Mother’s Day 2011

Dear Mom,

When you take on as many things as you have – the busy days and sleepless nights, the comings and the goings, the learning and the accepting, and you do them all with love, you are not just pretty amazing, you are the perfect definition of what a Mother should be. I hope to be as wonderful of a mother to my children as you have been to me.

All my love,
Kenny Kay

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This year Mother's Day takes on a whole new meaning, but I'm not going to write about being a new mother. I'm going to keep this special day all to myself. I'll just say this, my heart runneth over with love.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers out there.   

City Girl

I am a City Girl.  That's all there is to it.  Not necessarily by choice, rather it's all I've ever known.  I've only swam in a pond a couple of times, I'm not a fan of bugs, I've never been camping.

Easter weekend we loaded up the car and headed south on I-35 to Marietta, Oklahoma.  We stayed at the home of our good friends that we've referred to as "The Farm" since I was a child.  Not really sure why we call it The Farm since nothing is "farmed" there.  While on our get-a-way, we did and saw things we wouldn't normally in Suburbia, America.

#1 - My cousin's son, Blue (who is 8) shot a snake and brought it to us to see.  It was huge!  When I asked what happened to the belly of the snake he replied "well, I shot it" as if saying, what else do you think happened to it. 

#2 - Aunt Lenora has a couple of chicken coops and we ate fresh eggs in the best chicken salad ever!

#3 - Trent and I hiked to the creek at The Farm with ear protection, eye protection, lots of ammunition and a hand gun.  Yep, it's time I learned to shoot a gun.  I'll admit, I've been a little anxious about it (ok, a lot anxious) and finally overcame my fear.  Here are a few photos of me and Trent in action.  Blue shot the snake at age 8, like no big deal, and here I was (at a much more mature age) a little nervous. 

  

I couldn't stop laughing while Trent was taking my picture. 
By the way, the gun was not loaded at this time.

  

Finally, a serious face.  Hand guns really aren't a joking matter.

 

Doesn't he look tough!

  

He's a much better shot than I am.



The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies....EVER!

Two weeks into being a Mommy, I was tired, a little stressed and more tired.  I was on the verge of tears 24 hours a day and felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster.  No one tells you that you may have these feelings and if you do, it's OK!  But now that I think about it, even if someone did tell me about it I don't think you can fully comprehend how it will affect you until you in are in the thick of it. 

During the third week of being home with two little munchkins, a friend brought me a batch of Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Not just any ole' cookies, but the best homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies I have ever had.  I devoured them within in a matter of days.  They made me feel so much better.  For me, comfort food is sweets and I don't think she will ever know how much her homemade cookies brightened my day(s). 

I made a batch last night and thought it would be a shame if I didn't share the recipe with you.  I hope you love them as much as I do and that one day they brighten a dark day of yours.

3/4 cup Butter Flavor Shortening
1 1/4 cup packed Brown Sugar
2 TBS Milk
1 TBS Vanilla
1 Egg
1 tsp Salt
1 3/4 cup Flour
3/4 tsp Baking Soda
1 cup Oatmeal
1 12 oz bag Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Combine shortening through salt and mix by hand. Add flour and soda.  Mix in oatmeal, chocolate chips and nuts (optional).

Bake 9 - 10 minutes at 375 degrees. 

*I like mine chewy so I bake them 8 minutes.

ENJOY!

Lazy Sunday

Before babies, our weekends included breakfast in bed and lounging around watching movies. Now, things aren't quite so relaxed. However, we did get to spend part of this past Sunday morning in bed. The Boys love their boppy pillows, so warm and cozy.

Scream and Shout

Bath time at the Bridges' house continues to change and evolve with each and every occurrence. It started out with blood curdling screams, then to whimpers and now they just tolerate it. Their least favorite part of bath time is my favorite part; I love to rub baby lotion all over their little flawless bodies. This, of course, is when they choose to scream the loudest! Here are a couple of bath time videos we took on December 28, 2010. They still fit in our bathroom sink!

Guilt –\ˈgilt\

It is a small innocent word … just 5 little letters, but it carries such a big stick.

Merriam-Webster defines Guilt as a: the state of one who has committed an offense especially consciously b: feelings of culpability especially for imagined offenses or from a sense of inadequacy.

Guilt comes in many shapes and forms and can sneak up on you when you least expect it.

I realize I’m only two months into this whole Mommy Business, but guilt has already set in.

- I feel guilty that instead of spending quality time with my children, I find myself multitasking. (ie folding clothes while sitting on the floor playing with the kiddos).

- I feel guilty when I drop them off at school for strangers to care for them.

- I feel guilty that it feels good to be at work instead of at home.

- I feel guilty when I go to Target. I feel like I should be at home soaking up every moment with them, all while needing a break at the same time.

- I feel guilty that I feel relieved to have help feeding the boys. By the 16 bottle I need a break, but then isn't it my job to love, care and nurture my children!?!?

Now for the big one:
I have the ability and opportunity to provide the best possible nourishment to my children. It is something they can’t get anywhere else and that no one else can give them. However it takes a lot of time and work (OK, not like digging ditches or anything but still seems like work) to make this happen. But every time I hook up to the pump my mood changes. Matter of fact I dread it. I’ve considered many times to give it up but ending it means they will never get it again. There is that guilt again!

I know guilt will never leave my side. It is here until the end.

______________________

I have so much to update and will hate myself it I don't get it done because in a year when I read back through these posts I will be sad that I missed documenting Month 2 of their life.

With that…more to come!

Changes

Thirty-three days ago my life forever changed. Before I could hop in my car and drive to the grocery store without thinking a thing of it. Need toothpaste, I'll go get it. We attended all of the Thunder games. I could go to the gym whenever I pleased and sleep, showering and makeup were never considered a luxury.

Now in one day I change roughly 16 diapers, wash, fill and feed 16 bottles, use the big blue bulb to remove green stuff from little tiny nasal passages, do massive amounts of laundry and after a sleepless night and a long day of fussy babies I hope to have a smile on my face when Trent gets home from work.

BUT...when I look at these faces it makes everything all worth it. I never knew I could love something so much. I love to kiss their tiny cheeks, their tiny toes and their little button noses. My heart melts when I feed them a bottle and they look up at me with those big eyes that tell me they feel safe. Oh how I love these boys.

In a few weeks I will return to work; I will so miss those 16 bottles and 16 diaper changes.

* The picture above was taken when they were 10 days old. Brooks is on the left and Jackson is on the right.

Say Cheese - #2

Pictures from the Boys newborn photo session are available for viewing until December 5th. Click here, then go to the Client section and enter the password Bridges.

Here are a few videos I took during the photo session.

Two Weeks Old

I'm a little delayed in posting their two week photos, however here they are just after their bath on Saturday.

Say Cheese

The boys had their newborn photo session last Wednesday. The photographers came to the house and set up in the living room and also took some pictures in their nursery. They were true Baby Whisperers. The boys slept most of the time, which aloud Megan to place them just right. For a sneak peak of some of the pictures please click here.

The rest of the photos should be ready to view after Thanksgiving. I will post a new link at that time.

Introducing Jackson and Brooks Bridges

Hi, I'm Jackson.

I have some jammies that say Wild Thing and I think this best describes me. I’m the big brother (but just by 1 minute), I really want to be held and rocked and I love to cuddle with Mom and Dad after I eat. I have a really loud cry and I like to let you know when I’m not happy. I’ve recently found my little hands and I love to suck on them. I can make some funny faces.

At birth I weighed 5 lbs 6 oz and was 18 inches long. I was born at 12:14 PM.



Hi, I’m Brooks.

I’m more laid back than Big Brother. He can be a little high maintenance! I, on the other hand, go to sleep in my crib all by myself and really only cry when my diaper is being changed. I’ve been told that my cry sounds kind of like a cat. I may weigh less than Brother but I'm taller!

At birth I weighed 5 lbs 5 oz and was 19.5 inches long. I was born at 12:15 PM.


And together we are the Bridges’ Boys.

It's Time

Little did I know when I made my last posting that the next day we would get to meet Jackson and Brooks. My water broke around 8:30 AM on Saturday and I was in the operating room at 11:40 AM. Trent was by my side with his camera ready to document their arrival. By 12:15 PM both babies were wailing and letting us know they were here to stay! Trent then went with the babies to the nursery while I was transported to my room. I am told that in the nursery Trent was counting their fingers and toes and making sure they were doing well.

I had to wait until 4:30 PM to see the boys. Our wonderful family that visited kept telling me how beautiful our babies were, but I still hadn't seen them for more than a minute or two, which was while I was in the OR. Finally they wheeled them into my room and I was overcome with emotion. They were just perfect! See for yourself...

After 3 nights and 4 days in the hospital, we were ready to get home. We had lots of visitors and lots of beautiful flowers that brightened the room. We are loved by so many people!

Here is a pic of the boys in their hospital "cribs" with Dad on the last day.

Finally we made it home.

First time in their cribs.

You can view more pics of the big day here.

From this point on, our life is forever changed! I love my boys!

Ready and Waiting

I think we are finally ready (or as ready as we are going to get) for Brooks' and Jackson's arrival. We are scheduled for surgery at 7:00 am on November 10. If all goes as planned, boys each weigh around 5.5 lbs and are able to breastfeed, we should be home by Friday or Saturday.

Since I'm not sure how much the little guys (or as Trent fondly refers to them "little men") will weigh, I've been on a search for preemie clothes. I finally found some footed pajamas that should get them through until the newborn size, which is 7 lbs.

I've been off all week and have run a million errands, made many returns, and even did a little cooking for the coming weeks. I know these next few weeks will be crazy and I have tried my hardest to get our house ready for my lack of attention upon our return from the hospital. We are stocked in the toilet paper, soap and detergent category. Everything is washed and some what put away, closets organized and I even made a trip to Goodwill. I think we have everything from preemie diapers to cases of wipes.

Let the craziness begin!

Dear Brooks and Jackson,

For the past 9 months, I have had the joy of keeping you warm and comfortable in my tummy. Now I can't wait to meet you, see your cute little faces and kiss those precious cheeks. Will you have blue eyes or brown eyes, maybe between the two you will have both? You may have caused me lots of heartburn, headaches and backache in addition to a million doctor's appointments and hospital visits, but I'm still ready to greet you and care for you in the outside world. I promise to keep you safe and care for you with every ounce of my being.

I'm a little anxious about how all this will play out, but I know we will figure it out together. With your Dad by our side we can get through anything!!!

I promise to give each of you your own identity, for starters by not refering to you as "the twins". I want you each to grow to be amazing individuals and will do everything I can to make sure that happens. I also promise to limit the number of matching outfits you wear!

In 5 days I get to love you even more than I already do, although I find it hard to believe that is possible.

See you in a few days...I love you both!

- Mom

Wish Ball 2010

This year I was the Co-Chair of Make-A-Wish Foundation's Wish Ball. This event raises funds and awareness, and in the end grants wishes to children with life threatening illnesses. This is the third year I've volunteered for this organization and it touches my heart more and more each year. To learn more about Make-A-Wish click here.

The ladies...

The gents...

Rumble visited the reception and some of us got our picture taken with the bison. Not the best picture, but it is the only one we have. Our eyes look a little creepy.

Bittersweet

Our lazy weekends that we love so much are about to come to an end. Sleeping in on a Saturday or Sunday morning with breakfast in bed, reading the newspaper and then a mid-morning nap are about to be over and I find this to be bittersweet. I know that the new lives, which are about to enter our world, will completely change the way we exist. I know that this change will certainly be for the better, but at the same time it’s hard to imagine what our new way of life will be like.

I love feeling the boys move in my belly. Will there be a void when they are gone or will I just be so busy (and tired) that I won’t notice or have just forgotten about it. Last night one of the boys rumps was poking through my belly!

I live in a constant state of conflicting emotions. Excited, scared (a lot of scared actually) and happy. Each one pulls in a different direction and I never know which one will win the tug of war contest at that time.

I know this last month will be very interesting. The constant wondering if they will arrive early, do I have everything at work ready to go if they do. I'm emotional, tired and have lost my "pregnancy glow". I try to still be upbeat and a generally happy person, but that is hard sometimes when I find it difficult to just walk down the hall to the bathroom!

We have another ultrasound on Friday and I'm eager to see how much the little men have grown.

BFF - Best Friends Forever

Did you have a friend in elementary school that you referred to as your "BFF"? Well, I did and we were inseparable. We had many phone conversations about what matching outfit we would wear to school the next day. Our Moms made us matching outfits for church camp. We even had the two piece heart necklace.

We looked as opposite as we could..her with blond straight hair and fair skin, me with my dark curly hair and dark skin.

We were in the same classroom our first two years at Jefferson Elementary. Then I moved to Lincoln Elementary and she remained at Jefferson. We were separated for a year, but of course it seemed like an eternity. Luckily the two schools shared the same Counselor and we would send notes and messages to each other through her.

In middle school, my BFF moved to a different city and our conversations became less frequent, but we always knew each other was there. We ended up at the same college but didn't have a lot of contact there either. After college we moved to different states and lost contact all together.

About two and a half years ago, I ran into her at the gym. I didn't know she taught there and was so excited when I saw her. It was wonderful to get reacquainted and to get to know her husband, little boy and her precious little girl (I could just kiss that little girls cheeks all day long).

I don't get to see her as often as I like as our hectic schedules seem to always keep us apart even though we live less than 10 miles from each other.

I met her for dinner last night and even though I haven’t seen her in a really long time, it was like no time had passed since I saw her last.

I can only hope that my boys have friends as wonderful as Allison!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10

Today is our 10th Wedding Anniversary. In 10 years, we have…

- Lived at 12 different addresses (which means we’ve moved 12 times!)

- Lived in 3 different states…Oklahoma, Georgia and Texas (and made many good friends along the way)

- Lived apart for 3 years while Trent was in Law School

- Survived Law School

- Loved several pets including Boomer, Lucy, Bailey and one other, which I can’t remember its name

- Owned two homes

- Were Dallas Cowboys Season Tickets holders

- Vacationed in Chicago, New York, LA, Colorado, New Mexico, Florida, Las Vegas and Georgia (and probably a few others places)

- Saw Bon Jovi, Dave Mathews Band, Kings of Leon, Elton John, Billy Joel, U2, Black Eyed Peas, Willie Nelson and Wilco in concert

- Took up tennis (learned that I’m not any good)

- Visited several MLB Ballparks including Wrigley Field, Rangers Ballpark, Coors Field, Turner Field, Minute Maid Park, and Busch Stadium

- Welcomed a nephew

- Said goodbye to a Great Grandmother and two Grandmothers

And soon we welcome 2 baby boys!

Who knew that this little boy…

And this little girl…

Would someday be this happy couple.

Thank you Trent for a wonderful 10 years; I love you more today than I did 10 years ago!


“Knowing you will be with me in all my tomorrows, makes my today so wonderful.” - Anonymous

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39 Years Strong

My childhood memories of Mom and Dad's relationship are extremely positive and delightful. For example, while Mom was making dinner, Dad would walk up behind her and give her a hug and a kiss...every night like clockwork.

Not one memory consists of a cross word they said to each other. Now that I'm older, I realize that life is not a fairy tale, but rather my parents censored us from witnessing any difficult times in their lives and showed us, by daily example, how to love and treat each other with respect and kindness. Thank you for this, Mom and Dad!

39 years ago today, Mom and Dad tied the knot and what a great knot they did tie!

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!


"The secret to having a good married life is to understand that marriage must be total, it must be permanent and it must be equal." - Anonymous

Ode to Ms. Eleanor

Last fall I began teaching a ballet class for little girls ages 3 and 4 at Chesapeake Fitness Center. I use the term "ballet" loosely as they are just 3 and 4. It is more of a creative movement class. We have a lot of fun and they always have interesting tidbits to share.

Dance recital last week was a success. It was certainly not an Eleanor Williams' School of Dance grand production, but not bad in its own right. Here are a few pics from dress rehearsal. These girls are so darn cute.