Kids say the darndest part two...

Jake: Dad, I have good news for you!

Brian: What's that bud?

Jake: Someday, if you want to take us to the park, I will let you!

So I'm trying to be grateful.....

for the changes in our lives. As most of you probably know, Brian was laid off work 2 weeks before our little sunshine baby was born. And I had to go back to work when she was only 6 weeks old. So needless to say, the joyful arrival of our baby girl has been surrounded by some pretty stressful times in the Barnhart house. But, amidst all of that, we have seen some amazing blessings, so I am going to list them out in case some time in the (near) future I need reminding of why life could be worse...

Top 5 blessings of Brian being the stay-at-home- parent
1. He cooks alot more. I am not a good cook and even less talented at getting dinner on the table at the same time (or even close) every night. He is a very good cook and also good at reminding me that it is 6:30 and we have no idea what's for dinner.
2. He fosters the kids independence far more than I do, and they thrive on doing things themselves. Jacob and Austin can do things on their own that I never knew they could, simply because I never stopped doing it for them.
3. We finally have the opportunity to spend quality family time together, something sorely lacking all the years we have worked opposite schedules.
4. More time for house projects, too...
5. The revelation that Brian does know how to fold laundry after all. :)

Top 5 blessings of me being back at work
1. I have a job to go to, which in this economy is blessing enough in itself.
2. I work with one of my best friends, who has been an enormous amount of emotional support on those days when I just don't feel like I can make the whole balance thing work.
3. My management team has been extremely supportive as well. I can do what I want when I want and/or need to and no one questions me.
4. My kids will one day (I hope) recognize the value of my work ethic.
5. There's nothing like the feeling of being greeted at the door every day by two little boys so happy to see me they fall over themselves to get to me. (At this age Leah is only excited to see parts of me.)

Easter Pics

This was about the happiest Leah was all day...

Austin's wardrobe is never complete without a peanut butter mustache!

I have to brag...

at least just a little. For Valentine's Day we got the boys puzzles, which they loved. They were each 24 pieces, which Jake pretty much blew through and Austin did really well with (with no help from M&D for either of them). So for Easter, The Bunny brought them each another one, this time a 60 piece one for Jake and another 24 piece one for Austin. First of all, I have to say puzzle time is the only time when I go looking for them because it's too quiet, and they AREN'T in trouble. But the thing I was most amazed with, was Austin. He finished his 24 piece one in about 10 minutes, and decided he would do his brother's. It took him a little longer, but he finished a 60 piece puzzle, all by himself, at 2 1/2 years old!

My email sucks and won't let me attach any photos to send out, so for all the people I have tried to email pics to, here you go!

Austin loves to hold his sister... for about 45 seconds at a time! "Mom I'm done!"

Jake would hold her all day if I let him, and has successfully soothed her with his rendition of "M-O-M spells Mom, D-A-D spells Dad" song.

Relaxing with Dad

Sleeping in her bassinette

She loves to sleep with her back arched and her head thrown back

Leah today