Fun Summer Days

Hanging out at the beach club

What an irresistible face!

Waiting for the fireworks

Taelor burying herself in the sand

This boys loves trucks!

Jumping over the waves

Oh, I just love California and the warm weather, but most of all I LOVE the beach and I am so happy that my kids love it too! We spent 4th of July at the beach and it was such a relaxing day and the best part was that it wasn't that crowded. If I could live anywhere it would be right on the beach with a great sunset view. It is the middle of July and we have been going to the waterpark, beach club and beach almost every weekend! By the end of summer I will be over the water but for now I am enjoying it and so is Taelor and Ethan!

Taelor is 2 1/2...Happy 1/2 Birthday!

Happy half birthday my little princess. You are now 2 1/2, I still can't believe you are growing up so fast, talking so much and growing into your little self. You amaze us everyday with your funny little personality and your cute little ways. I was looking back on some journals that I wrote to you when you were in my belly and when you were first born and here are a few of my words and quotes from my entries to you then:

Saul and I are so excited about our little one that will be due December 28. We found out we were pregnant on May 7th. We took 4, yes 4 pregnancy tests just to make sure it was correct. Remember miracles do happen, the little one inside my tummy is our little miracle. (July 7, 2006)

We officially found out yesterday we are going to be the proud parents of a baby girl! (Aug 9,2006)

We have officially decided on her name, it will be,
Taelor Madison Williams (Sept 9, 2006)

Our little Christmas present decided to wait and will join us after all the craziness has died down. But that is ok with us, but we are still anxiously awaiting her arrival.Today is her due date but she is just too cozy in my belly and has not wanted to join us yet. (Dec 28,2006)

Our little miracle has arrived!!!Taelor Madison Williams was born on Sunday, December 31, 2006 at 12:19 am (Jan 5, 2007)

As for Taelor, well she is quite a character with such a wonderful personality already. She is a very curious little girl already, and is very active. (Jan 23, 2007)

We can already tell what her personality is going to be like. She has lots of energy, seems to be little Miss independent already, likes to know what is going on around her, loves to talk (wonder who she gets that from?) (Feb 18, 2007)

She is attached to her little pink blankie already. (May 9, 2007)

Ok, so as I look back at all these entries it is making me cry. These moments just seem like it was yesterday but I realize that time has just flown by. I love you Taelor, you mean the world to daddy and me. Your cute little determined personality is what makes you YOU! Your smile brightens up my day, when you come up to me and say "I love you mommy" it melts my heart. You have grown into a little girl learning all that life has to offer you. You are stubborn and SO strong willed that I know you will be a great leader in life. You are a GREAT sister and you love your little brother so much, always looking out for him and sometimes trying to be his mommy too! You have learned so many things, so many words, and best of all you have made me a proud Mommy. I love you for all you are, even on your tough days because believe me the last few months you have tested me over and over. You are still clingy to mom, but you are learning to let go and be a big girl and do things on your own. You are anal just like your daddy and sometimes is drives me crazy! You love to help clean around the house (you are your daddy's daughter for sure). You are into Cinderella (or Cinderena as you say), you love your dolls, tea parties, dress up and just being girlie. We are going through a whiney stage at the moment that I sure hopes to go by soon! I love all these things about you!

I know, she is only 2 1/2 but I feel that by the time she turns 3 she will no longer be my "baby" anymore and she will be just a "big" girl. It breaks my heart and it makes me smile at the same time. Life is on the fast lane and I really would like it to be in the slow lane, but even though we seem to move at fast pace, I am trying to enjoy each and every moment! I love you my little princess. In another 6 months you will be 3!! I look forward to watching you grow into the wonderful little girl you are. You will always be my little girl!

Aquarium

Mom, are you sure this jelly fish won't get me??

Me and my cuties

Sharks, they thought this was so cool

Daddy and his buddy touching the baby sharks

We took the kids to the Aquarium and they loved seeing all the fish. Ethan was so intrigued by everything and Taelor just thought she could go swimming with them (except for the jelly fish, she thought they were going to get her and that they had Nemo's daddy.)

Seriously has it been a month...and June is almost over???

Wow, where did June go??? Summer is here and I have been so busy and tired at the end of my day. Life has been on the go and it feels like it never slows down. Weekends have been filled with so many activities on the weekends and the weeks just seem to fly by. Work has been busy and of course my work at home being a mom and a wife has been busy too and never seems to end. One day goes by and the next thing you know another week has gone by.

We have been doing some fun things already this summer. Aquarium, beach, hanging out with friends, birthday parties and just hanging out with each other. I love the memories that we create as each year goes by, even each month. I know my life is filled with so many things to do all the time, but that is me and I love to be busy, but once summer is over, I hope to slow things down a bit and focus time on my amazing family and enjoying all the wonders of being a mom. Sometimes I seem to forget that saying "no" to things is ok, people will understand. So in the future if you don't see us at every gathering or function it is because I am learning that I don't need to be at everything, and life will continue to go on with one less outing. Don't get me wrong, I still love to do things but I am trying not to over schedule myself these days. With all that said I am looking forward to fun summer days with the family and enjoying every minute of my crazy life!

Ethan - 15 months

My little man is going to be 15 months on Thursday. Wow how time has gone by. He is growing up right before my eyes and I already feel that I do not have a "baby" anymore. Don't get me wrong he is and always will be my baby but he is now entering into the early stages of being a toddler, walking around and learning so much everyday.

He is such a happy little boy who is so curious about anything and everything. He loves his sister (sissy as he calls her), and he loves cars and trucks. Every car that he sees is either a trash truck or fire truck. He is still my mellow little guy who loves to cuddle and give hugs and kisses. But he sure is all boy, exploring everywhere, sometimes he walks around with this look on his face that says "what can I get into now"! He is trying to talk and starting to say some new things, his vocabulary consists of....car, fire truck, trash truck, thank you, sissy, mommy, daddy, hold you, Lexi, Eli, ball, doggie, door, teetee (for blankie and binkie). He knows where his head, ears and eyes are, sometimes he can find his nose and mouth (we are still working on that). Each day he is learning more and I love seeing him develop into who he is and who he has become. He loves balls, and he already has a pretty good arm on him (daddy is hoping for football and soccer). He is still a sensitive little guy, and boy can he bring on the water works when you tell him no. It's like a faucet and the tears come flowing! He is still a wonderful sleeper and is very attached to his little blankie, it is so cute!

When I look into Ethan's eyes I can see a little boy who is going to be such a gentle, kind hearted, but yet determined and independent little boy. He is going to be a little charmer, I can already see it, I am sure in for it when he starts liking girls (oh, I can't think of that, it makes me really sad). Life with Ethan is wonderful. He can brighten a room when he walks in with his adorable little smile and laugh. He makes me laugh and smile every day. I love him and I look forward to seeing his personality grow even more.

Ethan I love you. You brighten my day everyday. You are such an amazing little guy who I cannot wait to see what God has in store for you life. I know it will be something wonderful! You will always be my little boy no matter how old you are. I love you!

Summer time is here....

Pool time and beach time...enjoy!

A day in the life of ME....

A day in the life of a Me (aka Lynnae)

Alarm goes off around 5:45am, snooze (just once), hop out of bed (ok, maybe a sluggish hop), then just about that time when the birds start chirping (and the darn owl that seems to be living right outside our window) and the sun rises or even just makes a peep of light, I can hear a little voice saying "mommy" (it's usally around 6:00 on the dot, if I am lucky its 6:30, but most days it is 6:00). It's Taelor of course. I bring her to my room where depending on her mood she will sit in the bathroom and watch me get ready, she will watch cartoons if she is in the mood, or lay in bed with daddy, either way she will ask a million times for her milk and I say to her, 5 minutes when mommy is done getting ready. She patiently waits (but not all the time). As I get my blowdryer out, she says "I don't like the bowdryer" and then she cuddles in bed with daddy until I am done. By this time it is only 6:20 am!! Time to finally go downstairs and get her milk.

As I am getting clothes ready and lunches packed, I can hear another voice...."momma", it's my little man, Ethan, patiently waiting in his crib for someone to come pick him up. Some mornings I have to wake him up, on the weekends he will actually sleep until past 7:00!! Oh how I wish I could sleep until at least 7:00 am!! Thank God I am a morning person!

It's 6:45 am and Saul is putting the kids into the car (on the day's I take them) with their waffles or pancakes or toast in hand, and off we go to either Auntie Chela's house or Auntie Nessa's house. But first I have to run back in the house about 3 or 4 or 6 times because I forgot a blankie or a sippy cup or shoes or socks or lunch or a toy, a stuffed animal, or diapers, or a binkie, whatever it may be it always seems to be something! For the most part I am usally running back in for my keys!! Whatever it is I am always forgetting something, surprised somedays I just get all of us in the car in one piece, and it is only 6:50 am!!!On the days they get to stay at home with Daddy it is so much less chaotic! I love those days! You would think I would have it all figured out by now, somedays I do, but somedays I feel like a chicken with its head cut off!!

A little after 7:00am I am pulling up to one of the Auntie's house and having to say bye to my babies who sometimes just really don't want me to go and of course everyday I don't want to go! My heart breaks everytime, everyday, but I pray to God for strength for another day and it is only one day closer to one day being at home with my kiddos. I get about half way to work to realize that I am still listening to "kids silly songs"..... and I am singing out loud, I laugh everyday at the same light when I realize I have done it again.

Work at 7:30 am.......off work 4:30pm.....need I say more!

4:30 pm....off work.....the best part of my day.....seeing my kids, wether it is a day I go pick them up or they are already at home with Daddy, I love when I walk through the door and see their smiling faces and they run to me saying "mommy". I love it! But it also breaks my heart that I am not with them all day!

Playtime, dinnertime, bathtime then bedtime....usally around 8 (somedays sooner, like 7:30 pm). Ethan goes right down, no crying or fussing, but my little missy is sometimes a different story.....now that she is potty trained she insists she has to go to the bathroom about 20 times before she actually goes to bed, it's been a struggle lately with her settling down, but all in all she will settle down after a few meltdowns of crying. Some nights she is no problem at all but it is quite wearing some days.

After all is said and done and the kids are in bed, it is quiet time for Saul and I. This is another favorite part of my day. I love my hubby and I love spending time with him. We are both TV junkies, we love our certain shows and I love that we watch them together. I just love this time! Now that he is working sometimes in the evening, it is an adjustment for me, but we are getting used to it.

Finally around 10ish (some nights 11ish) I am ready for bed....my head hits the pillow and I am asleep....until around sometime in the wee hours of the night when I hear a little voice "mommy, I have to go potty". Up I go to take Taelor to the bathroom where we are both zombies. Back to sleep, until my alarm clock goes off a few hours later for another day to do it all over again!

I work full time, not by choice but out of necessity. I know this is not forever and I know God has a plan for us and right now I am patiently waiting for His next plan, somedays it can't come any sooner! One day I will be able to spend more time with my kids at home, but for now I am happy that they are loved, happy and cared for everyday by someone very special when I am not around. I LOVE my kids unconditionally and I wouldn't trade anything for the life that I have. I LOVE being a mom and I nothing will ever change that! Life is what you make of it and I LOVE MY LIFE!

My little helper

This past weekend I took the kids with me shopping at Target and like always Taelor walks right next to me and is my big "helper". She likes to put everything in the cart and for the most part is really good. Well, I picked up a box of Nemo fruit snacks to put them in the cart but realized my little helper was there to help me. I went on with shopping and went to the checkout stand. Taelor helps put the stuff on the counter as well, but as I was taking the stuff out of the cart, I realized there was not only the box of Nemo fruit snacks but a box of Princess ones too. I knew I did not grab that box. I looked at Taelor and said "did you put these in here", and she replied "yes momma, their princess", so how could I resist, I bought them too. I guess this is when it begins, I need to keep an eye on her little fingers. It was another mom moment for me and I love it!

Mother's Day

Yesterday was Mother's Day and I had such a wonderful time with my family. My hubby was good to me like he always is! This holiday is another one of my favorites (as most holidays are), but now that I am a Mom, I now get to enjoy this holiday for myself.


Before I became a mom, Mother's Day was always somewhat hard for me. As most of you who know me, know that my mom Evelyn passed away when I was just over 10 months old. I never got to know her but have heard a lot about her from my family. Strange that you can love someone so much and not even know them. I think about my mom often, I wonder what she would be like, what kind of Grandma she would be, what kind of mom she would be, but most of all I think of the amazing relationship we would have had. When I became a Mom is when I really missed her the most, I would have loved for her to see ME as a mom. So on Saturday, my sis and I went to put flowers on her grave. It was kind of hard explaining to my 2 year old where we were but I know in time she will understand where "Grandma" is, in heaven.


When Taelor and Ethan neared 10 months, I couldn't help but think that was me, a little baby, and my mommy was gone. I know everything in life happens for a reason and maybe this is what has made me a stronger person these days and I know my calling in life is to be a Mom. I love my kids unconditionally, just like my mom loved me and my 2 sisters. I want to be the mom to my kids that my mom would have wanted to be to me, and that she was to me. My Mom loved and had such a strong relationship with God and that is something I believe first and foremost in my kids lives. She was full of life and full of energy, with an amazing personality (many tell me). If I could write a letter to heaven here is what it would say:


Dear Mom,
Happy Mother's Day! I love you more than you will ever know. I wish you were here to walk me through all the trials and tribulations of motherhood, because sometimes it is just plain challenging, but most of the time I just want to be able to share my joys and excitements with you. What advice would you give me? What were your most special moments of being a mom?What were your dreams for me, for yourself? You would have adored Taelor and Ethan, one day I will tell them about you and let them know that one day we can all meet you. Mom, I have always tried to do my best at everything and I am sure you would be proud of all that I have done and accomplished. I miss you, I love you and I think about you everyday. I am so happy that God gave me a girl so that I can have the relationship with her that we never had. Happy Mother's Day, I love you to the moon and back (as Taelor would say).


Love,
Your Baby Girl
Lynnae


So on Mother's Day, I never forget who brought me into this world and loved me for the first 10 months of my life. I can only dream that I would have had more time with her but I know that was not God's plan. In return He gave my Dad an amazing wife and me a wonderful "mom", Leslye. She is truly an amazing woman who loves me so much (and puts up with my dad) and has always been the mom in my life. I love you Leslye for all that you do, for being a great mom and a wonderful Grandma. You are a real blessing to our lives. I love you!


This Mother's Day was special to me as it was the first time Taelor could say "Happy Mother's Day, Mommy". Those words melted my heart and I look forward to next year when Ethan can say it too. I don't claim to be the best mom (who is??), but I try my best at it everyday (even the days when I am at my wits end). Our pastor made a statement " God chose me to be Taelor and Ethan's mom, but He also chose them to be my children for me". Meaning they shape me into who I am today! I love every minute of being a mom, loving and teaching my kids about life, seeing them learn new things everyday, teaching them about God, but most of all I love starring into my children's eyes knowing that I have been blessed to be a MOM!


Sleepless nights, crying, tantrums, throw up, sickness, bottles, ear aches, hugs, kisses, smiles, laughs, first words, first steps, first everythings, teething, baths, cartoons, Cinderella, cars, toys, toys and more toys, rocking, story time, Twinkle Twinkle little star, dress up, more crying, lunches, snacks, diapers, wipes, sleeping, snuggling, but most of all LOVE! And this is my life as a Mom and I LOVE IT!!!


Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful Mom's in my life and to Mom's and Grandma's who are celebrating in Heaven, I love you!

New pictures of the kids...

My 2 boys!!
My kiddos and me!

Daddy's little buddy.

Really, this blondie is my son!

Hey Dad, what do you think about the waves?

Daddy's little girl
Brushing teeth


I know, it has been a while since I have had an update, what can I say other than I have been busy. Last week I was off work for 3 days, it was so nice, we went to the zoo, the beach, hung out with friends and simply just relaxed. It was wonderful. Just thought I would post a few pictures.