Daybook

A Mommy's Daybook

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outside my window...

the sun is out! We haven't seen much of it all week so I'm happy it's decided to make an appearance, especially for Friday!

i am thinking...

that 4:30 cannot get here fast enough today.

i am learning...

that I just can't 'like' everybody.

{I may not show it all the time, but you really do bug me!!}

i am wearing...

dress clothes for work. I'd wish they would adapt the casual friday/jeans thing!

i am creating...

a pile of things for the party next week!

i am going...

to have a FANTASTIC 4-day WEEKEND!!!

i am reading...

Overprotected by Jennifer Laurens

{I just finished Plan B by Jenny O'Connell last night... very cute story!}

i am hoping...

this guy claiming the world is ending on Saturday night gets egged on his way to his car. Silly man.

i am hearing...

the printer spitting out page after page.

around the house...

there are piles of clean clothes on the dressers that need put away. I need to sort through the girls clothes & take out all the long sleeved stuff. Organization is needed very soon! Like, now!

one of my favorite things...

right now is hearing Jaelyn & Abbie say their last name. ♥

a few plans for the weekend...

dance class with Jaelyn Saturday morning.

my cousin, Terry's birthday party on Saturday.

Planting some garden stuff with the girls

(Daddy made us our own special garden box!)

Lancaster with my wonderful Hubby on Monday for my birthday!

Cape May Zoo and some other fun stuff on Tuesday with my babies!

a picture...
i've been learning LOTS of things in photography the past month...
just a sample!

Word{ish} Wednesday

My precious princess. haha! ♥

I sure hope she doesn't make this face on stage at her first dance recital... then again, she'd sure make everyone laugh with her cuteness!!

I LOVE IT!

Word{ish} Wednesday Link-ups:

Supermom, The Paper Mama, Live and Love Outloud,

Project Alicia and 5 Minutes for Mom

Happy Wednesday!!

My Favorite Things

I'm always browsing etsy looking for new & different things. I'm amazed at all of the creative people who come up with the most adorable stuff! I thought I'd start sharing some of the cute things I find with you.

*I am not being paid by any website or artist for any promotions mentioned here. I am simply sharing my favorite things*

Well, I don't know about you but I am soooooo ready for summer and flip flop weather! I love me some flip flops! (which also means a pedicure very soon.. woohooo!). Just look at the cute flip flop stuff I found. I think I need that bracelet! and those address labels? Seriously cute! Bring on the flip flops!!

{1} Country Bumpkin Bottle

{2} every shade of pretty

{3} Honey Bee Affairs

{4} Picture Perfect Pendants

{5} Frosted Willow

{6} silver light photo... and more

Please feel free to stop by any of these shops to check out these adorable items. And why not let them know Tammy @ Don't Blink sent you!? Etsy has all sorts of neat things to check out... I could spend hours on there just shopping.

Do you have some cool finds you want to share? Please leave me a message! I can't wait to see what you've been shopping for!!

May 13, 2011

As most of you know, our adoption was finalized on Friday, May 13th (yay for Friday the 13th being a GOOD day for once!). It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, our faces were all smiles and everything went smoothly. We weren't really sure what to expect having never been thru this before so everything was new. The 'ceremony' itself only took about 15 minutes but for some reason it felt like we were in there for an hour!

They went thru the legal stuff, then asked each of us to tell what the girls have meant to us for the past 2 years. After some tears, a few deep breaths and some tissues - I finally was able to get out exactly how much they have changed my life. Then of course, there were more tears! Our witnesses and dear friends, Markie & Liz both spoke about each of us as parents and then our social worker also spoke to the judge about us. It was a very heartfelt & emotional day. I was literally drained by the time we got done.

We all went out for a bite to eat afterwards and just enjoyed the rest of the afternoon with each other. I love my family. ♥

This day was truly special and one I will never forget.

There were MANY, MANY pictures taken... without ovewhelming you with all of them here is a collage. I didn't really edit the pictures or anything so they aren't perfect (but they are perfect to me!).

Word{ish} Wednesday -- Adoption

WORD{ISH} WEDNESDAY

Adoption

On Friday, May 13th our adoption ceremony will take place and we will officially be named Jaelyn & Abbie's parents. Although I have been their Mommy for the past 2+ years having this final closure (so to speak) is something I can't put into words.

My life was completely changed on 1/29/09 when we first got the phone call "we have sisters". We knew going into this that it could be temporary, it could be permanent but we knew in our hearts that we wanted to provide these 2 little angels with what they needed from us. A stable home, people who cared for them, guidance and above all... love. ♥

Believe in Miracles. They really do come true!

Jaelyn Nicole

{Simplicity Photo Challenge - Laughter}

 

Abbie Lynn

I love you both so much, Mommy

Have a photo you want to share for Word{ish} Wednesday? Stop by Supermom, The Paper Mama, Live and Love Outloud, Project Alicia or 5 Minutes for Mom and link up!

My Favorite Things

I'm always browsing etsy looking for new & different things. I'm amazed at all of the creative people who come up with the most adorable stuff! I thought I'd start sharing some of the cute things I find with you.

*I am not being paid by any website or artist for any promotions mentioned here.

I am simply sharing my favorite things*

This week I picked butterflies. Just a little something represent my two beautiful butterflies! I know they are learning everyday to spring their wings and grow up to be these remarkable ladies but for now, I will enjoy keeping them little and fluttering around! I love, love LOVE the stone with 'believe' on it along with the butterflies.. by far my favorite this week!

{1} rivkah designs
{2} Trink Arts
{3} Sentimental Stone
{4}M E C Inspirations
{5} pita power

{6} cotton candy by natalie

Please feel free to stop by any of these shops to check out these adorable items. And why not let them know Tammy @ Don't Blink sent you!? Etsy has all sorts of neat things to check out... I could spend hours on there just shopping.

Do you have some awesome treats or finds to share? Leave me a message!

Guest Blogger Spotlight -- Courtney from Click It Up a Notch

Are you looking for a new blog to check out? Maybe get some advice, just connect with another Mommy or a really good story to make you laugh? Well, here at Don't Blink, I have decided to start a Blogger Spotlight! I will be featuring my favorite blogs that I visit frequently. They make me laugh, they offer advice and they deserve a spotlight feature so you can check them out, too!

Please welcome - Courtney from Click It Up a Notch.

I first ran across Courtney while browsing some other Mommy blogs and happened to click on her link or perhaps picture she linked up to. I was so amazed by her talent of taking pictures and immediately read more about her and read all of her advice & post about picture taking. She has 2 beautiful daughters the same age as me so I knew right away I could learn a lot from her & her great eye for taking some pretty awesome pictures!

Courtney was gracious enough to take a few minutes out of her busy Mommy schedule and answer some questions for me. I'm so happy she did!

1. Where do you call "home"? Currently I call Japan home. My husband is a pilot in the Air Force and that saying "Home is where the Air Force sends you" is so true. My dad was also a pilot in the Air Force so it's in my blood to be a military spouse. I love living in Japan and learning all about their culture and experiencing new things. I do miss things about the States like Target and Chick-fil-a.

2. When did you start blogging? Like most people, I started blogging when I found out I was pregnant with our first daughter. We lived in WA and our families were in NC and IL so we needed a way for them to keep up with everything. That was 5 years ago. However, my current blog has not been around that long. I had fallen in love with blogging and photography so I started a Project 365 for 2010. Throughout the year I had family, friends, and blogger friends ask for tips to improve their own photography. So last September was when Click it Up a Notch was born. I have LOVED being able to help people better understand there camera and in turn take better pictures of their kids and life!

3. Besides blogging, what do you like to do in your spare time? Most of my spare time is spent editing pictures or learning all I can about photography (I'm kind of obsessed). We like to do "local" things like going to festivals, trying new restaurants, or exploring around the island.

4. Tell us about your family: My husband and I have been married for 7 years. We have two daughters, Kate -3 yrs and Emma 2 yrs. We also have two dogs, Charlie and Gus who are crazy! We have lived in 4 different states and now another country. We aren't perfect but I love who we are!

5. What is the one thing your daughters can do to bring a smile to your face? How can I pick just one. Mmm...they do so many things that make me smile. If I have to pick one, I would say when they show affection and are kind to each other. It can be such a challenge to teach Kate that she needs to protect Emma not bully her. When I see them playing so well together and their friendship growing it just warms my soul!

6. What does your family do for fun? My husband's job is pretty demanding so honestly, anything we can do together is fabulous. Last weekend we went to a park and had a picnic. It was great! We also like to check out local places and tourist attractions since we only have a few years here.

7. What do you find is the most fun about blogging? I love being able to connect with other women! It is amazing the friendships I have made with the people I have "met". I sometimes I have to remind myself that I have actually never met this person that I talk about as if she is my long lost friend. Blogging is such a fabulous community of encouraging and supportive women and sometimes as a SAHM, that is just what we need!

8. Where is your favorite place to shop? Online! Ha! Shopping at Japanese stores can be interesting for sure! I buy most of my stuff from Amazon since they get things here so quickly.

9. What advice would you offer to a new Mommy? Get as many pictures with you and your baby as possible! I know after we have a baby we can find a thousand of excuses not to get in a picture - extra weight, didn't shower, still in pajamas, and no make up. Don't let those keep you out of a photo. I promise you child will not look back at those pictures and think "Gosh, my mom had a little extra baby weight to lose." They will be SO happy to have a photo of the two of you together. PLEASE get in the pictures with your kids!! Oh, and don't read the books!! Honestly, they stressed me out more than anything. If you want to read, just read a little and with a grain of salt knowing you may pull a little bit from something but you don't have to buy into the theory completely.

10. What do you like to do to pamper/spoil yourself? Once a month my girlfriends and I get pedicures. It is the only time we get to hang out without all the kids and that hour and a half is a small slice of heaven. We laugh and always make a scene. The funny thing about the pedicure places here is you pick a design to put on your toes. You go through a book that probably has about 1000 designs so it takes forever to pick. Last time we let each other pick someone else's design. It's always a great time!!

 This was fun! Thanks for including me!!

Thank you so much, Courtney for taking part of my Guest Blogger Spotlight! Your pictures are amazing and a great inspiration to all of us learning the ropes about taking better pictures!

Please be sure to visit Courtney at Click It Up a Notch and comment on YOUR favorite photos! She has lots of great tips & tricks to better picture taking that you won't want to miss out on!

    Are you interested in having a "SPOTLIGHT" all to yourself? I'd love to feature you!Please e-mail me at tammy.schaper@gmail.com for more details.