for us.

So.

I've been unhappy with my blog for a while.

I tried to instigate some changes back at the beginning of the summer to garner more interest in my webpage, and to keep myself interested in blogging. BUT.

BIG BUT.

I don't care. I mean, I don't want to do features. I really don't. So you can all pretty much assume that Pinnable Me is gone unless I bring it back on occasion to share things I'm working on. I don't want to be a blog that has no identity. I started this blog to keep my family updated on our family and that's the long and short of it. I don't want to blog about shit other people are finding on the internet, or about how mean people are to other people, or things I think you should be doing. I want to post about my family.

And I didn't realize how little I'd posted about my family until I came across the 3 Peanuts blog. I am completely in love with this blog. The mom, Kim, is just simply an amazing mother. She doesn't post about what SHE does to make everything so wonderful FOR her children, she posts about how amazing her children are. And you can tell, her children are wonderful, amazing, giving, loving people because of who she and her husband are and how they're being raised. THIS is the standard I want to live up to. This is a beautiful blog, full of memories and beautiful pictures, a family that shares love and laughter and you can tell in every single thing she posts. Also, if ever there was a child that makes me want to adopt, it's their precious girl, Kate.


SO.

I'm taking some time off. I'm going to focus on what I want to focus on in the future. And if you want to unfollow, I'm fine with that. Because when I look back at my posts this summer, I'm disgusted. I don't want to post about that. I completely missed out on blogging about the things I did with my child this summer, the fun backyard things we did, the games we played. I was trying too hard to make people want to read my blog.  I don't want to be a turbo-mommy blogger. I'm not that person. I don't need to show you how hard I try, or how wonderful I am, because what will define me in the future is not ME, it's the impression I leave on my child, the people I love, my nearest and dearest friends.

And for right now, I'm really okay with this decision. Blogging has become something that I see as a task, not as enjoyable hobby. We've got an awful lot on our plates right now. And when I say an awful lot, I mean an AWFUL lot. Which, when the time comes, will all be talked about. But right now, I just want to step away and spend the rest of December not blogging. I hope to be back with a vengeance in January, revived, and with a whole new direction for myself and this blog.

Peace out, peeps. Enjoy the holidays. Love your family. Bid 2011 farewell in whatever manner it deserves.  Personally, I'm thinking a big double-bird in the rearview mirror. More than anything, I hope to see you in 2012.

my two toddlers

Okay, I hope you're ready for a cuteness overload. 

My son is in love. Deeply, completely in love. With our dog. His favorite word  is "buppy" and he cannot function in the morning unless he's located the baby. They're perfect little playmates, completely delighted with each other and I know this relationship is something that will define Liam's childhood. He will tell his children about Stig. And I'm so glad that we went ahead and got the baby, this is something that I am so glad to give Liam. There's not quite a relationship like the one you have with a dog you can't even remember not having. 

These pictures were taken a little while ago, Stig is MUCH larger now. And smart as a darned whip. 

So you see why I'm letting this blog fall by the wayside? I might miss one of their precious moments together. 

a tailgate thanksgiving.

 Ah.

Hello blog. How ya been? 

Let's get right into it, shall we?

This past Thanksgiving, we opted OUT of the traditional sit-down at home dinner in lieu of tailgating in Aggieland before the last tu game for Dodds God knows how long. Whatever. Don't get me started.

Of course we won't discuss the OUTCOME of the game...

{and by WE, I totally mean commenters, cha?}

So. We bought a fancy plastic table cloth and set up in the parking lot, in OUR spot, under the tent and enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal my mom miraculously cooked the day before/of and managed to get all the way to CS warm and tasty. 

 We all even looked cute and festive, so Dad decided to try and get a decent picture...

But of course, Liam had other ideas. 

Some of our absolute FAVORITE people in the whole world, the Williamsons, dropped by and that made us super happy. They live in our neighborhood, no more than 1 minute away by car. It's awesome. Christine and I have known each other since our brothers were kids in elementary school together, so probably since 1995 or so? That's a long damn time, yo.

They're too damn cute.

My dad, hubs and I headed into the stadium around 6:00 (to ensure we got to see the corps, and the senior day stuff) as the sun was headed down. I love being in Aggieland. OH SO MUCH.

Kinda awesome to know that XII will never be there again. 

In my mind, the picture below totally has a soundtrack. 

NOBLE MEN OF KYLE.

It rocks my face off.

Corps March-in.

Student section.

I can TOTALLY sit over there next year. As we welcome some of the BEST TEAMS in the country to Kyle. Oh yeah. 

The students again. 

Now. WE MAY NOT have had the larger number on the scoreboard when regulation time was over. 

BUT. BUT. BUT.

We ALWAYS win HALFTIME.

You may want to check out the band's performance, looking in particular for the Four-Way, which they do once a year, and is the signature big !!! move for them. It occurs at around 3:00 in -- they're setting it up at 3 minutes, it's amazing. I wish I could video so much better, wish I'd had an actual video camera instead of my little point and shoot. Apologies for the commentary by myself, my spouse, my dad and our neighbors.

my sahm syndrome

I'm in my last days as a StayAtHomeMom. I say this because come January, I'll be enrolled as a student at the most wonderful University on the planet. So my days are going to be busier, my Tuesdays and Thursdays (and possibly Mondays) are going to be spent in a city an hour and a half away from home.

Part of me is terrified. I know on Tuesdays Liam will have his daddy to take care of him, and on Thursdays he'll have my mom, but it still makes me nervous to be so far away from him with that much regularity. What if he's sick and needs me? What if something happens at school and I'm not able to be reached immediately? I've always had a hard time not being with Liam at all times. I was extremely possessive of him as a newborn and when anyone else would hold him and he'd cry I'd get agitated to the point where my heart would race, my palms would sweat and I could feel a panic attack coming on. It wasn't pretty, but I needed my baby and he needed me. Things have since gotten better, obviously, because Liam is becoming so much more independent, but it still makes me a little panicky to think that I'm going to be busy with something that'll take my attention away from him to such an extent.

Part of what troubles me is that I have friends who don't have children, who have jobs, and they can't see where I'm going to be busy, where going back to school is going to add any stress to my life. I had one friend ask me why it's taken me so long to get much accomplished with my current writing project since I "don't work and don't have anything to do all day." Not only does that attitude make me stabby, but I think it's a little... inconsiderate? I mean, sure with two incomes coming into a household, you can afford a new car, or a maid, or a yard service. With one income and an immense amount of student loans? I AM the maid. I AM the cook. I AM everything. And I don't mind. I don't need a maid, my mom never did, why should I (not going to lie, I'll probably be begging for a maid come February when I'm elbows deep in reading and writing assignments with housework also on my to-do list)? But contrary to what a lot of people seem to think about a SAHM, it isn't just sitting around all day.

I don't need to tell most of you that, and I'm sure a lot of you have faced similar attitudes, but I resent the attitude that SAHMs stay at home because they're lazy and don't want to work. It's an uninformed opinion, and anyone who's stayed home with a child knows that, but I don't like the judgement that comes from it. Part of what irritates me is when I tell people I'm going back to school, people immediately ask me what job I'm going to try and get with my degree when I'm done. To be honest, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. Or what I want to do. I don't think, unless something amazing comes along, that I'll pursue anything until Liam is in school 5 days a week. I don't want him in daycare. I want him in preschool and at home. In the grand scheme of things, the time you have with your child where they're NOT busy all the time is very short, and to me, I think it's very precious, so I want to be with him.

I feel a little off topic. The change that's coming OH SO SHORTLY has me a little intimidated as well. I have really enjoyed my time with Liam. I enjoy picking him up from school. And I'm getting down to only a couple more days left of doing that. I mean, we've got this week of school, none next week, and a couple of weeks in December. Then? I'm done. I won't take him. I won't pick him up. I won't have anyone to talk to in the car. Maybe I'm hormonal, because on any given day when people ask me what I'm most looking forward to about going back to school, I quickly reply with "the drive, I can't wait to drive in my car, by myself, with my music as loud as I want it, playing whatever I want." I know. You're judging me. But At the same time, I'm pretty sure once April rolls around, I'll be way over that.

To cut a long story short, and I could go on if you wish, I'm sad to see my every-days at home with Liam coming to an end. I'm a mommy who drops everything if her child comes up and wants to be held, or climbs into my lap for a cuddle. But, I am also thinking that my Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at home with Liam will be all the more enjoyable.

I'm not only giving up days with my son to go back to school, I'm giving up my day with my spouse. His Tuesdays off are a treat. We go out to lunch as a family a lot, we grocery shop together... I won't be here. And that kind of sucks. But. The SOONER I'm done, the SOONER I'm back with my family 24/7. So bring it on, Department of English at  the College of Liberal Arts at Texas A&M University. I'm ready.

And you better know, the epic pictures I'm going to post when I graduate will make you want to punch me in the face. You've been warned. Because Liam will be looking spiffy!

toddler tuesday: to a T

Well, I am not going to lie. 

Liam is a TODDLER.

Toddler to a T.

He's completely bonkers.

He's stubborn and doesn't LIKE to listen.

He wants what he wants and WHEN he wants it. 

He throws a hissy fit for candy.

He's got a personality that's huge. 

He's completely silly and cracks himself up.

He's a cheese ball.

He's mine, all mine and he's wonderful.

confessions of a new TV-aholic.

I am not proud of ANYTHING I'm about to tell you. 

Nope, I'm not. 

I used to talk about how Zach and I aren't really very big TV people. We don't watch a lot of the more "popular" shows and we were NEVER familiar with anyone who won at most of the TV inclusive awards shows. However.

A few shows have hooked us.

..............................................................................................................

The Big Bang Theory.

Yes, I realize we are LATE to the PARTY on this one, but for some reason we started watching a few episodes on TBS and got hooked. I found Doctor Who, and we found Top Gear the exact same way. Just happened upon an episode and for some reason stopped and were instantly hooked. 

Zach sings "Soft Kitty"-- we know the words. We also think to offer the other a hot beverage if we're in distress (because that happens so often) and might, or might not, have even taken up knocking in threes. We're not proud. Or maybe we are. Who cares? There's humor for everyone- humor for people who don't get smart humor and need the boob and sex jokes, and humor for people who get smart humor and find the science and science fiction jokes hysterical. The first episode we watch involved Sheldon's nemesis Will Wheaton and the moment they "made up." Killed me. Because I TOTALLY got the scifi nerdy aspect and the action figure MIP. 

..............................................................................................................

Saturday Night Live

No, this isn't a new one. 

We were pretty religious SNL rerun viewers when VH1 was showing the good cast-- you know, the one with Mike Myers, David Spade, Adam Sandler, Phil Hartman, Chris Farley, Molly Shannon, Norm MacDonald... all the way to the Jimmy Fallon era. But we'd stopped watching for a while because the show just WAS NOT FUNNY.

The reason we've started watching again all comes down to one person:

BILL HADER.

I don't like when people say Kristen Wiig is the funniest person on TV right now because personally? I find her repulsive. I am tired of her repeat characters, I don't find her over acting funny and I really don't think she should be in every sketch. Garth and Kath? MAKE ME WANT TO PUNCH A BABY. I don't like her, did you get that? Don't get me wrong, sometimes she's funny but as an ancillary character. I mean, was SHE what made the "bring it on down to liquorville" sketch with JT and Lady Gaga funny? No. But she served her purpose.

But- I love Bill Hader. I think he's hysterical, he is easily my favorite part of the show. When he does the old news reporter and has to turn away because he's laughing? I giggle like mad. And Stefon? Don't even go there. I will probably wake my child up. Yes, Bill Hader has restored my faith in SNL.

ALSO?

Did y'all see Emma Stone's second foray this past weekend? I kinda really loved that they brought Andrew Garfield out there since they're a rumored couple. I mean, come on? SO cute, right?

..............................................................................................................

Without going into too much detail on the others, we're also watching: 

Once Upon a Time, New Girl and Pan Am are also regulars on our DVR-- we watch New Girl together (I love that Zach can appreciate Zooey Deschanel) and I watch the other two by myself. Zach sat through a couple episodes of both, but neither really caught his fancy, so I watch those and he watches The Walking Dead. I'll admit, I watched the whole first season of that because 1-Andrew Lincoln is my favorite in Love Actually (go back and look, yeah... you love him too!) and 2- I like that stuff, but I can't really get into it because I hate Andrew Lincoln's character's wife and I also hate his former partner. And so.

There we have it. 

I'm not really proud of all the TV we're watching lately. I know it'll be a lot less once I stop DVRing BBT all the time, but I still get a little stressy when it's Monday and I've got to navigate Terra Nova (oh I forgot that one, Zach likes that one, it scares Liam), Top Gear and Castle all one on top of the other. 

SO. 

What shows have YOU hooked this season?

sources: {bbt, snl, snl emma&andrew, pan am, ouat, new girl}

pinnable me: party glasses

Happy Friday! Can you believe I've actually posted CONTENT! besides Pinnable Me lately? I know, two posts hardly count, but it's something and I am going to go with that.

I'm only sharing ONE pin today. It's a big "one" if you will because it's something I really want to do myself. I pinned this, as did ABQ, my fabulous friend and glitter guru.
Apparently, the amazing Martha Stewart has partnered with Plaid and her incredible glitter now comes as a paint. I'm obsessed. Not only do I have 4 bottles of beautiful glitter paint on their way to my house, but this stuff can apparently be cured in the oven after you're done and the result is a dishwasher safe product that you've glitterized. Yes, MacBook, I want glitterized to be a word.

I haven't yet decided what I plan on doing myself. I need to coordinate with my Madre (hear that, mama?) and find out when we can get to IKEA for our somewhat annual Holiday excursion. Then I can pick up some white wine glasses (the only wine I drink...) and get started. 

Source: thecraftsdept.marthastewart.com via Ashley Brooke on Pinterest

As you can see, the glitter looks amazing stippled on with a pouncer- and I have pouncers, but I'm just not sure what to do yet. I guess at $4.99/6 if I mess up on the IKEA wine glasses, I can afford more... 

Don't these just look TOO fun? Wouldn't they make an amazing Christmas gift? Yeah, maybe I'll show up on Christmas Eve to the family party with one for each of my favorite ladies. Time (and skill level) will tell...

halloween 2k11

This year, Halloween was a lot of fun. 

Because Liam was actually a lot more into the whole thing, once he figured out he was getting candy from people. 

I made his costume and put together Zach's, then used mine from last year.  So here we are:

Liam is Roger Rabbit from Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Zach is Ace Ventura from Ace Ventura: Pet Detective or Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls

I am The 11th Doctor from Doctor Who.

And yes, Liam was EXTREMELY cranky and I never got to finish his face makeup. Whatever.

Can you believe Liam actually wore that WHOLE costume ALL night?! Yeah, neither can we. 

It was so much fun, and I can't wait to put together costumes next year. I'm actually feeling a lot more confident and I'm hoping to challenge myself next year.

meet the stig.

On October 16th (when we should have been driving back from Dallas, don't even get me started or I'll go OFF) we officially made our family right again by adding a brand new baby Bloodhound to our ranks.

He is absolutely wonderful, except for the fact that... wait for it...

I don't like puppies. 

Nope, I don't. I LOVE what I know my puppy will turn into, and I love my puppy, but I don't like puppies very much. Anyway.

So here he is: 

THE HUGO STIGLITZ

or, STIG, for short.

Yes, that's his official name, as is registered with the AKC. He is named after both one of my all time favorite movies, and my all time favorite TV shows. Which makes him all kinds of awesome. 

On the ride home:

 Quick potty break at home:

Liam and Stig meet for the FIRST TIME.

 This, folks, this IS LOVE.

Happy with my two boys.

BFFs already.

 My favorite picture of them so far: 

 Yeah, he eats his legs.

This has become our afternoon routine, all the kiddos in the yard (minus the cat, duh).

Liam showing Stig all the wonderful things in the Halloween candy bucket. 

We've had him for two and a half weeks and it's been great. He's smart as a whip and has already learned what we want him to do when we say 'sit,' 'come,' 'lay down' or when we snap our fingers. You can see how much he's grown in such a short time if you compare that last photo to the photo of Liam and Stig in the kennel together. 

Insanity. He is 100% the reason my blogging has fallen off, he and Liam together, it's like having twins. I swear to you, I couldn't be happier that we've chosen to hold off on more kids at this point because I'd be literally going insane. Because I'm about five seconds away from it most of the time as it is now. But, it's a happy kind of chaos and it's nice to have a bloodhound back in the house.We're excited that he's here and that he's so fun and silly and that he and Liam love each other so much. 

Welcome to the family, Stiglet, we're happy to have you!