recent happenins!

Visiting Mimi at We B Tan :)




Go Colts






90% of my day....:) the other 10% I'm holding him!


Hanging out with his Mimi. She's the best!




"mama-mama-mama-mama"


watching the colts (kinda) with Grandpa Lake


cuddling with Aunt Cindy


playing with Papa T


LOVE this picture! :)


watching the game! GOOOOOOOOOOO COLTS.


after breakfast...he decided to rub bananas alll over his face and hair.


"quit taking pictures and let me in the tub, woman"



precious boy.






playdate at Stephs (Carters) house!
Carter and Olivia watching the little snowflakes. :)


Eli, Nellie, Olivia, and Carter checking out the fishies


Its ok to hang out in Carters bed now..but give it a few years and I don't think anyone will be ok with it :) enjoy it now girls! hahahhaha


Olivia crawling through tunnel!


This would be my handsome little boy. . .who would barely play with anyone..and just crawled around the house looking (and whining) for me. Oh Lord, help me.

Nelllllllie! :) love this sweet little girl!


Hope all is well.

xoxo
Tay

He's baaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Hello! Eli here! See my new chair my MIMI got me? My mama tells me that I should sit in it...but I like to climb on it. I use the back of the chair to get onto the couch so I can lay with my Lilly and watch tv or play! Pshhhh. SIT?? I am a boy on the move! :)

I think my boy is back to being him sweet little self now. FINALLY. After lots of yelling into to pillows, lots of complaining to my own mom, lots of tears, lots of kisses and hugs trying to make him be nicer to me, lots of frustration...I finally think I've got my Eli back.


He had a horrible ear infection and the meds didn't work, therefore we had an unhappy, cranky little boy. But he is back! He is happy, smiling and sooooo chatty. He says "Heeeeeeyyyyy" to anyone who walks into a room. He points to the dogs and says "Gooog" and tries to carry on conversations with us, using his hands, its comical, adorable to say the least. I'm so glad he has returned...or snapped out of it..either way, we have a happy mommy and baby again!! :)

Thank you for all of your kind words, messages on facebook, and emails :) It was all helpful and kind! :)

xoxo
Tay

f.a.m.i.l.y.

Disclaimer:I am about to be a bit outspoken on some "issues" I'm having with life/family/situations. If you are sensitive....don't read it. or do. do whatever you want :) Just don't say I didn't warn you!

I found several definitions of family, but this one was my favorite....

fam·i·ly (fm-l, fml)
n. pl. fam·i·lies
Two or more people who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another, and reside usually in the same dwelling place.

We have had some happenings with our (extended) family, on both sides actually. Its fine...its going to be fine...everyone is alive and well. The issues at hand are irrelevant, so no need for freak out. But because of what has been happening, it seems that some of our "family" members have decided to show their ass...as I like to say...some of you may like to say "true colors." Whatever you want to call it, it is sad and frustrating. I have so many thoughts on this that I have been thinking about...contemplating...praying about...talking about...etc. (you get my point) I won't REALLY tell you how I feel, and I won't "name-drop" the people I'm upset with. But I know a lot of people I love and care about, and call my family follow my blog---so please read, read again, and re-read again the definition I have placed above for family.
Family is 2 or more people who share goals and values, AND have LONG TERM COMMITMENTS TO ONE ANOTHER.

How can you leave someone in a time of need? YES, everyone handles things differently. Respect that. Everyone sees things in a different light. Respect that. Everyone FEELS events/things differently. Respect that. Everyone takes thing at a different pace. Respect that. But how can you leave them to figure things out on their own, when they obviously need your love and support?? You don't have to pity them or dig them out of a hole they are in, just support them, LOVE them.

When my family got into the accident 7 years ago, some ran to the hospital to see Dad and Morgan and to morn the death of Bryce, some stayed away. Some called, some didn't. Some wrote, and sent letters and cards.. All of this is ok. But I can't tell you one person that shunned us,. Why? Because we are family.Everyone feels things different. Everyone takes things in different strides. But I can tell you no one left us in the dark. No one said anything bad about us.
Sorry if you are reading this and taking it personally, but you know me and I'm not one to hold much back. Don't leave your family behind. It is not ok.

How can you judge someone for something, when you have your own skeletons?
What right do you have?
Are you perfect? (i'm pretty sure you aren't even close)
Who left you, when you made a mistake or when something negative happened in your life? I'm pretty sure no one did.

WE are FAMILY, and I'm pretty sure we should have LONG-TERM commitments to each other...hence the definition.

xoxo
Tay

Lovely Rivalry

Dad won the Marion County Tourney on Saturday afternoon. (pictures to come) It was exciting, as it was his 2nd year in a row to be the 'King of the County' However...there was hardly anyone in the stands. The Colts were playing downtown that evening as well as the Pacers, and I think there were a few other things going on....leaving not many to venture to Southport for the game. But of course, we were there with bells on, and Eli was there with badness attached to him. (don't worry though, he is actually a different kid, since we got him on different meds for his ear infection....which led to a horrrrible chapped butt, but thats for another post) He beat Roncalli Tuesday, Speedway Wednesday, LN Friday (always a very sweet victory to beat Jack Keefer) and Saturday was Warren Central for the win. It was fun.
Dads team is so good, and sometimes the games are boring because they win by so much!! (this is a good thing!) Everyone on his team is so kind and such a great group of kids. I don't live with mom and dad anymore, leaving me out of the "loop", but I am pretty sure he doesn't do much complaining about this group of boys...which makes his job a little nicer to have!
Annnnyways, the point of this post is this article from the Indianapolis Star.....I find a portion of it hilarious.

IndyStar.com

High school notebook
Keefer feels good about team after this loss
By Kyle Neddenriep and Ted Schultz
Posted: January 18, 2010


Lawrence North High School's boys basketball team was bounced by North Central in the semifinal round of the Marion County Tournament for the second consecutive year, but the Wildcats (8-2) turn around and play the Class 4A No. 2 Panthers again Friday, at North Central.

Lawrence North coach Jack Keefer, who needs just 11 wins to reach 600 in his 34 years at the school, said his team can take some positives from last Friday's 59-55 loss to the Panthers.

"If that's the best the state has to offer, then we're pretty good," Keefer said. "I swear (North Central) is better than (4A No. 1 and defending champion) Bloomington (South). I'll bet you on a stack of bibles that team (North Central) would beat Bloomington (South) by 20 points. So I guess we're up there."

Lawrence North will have to find a way to navigate North Central's full-court press. The Wildcats committed 18 turnovers Friday, seven during a 20-3 second-half run by North Central.


Please pay attention to the bold quotes. Hilarious. #1. I haven't seen Bloomington South...but they are most always #1, so I will definitely take that as a compliment for my daddyo, his skills, staff and team. #2. Jackie...please let me see you bet on a stack of bibles....you shouldn't make such bets. #3. If you know our rivalry with Jack and LN (he is a nice guy...awesome coach..no hard feelings!) it is funny to think what was going through his mind when he said this....a set up?!?! I feel like he wants us to think we are better than the best...which is sometimes good, sometimes bad. Who knows...we shall see come time for State! :) But for now...we play LN again tomorrow night, at home. Eli is blessed with a wonderful "Mamaw" (Zachs mom) as she calls herself...she will be watching Eli for the night so I can enjoy (yell at the refs) this game without Eli crawling on me..although I will miss him terribly!

xoxo
Tay

Help! Temper Issues!

Someone has stolen my precious, precious son....at least when he is in my care. (no one really stole him, relax) But the sweet boy who started kissing and hugging me a few months ago, now hits me, kicks, screams, and throws tantrums that I thought weren't suppose to come until he was 2ish, he is 11 months old!!!! He gets so mad and frustrated and is so mean to me. He ON RARE occassion will hit my mom, or Zachs mom if he is mad...but mostly its just me. I picked him up at the babysitter last week and went to sit him down so I could get his things ready and he kicked and screamed like I had pinched his face or something. I asked her (the awesome babysitter) "Did he do this for you today? He's been doing this all the time for me and its driving me insane" and she laughed and said "he didnt fuss once today." And I'm all...GREAT, glad he hates me. If I get up and walk 5 feet away, he SCREAMS. He will just sit in the same spot and scream and cry as if I am never coming back...that he will never see me again. Flattering, yes...frustrating...even more of a yes. I am sure that when he is older and won't even want to spend anytime with me, I will miss the days that he cries when I get up because my legs are asleep from sitting with him on the floor for 2 hours and not moving...but for now, I'm at a loss. I have started just letting him cry, and for 2 reasons. #1.He needs to know I am coming back, and I will not leave him. Also he needs to know, although I adore him, he isn't the ONLY person/thing in the house. Eli, if you want to have something to wear outside in 2 degree weather, you need to let me get up and start a load of laundry. and #2 When little brother comes, I dont want Eli to think that I am leaving him or walking away just for baby, as though the baby is more important. I feel like its important for me to start that now, so he doesn't feel rejected or replaced by Little Brother.


Sooooo. I am not sure what this is about...but I am praying that it fades before the new baby comes. I am *hoping* (dreaming, praying, whatever) that this is Gods way of making sure that he is getting through this stage before the new baby comes.


Any suggestions? Anyone....?

Who MEEEEE???
but i'm so cute

xoxo
Tay

Picture Tuesday!

Here are a few recent pictures of Mr. Eli

My precious little man


Look at those bluuue eyes


funny


this is the picture that i accidentally ordered 43 of from cvs. i tried to order 4 copies, but apparently hit 43 and didn't pay attention to my error. so if you would like a copy of this picture, there are plenty to go around. in fact, most everyone in our families got this picture for Christmas! :) Hey...at least it was a good picture!!


Sporting his new cowboy boots---don't worry he REFUSES to keep them on. I think they were pulled off (while he was SCREAMING) about 2 minutes after this picture was taken. He HATES shoes, and I don't know what to do. I'm about to get out the duct tape, and tape them on his feet.


checking on the dog cage...to see if he can crawl in. so gross..he loves it...its disgusting! he gets so mad at us because we won't let him get in it.


my punkin


at Olivias Birthday party!


sharing with O




playing with Olivia!






checking things out on the computer with dad







so I don't know if its wrong, that I love pictures like this or not. he is not actually crying at all here, he is screaming at me to help, while instead i was taking pictures. (Mom of the Year....RIGHT HERE) He has this horrible fake whine/scream thing going on right now.its actually a horrible temper, but whatever. I just love these pictures because it just captures moments in his life that I get to tell him about when he is 16.
His favorite thing to do is crawl into this chair, and stand. Since the taking of the picture, he has now figured out how to crawl out of it, but obviously this was like day 2 of him not having any idea how to get down. Now he has it figured out. Loves it!


bed head.


yelling at the camera. i think this could be my favorite picture to date of Eli. hilarious.


xoxo
Tay

Christmas and such

OHMYGOODNESS. I know I have been MIA since my "outspoken" post on marriage...its the Holidays..forgive me!! We have been soooo busy and unfortunately have dealt with lots of sickness during the last few weeks as well! Zach, Eli, and I had what I like to call the "plague." Everyone....except my Grandma...and I mean everyone, got this horrible, horrible flu. I am so glad its out of our lives! It was especially scary when Eli had it. He was sick on the 22nd, puking, awfulness...fine on the 23rd...and while we were pulling out of the driveway on the 24th to head to Zachs parents for the Christmas Eve celebration, Eli decided it would be a great idea to puke all over himself and my backseat. I have never felt so scared in my life. It puts being a Mommy into a whole new prespective.

I have so much I have sat down to write about and now I can't remember any of it!
Lets see....
On December 17th we found out we are having.....A BOY!!! We are excited! Secretly, I was hoping for a girl....and this is ONLY because we had a name picked out and everything. hahaha. And who doesnt want to buy lots of awesome, adorable PINK and PURPLE stuff. But when she said "Do you want to know the sex?" We said "Yes" (even though I was thinking I wanted it to be a surprise, Zach quickly talked me out of that) and she said "here are the legs......" and I replied with...." and THERE is a penis. " It was plain as day!! Zach wanted to do the happy dance. My Nana was able to come and see the Ultrasound too!! She works at the hospital I am delivering at, and was able to come down and watch! She had never seen an ultrasound done, so it was a special, and fun moment for she and I both...while Zach was still in the corner of the room wanting to do the happy dance! ::smiles:: I am happy that we will save a TOOOOOON of money on everything!! We don't even have to paint the new babys room if we don't want to...even though, I probably will. ha! The name "fight" is ongoing. We have 2 names that we really like right now, but really it changes weekly. The middle name will be Keith...that much we do know. It is family tradition for Zachs family that all of the men have the middle name Keith. They let this go with Eli, because they all knew the importance of having Bryce's name incorporated into Eli's name! (Elijah Brycen) Soooooo...if anyone has any suggestions, I would LOVE to hear them! I don't know if we will tell or not. I am finding more and more judgemental people that when I mention a name I like, they turn up their nose...thus making me have 2nd thoughts. So yeah...I'll think about that.



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little feet!






On December 20th we headed Zachs Aunts house for the White Elephant Christmas Dinner...whatever you want to call it. It was fun. I have never got to take part init, and it was fun. I got a really neat Snowman decoration thing that someone actually made. It was hilarious to see all the gifts and all of the "steals." Eli got to meet "Santa" (Emilys Fiancee...Uncle Matt, to Eli). It was pretty funny. Theeeen it was to Nanas for Christmas...which I think is where we all caught the plague, from my cousin Cameron! Thanks Cambo!! But it was a fun time. We did something different this year and drew names..so we each only had one person. It was fun...I don't know if we will do it again or not. I'm not in charge. :) Which is fine by me!

Eli with Santa


Is it wrong that I LOVE this picture?!


Santa wasn't so bad after he got a gift from him! :)


Eli in his adorable new hat from my Aunt Terrie

Eli and Aunt Kari



all the grandkids minus Nick, he was sick with the plague.

Eli was intrigued by Cam and wouldn't leave him alone.

Eli and his Nana!



Christmas Eve we did the Mitchell family tradition of heading to the mall and buying our last minute gifts (aka...help dad buy stuff for mom day). We had fun.....Eli was fine...we got home... and while pulling out of the neighborhood...Eli painted himself, my backseat, and his new carseat with VOMIT. So needless to say, we didn't get to go to Zachs parents! Every Christmas Eve they have game night and everyone comes over and it is so, so much fun, and we had to miss it. Instead Zach was running to CVS for Pedialite and I was on the phone with Eli's Dr, making sure I didn't need to take him to the ER, for dehydration because of all the dry heaving he was doing. It was nerve wreckin! For sure! I was praying that he would be decent for his 1st Christmas!

Christmas Morning...my boy woke up with a smile. A tired smile nonetheless....but a smile! He was happy to open the few gifts we got him. (He doesn't get it...and wanted to play with the paper more than the gifts anyways!) We got ready, headed to Zachs parents to open presents. It was a nice time, but Zach and I decided after this year we will stay at our house until its time to go to brunch at his Grandmas...so we can start our own family traditions! And so the boys can play with their own toys for a while before having to leave so early!! We then headed to Zachs Grandma's for brunch and boy o boy did we all make it! It was like Oprah's favorite things for Zach, E, and myself! :) I am so thankful to have Zachs family in my life. They are so so amazing and so good to us! I love and adore them! After that we headed to my parents and opened up all of our gifts there too! Eli was cranky and annoyed....rightfully so....he had a busy day after being sick the evening before! But he was a trooper, and had fun! AND MAN did he make out with a lot of toys. He even got an AWESOME toybox from Zachs mom and dad to put everything in and it is PERFECT!! We are so greatful!


checking out his elmo and elmo book

yummm. tastes great mom.

love this picture.




At Zachs parents...obviously he is excited about something. so cute.





"Mom did you seeee all the gifts I got?!"

Eli was only interested in his cousin Kyle...no one else!



playing with my dad on christmas. Check out that face Eli is making..hilarious!

the new toybox!


"how many things can fit in here" this is such a Zach moment!




one of his new rides!


Eli the next morning...all of his new toys/rides/toybox

all the new rides

so excited to play with his new toys!


crawling through the tunnel of his new tent. he LOVES this thing.


December 27th...on our way to Grandpa Petty and Lindas house...I caught the plague...and was in bed for about 36 hours. Zach came to my rescue several times..and even took Eli to spend the day (the next day) with my Aunt Kari because I couldn't do it. I felt like an actual train wreck. Theeeeen my nana had to go pick Eli up in the afternoon because Aunt Kari got sick. (I told you everyone I knew got it) So we missed Christmas at Grandpa's which is a bummer...because Jess is moving to Cali this week!! We won't get to see her before she leaves! Booohisss!

New Years Eve...we were Old Folks...or whatever you want to call us! We decided to stay in! We went to dinner with Zachs sister Emily, and her fiancee Matt...then came home to watch the ball drop. Its like Eli knew it was New Years, because he stayed up until 12:30am....Zach was down and out by 10:30...woke up to give me a New Years kiss and was back asleep in 10 minutes. It was hilarious..yet typical of our house! :) hahaha.

New Years Day, we headed to Buckets to enjoy the annual New Years Day celebration with my parents and all of the friends from North Central that come! My parents never went out on New Years Eve...they always let us have friends over, or let us go out and instead always went out New Years Day....and its fun to be able to partake. (even though this is my 2nd consecutive New Years being preggers!) It was fun. Dad and Zach even got to bond a lot. hahaha

And somewhere in between all of that madness we had a lot of birthday parties, Morgan came home for 3.5 weeks, lots of basketball games, and Eli getting off his wonderful schedule he was on. BOO to that...but its my fault, so whateva! I'll take the blame!

I don't know if there is anything else to write about...if so...I'llllll bbbbeeee back! :)

xoxo
Tay