Coming back after a long break away is always hard.
It's tough for me to find my starting line.
When I last wrote, I had planned to check in more often. I was hoping to get back to doing something that brought me happiness. Something that gave me my place of solitude. Get back to being me. My own Tiny Place.
But life had other plans.
Since the beginning of July 2016 my life has been a roller coaster of emotions.
I'm not ready for one long detailed post about everything...
So I will just hit the bullet points for now.
July 6th, 2016 - The day that changed my world forever.
My 19 year old brother Michael was killed.
(For multiple reasons I still can't talk about that here...
continuous court proceedings being one of them. Hopefully someday soon...)
July 24th - Baby #2 Gender Reveal!
We did our best to reclaim a moment of sanity when some of my closest friends gently convinced me to continue plans with our Gender reveal BBQ.
*It's a Girl!!*
July 30th, 2016 - Michael's Funeral
After a month of hard work, sleepless nights, and tough meetings we finally laid my baby brother to rest. It was a bittersweet moment. In pure Clayton fashion, we rounded the night out with a potluck Bonfire.
August 2nd, 2016 - Mosquito Allergy
After the bonfire Kai had a few Mosquito bites.. That quickly progressed to something so obviously worse. After a last second appointment with his pediatrician, it was confirmed. Little man is allergic to MOSQUITOES. UGH.
August 9th, 2016 - Fire Alarm Fiasco
This was the first in a LONG string of random unnecessary false fire alarms in my apartment building. Just a bullet point on the list of why we eventually moved...
August 12th, 2016 - Date Days
My MIL insists on giving me some personal time to process everything that has been happening. Her and Kai start what will become a favorite tradition for them... Kai & Grammie date days! (Generally movies and Mcdonalds)
October 2nd, 2016 - Baby Shower
Who knew falling in love would be so adorable.
October 8th - Daddy nesting hits
Ryan finally breaks and demands the new car seat installed.
October 11th - Maternity shots at the pumpkin patch.
My belly was getting SO big.
October 15 - Pumpkin
We "borrow" a new kitten from my sister.
It somehow (almost) never leaves.
October 23rd, 2016 - Dehydrated false alarm.
22 hours later, Baby girl is okay... my body just still hates me.
October 31st, 2016 - Halloween
Preggo Winnie-the-Pooh, Sexy Darth Vader & a T-rex
November 8th, 2016 -A Nation of Fear.
Trump somehow becomes President, and I'm at a loss.
November 13th, 2016
Aaliyah Breeze Russell is born!!!
November 24th, 2016 - Thanksgiving
December 10th, 2016 - Marshmallow
We meet our special Christmas elf for the first time ever.
December 13th, 2016
Jordan Michael is here!!
December 21st, 2016 - Superman falls...
Another loss for our family. Danielle's dad, my step dad Eric passes.
We feel the gravity rip us into pieces.
December 25th, 2016 - Christmas
Dec 31/Jan 1st, 2017 - New years eve/day
Happy 30th Birthday to me!
January 28th, 2017 - Kai's first sleepover
with his best friend cousin Caydence
March 22nd, 2017 - Celebrating Michael's 20th
April 21st, 2017 - Easter
April 27th, 2017 - Aaliyah's First word
"Da-Da"
April 28th, 2017 - Kai turns 4!!
May 17th, 2017 = Aaliyah turns 6 months
July 5th, 2017 - The big snip
Ryan takes care of business.
We have our boy, we have our girl.
I have NO interest in any more morning sickness.
So we made a big decision.
July 6th, 2017 -
The one year anniversary for my brother.
A bonfire with my close family. It's going to become our annual thing.
July 9th, 2017 -
Aaliyah's first tooth!
September 3, 2017 -
We officially moved out of our apartment!
*Thanks to Mimi & Kevin for allowing this big transition!*
September 6th, 2017 -
Kai's first day of preschool!!
September 24th, 2017 -
Taking a moment to appreciate the growth in our life.
October 31st 2017 - Halloween
The year of doubles, Two Captains, Two Lilos.
November 1st, 2017 - Our 15 year anniversary <3
This picture was taken the night before,
sitting on the bench in the High school were we met.
November 13th, 2017 -
Aaliyah Breeze turns one!!!
December 5th, 2017 -
The kids spend there first time in daycare while
Ryan and I are in court for my brother.
December 21st, 2017 -
The one year anniversary for my step dad.
December 25th, 2017 -
Christmas
January 20th, 2018 - Charizard
The newest spontaneous member of our squad.
January 21st, 2018 -
Ryan spends a week in Mexico for work.
January 25th, 2018 -
Kai is enrolled in Kindergarden!!
I can't tell you how many times I have opened up this blog to start writing again, and couldn't because SO much had happened. I NEED this space back. I NEED my Tiny Place. There have been a few more here and there but at least that gets you caught up for the most part. Now I feel like I can move on from the last two year hiatus. Eventually I would like to come back and write about a few of these bullet points now and again, maybe. we shall see.
Anyways... I would like to hope I can come back to writing more often. I do think that this blog is going to change a bit from what it was. Who I am as a person is very different. Things have changed my mental dynamic. It will be interesting to see where things go from here...
If your still here with me, thank you. <3
It's tough for me to find my starting line.
When I last wrote, I had planned to check in more often. I was hoping to get back to doing something that brought me happiness. Something that gave me my place of solitude. Get back to being me. My own Tiny Place.
But life had other plans.
Since the beginning of July 2016 my life has been a roller coaster of emotions.
I'm not ready for one long detailed post about everything...
So I will just hit the bullet points for now.
July 6th, 2016 - The day that changed my world forever.
My 19 year old brother Michael was killed.
(For multiple reasons I still can't talk about that here...
continuous court proceedings being one of them. Hopefully someday soon...)
July 24th - Baby #2 Gender Reveal!
We did our best to reclaim a moment of sanity when some of my closest friends gently convinced me to continue plans with our Gender reveal BBQ.
*It's a Girl!!*
July 30th, 2016 - Michael's Funeral
After a month of hard work, sleepless nights, and tough meetings we finally laid my baby brother to rest. It was a bittersweet moment. In pure Clayton fashion, we rounded the night out with a potluck Bonfire.
August 2nd, 2016 - Mosquito Allergy
After the bonfire Kai had a few Mosquito bites.. That quickly progressed to something so obviously worse. After a last second appointment with his pediatrician, it was confirmed. Little man is allergic to MOSQUITOES. UGH.
August 9th, 2016 - Fire Alarm Fiasco
This was the first in a LONG string of random unnecessary false fire alarms in my apartment building. Just a bullet point on the list of why we eventually moved...
August 12th, 2016 - Date Days
My MIL insists on giving me some personal time to process everything that has been happening. Her and Kai start what will become a favorite tradition for them... Kai & Grammie date days! (Generally movies and Mcdonalds)
October 2nd, 2016 - Baby Shower
Who knew falling in love would be so adorable.
October 8th - Daddy nesting hits
Ryan finally breaks and demands the new car seat installed.
October 11th - Maternity shots at the pumpkin patch.
My belly was getting SO big.
October 15 - Pumpkin
We "borrow" a new kitten from my sister.
It somehow (almost) never leaves.
October 23rd, 2016 - Dehydrated false alarm.
22 hours later, Baby girl is okay... my body just still hates me.
October 31st, 2016 - Halloween
November 8th, 2016 -A Nation of Fear.
Trump somehow becomes President, and I'm at a loss.
November 13th, 2016
Aaliyah Breeze Russell is born!!!
November 24th, 2016 - Thanksgiving
December 10th, 2016 - Marshmallow
We meet our special Christmas elf for the first time ever.
December 13th, 2016
Jordan Michael is here!!
My late baby brother's little man makes his arrival!
December 21st, 2016 - Superman falls...
Another loss for our family. Danielle's dad, my step dad Eric passes.
December 25th, 2016 - Christmas
Dec 31/Jan 1st, 2017 - New years eve/day
Happy 30th Birthday to me!
January 28th, 2017 - Kai's first sleepover
with his best friend cousin Caydence
March 22nd, 2017 - Celebrating Michael's 20th
April 21st, 2017 - Easter
April 27th, 2017 - Aaliyah's First word
"Da-Da"
April 28th, 2017 - Kai turns 4!!
May 17th, 2017 = Aaliyah turns 6 months
July 5th, 2017 - The big snip
Ryan takes care of business.
We have our boy, we have our girl.
I have NO interest in any more morning sickness.
So we made a big decision.
July 6th, 2017 -
The one year anniversary for my brother.
A bonfire with my close family. It's going to become our annual thing.
July 9th, 2017 -
Aaliyah's first tooth!
September 3, 2017 -
We officially moved out of our apartment!
September 6th, 2017 -
Kai's first day of preschool!!
September 24th, 2017 -
Taking a moment to appreciate the growth in our life.
October 31st 2017 - Halloween
November 1st, 2017 - Our 15 year anniversary <3
sitting on the bench in the High school were we met.
November 13th, 2017 -
Aaliyah Breeze turns one!!!
December 5th, 2017 -
The kids spend there first time in daycare while
Ryan and I are in court for my brother.
December 21st, 2017 -
The one year anniversary for my step dad.
December 25th, 2017 -
Christmas
January 20th, 2018 - Charizard
The newest spontaneous member of our squad.
January 21st, 2018 -
Ryan spends a week in Mexico for work.
January 25th, 2018 -
Kai is enrolled in Kindergarden!!
I can't tell you how many times I have opened up this blog to start writing again, and couldn't because SO much had happened. I NEED this space back. I NEED my Tiny Place. There have been a few more here and there but at least that gets you caught up for the most part. Now I feel like I can move on from the last two year hiatus. Eventually I would like to come back and write about a few of these bullet points now and again, maybe. we shall see.
Anyways... I would like to hope I can come back to writing more often. I do think that this blog is going to change a bit from what it was. Who I am as a person is very different. Things have changed my mental dynamic. It will be interesting to see where things go from here...
If your still here with me, thank you. <3
