay!!!

 

Nicole 

 



My Baby

I was looking thru some pictures on my computer and came across some of my baby boy from the summer before last. We had given him an ice cream cone, set him on the patio and let him have at it. He was so squishy and cute. I forgot he was such a little chunk! I love these pictures. They almost make me want another baby... Almost.

 

 

 

That cute little Mohawk.

 

MMMMMMMM!

 

 

It takes a lot of concentration to eat an ice cream come.

 



 

Oh how I miss my squishy little baby!

 

This is my little stud muffin a couple days ago. He is a little less squishy now but loves life (and ice cream cones) just as much!

 

Nicole

This Time Of Year

I love Christmas time. I love the smells, I love how generous people are. I love it even more now that I have two little boys. I am so excited to see their happy little faces on Christmas morning! It has taken every ounce of self control I have not to give them their presents already! 

 

I had grand plans of doing Christmas crafts with my boys everyday of December. I am just not that mom.

 

As we are approaching another New Year I think about what I want to accomplish in the coming year. I have never been a crafty person but I love decorating. We bought a brand new house in December of 2012. In the last year I haven't had much of a chance to start decorating my new home. I look around every day and think about how I want to decorate each room. I have, of course, changed my mind over and over again.

 

In the coming year I am going to get my decorate on! I am so excited! In the next couple weeks I am going to begin posting pictures of each room along with my plans for that room. I'm sure that my ideas will change along the way but that is part of the fun!

 

I would love to eventually help other's decorate their own homes. My own home will be my practice!

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

 

Nicole

The Monday After

Happy Monday!!

 

The day after a holiday always feels anticlimactic to me. It is the day we all get back to normal life. Chores, work, appointments, LAUNDRY.... It is just a lot of catching up.

 

Mother's Day for me was pretty quiet. The hubby had to work and I am far away from my family so it was pretty much a normal day. I did take some time to lay on the couch and do nothing. That was nice. My amazingly sweet neighbors brought me over a gift bag with body scrub and lotion (I always forget how much I love anything almond scented), some chocolates, my favorite chap stick and a new lather builder (did you know your supposed to replace those things every 30 days?). It was such a sweet thing to do and really made my day.

 

My 4 year old Cooper has rediscovered his love for his dirt bike. Over the past week he has ridden it at least twice a day. He has gotten a little more comfortable and brave with every ride. Last night right after hubby got home we were standing in the driveway watching him and a girl from across the street ride when Cooper clipped her quad with the training wheel of his bike. He and the bike both went flying. The bike landed on top of him. I don't think I have ever run that fast in my life!

 

When we reached him he was screaming of course. I pulled the bike off. We made him lay still and slowly went over his body making sure there weren't any major injuries. We took off his helmet after about 5 minutes (hubby has crashed his dirt bike I cant tell you how many times so this was not our first rodeo). He turned out to be fine and walked away from it. Thank you God!

 

I am so incredibly thankful for a few things in this situation;

 

1. Since Cooper started riding his dirt bike and even before that we have ALWAYS made him wear the correct gear. He has riding boots, a good helmet, riding pants and gloves. He wears all of this every time he rides. No exceptions. If he hadn't been wearing all of this gear things could have ended quite differently.

 

2. I am so glad Hubby was here when it happened. Cooper rides a lot when he isn't here. I am just so glad he was here when Cooper crashed. The first thing I wanted to do was pull Cooper's helmet off. Hubby knew not to move his neck just in case. Now I know.

 

3. Our neighbors were there almost as fast as we were. We recently moved onto a nice little cul-de-sac. We are learning a little more everyday that we have awesome neighbors. We really hit the Jack Pot!

 

Cooper woke up today feeling fine other than his right wrist being a little sore. This year my favorite Mother's Day present was not taking my 4 year old to the ER.

 

Hope you have a fantastic Monday After!!

 

Simply Sweet

Proud Moments

As I sit here enjoying a beautiful sunny morning watching my babies play I'm thinking about how proud of them I am. The big moments make me proud of course. The first steps, riding a bike, first words... But I'm learning as a mom that it's the small everyday moments that make me the most proud. My big guy getting himself dressed and helping his brother get a toy. My baby going down the slide himself and giving the doggies love. My favorite moments are when they are truly enjoying each other. Those moments are fleeting (as I write this my baby is chasing his brother screaming because he wants to ride in the power wheels too) but when they do happen I am so proud of the love they have for each other. I have to remind myself daily to slow down and enjoy them. Everything else can wait...

Simply Sweet

Boys In The Snow

My husband and I were both raised in the desert of Southern California just outside Death Valley. Needless to say it was HOT most of the year. The summers last forever. If you blink you would miss Spring and Fall. Winters are very mild, mostly just windy. We got snow about every three years. By got snow I mean it snowed overnight then was melted by 10 a.m. Winter is not something we are very familiar with.

 

When we moved to Northeastern Nevada at the beginning of January it was bitter cold. I'm talking 16 below at night. My poor little guys didn't know what to think of this super cold. They would stand at our sliding glass door and stare outside. Our dog Bailey was pretty confused too. She is a pit bull so she doesn't have much of a coat. She would go outside for long enough to do her business and come right back in. To say we experienced some culture shock is an understatement.

 

Now that we have entered Spring I am itching to get outside. I LOVE to Garden and recently planted my seed starters (inside of course). We had a couple beautiful days last week then we woke up to snow. Ugh. 

 

Instead of sitting around in the house letting our cabin fever intensify we headed out to explore our new surrounding. We went to Lamoille Canyon and played around for a bit. It was really cold and a little breezy so we didn't last long but I got some great pictures. Aren't my boys just precious? I am one lucky mama!

 

 

 

Here they are arriving. The snow had already melted at my house so we weren't dressed appropriately. Lesson learned.

 

 

 

Cooper taking in the scenery. He's not a big fan of the cold or the snow.

 

 

Daddy found a stick for Nixon. He's our rough and tumble kid. He's up for just about anything. 

 

 

"Come here brother let me poke you with my stick."

 

 

We also brought Bailey with us. She goes just about everywhere with us. She's an Angel.

 

 

She's quite the goof ball too.

 

 

I love these pictures.

 

 

 

I think this one needs to go in a frame.

 

 

Cold fingers are unacceptable but putting gloves on my baby is a fight every time.

 





 

Aw that's better. Warm fingers.

 

 

Definitely not the right shoes.

 

 

My whole world.

 

 

And we couldn't leave home without Cooper's bicycle. It might be his favorite thing. other than his sword and his Lego's of course.

 

While we had fun in the snow I am SO ready for warmer weather! I'm not even asking for summer just let the ground thaw a little.

 

Happy Sunday!

 

Nicole