What, I have a blog???

I am sitting here laughing hysterically because I got onto our blog for the first time in over a year (I know, that is embarrassing), and almost every recent blog starts off with an apology or excuse for why I haven't blogged in a while.  No excuses this time.  As Josh would say, excuses are like buttholes-everyone has one and they all stink!

So what have the Shea's been up to? The usual helter skelter, hold on by the seat of your pants lifestyle.  Two parents working full time, raising two crazy boys, do I need to explain further? For the sake of this blog, yes.  The new goal is that I will go through pictures from the previous year and a half and try to create posts about them (hopefully the pictures will help me remember what has went on because as of right now, I don't remember much).  

Also, I feel that now Bruin has more than made his mark in our family, it isn't fair for the blog to just be named after Blayze.  So, the new blog name is...... Two Shea.  Here's to hoping I don't get on here a year from now and realize I haven't posted a dang thing about the exciting things going on in the boys' lives!

Bi-Annual Post

With coffee in hand I have decided that I need to dedicate an ounce of my time today to catching everyone up on our blog.  I called this the "Bi-Annual Post" because I feel that is about how often I have allowed my self to pull out of blog slack mode and post.  So this may be lengthy, apologies in advance, but the main reason for this blog is to let people know what has been happening in the "Crazy Days with Blayze".  

After returning to work from my maternity leave, life went into fifth gear and took off faster than I was really prepared for.  Having two children is most definitely different than having one.  Would I do things different? NO! However, my chaotic work schedule, baby blues, and trying to keep up around the house made that era of this year a blur.  So, I will start with the very beginning of summer break.

Once a year, I make a trip to southern Oregon to reunite with my best friends, Keshia and KaLeigh.  This year I was blessed to be able to take the entire family with!  We left on a Thursday afternoon and made it to Portland, where we stayed with our friend Cameron and his wonderful girlfriend Kaytlynn.  They had the cutest little dog named Gizmo, who Blayze had an absolute blast playing with.  Josh was able to hit up Mt. Hood for a little snowboarding with Cameron.  On Friday, we visited the Portland Zoo.  Blayze had never been to the zoo before, so I was very excited to experience this with him.  Josh was a negative nancy about the whole thing at first.  Didn't know why we would want to just go look at a bunch of animals, but guess who was taking the longest and most pictures? The Polar Bear was probably all of our families favorite thing at the zoo.  He was flipping in the water and playing with a 55 gallon barrel.

Cameron, Blayze, and Gizmo

Polar Bear

   
After the zoo, we headed further south to Glendale.  Keshia and Ryan just built a new home this previous year, so we stayed there for the next three days.  It is such a wonderful thing to watch my son play with my best friends' sons.  Keshia has Knox, 2 and KaLeigh has Lochlan who just turned 1 right after we visited.  Bruin just observed all of the playing.  Saturday, Keshia's parents held a delicious barbeque at their house and we were able to catch up with old friends.  The kids played, the adults conversed, and we all were full of great food and drinks. Sunday, we headed up to the lake where we used to spend the summer when I was younger.  The boys boated and boarded, and us ladies and Bruin soaked up some sun on the beach.  That evening we were able to head to Wolf Creek for a wonderful Father's Day dinner with Ryan's family.  This sadly led to our last night at the Owens' residence.  The next morning we packed up and were headed north. Every year it is hard to leave my bestie, but I hold onto that year's great memories until the next ones can be made.  I was just so happy all of our families were finally together at once.  

The boys going on a Ranger ride

Monday morning we were in the car once again on a mission to get to the ocean.  After a little car issues we eventually rolled into Seaside, Oregon.  Our condo was literally just a couple yards from the beach.  Josh and the boys had never been to the ocean before, so the best part of this day was watching the reaction once we were down playing on the beach.  We played for a bit, then headed to dinner, and passed out with full bellies and tired feet.  Tuesday morning we went back down to the beach and played as long as we could until we needed to check out of the condo.  Let's just say I felt bad for the housekeeper because we probably left a yard of sand in that condo.  Oops! Coming home with us was a bucket full of sand dollars.

Daddy and Blayze

Mommy, Bruin, and Blayze

Well, duty calls...Bruin is hungry and Blayze claims he is hungry too (he just ate a huge breakfast).  I will try to get on here and finish our summer summary, but no promises.

Big Brother!

Bruin arrived on 2/11/12 at 8:07 a.m.  He weighed 6 pounds 11 ounces and was 20 inches long.  It was a long labor, but worth every minute of it! Now Blayze is a proud big brother.

  Josh and I were very nervous that Blayze was not going to react well to having a new brother because whenever anyone asked him about having a brother he would say he wasn't going to have one, or that he didn't want one.  When I asked Blayze why he didn't want a brother, he would tell me he didn't want to share his toys.  I tried to explain to him that Bruin wouldn't want to play with his toys because he would be too little, but Blayze didn't understand, or should I say he didn't "want" to understand.
 It was the sweetest thing in the world and very rewarding as a parent to see how excited Blayze was when he first set eyes on his new little companion.  He just stared at him and smiled. 

  After getting home with Bruin, which was the best feeling in the world, Blayze came home and our family was complete.  Blayze was so gentle and caring with Bruin.  He whispers to him when he talks.  One day, I caught Blayze bending down to Bruin and saying, "Hi Bruin. I am your brudder.  You are Bruin."  Blayze also jumps on any opportunity to help us out with Bruin.  He loves to retrieve the binky for us.  
 Josh did not want to have anymore children after Blayze.  I knew that I would never only settle for one simply because I believe children should be able to experience having a sibling.  I cannot imagine how boring my life would have been or still would be if I did not have my sisters.  I did not want my child to miss out on the unique relationship a child forms with their brother/sister.  The best present I feel we could have ever given Blayze is Bruin.  I feel so blessed that I have two little boys who can grow, learn, play, and experience life together.  

We Heart the Snow!

As many of you already know, our family LOVES the snow.  While many people moaned and groaned about the recent flux of snow, the Shea family was jumping for joy.  Yes, even the Prego was happy to see it!  The first morning after it snowed I had Blayze peek out his bedroom window to see what had arrived over night.  He was so excited and couldn't stop talking about going outside to be in the snow.  With a little explanation that we need to get out of our p.j.s first, he was as patient as any two-year-old could be about something they really want to do.  

On Friday we were given a Snow Day, so Blayze and Mommy got a lot of things accomplished in the house, then it was out to play in the afternoon.  Daddy was cold from working outside all day, so we let him go get warmed up while we built our first snowman together.

Blayze was great help with putting the carrot nose on and rolling in the snow while mom formed the snowman's body.  When it was time to go inside we spent about fifteen minutes rolling to the house (Blayze was doing all of the rolling, I wouldn't have been able to get up!) and eating snow, while Mommy was begging him not to eat the snow.

Onto another little tidbit about the snow....Blayze has been spoiled this year by his daddy and his been snowboarding four times already.  He is getting comfortable on his own board, and Josh is getting a great workout chasing after him.  Josh is teaching him how to turn now, so that he can stop himself while flying down the hill.  This will help in eliminating the leash.  It is fun and entertaining to watch Blayze zoom down the hill while giggling the entire time.  Hopefully the snow keeps flying so Blayze and Josh can ride together some more. This last Sunday, Blayze and I went out to my Mom and Steve's house so Blayze could ride the "Kitty Cat".  Our cousin Colton Isbell had a mini snowmobile when he was younger and Nama and Papa Steve bought it for the boys.  Blayze would not push the throttle when it was just my Mom and I out with him, so my mom got quite the workout pinning the throttle and then chasing after the sled.  When Josh and Steve got back from snowmobiling, Josh took Blayze back out to ride the mini sled.  This time Blayze would push the throttle a little more on his own.  He still hasn't stopped talking about snowmobiling since Sunday!  Well, we hope that you snow lovers have also been enjoying the snow, and you snow haters will just know that it will be over before you know it!

Snowboarding with Daddy

Blayze has been snowboarding with Josh 4 times already this winter. He is riding his own board, and Josh usually has a leash in him so he doesn't just fly down the mountain. Goomie, Gramps, and I went with them on New Year's Day to watch. We had a great day watching the itty-bitty-boarder! Here is a pic of Blayze ready to head up the mountain.

A Very Merry Christmas

Christmas always has been my favorite holiday, and now that I have my own little family to celebrate with, I love it even more!  This honestly was probably the best Christmas I have ever had; not that past Christmas's have been bad.  I think it was just the joy and thankfulness of being able to spend it with most of our family (Josh's sisters weren't home along with his other distant family), the great mood and spirit everybody had, and watching Blayze enjoy every minute of it.

We start Christmas with a tradition that I have had since I was a baby, and that is going to Goomie and Gramps' house (my dad's parents) for Christmas Eve.  There were 22 adults and 12 children (not counting Shea baby).  It is loud and a little crazy, but all we have ever known on Christmas Eve! Here is a pic of all of the kids minus Jetter Bug because he was sick and puking most of the night.

After we get home from Goomie and Gramps' we let Blayze open up his "big" present from Josh and I.  This summer his Auntie Paulette got him started on the "Thomas the Train" sets.  They are cool because you can buy track and equipment to add to the existing track.  We found a crane that is remote control that is part of the set.  His name is Cranky the Crane.  Blayze was very excited....Josh was too, so much that he set it up that night so Blayze could play with it first thing in the morning.

Christmas morning we have Dad, Becky, Gabrial, Goomie, Gramps, Barb, Nick, Mom, Steve, Lexie, Jaemen, Jaxson, Jett, and D.J. out to our house for presents and breakfast.  Blayze was so excited for everyone to come play with his new toys.  Santa brought Blayze a backhoe and truck to haul it.  That is what he asked for every time you asked him what he wanted Santa to bring.  Breakfast was great and present time was a little hectic, but nothing out of the ordinary with that many people crammed into our little living room.  I feel so blessed that our family's get along and can come together as one to celebrate Christmas together in one place.  We started this Christmas morning tradition last year with being in the new house, and I hope it continues for years to come.  Here are some pictures from that part of the day.

Christmas afternoon we went to my Dad and Becky's for a very laid back and delicious dinner.  Played a little Just Dance 3 with my sisters and stepmom, laid around a lot, and enjoyed spending a quiet afternoon together with family.  At one point in the day Blayze said, "Do it again!"  Josh asked, "Do what again?" Blayze excitedly exclaimed, "PRESENTS!!!" We explained that he would have to wait for his birthday.  I hope that everyone else had a wonderful Christmas spent with someone they love.  Merry Christmas to all from the Shea's!





New Year's Resolution!

Talk about procrastination! I feel horrible that it has taken me this long to create a new post.  I am making one of my New Year's Resolutions early...blog more.  It has been about four months since my last post, but I feel like it has been a year because of how busy and hectic it has been.  I am truly scared for the hustle and bustle of two children and the work schedule I have right now, but God only gives us what we can handle....right (fingers crossed)?  So here are some updates of what has been and is going on.

Shea Baby is going to be a BOY!  Most of you probably already knew that, but for the new followers I figured it was an important piece of information.  I would like to say that this pregnancy has been easier than the last because I haven't ran into my wonderful friend Pre-eclampsia yet, but it really hasn't been very fun.  This baby likes to make frequent stops on my sciatic nerve, move all of the time (mostly at night), cause me to have the worst possible varicose veins a woman could have (in places I didn't even know possible!), more morning sickness, a discrimination towards Mexican food, an under active thyroid, and overactive emotional hormones. BUT would I trade all of those symptoms for anything other than having this precious baby, NO!  That is what makes us women truly crazy.  Baby is due February 24th, and I will be taking six weeks off of work after I have the baby.  No names yet.  Josh and I have a very hard time agreeing on a name that we both like. 

Blayzer!!! A whole lot of two-year-old!  I know I say it all of the time, but I truly have the best little boy ever.  He rarely throws a fit, and if he does it isn't the scary ones you hear other people describing.  He just recently moved into his "Big Boy" bed.  He doesn't even try to get out of it!  His vocabulary grows everyday and we have no problem communicating with him at all.  He just went to the ENT doctor to get his breathing problem checked out and it is more than likely just the usual enlarged adenoids, so we are trying a nasal spray first to see if it will help keep the inflammation down.  This was great news because I expected we would have to get them out right away, and wasn't quite ready to take that feat on with the new baby's due date vastly approaching.  It is snowboarding season and the little guy has went twice on his own board!!!  I haven't been able to go up there yet to watch, but Daddy says he just flies right down the mountain and loves every second of it.  This morning when he got up (it snowed a skiff last night) he looked out the window and said, " we go on the mountain soon!"  He will be riding better than me by next year!  Mr. Boo Bear is very busy all of the time and enjoys playing with his cousins whenever he can.  Our one and only thing we need to work on with him is eating more.  He is very picky, but it is just payback from when Josh was little because he was the same way.

Dozer...the new puggle we got in August, has made himself right at home.  He is definitely all boy and will be getting fixed very soon.  Blayze and Dozer have a love/hate relationship. They start out having a fun wrestling match, and then someone always ends up getting hurt (Blayze). 

Well I have a little boy who is wanting some breakfast, so I am signing off for now.  Here are some pics from the last few months.  Have a Merry Christmas everybody!!!

Wrestling with his cousins

Using the Potty

Happy Halloween!

A tuckered out little mouse