Did you know? {100 things}

I saw this idea and thought it was pretty cute. 100 random things about us!

Don’t feel obligated to read them all …. its quite the list.

1– Did you know Kamryn is not a huge fan of school? She doesn’t give me a hard time but day after day I ask: “Are you excited for school?” It’s always a “….not really….”

2–Did you know Mike recently switched electrical companies? I don’t know that he’s ever loved a job more!

3–Did you know poor Mike has been working more now than ever before? Usually, 7 days a week. We miss him tremendously.

4–Did you know that without any schooling Logan is starting to sound out words? His favorite game: “What does this word start with?” The other day I flipped it and asked him what Tiger started with and he went “Tuh Tuh Tuh …. T!!!”

5–Did you know that don’t want anymore kids, but lets say we someday decided to have another one…I’d move far far away, have the baby and come back like HEY!! How’d that baby get here?!?! Then nobody could give me crap!

6–Did you know if that mythical baby was a girl I’d make sure to name her Eliot McKenna? And I’d want each and every person here on this blog/in my life to hold me to it.

7–Did you know Kamryn officially has homework? It’s not a lot and its not every night but lets just say…I’m not a fan. AND! I don’t know how I’m going to do this when I have 4 in school. Wish me luck!!

  8–Did you know I’m excited for Fall? (Like you needed to be reminded of that)

9–Did you know I like Fall so much that I think Kensington is going to have a pumpkin themed birthday party?

10–Did you know Tenley still doesn’t sleep through the night…fabulous!!

11–Did you know I’m currently binge watching Gilmore Girls?

12–Did you know I’m totally #teamjess?

13–Did you know I love binge watching old shows?

14–Did you know I miss tv from the early 2000’s?

15–Did you know that I secretly want to get Kamryn a kitten? But I can’t. So I won’t. But girlfriend is obsessed with cats!!

16–Did you know Kensington is equally as obsessed with The Secret Life of Pets?

17–Did you know she melts and says awe at the end of that movie…every. single. time. she watches it!

18–Did you know Logan can throw a mean temper tantrum?

19–Did you know Tenley is the most chill baby on the planet?

20–Did you know that last week Kamryn came home from school crying because she couldn’t read and this week she’s read three books to me cover to cover? SO proud!! 

21–Did you know I hate politics?

22–Did you know I’m not sure where I actually fall democrat or republican? Because I really do see things from both sides. But I don’t like either of the candidates this election.

23–Did you know if I were to ever become rich the first thing I would do is hire someone to do my hair and makeup every time I had to go somewhere?

24–Did you know I’m quite possibly the only person on the planet who doesn’t really like pizza? I’ll eat it but you’ll never hear me suggest it for dinner. EVER.

25–Speaking of food…did you know my favorite food is a cheeseburger? I’m so boring, I know!

26–Did you know Logan goes outside and plays in a dirt pile every single day just so he can take a mid-day bath? DUDE! Just take a bath!!

27–Did you know Kensington hates sleep? HATES IT.

28–Did you know I think Tenley is teething?

29–Did you know I barely sleep?

30–Did you know Mike tells me that’s bad for my health?

31–Did you know Logan asks to watch ‘Little Einsteins’ approximately 3,243,345 times a day?

32–Did you know I’m obsessed with baby names?

33–Did you know I wish there was a job that helped people name their babies? Because that would be my dream job!

34–Did you know I can’t handle crowded malls?

35–or long lines.

36–Forget it, you’ll never see me at a crazy big sale.

37–I think those people lined up outside a store on Black Friday need their heads examined.

38–Did you know I love coffee?

39–Did you know the people at Dunks know me? I’m convinced they know my order but don’t want to embarrass me so they let me order anyways.

40–Did you know I had my worst morning sickness with Logan? So I think that old wives tale about being sicker with girls is BS.

41–Did you know I used to be an extremely picky eater but now I find myself eating veggies and salad? (Not often, but I do it)

42–Did you know I put my Christmas decorations up before Thanksgiving? 

43–Unless we are hosting and then I feel like I have to wait.

45–Did you know I care too much about what other people think?

46–Did you know I haven’t had my hair cut or colored since December?

47–Did you know yesterday I was talking with Mike about the girls and got giddy when I said “the girls” because I’ve always wanted 3 girls?

48–Did you know I never thought I’d be a boy mom but I’m so happy I was wrong?

49–Did you know I’m fighting a cold and refusing to let myself believe I’m sick?

50–Did you know a couple weeks ago I was introduced to someone who when she heard I had 4 children told me “it’s called birth control!”

51–Did you know I wanted to knock her out?

52–Did you know I’m not a violent person?

53–But there’s been a few instances I’ve had to stop myself from slapping someone.

54–Did you know the most annoying stressful thing for me is when someone is late?

55–Did you know I married into a family where they are never ever on time?

56–Did you know Mike is only punctual when it comes to work?

57–I guess that’s not a bad thing. I’d rather him not be late for work….

58–Did you know I would have more kids if money was no object and I had endless patience?

59–Did you know I hate being pregnant but love the process of being pregnant?

60–Did you know I understand how crazy that sounds?

61–Did you know I don’t like when people tell me to not have anymore babies?

62–Did you know that I know they are right I’m just a brat?

63–Did you know getting Kamryn dressed for school is a nightmare? She’s so picky about what she wears!

64–Did you know Logan is just as picky about what he wears?

65–Did you know Logan hates socks and Kamryn loves socks?

66–Did you know Mike hates socks and I love socks?

67–Did you know Kensington is just smitten with her Daddy?

68–Did you know everyday when I get her up she peaks into our room to see if Mike is there and then looks around for him downstairs to see if he’s home?

69–Did you know I’m sick of waking up everyday and seeing bad things on the news?

70–Did you know I hate stuffed animals?

71–Did you know all of my kids love stuffed animals?

72–Did you know I never remember to use coupons?

73–Did you know Tenley is still sleeping in our room because right now we have nowhere else to put her? She will wake Kamryn and Kensington up if I put her in their room.

74–Did you know my alarm clock everyday is Logan yelling “MAMA!!”?

75–Did you know if you’re still reading this you are a trooper?

76–Did you know I’m now regretting starting this? BUT I’m not a quitter so I’m going to finish!

77–Did you know I’m already getting excited for Tenley’s first Christmas?

78–Did you know my brother and sister are my best friends?

79–Did you know it takes A LOT for me to let people in and there’s only a handful of people who know the real Kristen?

80–Did you know I’m painfully shy?

81–Did you know I want to sign my brother up to be on the bachelor/bachelorette but he doesn’t want to do it? LAME!

82–Did you know I have very slim patience for nonsense?

83–And even less patience for unneeded drama.

84–Did you know after 5.5 years of going back and forth Mike and I have decided to let go of any plans we had of moving closer to Boston? P-South we are here to stay!

85–Did you know I am LOVING this cool cozy weather?

86–Did you know Kensington is talking more and more everyday?

87–Did you know I’m extremely exhausted right now?

88–Did you know how hard this is to come up with 100 things to say about us?

89–Did you know Mike has had one of the hardest years of his life but he’s still the most incredible husband in the world?

90–Did you know people tell me all the time how I have the best husband ever?

91–Did you know some days my kids can be complete brats?

92–Did you know I like to keep it real?

93–Did you know my sister has lived with us for 2 years?

94–Did you know dealing with a teenager is A LOT of work? Love you, Lou!!

95–Did you know I’m almost done with this list?

96–Did you know it’s only 11am and I’m already thinking about dinner?

97–Did you know I’ve been on the lookout for the perfect black cardigan and I can’t find what I’m looking for?

98–Did you know I do that all the time? Think of someone I want to buy and then think it’ll just magically appear in a store…in my price range.

99–Did you know my dogs are sometimes more work than my kids?

100–Did you know I’m done?!?! 

YAY!!!!

Tenley James at 6 Months

Our sweet sweet Tenley James is 6 months old! A half a year has flown by in record time. I say it with all my kids but this time it truly does feel like we just brought her home. 

Tenley is loving solid foods. So far we’ve just tried fruit and within the next few days I’m going to be starting her on veggies. She has not refused anything just yet! :) 

Miss TJ can sit up on her own….for a few seconds and then topples over. But she does great with the support of her boppy pillow. She can roll from front to back and ALMOST from back to front. But she makes tummy time nearly impossible because she hates being on her belly. So, as you’ve probably guessed we are no where near crawling because she won’t stay on her belly long enough to even attempt it.

Tenley really is the sweetest little baby. She’s always smiling and laughing and I think we are extremely close to her first word. I think I’ve heard a “mama” or “dada” in her baby babbles but I’m not calling it just yet. I especially hear what sounds like “mama” when shes upset. #smartbaby

Tenley brings us so much joy! I know you all think I’m crazy but its bittersweet to think Tenley is my last baby. On one end I’m ecstatic at the thought of never being pregnant again but at the same time that makes my heart ache. If money was no object and I had endless patience I’d have at least 3 more. But since that’s not an option I am choosing to just relish in all the baby goodness. This time is fleeting. It’s so hard to believe in just 6 months we will be celebrating her 1st birthday!!!

Tenley James is now 15lbs 12oz and 27 inches long

When....

When you get a new haircut and know you look good…

When you get the memo that Sunday’s are for being lazy…

When you’re figuring out this whole sitting up on your own thing…

When you’re the best dressed kid in 1st grade…

I just LOVE these kiddos!!!! 

Chasing That First Baby High

I’m about to show you the single worst picture that has ever been taken of me. But, I love it because it is the moment we became a family. I had been in the hospital for 36 hours as the pumped fluids into me, been in active labor for 13 hours and had just pushed for an hour and 40 minutes. I was EXHAUSTED and PUFFY!

(Andddd lets be honest, the first picture after each of my babies birth has only gotten better and better… thank god!!!)

If I could go back to that moment in time and start all over I would in a heartbeat. It’s no secret I love babies. I hate being pregnant but I love the process of being pregnant. I love the miracle of pregnancy. When I think back to becoming a mom for the first time all I can do is smile. From the time Kamryn was born until her 2nd birthday was two of the best years of my life. Everyday was exciting, full of laughs, full of smiles. Watching her every move, seeing right before my eyes her learning more and more as the days passed. The first time she rolled over, when she began to crawl, her first steps, her first words, her first birthday, the first time she stepped into our house when we looked at it for the first time, when she was our flower girl in our wedding, the list goes on and on and on. It was just the two of us and I made sure I experienced it all! Everyone told me to enjoy every second…and I did. But what they didn’t tell me was how special life was with just the 3 of us would be. And how quickly things would change….

I can’t really explain it. Life with 4 kids is amazing but its tiring…its oh so tiring. Especially with a 6 month old who likes to wake up multiple times a night, one in first grade learning how to read, a very handsome 4 year old who loves to test my patience every hour, on the hour and an almost 2 year old on the brink of the terrible twos. But life with just one kid….was simple, for lack of a better term. We could do stuff, go places. It was so incredibly easy to pack up one kid instead of four. For the most part it was stress free. To be fair it was only the three of us for 2.5 years so I could be looking at that time through rose colored glasses. And, Kamryn was by far the easiest child ever! She’s still pretty perfect. 

To be clear, I wouldn’t change the fact that we have four kids and I wouldn’t change that we had them so close together. I just want a re-do, can I get a re-do?? I want to do it again. Same kids, same ages, same everything. Anyone have a time machine?!?

What I wouldn’t give to travel back to 7 years ago. To be that 23 year old girl, pregnant, not knowing what was ahead of me….I would in a heartbeat. Is that crazy? To want to do it all over again? It probably is crazy and that’s probably why I have so many kids and more than likely why everyone doesn’t believe me when I say I won’t be having anymore babies. I guess I’m like an addict in a way, chasing that first baby high. That first baby high is a once in a lifetime! I know, I’ve done the legwork. That’s not to say with each child it wasn’t just as special, it was. It was so incredibly special. It’s just different and I want it back. I’m willing to bet this is different for every mother. I bet there are moms out there who want to go back to when they brought their second baby home and how in that moment all was right in the world. I bet there are people out there who want to go back to a time when it was just them and their spouse. Some who just want their kids to all be little again. Etc Etc…

So my advice, is not only to enjoy every minute of motherhood but to also enjoy that time with just you, your spouse and one baby. In my opinion, there’s nothing like it. 

I mean....

Does it get much sweeter than that?