Saturday, March 30, 2013

Our Week in Instagram

Sunday 3/24/13: Having a good time in Mommy's heels :)

Sunday 3/24/13: Two-thirds of my Buckeye babies

Sunday 3/24/13: Happy Early Birthday to Daddy!!!

Monday 3/25/13: He asked if he had something in his hair.

Tuesday 3/26/13: It was pretty quiet in the dentist's office at 8:15 AM.
 
Tuesday 3/26/13: Target with three boys 5 & under.
At least I had room for stuff in the cart this time.

Thursday 3/28/13: Tuckered out after 5-year shots,
but thrilled that he's not scheduled to see another needle until he's 11

 Friday 3/29/13: We went outlet mall shopping! Everyone did great.
Not pictured is my help mother-in-law.

Friday 3/29/13: I desperately needed new sunglasses, 
and Aiden picked these out for me at the Gap outlet. I think he did a great job!

Monday, March 25, 2013

Finish a few more sentences...

Had a lot of fun with this linkup last time, so I'm back!
1. If calories didn't count, I would eat...wait a minute—calories count?! I’ve just solved the mystery of why all this baby weight hasn’t magically disappeared!!!
2. On my Prom night...I was working at the local ice cream shop. Not kidding. I had been asked to go to the prom by my crush, but I thought he was kidding since he was so much higher up the social ladder, and so I told him no in what I thought was an attempt to save myself some embarrassment. Turns out he was serious. C’est la vie. I’m perfectly happy with my life. 
3. When I go to the store, I always buy...diapers. You know—mommy and all.
4. Family functions typically...involve alcohol consumption of some sort. And yelling at the Buckeyes/Indians/Browns/Whichever Team Is Playing. And noise. SO. MUCH. GLORIOUS. NOISE. 
5. I think my blog readers... are the best!!! SMOOCHES!!!
6. I'd much rather be... hot than cold. You listening, Mother Nature? These 30-degree temperatures after spring has supposedly sprung are BS!!! I want sun and heat and all the outside activities that go with them! So make it happen!!!
7. I have an obsession with...Michael Weatherly, who plays Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo on NCIS. He’s just so darn cute and funny—I go all teeny-bopper for him. It’s not very cool. I mean, really—I’m in my thirties and I have a shrine to him in my work cubicle. CLASSY.

 

8. My work friends...are my real-life friends! There are some weeks I see them more than my husband. I’m lucky to know some good people.
9. When I created my Facebook account...I thought it wouldn’t last long because MySpace was SO MUCH COOLER. Tells you how good my instinct is.
10. My least favorite word is...nipple! I HATE THAT WORD!
11. I really don't remember...where I put one of my favorite pairs of shoes (the patent red-leather heals with the bows that I Instagram-ed a few weeks ago?)!!! I can’t find them ANYWHERE. And it’s not like there’s any other women in my house who might have borrowed them, either. Totally mystified.
12. Justin Bieber...is NOT the inspiration for my youngest son’s name. Just wanted to clear up any confusion about THAT.
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Happy to the Hubby

Happy Birthday to my favoritest person
in the whole world--my Mikey!!!


Hope you're enjoying this snowy day 
home with the boys, honey!!!
I LOVE YOU!!!

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Everybody's doing it...

...so I suppose I'll join in...

My Week (62) in Instagram

 Monday 3/18/13: Power outage at work. Good times.
 
 Tuesday 3/19/13: Smiley guy :)

 Wednesday 3/20/13: Fun visit with Cousin Christy!
 
 Thursday 3/21/13: So much excitement at the grocery store. Good thing
I only needed a few items because there was LESS than no room in that cart.

Friday 3/22/13: Cuddling Smalls before work.

 Friday 3/22/13: Selling stickers for our March for Babies jeans week at work.
Abby is the PERFECT model.
 
Friday 3/22/13: He asked me to take a funny picture. So, yeah. :)

 Friday 3/22/13: Hasn't take a pacifier since he was just days old. 
Recently discovered his thumb.
 
Saturday 3/23/13: Nolan & Aiden both have probably eaten their weight
in Fruit Loops this week. It's the hot new meal in the Cotter house.

Monday, March 18, 2013

My Week (61) in Instagram

Busy week!

Sunday 3/10/13: Ready to party down!!!

Sunday 3/10/13: Someone got a little wiped out at his brother's party :)

Tuesday 3/12/13: These bad boys are available at Costco again. RUN AND GET YOURS!!!

Tuesday 3/12/13: Makin' birthday cupcakes to take to preschool.


Wednesday 3/13/13: Brothers :)

Thursday 3/14/13: Spent a good part of the day at COSI
and finished up with a Shamrock Shake :)

 
Friday 3/15/13: Monkeying around at the Columbus Zoo.

 Friday 3/15/13: Every night when I ask him what he'd like for dinner,
Nolan responds "French fries!" Sometimes I give in :)

Saturday 3/16/13: Goofballs.

Sunday 3/17/13: Officially my new favorite St. Patty's Day shirt :)

Sunday 3/17/13: An Irish photo bomb, a la Aunt Abby :)

Friday, March 15, 2013

Monthly Mumbles, March Edition

10. Can I just say that I'm tired? I've been spending the last full week celebrating a certain five-year-old's birthday, and it's catching up to me. Good times have been had, however; a party an an ice cream store, dinner out for The Big Day, a few hours at C.O.S.I. yesterday, and a visit to the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium despite the freezing cold today. So yeah, I'm tired. Good thing he's totally worth it. :)

9. The March for Babies is coming up quickly--we've got about six more weeks until walk day! Our small, four-member team has some lofty goals; we're hoping to raise $2,000 (!). I'm about to close a Scentsy party in which I'm donating all my earnings to our team, and we're sponsoring a "Blue Jeans for Babies" week at work, which is easily our biggest fundraiser. If you'd like to help moms & babies, please click on the link to the right to donate to our team--every little bit counts!

8. Took Aiden in for his five-year well visit yesterday, and left pretty bummed out. He only gained ONE pound over the past year, and he weighs a whopping 29 pounds at five years old (to put this in perspective, Nolan, at not even two-and-a-half, has most likely passed his brother weight-wise). His pediatrician and I looked over all our notes from his various tests over the years, and decided to try one more specialist to see if we can solve this mystery. I sure hope we get some answers without breaking the bank.

7. Tickets to see the live performance of Les Miserables in May have been purchased and received. Can't wait to enjoy this with my family :)

6. Can't stop watching Love It or List It on HGTV. Those Canadians have some sweet home remodels. I like to see if I can call the ending within the first 5 minutes of the show. :)

5. The older two boys have been enjoying their new bunk beds for about a week, and it's been going...okay. Nolan, as usual, is my problem challenge. Without the limitations of the crib, which he had recently decided to just climb out of anyway, he wants to PARTY at bedtime. This has resulted in many trips to the bedroom by Angry Mommy & Angry Daddy to tell him to knock it off. I'm trying to come up with a solution that involves no one getting upset; maybe let him play in there for a half-hour or so until it's actually bedtime? I dunno.

4. My Buckeyes are playing the second round of the B1G tournament in a few hours. Granted, I'm not nearly as big a basketball fan as I am football, but I do follow my team. Hopefully they'll have a great weekend and carry that into the NCAA tournament next week. March Madness makes this girl HAPPY. :)

3. My sweet, happy little Justin is reaching for objects and putting them in his mouth already. In a few weeks, we'll be able to start rice cereal. He needs to slow the heck down.

2. Paid off a vehicle AND my student loans this week. House refinance is nearly complete. I love being a financially responsible adult. It's more thrilling than I ever imagined!!!

1. St. Patty's Day is SUNDAY!!! I L-O-V-E this day. Shamrocks and green and beer everywhere you look. Easily one of my favorite holidays.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

He's FIVE

That's THIS many :)


His birthday means that five years ago today, I became a mom.


And it's my favorite way to describe myself, so I thank him endlessly for that gift.


Happy Birthday, Aiden!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

Saturday, March 9, 2013

My Week (60) in Instagram

Going back to single pictures--they're easier to see :)

Monday 3/4/2013: Haircut time with an extremely enthusiastic nearly-five-year-old.

Tuesday 3/5/13: My laundry-folding buddy. He looks SO. CHUBBY.

Wednesday 3/6/13: Winter came back for a day. All the snow is nearly gone already. Short stay :)

Friday 3/8/13: Pajama day at preschool--the rain boots were his own addition :) 

Friday 3/8/13: New bunk/trundle beds for the boys!!! LOVE these. Luckily, they do, too.

Saturday 3/9/13: Warm enough outside for an afternoon at the park!!! YAY SPRING!!!

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Finish the sentence...

1. People always tell me...that I'm not good at sharing my opinion. Or exactly the opposite.

2. In the movie based on my life...I would want Andrea Barber to play me, but she'd be playing Kimmy Gibbler, playing me. Awesome.

3. Typically, I end up regretting...that I didn't get enough quality time with my kids, and they're already in bed asleep. Just not enough hours in the day.

4. I always ask to leave off the...gravy. On anything. I really hate gravy. Oh, and no whipped cream on my pumpkin pie, pleaseandthankyouverymuch.

5. Kim and Kanye really...don't deserve another millisecond of my time.

6. My parents always reminded me...that I didn't cry when I was born, but I made up for it later.

7. Every single day I...wish I could talk to my mom again.

8. This one time in college...I bought a new computer and stayed up all night with my sisters' boyfriends and watched "FarScape" episodes all night. Not. Kidding.

9. My grossest habit is...not going to be discussed here, that's for darn sure.

10. My latest white lie was...inconsequential. I don't even remember it.

11. I know all the words to..."You and I Both" by Jason Mraz

12. When I grow up...I don't want to grow up, I'm a Toys R Us Kid! There's a million toys at Toys R Us that I can play with...

13. Sexy time is...I have no idea how to respond to this.

14. I will never, ever... root for M*ch*gan to win. Even when it benefits the Buckeyes; I just can't bring myself to that level. However, I will, if needed, root for them to not lose.

15. I think it's hilarious...that my hubby is obsessed with watching "Harlem Shake" videos on YouTube. Except that now I can't get that song out of my head.

Join the fun!


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Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Three Months Old

Three months old.

And I can safely say that if all babies were like Justin, I think we’d have a worse overpopulation problem on this planet than we already do.



I simply cannot convey in a blog post what a terrific baby Justin is. He’s so calm, cuddly, and cute. Take my word for it; if he were your first born, you’d be signing up for more kids immediately. Just sayin’.

At three months, Justin:

--continues to be a FANTASTIC sleeper. He’s currently putting his older brothers to shame in that department (as in, he sleeps until I wake him, instead of waking up Mommy at 4:45 AM like two other boys I know).
--is a CHUB! No well visit this month, so no official weight check, but I’m guessing he’s 13 to 14 lbs. He wears it quite nicely, as you can see.




--finally trusts me enough during bath time to know that I’m not trying to drown him. It’s much more relaxing now that he’s not screaming.
--has giggled a few times, and mostly at his brothers, in which he’s recently taken more interest. Warms my mama heart. J
--is the most easy-going baby I’ve ever met. He’s content with whatever his situation is a good 90% of the time.
--has prompted me to all but give up giving him a pacifier. I know this will probably save me some rough times down the road (at nearly 2½, Nolan still won’t go to sleep without a pacifier), but it just feels odd.
--does not have any kind of nap schedule. This is something I would like to work on, but returning to work has made it more of a weekend project. We’ll get there.
--stuffs his hands in his mouth and attempts to reach for objects. Both actions seem a bit early to me, but I could be having bad recall. Maybe I just don’t want my baby to grow up so fast?!




--will probably have dark blue or gray eyes. Gray would be awesome, considering his middle name—like we knew somehow…
--has the CUTEST curly eyelashes! I hope they stick around :)
--smiles All. The. Time. I can’t get enough of it. It’s so hard to leave him in the morning, but then so wonderful to come home to him in the afternoon.

Check out how he compares to 
Aiden & Nolan at three months :)

Monday, March 4, 2013

My Week (59) in Instagram


1. Sunday 2/24/13: Wearing his breakfast.
2. Monday 2/25/13: There's no place like home, there's no place like home...
3. Monday 2/25/13: Bright-eyed during tummy time
4. Thursday 2/28/13: All three kids with me at the grocery store (!)
5. Saturday 3/2/13: Me & my Smalls
6. Saturday 3/2/13: Pretentious wristlet purchased with the bestie
7. Saturday 3/2/13: Petting his brother's head
8. Sunday 3/3/13: So much silliness

Want to link up? Head over to Suzanne's blog!



Friday, March 1, 2013

Nine Months Gone

Missing you, Mom. Aiden's birthday party won't be the same without you. :(