Late Night Thoughts

I have sat here procrastinating long enough- so I should at least make my procrastination worth while, right? I sat here trying to change my blog background to something cute and completely messed it all up- ugh! So this one will have to do for now- did you know that "they" will show you a super cute *free* template, then charge you for all the extra cute things?! No thanks.

As I rocked Owen a few minutes ago, I was thinking about how much I love love love being a mom and having family. Not just my own immediate little family- although that IS the greatest blessing I have ever received, right below the grace and mercy of my Savior and salvation- but my WHOLE family- ancestors, grandparents, cousins, parents, brother. How amazing that He loves us enough to give us family and to experience that love here on earth. So here is a quick list of several of the things I love about my family:

1. I love that our names have historical family significance. I have always loved that I can link my name back generations of the ones who lived before me. "Lindsey" was my great-grandmother's (mom's grandmother- mom's side) maiden name. There is a country song out that talks of where this guy lives- "mamas give their babies their grandmother's maiden names". This is me. "Grace" was my other great-grandmother's name (dad's grandmother- mom's side). "Robert"- this is Jared's mom and stepdad's last name AND (double-whammy) a family name on dad's side (his younger brother is Robert *Uncle Bob*). Now, "Miles" was a name Jared and I both agreed on long before Miles was even in the world. But- once we knew we were having a boy, my grandmother (dad's mom) informed us that it was indeed also a family name! My great, great (keep going) grandfather was Miles Crocker. He fought in the Civil War- and there is a rather humorous story about how he got out of continuing to fight in the war, but that's for another time. "Owen" is from my great-grandfather (mom's grandfather- dad's side). "James" is Jared's middle name, Dad's name, Clif's middle name, Jared's grandfather, and on and on and on...

2. I love that we live here close to our parents. Over the past week, we have seen my parents at least half a dozen times and Jared's mom and stepdad at least twice. Miles has spend the night with my parents, spent an entire day with Jared's, and will probably do at least that next week, too! I love that I was disappointed that we won't be able to celebrate Father's Day with them this year. They will both be out of town! I am so glad that we will be able to have a special family time, though, and be able to celebrate JARED!

3. I love that being a mom has made me want to be a better person. I have always been a little prideful in how "good" I have been over the course of life...this has definitely been the biggest struggle and point of sin in my life. But being a mom has definitely brought the light out and shone it deep into my heart and made me truly evaluate why and how I do the things I do. There's nothing like a sweet little two year old causing you to display more patience- one thing I always thought I had plenty of!!

4. I love my relationship with my little brother. Clif and I have always had a great friendship. We are as different as two people can be- I would LIKE to think we would be friends even if we weren't related- but as time has moved forward, I have realized that my brother may have been too cool to be my friend, or vice-versa... But we are siblings and for that I am so grateful. He has met this amazing woman on his journey to the Big Apple, and I can not wait for life to happen for them and for Lauren and I to have a great relationship and friendship the way I have with Clif. I have always had a little tinge of jealousy over my mom's relationship with her two sisters- so I will be so happy when I can say that I have one of my own!

5. I love old pictures of my family. The ones that show grandparents as young couples and my parents as little kids. Especially when I can look at those and see the happiness in those young people's eyes that brought us to this point in time, or my kid's features and similarities to those before us! I have a pile of these that I have great hopes for framing and hanging in our home. And when I see them in family members houses- I just need to grab them up and copy them!! In the "seeing and doing" of life- I'm better at the "seeing"- I'm working on the "doing"!

Well that's all for now- but of course a post wouldn't be worthwhile without a couple of pictures, now would it?!

Jared, Miles, and Owen at my cousin Allison's wedding Memorial Day weekend.

I was drying my hair and this was how I found my boys:

made my heart so happy!

A New Adventure...and a couple of pics...

okay seriously---someone tell me how to get these pictures to the BOTTOM of my post!!

Owen is "listening to Miles tummy". I see dr's in my future!

family pic before a date night! love the grandparents for keeping my babies!

Well, Jared and I have started out on a new "adventure", if you will??? Jared, over the past year or so, has wanted to try ordering ALL things online, like from Amazon, rather than going to Wal-Mart. Well I was definitely NOT sold on this- b/c most things you buy off of Amazon were in bulk- RIDICULOUS for us right now! Maybe in a few years when we have more kids and they are older and we are consuming ridiculous amounts of toilet paper, shampoo, etc...(b/c I live with three boys- toilet paper- and b/c my boys are very particular about their hair...)

But recently a good friend of mine who I taught with in Greensboro, Kristie, introduced me to a company that encourages moms to stay home with their kids (a BIG plus for me), helps enable you to be on track to debt-free living (HUGE in our society), and is partnered with a company that has eco-friendly products (definitely a plus with kiddos around- plus everyone is going green these days!) So I've just placed my online order for my new cleaning products. Wouldn't you like more info on this?! Leave a comment and I'll send you some info and we can set up a time to talk! I'll try to document my successes with my new "adventure"!

Here are FIVE points to consider when you are searching for work from home:

1. How long has the company been in business and what is their track record?

2. How much does it cost to get started and is it fully refundable?

3. How are you required to build your business? Will you need to buy inventory, host parties, take orders, and deliver products?

4. What kind of products are you going to sell? How often will your customers purchase something?

5. What kind of support and training will you receive?

These are all valid, important questions to ask yourself when you are searching for a home based business. There are many companies to choose from with great products. However, there are some key differences that will ultimately determine how successful you can be with that company.

I'd like to answer these 5 questions as it relates to our business.

1. Our company has been in business for 25 years and has received numerous awards over the years. They are completely debt free and currently expanding their business while other companies are struggling in the current economy.

2. It costs $29 to get started and is fully, 100% refundable.

3. We DO NOT host parties, carry inventory, take orders, make deliveries, etc. All we do is open customer accounts.

4. We promote basic necessity products that are all eco-friendly and healthier and our customers shop every month for the basic items they need for their own family.

5. Our team provides you with a tremendous amount of support and training that will allow you to build your business truly, completely from home.

You can visit me online at www.internetceomoms.com/lgdarby and click "Get Info Now!" We have an informational webcast that you can view and listen to in order to get all the details. There is never any pressure. We would love to share all the information with you and answer all your questions so that you can see if our business and team is right for you.

Owen James is here!

(((((okay you blogger-smarties...i think i need a "blogging for dummies" book- i can't get my pictures below my text...so while it bugs me- i don't have time to sit here and figure it out =) if anyone wants to send me a tutorial....thanks! =))))))

my two sweet boys!

Owen in his little brother onesie from Sara!

first family pic- and, yes, I did bribe Miles with M&Ms to get him to sit by me!

above Owen's crib

Well, world, Owen James Darby made his appearance February 18, 2010 at 12:17 p.m. He was 8 lbs, 7 oz and 21 1/4" long. He has been such a wonderful addition to our family- although it's only been 2 weeks (tomorrow), I really can't remember life without him! It has been so amazing watching Miles adjust to life with his little brother. He is very protective of him and, so far, has been nothing but sweet and loving to him! Of course there have been plenty of "moments", as with any two year old- but they have only been directed at me or Jared- ha ha!

Seeing the differences between my two boys has been the neatest thing yet, though! Physically, Owen is bigger (a whole 2 pounds- which, for those of you without kids in your life, is a huge difference in newborns!) His eyes are a little lighter than Miles', but I do think they'll turn dark like his. The biggest difference, though, is all the HAIR Owen has! A head full of dark brown (and sportin' the mullet in the back) hair- very unlike Miles! Miles had his first (real) haircut right before his second birthday! Owen was two days old and needed a trim! (Of course I can't bring myself to cut my baby's hair yet, though! It will probably be a while!) And Miles' hair is still blonde! A little darker in the winter, but he's definitely still a blondie in my eyes!

I could go on and on about the things that are different between them- because there are so many! But isn't that what makes the world go 'round?! Praise the Lord!

Well, I have sat here long enough- both of the boys are down for naps, so I think I'll take advantage of this opportunity and sneak a little catnap in myself! Soccer season is up and going strong again, so Jared is super-busy with that! I need all the rest I can get right now! We have some long days ahead of us! But this is my second full day of just the three of us and everything has gone great so far! (**knock on wood**)

A New Year

Happy New Year!

It has already proven to be a great 2010 at the Darby household! We have been thoroughly enjoying our time at home the past week- one great thing about government jobs- you have major holidays off and usually the governor gives the day before or after off, too, for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years! So Jared only had to take 3 vacation days and has been off work for a week and a half! Of course that time has been spent traveling to Canton/Madison/Brandon to see my extended family, Batesville to see Jared's dad and stepmom and stepsister, and here at home enjoying time with our parents and just being at home- getting ready to add a new little one to the mix of things! We have literally played fruitbasket turnover with our bedrooms, so there has been a lot of moving of furniture- and unfortunately for Jared and Dad (maybe Clif if he's lucky while he's here)- more to come this week as I am forever changing my mind! And as Jared has been so quick to tell me each time, our house is abnormal in that it has 16 stairs rather than the average 14 most homes have! I guess those 2 stairs make a difference! I'm not the one having to move the stuff!

Baby Owen James will be here within the next 6-7 weeks! Everything is still going along just fine...I am just ready to have this new little one here! We have LOTS of babies arriving alongside Owen...between church and other friends, I think I have counted a total of 11 arriving between now and this summer! What a wonderful season of life!

We have every intention of calling the baby "Owen", however, everytime Miles speaks of his brother, he refers to him as "Owen James"- so I may get my double-named baby after all! Miles knows where Owen's bed is...and that's about all he speaks of- but so far it has been said lovingly each time! We know his little world is going to rock in a few weeks- but he's still so young that he won't remember life without his little brother! Praise the Lord!

I will put just a couple pictures for now and will try to come back and add a few more later- but Jared is sitting here waiting on me to go to church! Ah!

Miles and his favorite character of the season- Snoopy. If we watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas" once...we watched is 1,542 times!!

Jared and I at some point over the holidays!