Loving Life

7/20/10

US Weekly (a bit dated)

We've been busy, B-U-S-Y! We made it to Indianapolis, moved all of our stuff into our fab little townhouse and hauled all the necessary stuff to my parents' house, where we've settled in for the last 3 weeks. I started orientation for my new job the Tuesday after we got in. Oh and should I mention here that I had some Gawd awful GI virus that left me bedridden the day before I started? Lovely.

Harrison is mostly daytime potty-trained and Brooks is as big as ever, loving him some cereal and applesauce! And the boy is FINALLY taking a pacifier and a bottle, which makes my life a tad more manageable.

So we're here and loving being back with family and friends. Brian will be here for good at the end of July. This will be a short little blog update for now. Here are a few pics from the last few weeks...

Our littlest dude

Brian and the boys on his short visit to Indy

Harrison adores the swimming pool

Mmm... cereal

SOOOOO big!

6/23/10

Storytime and Swimming Holes

We went to our last storytime today at the local library. The kiddos had a blast singing "Beanbag Rock" and "Wheels on the Bus." Harrison thoroughly enjoyed the goldfish snack and bubbles that Miss Kat (the librarian) was so kind to give them. We will definitely miss our Wednesday library visits!

We also ventured to the swimming hole. The temps have been in mid-90s (nearly 100 with the heat index) and just plain miserable. So on went the swim diapers and adorable swim trunks and we were off. Harrison loves to splish splash in the pool and Brooks enjoyed getting his toes dipped. We only lasted about an hour before the coinciding meltdowns occurred... which was my cue to get the heck out of dodge. I was happy to get some cute pics before we left.

Addie, Harrison, and Charlotte

Harrison in a Hat

My child came across his baptismal outfit, including his bonnet. So he was off running throughout the house without anything on except a bonnet. Thank goodness the blinds were closed! I can only imagine what the neighbors would have said!

6/19/10

My Daddy, M.D.

Whenever Daddy signs his name

he always signs "M.D."

so everyone will know

that he belongs to me.

For M.D. means "My Daddy"

or something just the same.

And that is why he always

puts these letters in his name.

Some letters in his name are small,

but these are not, you see.

He always makes them big like that

because he's so proud of me.

Happy Father's Day Brian! We love you!

With Harrison 9/08

Christmas '08

Spring '09

Christmas '09

Winter '09

With Brooks 3/10

'10

Spring '10

6/18/10

Gardendale Splash Park!

We headed out to "G-dale" as the Birminghamians call it with our good buds, the Campbell's.

The backseat of the car full o' tots!

Addie, Harrison and Charlotte making a splash

Keeping cool

Momma and her boys!

6/16/10

So long Alabama

Our adventure in Alabama is quickly coming to a close and what better way to celebrate than to have a good 'ol fashioned barbecue! Our 'Bama buddies, the Sytsma's, hosted a fabulous dinner on Saturday. The men entertained the sweaty kids outdoors with bubbles and popsicles while the mommas enjoyed adult convos and a bottle of vino.

The crew (Brooks is hiding behind Katie's head)

While the men have been galavanting around the country, enjoying steak dinners and attending National Championship football games, us wifeys have had some great playdates and made some incredible friendships along the way. I never thought in a million years I would say this, but I *think* I might miss it here.

My Bama buddy, Jen (who saved me from insanity)

6/11/10

Packing Up and Heading Out

Lots of news to report in the latest issue of the Ludwig Times.

I got a job! After staying home with the boys this year, I realized that I really did miss working. Some mommas are meant to be stay-at-home moms. Me... not so much. I love my sweet babies, but I also love adult conversation and having "me" time, even if that means having "me" time at work. So I hunted for the perfect job and I actually found it (or so I hope). I will be working full-time days (in nurse speak that is 3 12 hours days a week) at a Level II NICU at IU Hospital in Indy. I start July 6th. Ahh! I must admit I am a little intimidated. I mean, I haven't worked in over a year. And I haven't worked in a NICU in a couple of years. I'm sure once I get in there with those sweet little preemies, I will feel right at home again.

So with a new job starting in less than a month, that means I am in full packing mode. The house is full of boxes (with naked toddlers crawling in them!) It is REALLY hard to pack up your house when there are 4 people living in it. We found a wonderful townhome on Indy's southside that will work perfectly for us for the one year we plan on renting. 3 bedrooms, a loft, 3 bathrooms and an attached 2 car garage... awesome. The boys and I are moving June 28th (umm that is 17 days) Brian is not finished with his fellowship until the end of July. Thankfully I will have my parents' help with the kiddos and my sanity.

And lastly, Brian is almost finished with his training! 5 years of undergrad (Iowa), 4 years of med school (Iowa), 5 years of residency (Wisconsin) and 1 fellowship year (Alabama) and now at the ripe old age of 33, he will get his first real job (Indiana)! He is pretty psyched and a little nervous, which is to be expected. He has already been assigned a high school team to cover and hopefully the patients will come running to him. :)

Crazy toddler in a box

Crazy toddler in my shoes

And the reason why I have a crazy toddler:

Potty Training! (He actually has been

quite successful so far!)

Love this one: he insists on wearing these darn

boots inside the house- and on the wrong feet.

Two tuckered out boys

6/4/10

Brooks:3 months

Good Morning Sunshine!

Smiley Boy

6/2/10

Say it's SNOT so...

Thursday afternoon we headed north to Indianapolis. From the moment we left Bama, it was chaos. Both boys had colds. They both cried for a majority of the 8 hour car trip. And lucky momma got to sit in between the carseats for about 5 hours of that trip.

Friday was filled with interviews, house-hunting, pictures for Brian and snot and coughing.We had hoped to see more friends and family, but the boys had other plans. Sunday the snot and coughing was worse for baby Brooks so we scoped out a childrens' ER while in Indy. Bronchiolitis. Lovely. We are now home and hopefully will be on the mend soon.

Lunch at GiGi and Grandpa's

One.Cool.Dude

When there is no pool, you play in a bucket of water

"playing chalk"- look how pitiful he looks

After our ER trip

Bathtime in GiGi and Grandpa's BIG tub! (which he hated)

Watching toons with Grandpa

5/27/10

Boys in their Bibs

Harrison and Brooks in their adorable bib overalls

5/25/10

Brooksey Campbell Cottontail

Brooks' little "lullabye" as you may call it goes something like this:

"Brooksey Campbell Cottontail hopping down Bienville (our street)

Hippity hoppity! Harrison's on his way"

So it's not too brilliant, but it does rhyme. Give me some credit!

But baby Brooks has totally been given the name Brooksey Cottontail.

Is he not the longest 11 week old you have ever seen?!

Seriously he is like a giant!

And I personally think he is the cutest

11 week old I've ever seen!

Rough Life

Life sure is rough for Harrison.

His Indy buddies, Micah & Aaron

stopped in on their way to the beach. We threw all the kiddos in the

tub with a slew of toys. Best bathtime EVER.

And what could possibly be any more relaxing than

lounging in the sun with an orange

popsicle?

5/20/10

Brooks: 11 weeks!

My sweet little guy is 11 weeks old today! He is full of smiles and coos. The colicky weeks are finally behind us, but definitely NOT forgotten or missed! My only hope for the upcoming weeks is that Brooks will learn to take a bottle, a pacifier or suck his thumb. The human pacifier thing is getting slightly old. :)

Love those gurgly grins