2017 - Week 12

March 20.
Starting another Monday with daddy out of town. So we headed to the mall for a little fun - riding the carousel, playing on the quarter car, running around the play area and looking at everything in the Disney store. We got home and the crazy-tired banchies lost their marbles crying signaling early dinner (tacos - their favorite) and early bed.

March 21.
Fun day at the park with our buddies Andrew and Sydney (and Julie). Feeding ducks and sliding. City living doesn't allow for much of a yard...so we decorated the front stoop with chalk and played in the small dirt patch out front while brother napped - he was exhausted.

March 22.
Daddy knew we were missing him, so he sent beautiful flowers. Thanks love!! We played with makeup, hit the baseball down the entry hallway, tried on bathing suits, and played in daddy's gym bag. "Show me your muscles."

March 23.
Not many pictures today...brother did get a hair cut, we did eat CFA (again), and Johnny continues to be Nora's usual sidekick to every outing and adventure we go on. He even got his hair cut at the barber too.

March 24.
Ventured to the county to play with Sweden (and Dawn). Lunch and coloring were on the agenda. So good to see them! Sister and I played with phone filters while brother took a car nap, then we ran around outside the rest of the afternoon because it was so beautiful - their favorite...a giant pile of leaves.

March 25.
Daddy is home!! And the weather is perfect. We set out on foot walking to Fells for some waterfront exploring, playground playing and lunch at Abbey Burger. This 75 degree weather made everyone exhausted, so mommy and daddy enjoyed a long walk together.

March 26.
Enjoying a date with these crazies after church to our new favorite Turkish restaurant in Federal Hill - Zatarr. Even the kiddos enjoyed hummus, baba ghanoush, and schwarma. Sister helped to some light cleaning, and the kids were SILENT during dinner...they much have been starving and ate every single bite of their pesto chicken and broccoli!!

2017 - Week 11

March 13.
Monday again. Love snuggles from these two...we had to bunch to head out today - it was COLD in Baltimore. We went to Play Cafe for a lunch date, yogurt snacks were yummy then become a lotion-like bath, and this girl - she can eats tacos for days!!

March 14.
They told us to expect a blizzard...we were sorely disappointed with only a few inches of snow...but we made the most of it. We ate snow. We played in the snow - which didn't last too long because we didn't have gloves. Oops. And we even painted a snow craft.

March 15.
Another snow day inside because everything was now iced over. We did sled rides while making very important phone calls. Played with shaving cream to look like snow. We watched the snow out the window in our pjs. And we went through a whole slew of stickers.

March 16.
Visited what will be Nora's preschool in the fall - they loved the sunshine they could climb into. Target for birthday presents for this weekends parties. THEN...the day took a turn and sister started complaining about having an ear ache. After a trip to the doctor, back to Target for medicine and slurpees...which of course brother had to make a huge mess of in the car. Didn't bother him one bit...he seemed to sleep well that night. Ha.

March 17.
Movie morning while sister tried to rest. Then onto making "drums" out of empty snack containers and painting out own wrapping paper. When daddy came home, it was all about tea parties, giving our "buddies" baths and back scratches. **I forgot to put my kiddos in something green for St. Patrick's Day...oops.**

March 18.
Fun birthday party for Colin at Lingo Leap. This was the first party brother has attended - and loved all the gymnastics elements! And of course they loved the cupcakes!! Came home and decorated our party favors and relaxed the rest of the afternoon.

March 19.
Celebrated our sweet niece Scarlett turning 3!! We had a delicious brunch, played with toys - everything Moana, Trolls and animals, ate cake, rode bikes outside and enjoyed family time. Happy Birthday Sweet Scar Jo. We love you!

2017 - Week 10

March 6.
No pictures because...

We found out almost a month ago that I was pregnant again. I immediately called the doctor upon finding out because I was so nervous from the previous miscarriage that I wanted to have my blood work checked and get an ultrasound scheduled as soon as possible. Within a week ( including 4 rounds of blood and an ultrasound) it was confirmed we were experiencing our second blighted ovum (empty sack) pregnancy. We were in shock. I was angry and upset and frustrated and confused. Most of all I was sad...I didn't want to go through the miscarriage process again...but it was inevitable. I medically induced my second miscarriage this past Friday. I bled for a few hours, then the rest of the weekend was as normal - my body not responding to the medication. I woke up this morning and jumped on the treadmill for 45 minutes thinking I could get things moving in my body before submitting to calling the doctor and asking for another round of the medication. Within an hour I was bleeding...like scary bleeding. Waiting until the doctors office opened so I could talk to a nurse made this the longest morning ever! I was rushing to the bathroom every 5-10 minutes - finally after talking to the nurse, they urged me to go to Labor & Delivery. (Chaz had left earlier that morning for Virginia Beach for a week for work!!) I called my MIL and SIL - and I'm so so so grateful for how they jumped in at a moments notice to help. My MIL took me to the hospital and my SIL watched my kiddos. Upon arrival at the hospital (and almost 3.5 hours after my scary heavy bleeding started) I was given a room in L&D and naturally passed almost all of what needed to be passed - and practically passed out in the process. The doctor came in, did an ultrasound and to my horror told me my body had removed everything except the empty sack. Could this torture be over already? I proceeded to have a D&C to complete the miscarriage. I rested at the hospital for a bit, but was released an hour or so after and walked out, even driving myself home. The rest of the day was a blur...my MIL got us fed, we went home and attempted to do "normal" afternoon activities, and then everyone was put to bed early because momma couldn't think about dragging out doing bedtime solo after this exhausting day.

This week made me realize how much Chaz and I are a team. I need him and he is a major piece to the puzzle that makes our family run smoothly. Not having him this week was SUPER hard (emotionally more than anything). I love him for his strength even miles away. But I was so grateful for my MIL, SIL and numerous friends who checked in on me, brought us food, offered to watch the kiddos, and sent us thoughts and prayers. God is STILL good and I DO believe He has a plan for our family and the number of children He thinks we should have. I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that I now have the same number of children in heaven as I do physically with me - I will continue to pray for those precious angels daily. Grateful for Nora and Rad this week too - they saw momma cry, a lot. And because of their joy in the small things, I was able to make it through this week.

Still trying to process all the emotions that come with a second miscarriage - especially one that seemed to drag on forever. Thank you in advance for your prayers.

March 7.
A lazy day at home while mommy tries to rest. Tea parties, costumes, chalk, and lots of books.

March 8.
We needed to get out of the house so we went to church - both looking like such big kiddos today! After church we enjoyed the spring like weather for a trip to the park. Both kiddos were exhausted and practically falling asleep at the dinner table.

March 9.
Another spring like day meant the whole morning outside. Playing at the park and the Tot Lot. Sister requested Zoes for dinner and wanted to wear her party dress.

March 10.
Started the morning with snow, so obviously we had to sit in the window and watch it. I couldn't convince them to go anywhere so we hosted the cousins for a pizza lunch date. Afternoon craft was painting pasta to look like butterflies, a trip to Target to pick out a belated birthday gift from my dad, and CFA/ice cream for dinner.

March 11.
DADDY IS FINALLY HOME!!! Yay. A trip to Storyville in the morning, Costco for a balanced lunch of hotdogs and icecream, and movie marathon that afternoon.

March 12.
Lazy day with the team. A trip to the grocery with ALL of Baltimore as we prepare for potential blizzard-like snow. Helping with chores while eating dumdums. And making homemade paleo chocolate chip cookies.

2017 - Week 9

February 27.
Started the morning off with early baths and a trip to Storyville. These two sure do love playing together. Sister has taught him all about having a "lovey", cleaning, making pretend pancakes and washing pretend dishes. Wrapped up the afternoon with a tea party.

February 28.
Spring-like weather had us excited after music class...so a trip to the park for slides and playing in mulch was in order. We painted fingernails, played with our new purse and chapstick, then took a trip to Target for a few things - brother had to have a Moana doll. Ha! They pretended to be "sleeping" on the kitchen floor while I was cooking dinner.

March 1.
Our sweet princess turned 3 years old. She hosted a cupcake decorating playdate with a few of her closest buddies. We ate too much sugar, danced around in our party dress, played with birthday goodies and celebrated this precious little girl all day.

March 2.
Took the crew to Play Cafe for an early lunch and play time. So true to their personalities...focus Nora and silly Radford. Sister is just like her daddy and is always digging for the crispy orange sticks when we snack. Playing "train" with daddy when he gets home is one of the new favorites.

March 3.
We start most days with books...this boy wont sit through an entire book. He prefers to just pull them all off the shelf instead. Visited Fort Avenue Fitness for some early morning car riding and moon-bouncing. A little dance performance from Nora before Friday night movie night complete with underwear dancing to the Sing soundtrack. Her new favorite movie...on request DAILY!

March 4.
Lazy Saturday at home. Watching movies, lounging in pjs, trying on daddy's old wrestling singlets, and making a mess of colored yogurt. These two sure do make life fun - they find complete joy in the seemingly ordinary things.

March 5.
Family breakfast picnic complete with blue heart shaped pancakes on request. Then a trip to Port Discovery. Brother was brave enough to climb the high cargo net! Pizza date afterwards to wrap up a great weekend. Love my Team Tillman.