Summer reading list

For many years I've always wanted to make myself a reading list for summer .. But I always got to busy! 

No more excuses this is the summer, so I thought I would take a moment to show you my list and if you have any recommendations let me know!

1. The Honest Life - Jessica Alba

2. The Fault in our Stars - John Green

3. The Newcomer - Robyn Carr

4. The Hero - Robyn Carr

5. The Wanderer - Robyn Carr 

(The Robyn Carr novels are at the recommendation of my mother)

6. Kate : The Future Queen - Katie Nicholl

7. Unlimited - Jillian Michaels 

8. Presumed Guilty - Casey Anthony : Inside the Trail - Jose Baez 

9. Fifty Shades Darker - E.L James 

10. Fifty Shades Freed - E.L James 

... Yes I am still reading Fifty Shades, I've been a little busy the last 2 years.

I used to read all the time but lately I haven't been able to make the time for it. 

Time to make some time for me .. Even if it's only 20min a day

Madison has become book lover.. Specifically her "children's first bible" books, she loves to look at the pictures and make up the story and then will make me read them.  

All part of the learning process! 

I actually took this photo while Beth and I were playing on the floor and Madison was sitting in Beth's chair using a nursery rhyme app! She knows them by heart!h

Hopefully I'll finish this list by sept 8th that's my goal! 

Xo's 

Sweet summertime

It's officially summertime for everyone in the Murray house.

Yesterday was my last day of work! 

It feels to have summers off again! I'm looking forward to it! So far off to a great start it's 730 and Madison is still sleeping!!!!!

My first year working at Elmwood was amazing!! I truly enjoyed going into work everyday. The people there are incredible and made this for me so great!! I can't wait to get back in the fall ... But until then it's all about my kiddies :)

We started out Madison's first day of summer by visiting the dentist for the first time!! 

She thought the "bib" was funny because she was like Beth. Our hygienist is great she even gave Madison her own pink gloves! 

I was amazed at how well Madison handled the visit! She sat and let the dentist count and polish her teeth! 

I had been concerned about one of Madison's teeth because it's very rough and discolored.. It's been like that since she got it so I was worried I am not brushing them properly .. Turns out there's nothing we did wrong! The enamel didn't developed properly while I was pregnant, and it's very common.

Made me feel a little better knowing it wasn't my fault!!

After that it was mom's turn! Madison was very interested on what was going on! 

Maybe we have a future dentist on our hands ;) 

We have so much fun stuff planned over the next 18 days before Camp starts! The most exciting plan is our trip to Massachusetts for Kate's wedding/ mini beach getaway! Madison is the flower girl and she can't wait!

Hope you all have a great Thursday .. We are off for Beth's weight check .. We will see how much our little peanut has grown!  But first a little peak at our gorgeous nieces - Isabella and Carlee.

Xo's 

1 down 15 to go!

So proud of this little lady 

Madison has finished her first year of nursery school!! Only 15 more years of school until college!! 

Madison started in September in the 2s program 3 mornings a week for 2.5hrs. She was still a month away from turning 2 and barely putting 3 words together and now here we are having full conversations!

Madison enjoyed her year and talks about her friends all the time! 

It was so nice yesterday we were able to join the kids for their last snack and a few songs!

After snack 6 of the 8 kids and moms went to lunch to celebrate the kids moving on up to the 3's room!!

It's so hard to believe that Madison only has 2 years left at Elmwood (3's and 4's) then off to Mohansic for kindergarten ... And at the same time Beth will be starting her Elmwood journey!!

We are so proud of all of Madison's accomplishments this year :)

She's got 2.5 weeks off until Elmwood summer camp! She is so excited and asks daily if it's time for camp yet!! 

Time really does go by so fast!!!  After a busy day with a long nap Madison was ready to get back to her big sister duties and was trying to teach Beth how to roll!

Even Bailey wanted to help 

Beth was so happy for the help but I think she was happier to be off her stomach.

Xo's 

Sunday Funday

... Sunday Funday has a whole new meaning since we became parents.

It no longer means sleep in, go for brunch and meet at a bar for drinks or the beach or a pool etc. It now means .. Keep your children occupied all day with fun new things and try to get stuff done in the 5 min you have when they leave you alone!

BUT... I prefer the latter anyway :)

 Today was a very fun day.. We did something we don't usually do.. Go to the beach!!

Originally our plan for today was to get things done around the house since Chris is working then we were going to head down to Mima and Pops for a dip in the pool!  

Well Lindsay (Chris' cousin) texted me and invited us to join her and her son Ryan at Glen Island beach. I haven't been to the beach since Madison was 7 months so I couldn't say no!! We quickly gathered our stuff and headed out!!

Madison had lots of fun filling buckets up with sand and dumping them, and running into the water!

Beth enjoyed lounging in the shade!! She was a dream child.. She woke up to eat about 30hr after we got there and slept about 145 of the 2 hours we were there! 

These are are the only pics I was able to snap! It gets a little busy with 2!

We will see what next weeks "Sunday Funday" includes ... It's Father's Day so it's Chris' choice!

Hope your all enjoying your weekend!

Off to wash sand out of Madison's hair!

Xo

3 months

Where have the last 3 months gone?

Elizabeth

Weight: we go for a weight check next Thursday but she was 8lbs 6oz 3 weeks ago!

Length: 21 1/2inches 

 Sleep: Amazing. I realize how lucky we are to have 2 amazing sleepers. Beth usually goes to bed between 9 and 10 and will sleep until 430/630! It all depends on the day!

Eating: SO MUCH BETTER!!! Beth is still taking Zantac 3 times a day to help with her reflux and she is drinking nutramigen and loving it!! The spitting up is not nearly as bad as it was! Finally able to feed her without needing to change myself or her! Currently getting 3-4oz every 3 hours!

Diapers: still rocking those size 1's... Actually looking into cloth diapers for the summer since I will be home with her all day! Anyone have any experience??

Clothing: Her white undershirts are still newborn. BUT we've packed up all the other newborns and moved onto 3 months this week. Some 3 month is still a little big but she needs the length. She's following her sisters footsteps!

Mood: I would say 90% of the time she's in a great mood!! She's only fussy when she is hungry or she has a wet diaper!

Loves:

• Her big sister singing to her.
• Watching the ceiling fan!
• Her rattle 
• The sound of daddy's voice!

Hates:

• Being put in her car seat 
• Being hungry
• Being alone! She loves having someone in the room with her. She doesn't need them to be playing with her she just needs to know someone is there

Big sister Madison

Well Madison is still loving being a big sister!!! Today is Madison's 2nd last day of school! Then she is off until camp starts June 30th!

Mommy

Weight loss: -29 lbs!! I've officially lost all the baby weight (as of last week!) now it's time to step it up lose the left over Madison weight and tone!!

Exercise: lots!! Been running a ton! Ran my first 5k on Mother's Day and now I'm hooked! I ran a trail 5k this last Sunday I beat my previous 5k time by 10 seconds. The race was not my favorite it was mostly uphill (Yikes) and trail. Rather stick to roads. Also back at the gym. Completed my first BURN class in over a year last night and I missed it! I feel great!

Breast or bottle: bottle.. Last month for this question as we aren't going back to breastfeeding 

Sleeping: yes!!

Baby schedule: up at 430 to eat 3oz and then back to bed until about 730. She eats every 3 hours and usually naps In between! But she has been staying up during the day more!

Mood: Great! Those pregnancy hormones are finally getting back to normal!!

Xo's

First weekend of summer

Summer is finally here!

Pools are open, the sun is shining and it's time for cute summer dresses!

This weekend we got to celebrate the start of summer with a Memorial Day BBQ on Sunday. Madison was excited to get her first swim of the summer in!

We also were able to spend the weekend with our niece Isabella and nephew Jake. They are staying at Chris' parents house for the weekend to give their parents one last weekend of rest before the new baby comes (which hopefully is any day now!!!)

We kept Beth out of the pool as it was still a little chilly and I wasn't going in! Thankfully my in laws took the 2 girls in!

Jake was such a big help with the girls!

Monday we went to the Ardsley Memorial Day parade. This was Madison's 3 years riding in Pop's truck in the parade and the first year for Bella and Jake! The girls looked adorable in their matching dresses! 

Madison and Bella were supposed to march with Uncle Pj and the fire dept but they got a little scared.. Maybe next year!

I hope you all had a great weekend!!

Xo's 

Busy as bees

Wow!! This month has been crazy! 

We've been back and forth with Beth's doctors about her feeding issues and weight gain and we are so happy that our little lady has put on weight ... 2 ounces but it counts!! 

She is still tiny and just makes the 5th percentile but she's healthy! She eats a lot!!

My brother Ryan and his girlfriend Emily came to visit over Mother's Day weekend. It was the first time they had met Elizabeth and seen the new house! They have both been busy with hockey and Emily finishing school so they had to wait to come visit! It was an awesome weekend we really did nothing... We watched movies, hockey games and just visited.  It was also nice that they were here for my first 5k!!

I was so happy to complete the race! My goal was under 40min and I finished with an official time of 38:17! I am already signed up for my second race June 1st!

My goal is 36min or less... I would love to shave 2+ min off my time!

 After Mother's Day the girls and I headed to Canada for a few days for my grandparents 50th anniversary! Chris had to work so he stayed home.

We have a great time. We got to meet Ashley (my brother Brett's girlfriend) and see all of my family and friends. We actually left the girls there for a few days while Chris and I took a little parents weekend away to Baltimore to celebrate Chris' 30th birthday!

While in Baltimore we actually saw a boat fire in the harbor! 

Thankfully no one was hurt!

We had parents night at Madison's school... So crazy to think she has 2.5 weeks left of her first week of preschool. 

Madison showed off her art and sang some songs!! It's amazing to see how much she has changed since starting there! 

Over the next few weeks we've got a lot happening! 

Stay tuned!!

Xo