and...I'm back. Please, contain all that excitement.

I was asked a couple of times during my self-imposed blogging hiatus, if it was because we were just 'too busy' that I stopped. Yes, but yes and no. I got quite lazy. It's not that I didn't miss the sound of the keyboard and such, but what little time I have left in the day for me - tends to end with me watching my murder mysteries. That's totally embarrassing to admit, but honest nonetheless.

Confession above, I can tell you that there are things in our life that are for certain:



That my Bear and my Cupcake have grown. Immensely. He now a full TWO years old. He's a sweet little muffin. Still a lover of 'lammy', his bff - and his 'bopper' the pacifier that we've finally started to wean him of. We didn't even know the mouth full of humongous toofies he was hiding in there....and that smile. Oh, that smile. It's rare to catch him with a big grin, but when you get it, it's quite possibly as pretty as sunshine. He's a handsome little soul. There are favorites of his - his grandparents and Daddy, take precedence over just about everyone but Lammy. It is an adoration worth sitting back and watching. Babies can love completely uninhibited, and his big heart sure knows how.



Cupcake is a week away from her very first birthday. There are days I'm still in disbelief that she is mine. It may have something to do with the silliness that I always 'knew' I'd have three boys. I don't. We were blessed with her tiny little self. So generous, joyous, gorgeous, and feisty. All girl, she is. Every morning, when I get her from bed she squeezes my neck as hard as she possibly can and hugs me until one of us eventually has to let go. She loves her momma something fierce, and the love I have for her and for what she's brought to our family is totally and absolutely inexplicable.



There are days when I have to laugh out loud, because I'll catch myself telling someone that 'I've finally got it!'. That I've mastered motherhood. Oh, the LIES. I do believe it sometimes, that I at last got the hang of it. Quickly though, I am humbled when Cupcake has a new 'thing' where when you change a dirty diaper she tries to snatch it and throw it before you've even cleaned her up. Seriously. Or, when the two year old fits seem like they last all day - or sometimes even for an entire week. I find myself in prayer often, hoping to make it thru nap time or that I get dinner on the table before 9pm. I've learned in my journey of having two babies of the ages of two and under - that motherhood has mastered me. It will on certain days, swallow me whole, but on most - it is a swell in my heart so full and overwhelming that above all...I know of the utmost certainty that I am blessed in ways I know, I do not deserve. That I was given the babies to be mine, and to have the responsibility of showing them the good, preparing them for the bad, and protecting their innocence for as long as is possible, is the greatest honor there ever was.

My favorite time of year is shortly upon us, and with mine and Bear's birthday's behind us - we now begin the celebrations of Belle, JR, and of course the holidays. I go a bit overboard with pumpkin spice syrup in my coffee, we play tirelessly outside, and I plan on a new recipe 3-4 nights a week. These are a few of the things that dominate our 'fall'. I started and took Hudson out of a mother's day out program. A wonderful one, actually. It seems though, that neither of us was quite ready to be away from the other. I missed him. He cried for me. We were just a mess. So, we wait until next year. By far, my hardest 'parenting' moment thus far.

 

After a much needed blogging break, I happily invite you back into our home as we enter the very best time of year. I must go for the day, as I have grocery shopping {ugh} and Pinterest :) to do. Happy Wednesday, friend.







in preparation

there is no such thing as too early, for them to know. for my babies to know that Jesus died on the cross for them. he loves them more than they can understand. i'm preparing a few crafts for Hudson to do this year. projects that reflect the reason why we celebrate Easter. He is the Reason.

this is the jellybean cross activity. my preparation of it.

life via the iPhone

If it weren't for iPhone evidence that we're alive and well, then you'd think we ran off to Miami and never returned :) not true, well atleast not yet!

Here is proof we've just been busy and busy and even a little more busy than that.

giveaway winner!

The winner of the Opolis Clothing Giveaway is...............

Danielle L of The L Family!

She said: I'd love a sooners shirt for my little guy. super cute.

Danielle, please email me {natalie(dot)pettijohn(at)gmail(dot)com} your choice of shirt for you, choice of shirt for your baby boy, and your address please :)

life is...

...putting flowers in her hair.

marry you

i love you, i love you, i love you. and so happy to be your wife. life is so good.

OPOLIS CLOTHING GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!

I get excited about much. So very many things. One thing that brings happiness to my day and life is sharing 'things' with you. This giveaway holds a special place in my giveaway heart because Opolis Clothing Company was started by two fellow Sooners. I will always support that which comes from the land of crimson and cream. You betch'a. They came up with a solution to a problem I know you've had if you're as die hard about your school as I am (all college gear looks the SAME). In their own words:

Pat and Zac met in Middle School in 1995. They went to college together at the University of Oklahoma. Pat and Zac were both taken into the college life…classes, fraternities, friends and of course, sports. It was then that the guys noticed a lack of quality vintage looking college t-shirts. They were determined to find an old Oklahoma vintage tee to wear to the next football game. After searching stores, websites, even thrift stores, nothing could be found quite like what they had pictured. They knew it was time for a change.

Pat and Zac wanted a vintage university t-shirt that was soft, comfortable, and made of good quality material. They wanted to create the old times of university life. They fell in love with the old mascots, chants, lettering, and styles. While creating their designs, they knew throwing an old design on a brand new shirt, or putting a brand new design on an old t-shirt just wouldn’t cut it. That’s why they took the best of both and created the unique style that you find at Opolis today. They had a few designs here and there and showed them to their friends. Everyone they showed loved the styles and wanted to buy the tees immediately. The guys knew they were on to something.

Their idea became a reality as they decided to come up with their own line of vintage tees for people of all ages from seniors to alumni, to students, to fans and even to babies. Their goal is to create the vintage style that so many people had expressed an interest in. This was the beginning of Opolis Clothing Company!

Ok! So this giveaway is for ONE women's t-shirt OF YOUR CHOICE and ONE baby t-shirt or onsie OF YOUR CHOICE!! Humongous!

To enter...

for one entry: become a follower AND tell me which of the items you would like to win

for two entries: become a follower, 'like' Opolis Clothing on Facebook, AND tell me which of the items you would like to win

for three entries: become a follower, like 'Opolis Clothing' on Facebook, post about this giveaway on your blog, AND tell me which of the items you'd like to win

Below are the schools they currently have designs for and the ones you can choose from! Arkansas-Kansas-Missouri-Oklahoma-Oklahoma State-SMU-TCU-Tulsa

Check out their website for their full line of vintage college apparel! This giveaway closes Thursday February 17th at 6pm!

are you busy, too?

We've got company this evening (a friend of JR's), company tomorrow (one of the prettiest families I know) you might know of them! We have a birthday party celebrating a one year old in this most precious family this weekend, too. That's how we do :) busy, busy, and busy. We love it. I think our calendar is full into the middle of March. A calendar, hahaha! It always makes me laugh when my girlfriend's and I, 'put' each other in our calendars. Lame! I have to do that or I'll forget to shower, even. Lame! Do you have a calendar for your family?? Please tell me you do. I definitely have some blog world friends that I would LOVE to put in my calendar one day! Cheers to the totally creepy world of blogging!!

I was going to do one of my '10 things you should know about Natalie' posts, but I always think of them when I'm in the car listening to Kesha or something else horribly inappropriate for a mother of two to be jamming to. Alone. In the car. I then forget by the time I'm actually at the computer.I'll tell you one since I've already built you up with such anticipation.

#6 thing you should know about me: I use really cheap makeup. I read all of these blogs of girls who use high-end clothes, shoes (I do share in this, shoot - can't resist a nice shoe), makeup, toilet paper. Whatever. I've got two tiny's, a home I like to decorate, a dog that has some toys more costly than my clothes, and maybe one day a week that I actually wear it. My only splurge is Bare Escentuals eye shadow. They're stellar and shiny. Outside of that, my face is courtesy of whatever they stock at Walmart and Target. I hope you can't tell, and if you can just don't tell me.

Before I leave you with some fun and excitement tomorrow, I'll leave you today with two pictures I posted a few years ago of JR and I as tots. I'd say our babies are a pretty fair blend of the both of us, with more a lean towards JR :) I'll take that, he's hot.