Details

Noah is such a detail oriented kid.  He has really surprised me a few times lately with noticing people's cars!
Now I don't mean he sees a silver car and thinks it's his dads silver Alero.  He will see a car exactly like his and say daddy's car.  The other day he noticed a look alike suv same color and type to his Grandma Shelley's and a car just like his Nana Jill and Papa Bob.  He's also pretty good at helping me find our Highlander in parking lots.  He usually remembers the direction to go and he can spot ours in a crowd even among the million other silver vehicles.
He sure does pay attention to way more than we think he does!

All by himself

Tonight Carson fed himself his dinner for the first time.  It's amazing how much later we have done pretty much everything with Carson.  With Noah I was always waiting to get to the next milestone and excited to try all the new stuff like food, sippy cups, and walkers. Now  that we have already been through all that, I'm not in a hurry this time. We always had such a struggle with Noah and food  so I'm thankful that Carson seems to be much easier in that department.  Tonight I put peaches and green beans on his tray and he sure made a mess but he ate them like a champ.  He has fed himself puffs, and some other baby snacks but we haven't really had him experiment with food or sippy cups too much yet, so I decided tonight was the night. It was actually pretty nice, because I actually just got to feed myself while Noah and Carson helped themselves to their green beans!  Now we just need to keep working on it, and get him to start eating a variety of different finger foods!  Carson is getting so fun, and getting  a personality all of his own!

Blessed

Do you ever have those days where you more blessed than you deserve?

Today is definitely one of those days!

My boys are some of my biggest blessings!  They bless me so much on a daily basis.  They are both so cute, can be so fun, and yet so different.  Last night I got to rock my sweet little Carson while he slept and enjoyed the snuggles even though he didn't know, haha and Noah won't go to bed until we pray at night.  He has to hold our hand and we all have to say amen.  The way he repeats what we sayand how he closes his eyes is just the cutest!  Then this morning at Wal-Mart, Carson every once in  awhile would just look at me and giggle, and Noah was singing his ABC's at  the checkout's (he doesn't know all of them but sang the ones he knew) and was pointing out numbers and shapes as we were checking out.  We all wrestled on the living room floor and shared laughs.  During lunch Noah and I sang songs and Carson clapped along with us.  Noah played his version of Simon says, except it's always "mommy do this" and he wants me to copy the silly thing he just did like run into the couch or turn around in a circle.   These are the things that just make me smile and make me love these boys more and more every day!

I remember the days wondering if I could do this, could I really handle another day of chaos and cries or wondering if Noah would ever start talking, was it my fault Noah wasn't talking, is it my anxiety that made Carson cry, I remember the days I cried along with them, watching the clock and looking so forward to when Matthew walked into that door.  But lately we have had much better days filled with smiles, laughter, playing and lots of fun and a lot less crying and stress (notice I said less, we still are far from perfect here in the Jones household)!  Noah now talks non stop and Carson is such a playful little boy! I just couldn't imagine life without them.

Can you slow down Carson?

My little baby took his 2 first steps that I saw yesterday.   He was holding onto my legs by the couch and decided to go try and get his brother's trains that he was playing with on the coffee table and he just turned and walked over to the table.  I tried to get him to walk more yesterday but every time he would just go down to his knees and crawl to me.  It won't be too much longer, he is already into everything already the way he is now.   I will really be in trouble with 2 little boys being able to run from me!  

One of Carson's newer fun hobbies is to play with big brother's cars and trucks (anything with wheels really) and to crawl around and push them.  It's so cute, he just pushes and pushes all over the house.  

 Here is Carson playing Peek a boo with mommy and the curtains. He was in such a playful mood yesterday.  He was so cute playing, he would hide behind the curtain, pull it away and just smile so big at me!  

You are getting too big too fast!

Fashion

I feel like I have really been out of the fashion loop for quite some time now. I went to college for it, but no one would ever guess that.  Let's face it during pregnancy  I really gave up, then after both babies I struggled getting the weight off.  When I'm not comfortable in my own skin I never feel like I can wear the trendy things, I go for the items that I feel make me look as best as they can, the plain items and a lot of black. Well I'm done, I'm finally going to get myself where I want to be and I want to start wearing the trends I see others wearing and wish I could.  

Here are a few of my must haves in the next few months

The Bubble Necklace, I absolutely love these.  I think I still start with a black or white, easier to wear with more things.   

 Chevron!  I absolutely love everything chevron.  I would love to redo a room in my house and use some, but it's not exactly in the budget.  However I've been eyeing lots of chevron purses and diaper bags on Etsy. Maybe I can snag one of them to satisfy my love for now.   

Colored denim,  I love it and love all the colors but  I usually stick to dark denim, hide the butt and legs more, haha. Hopefully soon I can feel comfortable rocking a pair of these!  Pinterest has so many cute outfits to get ideas from! 

I absolutely love these nails. Won't be going for a black though, probably a pink or purple?  Not quite sure.   I just got nails this week, so I'm hoping  I can keep them on for awhile so I can try some of the fun nail trends!

Next I want to try some fun new color combos!   I am loving lace, and all the colored jackets/blazers.  I bought a deep purple light blazer the other day need to find some cute stuff to go with it by fall!

I also want something like this but of course I will momming it up with some leggings or jeggings!  I love the colors and the print!

I also love all the maxis and hi-lo skirts and dresses, but  in my real world, and in Effingham they aren't practical I need clothes for out and about and able to crawl around and play with my boys as well. 

Also right now I'm in love with pretty much everything Apricot Lane Peoria is selling.  I went to college with the owner and am pretty jealous of her new venture. Maybe someday I can have my own store?  I still daydream about it all the time!    

What are some of your guys fall fashion wants?

Taking Control

Being a girl sometimes stinks....

Having to worry about weight stinks!!

All my life I have yo-yo'd.  Not a huge amount but I just hardly get to where I want or get close and then I loose momentum and start to go back the other way.  

But I'm done being uncomfortable, I'm taking control back of my weight and my health and finally doing something about it.  Around the new year I had lost weight and was right back to my weight before Noah and even a little less. I was proud that I did it in less than 4 months after Carson was born.  But you know how  that goes the New Year goes on and we get lax and I gained some weight back.  The weight my body likes to hover at, is not at all what I want to see and I have been there for awhile.   Well I finally started finding some time to workout a little here and there.  Carson helped by getting up early the last few weeks, and getting me  to go on early morning walks.  Then I have done a little of the 30 Day Shred and our elliptical and there. Then Genesis Pure happened (that's a whole other post in it's self) and I have had energy galore and just felt like doing things which has been awesome.  I ordered the Brazilian Butt lift, got it this afternoon and started it this evening.  This workout series is going to get my bottom half in shape, it was tough! No lies about that, I haven't been that out of breath or sweaty in I'm not sure when.  I'm super excited about this and the support system I have with my Beachbody friends!  I know it's going to help having other people doing it.  Who wants to be the girl that quits?  Not this girl!  

If I'm brave enough maybe I'll share some before and after numbers after  I get finished.  I'm not looking for a huge amount of weight loss, more inches and toning.  I have lost some weight in the last few weeks so I'm super close to my goal weight and only need about 3-5 more pounds to get there.  However, I know that in the past everytime I get to a goal,  I have always wanted to loose more so we will see where this workout program takes me!  

I saw this on our Beachbody support page today, and loved it.  It's so easy to make excuses about not having time but if we really try I think most people can figure how/ when to work out if they really try!  

 

2 1/2 Years Old Already

I have been saying it for a little while now but can't believe it's now actually been 2 1/2 years since you were born.  Where has the time gone, you have grown up so much Noah!  

About one week old

Here you are around 7 Months I think, such a cutie and still so chubby!

 I will forever be sorry for not cutting your hair when I see pics of you at this age.  I'm so glad we finally have gotten you used to hair cuts.  It was kind of out of control for a few months.  

You are such a fun little boy!  We have came so far from your cranky baby days! 

 You are so smart and have such an imagination, and you still always have your tongue out.

 Still just as adorable when you sleep as the day you were born.  

Noah you have blessed us in more ways than we could ever explain.  You make us laugh every day, your giggle still kills me, you give awesome kisses and hugs, I just love it when you hug me and pat my back.    You are learning so many new things all the time.

At 2 1/2 you,

-weigh 30.4 lbs and wear mostly 24 months-2T tops shirts and 18-24 bottoms

- Know lots of colors, shapes, animals and their noises

-can do some counting- when I count and you count along you do great telling me what number is next, but when you decide to do it on your own it's funny, you usually say 2,4,6,8 or random numbers in the order you decide

-love singing ABC's, you don't know the whole song so you just pretend to.  Your favorite is the end.  

- Have started singing other songs and if you don't know the words you are just like me and kind of hum and sing random things.

-pretty much think you run our house, you don't think I can do anything without you telling me how or what to do next

-getting pretty independent

-still working on potty  training, you do awesome with #1, #2 not so much.

-can be a great big brother, I say can because sometimes you are pretty ornery with him 

-is getting better with food, boy have you given us almost 2 years of food struggles.  I do have to say though you still love your fruit and veggies which is awesome.  You would about live on them alone I think

-are such a quirky kid, you don't like change, if we do something one way one time, you think that is the way it always has to be (example, you have a certain seat on the couch and one of the pillows have to go behind you every time.  However the lines on the pillow have to be going horizontal not vertical or you kind of freak out and won't sit until it's fixed, or when you get into your seat at the table you have to get in from the same side every time.  If I try to put you in from the other, I'm in trouble.)

-you love to pray at night before bed, and never let us forget.  We have to all hold hands and all say amen, including you.  You sometimes tell us extra things to pray for, it blesses me so much!

-You are such a helper, you love to help daddy fix things or help me in the kitchen. ( I think cracking eggs is one of your favorites, or watching me using the mixer with beaters, because you have realized how good most of the stuff is that comes off of those, haha)

-Love music and love to dance, your moves kill me. 

- Love swimming, you will jump of the diving board with your floaties and don't even mind going under!  

-Still get pretty shy around a lot of people, but when you are in your comfort zone, you are a different kid.  You have really become a showboat lately, always telling us, "mommy watch this, daddy watch this" and doing the silliest stuff like running around in a circle and falling or doing weird things with your hands.  I can't wait to show you footage someday!  

-Really love your family and are so blessed to have a lot of them! 

I could go on and on, but Noah you truly are such a neat kid, ornery and strong willed but so cute, sweet, fun, and smart as well!  We love you so much buddy and can't imagine life without you.  

Oh Boy....

Noah does some of the funniest things, I just love his personality sometimes! Yesterday afternoon he just blessed me, Carson was pretty cranky and whined most of the day and I couldn't get him to stop crying and was just letting him cry for awhile and Noah ran and got 2 burp cloths, which they both love, gave Carson one and then put one on his head and started to play peekaboo with him and the way he says peekaboo is just so cute,   I almost cried.  He can be so ornery to him but sometimes can be soooo sweet and such a good brother.  In those moments I know we will make it through these crazy ages!
Then last night we wanted him to eat  something on his plate and he didn't want to so what did he think to do.  He pretended to be asleep.  All of a sudden while sitting up still, he closes his eyes and pretends to be snoring.  We were trying not to laugh but it was just too funny!  That kid comes up with the darnest thing but sometimes he steals them from us, like that one, I do to him a lot just for fun.  He is pretty much a mini me in the ways of actions, but his dad in his looks!

Chicago Mini Vacation

Last week I went on a little mini vacation to Naperville and Chicago with Matthew, Kate, and Hannah.  We first went to Naperville on Monday night, stayed the night at Matthew's Aunt and Uncles condo and met up with his cousin Cody.  Then on Tuesday we went to Six Flags Great America and had a great time, perfect weather, lines weren't too bad, I laid out for a bit in the water park by myself, had a giant sno cone and we were there without kids, yeah it was awesome!  I've only been to that one, one other time so the rides were all pretty much new to us.  Then that night we went downtown Naperville had a dinner at a mexican restuarant, walked around the shops a bit, and my favorite had COLDSTONE.  Cake batter ice cream with cookie dough mixed in, doesn't get much better! 

 Wednesday we packed up our stuff and headed downtown for the day and night.  We had lunch at Ed Debevic's, went to a few stores, went to Navy Pier and took a ride on the Seadog.  Now if you haven't ever taken the Seadog thrill ride and you are in Chicago, I highly recommend it.  I have been on a few other boat rides/tours on the lake and down the river but none of them compared to this one.  It's not informational is pretty much just like a huge speedboat and these drivers can get a little crazy.  You coast out past the no wake zone, then they blare music, rev up and off you go flying around the lake, back and forth and going in circle.  It wasn't what I expected it to be at all.  These boats have some power!  We did get soaked but it was lots of fun anyway.  

After getting all wet we headed back to the hotel to get cleaned up for dinner and did a little resting.  Then we went to dinner at Portillo's and took the girls to the 96th floor in the John Hancock building.  People say the women's bathroom has the best view in the city!  So that's what we did took them to the bathroom, took a few pictures and headed right back down.  This was the only picture I took and you can't really see the view in the background but it is beautiful up there!  

That night I don't even know what the others did, but I went to bed pretty early and they entertained themselves at the hotel.  Then Thursday morning we headed to Champaign, did some shopping and then made it back mid afternoon.

We had a great time and when I came home I had some surprises.  My mom had made us a baby gate because we couldn't find anything to work with our basement stairway without ruining our mantle post.  Then she had shampooed our carpets and our couch!  I was so thankful, not only did she take care of our kids while we were gone but took care of some things on my to do list!  What a great momma!  

Temper Tantrums

You sure are cute Carson, but you throw some pretty not cute baby tantrums!!

In the last couple weeks you started to noticeably throw fits when you get mad.  You whine/scream and and bounce your body up and down when you are standing up.  If you are on the floor well you try to throw back that head of yours.  It's nothing we haven't seen before, your brother used to throw fits too, and still does but everyone thinks you are the super sweet, always smiling innocent one.  Let's try to cut back on these fits, we don't want to ruin your sweet image you have going on.  Especially the ones you throw when you want me to hold you (which is pretty much all the time) and if I'm not you grab my legs, stand up and bounce while hanging onto me, crying.  It makes everything a lot harder with a baby hanging on you. I love you buddy, but not so much your fits!

4th of July

This year for 4th of July, we had a great day.  I wish I could stay we slept in but we were up at 5:30 as usual.  We hung out around the house and I tried to get a few things done.  Late morning we went swimming, which I keep forgetting to take some pictures of.  Then we went home for lunch and naps.  The boys took awesome naps (almost 3 hours each). Then when they woke up we got ready and headed over to Matthew's parents for a family get together over there.  We ate and ate and all the little cousins had fun playing with each other both in and outside.  Then when it got close to time for fireworks we headed over to Matthew's grandparents to watch them at their house.  

Now I wasn't sure how Carson would do, I stick to their schedule a lot and most nights they are in bath at 7:15, then Carson is usually fed his bottle right after and in bed by 8:00.   Noah I wasn't so worried about, I knew if he was having fun he would be fine and it wouldn't affect his mood being up later.  He's a night owl I think like his dad, never wants to go to bed.  To my surprise they were both awesome, Carson was wide awake and not really complaining or whining at all.  I didn't give him his bottle until 8:45 and he was still wide awake crawling around and moving from chair to chair as we waited for the fireworks.  When the fireworks started Noah took turns sitting on different laps and he actually really watched them.  He didn't say a whole lot except for naming some colors and shapes he saw in the fireworks.  Carson didn't seem to pay attention at all and just wanted to be a little busy body.  They were both so good and we really enjoyed our time spent with family!  

Here are a few pictures

Not sure what he was looking at, but I couldn't believe how old he looks here.  Getting more grown up every day! 

 Watching the older cousins do some sparklers

 Busy body Jones here, always trying to climb on mom!

 Noah is the one on the left, he wasn't really too sure if he was scared of them sparklers or not, kept his distance for a little bit

 Aunt Amanda helped him hold one, too bad they are soo short, it didn't last very long.  

Side note, we got home around 9:40 and since the boys were wide awake we decided to just give both of them a bath even though it was late because they really needed them.  By the time they both went to bed it was about 10:00.  I was sure Carson would sleep past his normal 5:30 on Thursday but to my surprise he actually graced us with his presence at 4:30.  I didn't get to bed until 1:00 so I was one tired momma yesterday.  I don't know what it is with him and early mornings. This is why I stick to our schedule.  No more late nights for these boys for awhile.