Lately

It is finally feeling like fall! The weather is staying a cool temp (which I love), the leaves are starting to change from green to all the vibrant colors of reds orange and yellows, and pumpkins are EVERYWHERE!

It feels so strange to say that I am now 26. I know it is still young but I can no longer say that I am in my lower 20's. I feel like I was just a little kid like yesterday. Sometimes I look at pictures from school and it feels like it was a million years ago and just like yesterday all wrapped into one. We went out to dinner for my birthday. It was fun and nice to have everyone together. Afterwards we got to go out as adults with no children for the first time in what feels like forever. I miss having date nights! Its something that I hate having to wait so long between them. We went and saw Gone Girl which was so good, as was the book!

And I am happy to say that I am an aunt again! Stella was born on Oct. 11th and is so beautiful! I am so excited that Aria has a girl cousin so close to her age. I was blessed to grow up so close to my cousins. Even though my cousins are growing up to be adults themselves (which totally freaks me out) I still see them as my baby cousins! We spent every holiday and so many summer days playing, bossing eachother around, fighting, running, jumping and making so many memories and I am so happy that Jax and Aria have so many cousins to share the same type of memories. I will say that I miss spending time with all my punk little cousins but they sure have made me proud!

I have to do a little shout out about my Aunt Rhonda. At a tender age of 14 when my mom had passed it was a rough time for the whole family. I felt like my whole world had been turned upside down. My dad was fading and my home felt like it wasnt the same anymore. I didnt know what my future was going to be. My aunt had asked if I wanted to move in with her next door while we took care of my dad. I did and she took care of me, she would listen to me, supported me financially and emotionally over my high school years. She stepped in when I needed someone the most. She never tried to replace my mom, instead she became a friend and a huge support system. I can never thank her enough for everything she has done for me!

Now as for the babies...

Aria is already 3 months old and I just can NOT believe it has been 3 months since she graced us with her beautiful self. She is getting so big and more gorgeous as the days go by. She is making bubbles with her mouth which is so cute. She also GIGGLED for the first time last week. I wont hold it against her that it was to her aunt candice!! I did get her to do it again yesterday and Im pretty sure that my heart melted. She is growing so so much and getting chunky! Her belly is huge and her thighs are getting thicker! Its just beyond adorable! She sat in her bumbo seat for the first time yesterday and she loved it. I just cant believe that my tiny baby girl is getting this big!
                                                                       

Already knows how to strike a pose and knows how to act like a diva during photo shoots :)

 Jax loves to talk to his baby sister and is always giving her love, even when she doesnt want it haha

Jax was getting jealous that Aria was getting her picture taken so he decied to join in!

Jax loves life as usual.If i could only have half the joy he has for life. Adults need to look to toddlers for motivation on there out look on life. He just loves life and shows it. Its something I hope he never grows out of.  On mondays we go to story time at the childrens library and he LOVES it. It is so fun. His favorite part is dancing and the craft. At times he acts like a little nutt during the actual stories but overall he does good. Each week is different theme and this week the craft was making an alligator! Jaxs alligator may need some braces hahah! He is doing so good at thursday bible school except he needs to work on sharing! He has decided though that napping and going to bed should be a long event usually ending in tears and stress.....not only does he need nap time but so does momma!

We did a fun pumpkin craft. He loved painting in and mixing all the paint together. It was fun to watch him and see how grown up he is getting!

               

                 He was pretty happy about using his hand as the paint brush! It was his favorite part!!!

                      And the finished product was pretty adorable and is a great fall decoration!


Life is so beautiful. I need to realize this more. I need to step back and realize that my life is so blessed. I get so stressed out about the house not being perfect all the time, and when things arent going exactly how I think they should go. Justin works so many hours and I am so blessed to have such a hardworking husband but sometimes I know I dont show how thankful I am. Its something I need to do more often. He provides for us and then some. Not only does he work so hard but he is the best dad. He plays when he is tired, "fights" when he would rather relax, and Aria already has him wrapped around her tiny finger.

 Life is beautiful. Life is beautiful. Life is beautiful. Its the truth. Its something we all need to wake up saying to ourselves. Its something we need to say when our kids are acting crazy and we are exhausted. Its something we need to say even when we may not believe it. Its something we need to live.