Mommy Has Moved!

The blog has moved - to a more private site. With the photos of the children and my personal information, it was suggested to me that I move the blog. So if you're interested, and want to keep reading, email me at ericakeating@mac.com  -- I'll send you the link to my new blog site. :)

Time for Change

Isn't change nice? I mean, when you're in control of the change anyway...

Our two oldest boys have been sharing a room since I found out I was expecting number three, and they love being together. The room, though, has never felt quite right and things were all over the place. The kids didn't mind, and I haven't had time, so that's how it's been for nearly 9 months.

Today my dad decided to come take the boys (minus baby) to Bass Pro Shops, for a little afternoon away. He even took them to lunch! Yay for Grandpas! Anyway, the moment they left, and Baby fell asleep, JP and I plunged into Alex and Jim's room. We purged and organized, dusted and scrubbed, moved and re-arranged. I even made a new little sign for their bedroom door.

When the boys got home they were so excited and surprised. They played in their room for nearly an hour! Yippee! 

Maybe it's the beginning of Spring Cleaning for me? Gee, I sure hope so! Now I just need to find kid-free time to work on the rest of the house!

Food and Friends

What else does one need? 

Food and Friends.

Long ago, my sister started a Bunko group - compromised of a large group of women - some neighbors, some relatives, some co-workers, some old friends, etc... 

Over the years this group has transformed into a select group of six women who are so very special. These women are amazing, beautiful, brilliant, and oh-so fabulous! Some are moms, some are professionals, some are both! They are such a fun group of friends! 

A year (or more) ago, we realized that playing Bunko was just an excuse to get together and...

Chat

Eat

Bond

Gossip

Laugh

Cry

Eat

Share

Create

Be Silly

Be Comfy

Eat

Ha! So now we pretty much forego the playing and we just sit and gab. I think we could possibly gab and share stories all day if we didn't have children and husbands and jobs to attend to. This morning we met for brunch and talked through two hours in a flash. At one point, I laughed so hard I began to cry (thanks, Lauren. I will never look at knee-highs the same again).

It's such a special time for me. I feel so blessed to have each of these women in my life.

So call a girlfriend, a sister, your mom, and gab a little. Share a story or two. Laugh a lot.

Girlfriends are great!

P.S. - Thanks to my girlfriends! :)

Pic of the Week

It's Friday Again! I can't believe how quickly the weeks go by. My baby is already 3 months old...

Ah, I digress.

Anyway, this morning, Lauren invited me to go on a tour of Sappington Farmer's Market with her Mom's Club. The kids had a blast learning about all the fruits and veggies, going into a freezer, sampling cheese, grapes (and cookies). Alex's favorite part was the little train that went around the entire perimeter of the store.

This brings me to the pic of the week..... I've not taken many photos this week, so I didn't have lots to chose from! Here's Alex admiring the fresh orange and red peppers at Sappington Farmer's Market this morning. 

Happy Friday, everyone!

chicken, french fries, and ketchup

blah.

chicken. french fries. ketchup.

my son's favorite meal. 

didn't used to bother me... but after 6 years of the same favorite meal, I feel blah.

the smell of it is blah.

the look is blah.

still his favorite, though...

Does anyone have a way for me to spice up this meal for him? or do I just let him have this as his special treat once every week or so. I find myself always going back to it as a sure fire way to get him to eat a full meal. The chicken, a half a dozen fries or so, some fruit, and some corn (one of the only veggies he will eat), a glass of milk.

I know I'm not the only one who has children that are "picky" eaters. 

Now my 3-year-old is going through a food thing. He's becoming more picky. Refusing things he normally loves... just plain not eating at all some days.

My plan?

Offer him a variety of foods that his father and I are eating.

He doesn't eat?

I guess he's hungry... or he'll eat when he IS hungry.

Thoughts? Help?

I'm tired of chicken and fries. Anyone else?

Picture of the Week

Argh! Friday was a busy day... as was today... not enough time on the computer. :)

So here's this week's fave pic.

As much as I hate having all this Valentine candy lingering around, it makes for cute photos of my children!

Here's my brown eyed beauty enjoying one ridiculously big lollypop. Love it!

maternity jersey

Hey all you pregnant people!!!!!! 

And anyone who wants to buy a pregnant person a fun gift....

Check this out:

www.maternityjersey.com

Get geared up for baseball, ladies! Don't be caught without your team spirit just because you're preggers!

Yes, I have a personal reason for plugging this website. My hubby and I came up with the idea when I was prego with Alex and our vision has finally become a reality.

Play Ball!

dreaming of summer

Anyone else thinking about Spring and Summer on gloomy days like today? I can't wait for the weather to warm up. I'm already signing Jimmy up for his summer activities and it's got my spring fever starting! 

Here's what I can't wait for:

Taking Bobby swimming for the first time

Picnicking with J.P. on his lunch hour

Going to the park and feeding the ducks

The warmth of the sun on my face -- just breathing it all in

Listening to the kids laugh and scream as they play in the sprinklers

The sound of the leaves on the trees when the wind blows them --  just before a summer thunderstorm

The smell of a summer thunderstorm coming

Fresh summer fruits and vegetables

The smell of suntan lotion

Long weekends, and long days that last way past bedtime

Catching lightening bugs

Riding bikes

Long walks after dinner

Dinner outside on the back porch

BBQ

Cardinal Games

Weekend trips

Skinned knees and popsicles that make them all better

Tanned bodies

Kool Aid smiles

Waterparks

Adventures

Imagination

Outdoors

Waterslides

Looking at the stars

And so much more!

Summer. 

Summer with my kids and hubby. 

Can't wait!

brothers

Sometimes I ponder what my purpose is here on this great big Earth. How small or how big my impact might be. 

Now that I am the mom to three beautiful boys, I've come to realize that God has put me here for at least one BIG purpose... 

To raise my boys. 

To teach them all that I can about love and life and happiness. To raise boys with hearts of gold who will grow to be loving, happy successful men (that know how to take care of their wives)!

I love watching the three of them interact as brothers. I am so happy they have that. I was never around boys or brothers growing up. It's always been just my sister and I, so I always pictured my future full of sisters! 

I'm so thankful for my house full of brothers. I pray my husband and I can give them the love and support they need, to grow to be close brothers forever. 

I hope I can survive the fighting, the whining, the kicking and screaming that comes along with a brood of boys! They are fun, but they are a lot of work! wink. wink. ;)

So here's to brothers... may they love each other and protect each other... and let's hope they don't beat each other up too often.

:)

kisses

It's Valentine's Day, so it's only natural that I'd ponder kisses today... right?

Wet slobbery kisses from my baby.

Sweet meaningful smooches ,with chubby soft hands on my cheeks, from my toddler.

Big hugs right around my middle, and kisses on the cheek from my big first-grader.

Romantic kisses from my hubby.

.

.

.

.

16 years ago today, J.P. and I shared our first kiss. What a special anniversary for us! I was 16, he was 17. We were on our way to a Student Council event. I remember how my heart pounded and how I thought I'd never be the same again. 

I was right. I never was. 16 years ago, the rest of my life began. 

We've come a long way, baby!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Go kiss your hubby. Or your children. Or your puppy.  

xo

pic of the week

Each Friday I'll post my fave picture from that week. It may be personal (like this week) or something I've seen somewhere else on the web.... either way, it's another glimpse into my thoughts for the day!

Happy Friday!

This week's pick pic - My Three Sons... The loves of my life! 

that's one way to clean the bathroom floor

My first entry into my new blog...

Life as a mom has so many ups and downs. 

How amazing is it to hold your 12-week-old and see the amazement in his blue eyes as he stares back at you? The connection I feel is so strong and overwhelming. I feel like I'll remember that moment in time forever...

Then I'm squirted with a watergun.

My three-year-old has just shot me back into the real world. I look up from my baby's gaze to realize that my toddler has just sprayed the bathroom walls, mirror, toilet and floor with his watergun from the bathtub. I have to scold him (I've warned him not to shoot it outside of the tub before, haven't I?), but inside I'm cracking up.

Cracking up. And thinking this is the first time in a long while that the bathroom floor, toilet, walls and mirror have all been cleaned in the same day.

Thanks, Alex. Thanks for helping momma do some cleaning... and smiling.