Quality over Quantity

Paul and I have both been quite the jet setters lately and slowing down is no where in sight. Both of our careers have always kept up busy but add in more travel than usual and it can make for interesting weeks. It seems we are trying to fit in family time anytime we can but most of all making the best of every moment!

Like a long weekend for Mommy and Daddy in Los Angelas....

Paul has always had a busy flight schedule but for the most part my career keeps me in St. Louis. I had the pleasure this week to attend a week long training at our corporate headquarters in Baltimore Maryland. This experience has by far been the best thing I have ever experienced in my career! It was nothing like I expected but everything I needed...I won't bore you with all the details!

The main reason for this blog was not to boast about what great careers we have but to take a moment every week to think about all the quality (not quantity) time we get spend together. Rather its 30 minutes at night playing bears (hide under the covers then a bear comes under the "tent" and eats us) or taking ten minutes before bed reading stories or eating lunch in our princess clothes it's all about spending quality time together!

Parenting Fails

It seems as though the terrible twos are in full force at my house. This post is designated to our lovely Clarabelle at the sweet age of two!

"Clare lets put your shoes on."
"No! Can't!"
Which by this she actually means "I won't!"

Bedtime has been a major challenge for us recently. I guess it's paybacks from all the other parents whom children have never been good sleepers. In our case it's not staying asleep that's an issue it's the actual bedtime. You want to see a blond headed beauty turn into a mean red eyed bull? Say "bedtime!"

So tonight in hopes to avoid the head butt I received last night (on accident because she was whaling her body all over the place not wanting to lay down) I resorted to a different plan....

"Clare I think there is a special treat in her bed"
"Oh really?!"
"Yes, you should get into your bed to find it!"
"Ok, mommy!"
"Now close your eyes and I'll be right back...going to get M&M's...put hand under her cover and waaalaa! Look Clare mommy found M&M's in your bed!"

Worked like a charm...now that I've started this ritual lets hope I'm not still hiding M&M's under her covers when she's 16!

Daddy Daughter Dance

One of the many things I loved first about my husband is how special he made me feel and his thoughtfulness. Our daughter has been no exception to the way he spoils his girls! Daddy and Clare headed their first Daddy Daughter Dance this weekend! It was something they prepared for well in advance along with many dress rehearsals to make sure her Princess dress was perfect...and it was...actually the whole night was perfect!

Agenda...potty training....result...lots of accidents and Dominic rolling over!!!!

Today I took a day away from the office (which really means I just didn't physically go into the office but still got lots of work done!)
On the agenda was potty training Clare but Dominic was the star of the day with rolling over for the first time!!!

We are no where near calling potty training a success but we are giving it our best shot!

Cousin love

When my older sister and I found out our first babies would be 6 weeks apart we imagined all the fun it would be....now we get to experience it on a weekly basis! So this post is designated to Cousin love!

Our 2nd (I just can't call them the last!) babies are 6 months apart. Miss. Avery will be here late March or early April.

Oh, and Dominic got his first taste of cereal this weekend! He loved it!

The birth of our son!

We welcomed Dominic Whitney to our family on September 18th, 2012 at 12:56am weighing 8lbs 2oz!
The birth was very easy and he was perfect!