ABC's

I captured this moment of Lukas singing his ABC's.  I don't think we have a future on American Idol, but it sure is cute to me :)

Friday Night Football

Football season is upon us!  The whole atmosphere of football and fall weather is one of my favorite times of the year.  Although the Patriots have not gotten off to a great start, they are making progress.  The boys and I love going to the games and checking out all of the action.  We have been lucky enough to have a great fan base at the games.  We are cheering loudly and hopefully soon we can scream and yell about a WIN :)

Grandpa and Grandma Keeley w/ the boys

The game must not have been interesting enough for them.

This guy does not like to sit much at games

GG, Grandma Beck and Lukas

Grandpa Beck with the boys

Touch down PATRIOTS!!

Double Ones!

The 11 month mark has come for Lawson.  I feel like this month has been the most changing month he has had.  He is no longer my baby, but turning into a full blown toddler.  He thinks he is as big as any kid around him and will try to copy whatever they are doing.

• Still wearing four diapers, in 12 month clothes mostly shorts and tops (moving away from onesies)
• Has 5 teeth (2 on top, 3 on bottom)
• LOVES the tv remotes.  He likes to be in control of them
• Eats ANYTHING you give him, still drinks formula 6 ounce bottle
• Getting pretty good with a sippy cup.  Likes to steal Lukas' just to pester him.
• Sleeps really well as long as being put to sleep in a normal setting.  Will not nap if there is anything going on around him.
• Walking has come a long way.  In the last two days he has gained so much balance and stability.  He can walk across our living room.
• Loves to laugh and is always smiling
• Has become very opinionated and persistent this month.  When he wants something he will yell until he gets it.
• Hates to be left in a room by himself.
• Talks a lot more.  Has started saying momma, dada, and GO!  He likes cheering at football games.
• Loves it when someone plays catch with him or when he wrestles with Dad and Lukas.
• Doesn't really like being held anymore, wants to be down and moving all over.
• He is a little boy now with such a big personality!  The birthday count down is on :)

10 Years Ago

This past weekend I was able to get together with a group of people I hadn't seen or really hung out with in a decade as a whole group.  I attended my high school 10 year reunion. I  know ten years already!  I felt the same way at first, but then when thinking about it, I have accomplished or changed a lot in 10 years.  I graduated college and have been teaching for 6 years already.  I married my college sweetheart and we have two amazing and adorable boys.  It made me realize I have changed a lot in ten years along with many of my classmates.

I do feel like there is a big difference for things like this now than how it used to be.  This probably sounds kind of creepy and stalkerish, but with social media you can kind of keep up with everyone and the changes they go through.  It really is one of the main reasons I am on facebook to keep up with high school and college friends.  I was walking into an evening of "catching up" or at least hearing the news from the actual source.  I was nervous for this blast from the past, but it was a great night.  We missed some people that couldn't make it, but enjoyed all of the classmates that could.  Thanks for the evening of entertainment Class of 2003!

One Step at a Time

Lawson is slowly but surely getting closer to walking on his own.  He will walk along furniture like a pro, but has even started walking away from it now.  He can only make it a few steps before he falls.  He gets too excited and tries to go fast and that is just not good for his balance yet.  It won't be long before he is running all over the house!

Trying to Slow Down

Things have seemed crazy busy since school started back up.  I mean in one day we go from not having any kind of schedule or needing to be anywhere specifically to everyone having a schedule and needing to be all different places before 7:00 in the morning.  Going back to school is always hard.  Each year has gotten a little more difficult leaving my babies and their smiling faces.  Don't get me wrong, they love daycare and enjoy playing with other kids all day.  I struggle more than either of them.

We have been in school for about a month now and I still feel like I am always behind.  I am rushing out the door, quickly buckling kids in, and driving through traffic with my fingers wrapped tight around the steering wheel.  I always have something else on my mind then what I am doing at the moment.  I am very much a list person.  I usually have multiple lists started in multiple places that run and control my day.  My brain feels scattered and without my lists I would never remember anything.  I am so bad that I will add things to my "list of things to get done" that I already did just to feel like I am accomplishing more.  (I know, it is pathetic.)  

A couple of weeks ago I came across an article on another blog that has changed my perspective on my schedule.  The Day I Stopped Saying "Hurry Up" made me sit down and really think about my priorities.  I realized how often I am being that Mom.  I always feel behind to were I am rushing through each day, just to wake up and start all over again.  I could think back to multiple times in the previous day that I had said that to Lukas.  He is such a curious kid right now and instead of embracing that, I was rushing him through his questions and discoveries.  I felt like a horrible mother, that could not stop long enough to just smile at my kids and enjoy these memories.  I by no means have turned a 180 and have become perfect at this slow down thing, but I am really trying hard.  What is another 2 minutes of digging in the dirt going to hurt, or letting him take the time to dress himself.  Lawson needs that extra hug before I leave the door at daycare, and I love giving it.  An extra 30 seconds won't get me trouble.  I am working at sitting down, leaving my phone out of reach and playing with the boys instead of worrying about the dishes or the laundry thrown all over the house.  It will wait on me, their childhood won't.

I had a perfect moment tonight to cap off my efforts.  Lukas stopped in the middle of playing and came over and told me he just needed a hug.  I know it seems simple, but getting the chance to squeeze him in my arms after a tough day made my whole world brighten.  My family means the world to me and I have been so blessed to be missing out on our memories!

**I know my posts are not usually about my personal struggles, but it impacted me and I thought it might help someone else out there as well.**

Trimming It Up

If you remember Lawson was born with a lot of long dark hair.  I loved it the second I saw it and was crushed when it started to fall out.  I am shocked at how quickly it has returned though, blonder as can be.  Lukas was well over 1 before I really even considered cutting his hair.  Lawson's has been a little different.  I don't mind the long hair on top, but the shag in the back really bothered me.  I decided to take the trimmers to him one evening when I was doing hair cuts for the other two.  It doesn't look a whole lot different in the pictures, but I didn't want to trim off too much.  So at 10 1/2 months he got his first hair cut and  I think it was a success!

BEFORE:

AFTER: