Happy Birthday Day Liam

I can't believe a year has gone by already, one year since I gave birth to our second child.  Birthdays are bittersweet for me(my husband rolls his eyes at this comment) because I can't believe how fast my babies are growing and even though I have to work, I don't want to miss a second, a milestone or smile of them growing.
Liam's birthday was on Thursday, and I can't tell you how many times I told him Happy Birthday and gave him kisses.  We had to do our yearly doctor check-ups, which I decided to try to be super mom and take both kids to the doctor for shots and physicals at the same time.   Not my best mommy idea, and I don't plan on doing it again until they our older. Lucky for me my husband decided to come and his extra hands were much appreciated.  Liam weighs 21lbs 8 oz and is 30 inches long, according to his doctor he has a big head too.  Oh and I got to hear the "when is he going to get any hair?" comment again.

Mommy and Liam at Baby Time!

                                                    Love that handsome face

I made Liam his own birthday cake so we could celebrate his birthday just the four of us.  It wasn't the prettiest cake, but it was made with love by mommy and he ate it.  Yes I am a crazy mom that thinks your child should have cake on the actual birthday even if they are having a party a different day.  Yep my child got cake twice!!!
Today we had Liam's birthday party at the park.  Our family and close friends came to celebrate our little guy's first birthday.  Poor Liam had not been feeling well and was extra tired.  He didn't have as much fun as I hoped he would have.  We still had a great time and our household birthdays are officially wrapped up for this year!!! 

                               He was shy when everyone started singing to him

                                              Poor guy, too tired to eat cake

It has been a fun birthday season with Bill's surprise party, Disneyland for Rylie, and Liam's sports themed party!!! I am so proud of my family I've been blessed with and today on my birthday, that's the best present!!!

Mommy Guilt

It has been a crazy couple of weeks with all four of our birthdays being in a month of each other; Disneyland/San Diego, 3 classes, working, Rylie's dance etc.  Well last night as I had dinner on the stove/oven, sitting at the table doing homework while Liam was crying, pulling on me to pick him up and only wanting mom, I began thinking am I a bad mom?  Yes the number of hours I'm away from them are few and far between, really only when I have to work or have something to have to do with work. The time I am taking for school to do homework or tests while they want me to play or Liam is crying for only me to hold him though, I began thinking if it's worth it or should I postpone school until they are in school full time?  I know in reality that there is never going to be a "great" time to go to school while raising children but it still doesn't help my guilt though.  Last night Rylie said, "Mommy I miss you." and she was laying right next to me :(

Then this morning while feeding Liam breakfast, I realized my gosh tomorrow he is going to be 1 years old, a whole year has gone by already!!!  I thought he is going to be a year and I'm sure there are details of this year I have forgot, his baby book isn't even closed to being finished, his 1st year calendar is missing milestones and goodness Rylie's first year scrapbook is in the closet taunting me as it still needs finishing touches!!!!
I wish I had more time! Time to spend with them without having to do school stuff, time to get their pictures scrap booked and baby books done, time for my husband, time with friends!  I realize as a busy, working mom of two that "Father Time" is not on my side but to make the best of the time I get and to prioritize the important stuff.  I know I am always going to wish I could do more but showing and telling my children how much I love them and love being their mommy means more than doing.
I will probably be up late tonight though trying to get Liam's baby book up to date and pictures organized to start scrap booking!!!

All for now from this proud, busy, feeling guilty Mommy!!!

Happy Birthday Rylie in Disneyland!!!

Last night we just got back from our 4 day vacation to San Diego/Disneyland for Rylie's 4th birthday!!! We had a great time and this mama needs a little vacation after the vacation!!!!

Wednesday afternoon we drove to San Diego and stayed with Bill's sister Melissa.  Thursday morning(Rylie's b~day) we drove to Disneyland! Here are some highlights from our trip and just a handfull of pictures(one camera had 605 pictures on it):

Thursday:  Happy Birthday Rylie Jaymes!!

We checked into our hotel(The Grand California at California Adventures) and headed to the park.  Rylie's first ride she rode was Monsters Inc. and then the lady bugs.

The highlight of Rylie's day was the Junior Live on Stage Show.  She got to see all the Mickey Mouse Characters, Little Einsteins, Jake and the Never Land Pirates and Handy Manny. She was dancing away and didn't want to leave when the show was over.  Bill and I did the Hollywood Tower of Terror!  After a few rides at California Adventures, we went over to Disneyland for Rylie's Mickey and Minnie Birthday party. She got to decorate her very own birthday cake and meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse. 

                                                     We all decorated cakes!

                                                        ~Daddy and Rylie~

                                                       ~Birthday Girl

                                                ~Rylie's cake that she decorated

                                                      ~Party Animal

After the birthday party we went back over to California Adventures for Rylie's birthday dinner at Ariel's Grotto! She loved the dessert tray and her own birthday brownie they brought out for her! 

                                                   Happy Birthday Rylie!!!
After dinner, we rode more rides.  Rylie did the jumping jellyfish and the Mickey Mouse farris wheel.  That night we saw the World of Color show.  It was a beautiful display of music, color, and Disney images protected onto water.  Later that night after we put the kids to sleep(Melissa stayed with them), Bill and I went back to Disneyland to ride some rides.  We rode Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain before the park closed!
Friday: Day # 2
We started of day # 2 of our trip at Disneyland! We started the day with a character breakfast at Paradise Pier Hotel.  Rylie loved seeing all the characters and even danced on stage with Mickey and Pluto. Liam cried when Pluto came to our table and wasn't pleased with them. 

After breakfast,we made our way through Toon Town and Rylie was able to see Mickey and Minnie at their "houses".  She rode Alice and Wonderland, the Merry-Go-Round, me and her rode the tea cups(gave mama a headache!), her and Bill rode Dumbo and Thunder Mountain Roller Coaster!  After some rides, we went to Fantasyland and she was able to meet some of the princesses. She met Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Ariel.  It didn't take long before she noticed other little girls in princess dresses and she wanted one too!  We took her over to the princess shop and for her birthday from Nana and Papa Fitzgerald and Auntie Melissa, she got her Ariel princess dress, shoes, crown and magic wand!!! She was so excited. She kept saying, "I'm Princess Rylie and that's my castle Rylie." 

After some lunch, the kids passed out in their strollers.  Bill and Melissa went on Pirates of the Caribbean and Melissa and I then Bill and I went in the Haunted Mansion.  That night after dinner, we went back to Disneyland for the show "Fantasia" (a character and water color show) and the fireworks!!!!
Day # 3 Saturday: Wrapping up Disney

We spent our last day between the two parks.  First thing in the morning, Bill, Rylie and Melissa rode the water rapids ride.  We all were able to ride(including Liam) It's a Small World, the Jungle Cruise and the Winne the Pooh ride.  We all rode the Toy Story ride at California Adventures and Bill, Rylie and I did Soarin' Over California.  Bill and I did the Screamin' California roller coaster too.  To end the day, Bill, Rylie and I rode Buzz Lighteryear and the kids were able to meet Pooh, Tigger and Eore!! Liam didn't cry this time!!

We had some yummy ice cream and headed back to San Diego that evening.
In a nutshell, that was our trip! We had a great time and Rylie had a very special birthday!!!!