Wordless Wednesday: Back to School

Neither of the boys were into my photo shoot this morning, but they had a great first day! 

(And mommy enjoyed some much needed quiet time.)

Smitten.

We're at the beach this week, 

digging our toes into the powdery white sand that the kids adorably call "snow."

Jack is warming up to the water & Liam is smitten with the sea.

We're slowing down, 

enjoying spending time with family,

leaving our worries at home,

breathing in the salt air,

And taking lots of pictures. 

Wild Thing.

This space has been quiet for a month.

We're transitioning.

I'm not quite ready to post pics of the new house yet-- it's a work in progress.

Rob & I are doing just fine-- co-parenting peacefully & even working on our friendship.

The boys are struggling with the change (L in particular) but we're doing the best we can.

I'm staying very busy.

Single mama-hood is no joke, dude.

But I know we're going to hit our stride soon-- we have to.

So here we are, seven weeks away from Liam turning THREE.

(I know, I can't believe it either.)

Time to get going on birthday party planning-- I'm behind!

This year's theme:

Super excited to do another classic book theme-- We had such a great time with The Very Hungry Caterpillar last year.

So, as I've been poking around Pinterest deciding on decorations, I saw these cookies and I knew I had to try them. (Her entire party is stunning-- it's definitely the main inspiration for my party!) I'm no expert on decorating with royal icing, and I've never worked with fondant before, so I thought that it would be best to give these cookies a try long before the actual party. This weekend, I was in serious need of some craft time, so I decided to give them a shot.

 

I'm so happy with them!

They're not perfect, but they're monsters-- they don't have to be. I used store-bought sugar cookies for my test to save time-- for the party, I'll make my own & make them slightly larger so that the features aren't so crowded. Also, I'll start early-- the royal icing base needs a day to dry, the fondant features need a day to dry, and the fur needs a day to dry. I was rushing through these in less than 24 hours because I knew if I didn't finish them before Liam came home from Rob's, they weren't going to get done.

While this year's party needs to be scaled back from last year (single mama budget), I have lots of plans for personalized touches that I can do myself, without breaking the bank. I'm also looking forward to having the party at home-- it will be nice to set things up the night before, so that I'm not in a rush the morning of the party.

Can't wait to celebrate my Wild Thing!

Finalized.

Last week, we signed the papers.

This morning, I got an email from my lawyer.

The judge signed off on our agreement.

It's done. It's over.

Quite a few emotions today, but mostly relief...

Time to move on with our lives and establish our new normal.

Wordless Wednesday: Same Love

 "I might not be the same, but that's not important.
No freedom till we're equal-- Damn right, I support it."

Huge Day for Equal Rights. 

So thankful that SCOTUS made the right decision for millions of families who deserve every right that I have. ♥

Playing Catch Up

So sorry for the silence, friends-- things have been very busy in the Blakely house the past few weeks. 

The boys both had tubes surgery last week.

The decision came so quickly, I didn't even have time to write about it. We made an appointment with a pediatric ENT after Jack 's 5th pedi appointment for an ear infection this year. Liam has had just as many. Our pediatrician didn't give us the referral, but our insurance doesn't require it, so I went ahead to get a second opinion.

The doc didn't hesitate to recommend that the boys have the procedure-- I was relieved. The amount of pain they have been in for months at a time must end... additionally, I can't envision handling weekly trips to the doc all fall and winter on my own.

So we headed over to Children's Hospital last week-- an amazing facility, where everyone we came in contact with was kind, helpful and great with kids. I can't say enough good things about our experience there. The boys shared a room where they changed into tiny hospital gowns while we waited for the anesthesiologist. They rode cars up and down the halls with the other kids waiting for similar surgeries.  And when it was their turn, they were out of our arms, knocked out, tubes in, awake and back in our arms in 20 minutes each. Easy peasy. I only hope that these will help as much as I hear they do!!

Some pics from the day:

We've had no issues except for a yeast diaper rash on Jack that the doc said was likely due to weakened immune system from the stress of the surgery. We have a follow up appointment next week.

And in the midst of that, I've been preparing for our biggest change-- the time has come.

The house is disaster (even more than usual) as I sort through and pack up 3/4 of the home we've lived in for the past 5 years. It's hard to believe that we're here. One week from tomorrow, the moving truck will pull up in front of this house and carry the boys and I away to our new home.

 It's truly time. While Rob and I continue to be as amicable as we can, living together through the process of a divorce is not for the weak. We're nearing the end of our negotiations (will post an update when there's news to share) and are very close to finalizing things. There's not much left to share in this home.

How do I feel? 

So excited about our new place. I have big plans for that little house.

Overwhelmed. There's a lot to do over the next week and beyond.

Hopeful that Rob and I will quickly get into the swing of co-parenting.

Worried that we won't.

Sad that I'm leaving the house I brought my babies home to.

Content that this is the right decision.

Things might be quiet around here a bit longer until we get settled, but know that I'm doing just fine. Some days, better than fine.

My beautiful boys, supportive family and amazing friends have been there every step of the way and are holding my hands through the biggest change of all, the one that I know that in the end, will make us happy.

Happy Mother's Day!

"Good moms have

sticky floors,

dirty ovens,

& happy kids."