Oh the Bliss!

www.fitzlife.com I won't be posting here again. Fitzlife is the website from now on. Please visit us there!

Here is the link to a new website I'm working on. Let me know what you think... You'll have to cut and paste it, I think. http://web.mac.com/sarahfitz777/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html

I'm working on something really great, you guys are going to love it! Stay tuned!!

Mark closed a big deal today that was, um, challenging to say the least. I am so proud the way he dealt with his client throughout this enitre ordeal. If anyone thinks realtors don't deserve the money they make I'd like to have them work for Mark's client for one day, heck one hour. He MORE than earned every cent of that commission. I'm just oosing with pride. To celebrate his victory, which we are giving the credit 100% to God because it was truly His grace that brought Mark though this, Mark bought himself the iPhone which he has really been wanting. AND he bought me a MacBook (a new laptop computer). Never thought I'd be into having a Mac, but with all the great stuff it does with pictures nothing else really beats it. Plus, it has a built in camera so the kids and I can chat live with Mark's parent's and sister & her family. Hopefully this will also come in handy when my big brother and his fam make their move across the pond and we'll be able to...

I had to do it. I had to break the habit little Addison had developed. It was totally an addiction, her waking up at 4 am, because I didn't think it was really a problem for the first, oh, 6 weeks. She could stop at anytime, I thought. Or rather, I could stop going to her at anytime. I was in denial, and you know that's the first sign of addiction. But over the weekend in Simi, granted we were out of her comfort zone, she was waking at 11pm AND 4am. NO THANK YOU. I had dished out enough sleeping admonishing to know it was time for me to heed my own advice. As precious as this tiny baby girl is, and man she's precious, I have plenty of time to shmoodle over her in day light hours. (Yes I made up that word.) Sunday night I said NO MORE! Luckily the layout of our house helped me with this break. Our bedroom is on one side and the kiddos rooms are on the other side. So, when 4am approached and I heard my sweet baby girl's cry for her early morning fix I flipped the switch a...

Let me reiterate the fact that my computer is gone. Yes, again. It does seem to happen to me quite a bit, I don't know why. Maybe because I get Mark's hand-me downs which I'm so not complaining about - they're perfect for the two things I do on a computer -check my email and blog. However, he uses his computers to their fullest capacity so when I get them they're usually on their way out anyway. But this one I think was new to me, so that theory really doesn't work in this case. All of this is besides the point, the point is I have yet to obtain email addresses from most of you. Mom, Carrie, Lauren and Amy Abbott are off the hook. But the rest of you, and you know who you are, MUST email me so I have your email address. I'm not asking for a message or anything, just type in my address and press send for all I care, I just need your address. I'm one blog away from naming names. (Keri Lyon.) Thank you for your time. Regular posts are to follow.

Do I have a lot to write about, so many memories to get down before they escape me, but for now the only thing that's coming to mind is: ZZZZZ ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Here are a few of the pictures that Lauren Robbins took of our Fitzpatrick side of the family. It is so great that we were all together and were able to have Lauren snap some great shots. She's for hire so let me know if you're in need of a photographer. On a sadder note, my computer is still dead; I've lost everything. There's a chance a friend of ours might be able to salvage some stuff with his mad computer skills, but until then I'm using an old one we still have. So here's the deal, each of you need to email me so that I have your email address again. If you don't email me, won't be able to contact you. In addition to your email address, if you have a blog, please send me that address as well so I can keep my addiction fed. Thank you for your help.

Addison was feeling a bit jealous of her cousin on Saturday so we gave her some rice cereal for the first time and she LOVED IT!

Here are a few of the 200+ pictures I have of the last few days. We took the boys to a great place called Travel Town where old trains are kept and kids and run all around and look at them. There's a little train there for kids to ride too, so I have a shot of that. Darren and fam arrived on Thursday and Luci is meeting Addison. Addie LOVES Luci's hair! Ben has had so much fun playing with his cousins and being so silly. The boys decided a good place to play before bedtime was Papa and Gma's bed. Here I am with sweetness herself, miss Elizabeth! I have so many more I want to post, but I miss my computer and can only do a bit at a time. Anyway... happy summer!

I believe my exact conversation with my mother-of-two neighbor was, "there is no reason why your 6 month old should still be waking up at night. He's healthy, big for his age, he just wants to see you in the middle of the night." My nearly a-6-month old, who is healthy and big for her age, apparently wants to see me in the middle of the night, every night, as well. I believe this is the time where, after taking my foot out of my mouth, I apologize to my neighbor, who ever so politley, took in my jugdmental load and smiled sweetly at me. It's as if she knew what was to come... PS. My computer is shot, a gonner. I have very limited access to my email and such. Thus the major lack in computer communication. I figure if you need something badly enough you'll to call. AND I might be calling on you to send me all the pictures I've ever sent out because I may have lost everything. Good thing I send out lots of pictures! We've been having lots of fun with our fam...

If you've read my blog for awhile now, and I think all 3 of you have, then you know I've talked a lot about how great of a sleeper Ben is. We can put him down anywhere, I'd boast. He asks to go to bed, I'd brag. He'll even sleep without his blanket, I'd say as I polished the horn I just finished tooting. Others would talk about how their kids don't go to bed until 8 or after and I'd shake my head in slight disgust. My haughty eyes have given their fare share of glances, folks, and I am here to repent! Ben has officially been denounced from his best sleeper ever title. It turns out he's just like every other kid out there when it comes to bedtime: dying of thirst, hungry - no -STARVING, too cold, acutely sensitive to light -or the lack thereof, too hot, has an insatiable desire for books - the longest ones on the shelf of course, and a never ending need to pee. His bed time moved from 7 to 7:30, but his "fall asleep" time is 9 or 9:30. Tu...

It's rifle, but in an effort to copy my grandma's words exactly, I wrote it the way she wrote it, which was riffle. Not to mock her, but to add to the humor of it all. Oh, Creasie, how we love thee. In other (much anticipated) news: Ben made his trip to the toy store, if you know what I mean . :) Oh happy day!

This is an actual excerpt from a letter my Grandma sent me today from Albany, Kentucky. (Read with thick southern drawl for full affect.) "I saw a big deer below the garden yesterday evening and I got out my riffle and shot over the garden and you should have seen that deer jump clear over the fence with no trouble at all!" Isn't that awesome!!! First, the mental picture of my grandma shooting a rifle is in and of itself - hilarious. But the fact that she can do that and not have 18 squad cars and 5 police helicopters surrounding her house is so great. I think I might have to move there.

Since Ben's b-day is the day after Christmas I've taken a liking to the idea of doing a little something special for him on his half birthday. For the past two half birthdays I've taken him to the toy store to get a new toy. However, since a trip to the toy store is the current incentive to use the potty to it's fullest extent , a trip to our local bakery sufficed and we celebrated there. He HAD to have the cupcake, which I knew he wouldn't take a single bite of (he's his father's son no doubt) and he didn't. Never fear, smart mama that I am bought his favorite little star with sprinkles and he was a happy 2 1/2 year old. Later this evening... the sneak in him broke loose. I sat him down for dinner -at the dinner table- and walked away for 2 minutes to put Addison to bed. When I came back he had decided to make himself a little more comfortable. Now I know what you're thinking (Keri) if my bed had've been made he wouldn't have felt so inclin...

... is she going to break hearts across America or what? We have been having so much fun, borderline too much fun, lately. Mark had nearly two weeks off and we managed to fill up almost every night with friends and family. LOVE IT! This summer's weather is unbelievably beautiful. Nice toasty, but not too hot, days with slightly breezy cool nights. I love California! I am so thankful for so many things right now, really, this sounds so lame and Christian cliche, but my cup is definitely running over with joy. So thankful for... ~ all of our sweet friends, every single one of them. I love that we have dear friends that we love to spend time with, and get to often. Last week we roasted marshmellows and sang songs around our little fire pit in the backyard. We were tempted to throw up a tent and call it a camp out, maybe next time. ~ Mark being the best dad to Ben and Addison. We had a very nice Father's Day and I really am so thankful for the father that Mark is. He is so loving a...

I know it's been awhile, so I'm posting just to say a quick hello. pictures and updates will abound later, but for now... we're all doing great just BUSY!

Happy Birthday Mom!! I don't know if you know this, but my mom is the best mom in the world! It was so fun getting to celebrate with her and most of the family yesterday. I've always thought my mom was a good one... then I had kids and realized she was a GREAT one. Her whole life she's exemplified qualities that I am still trying to emulate. She's a hard worker, and she's really good at what she does. She's smart, because she reads a lot and she listens to people. She believes in prayer and has covered each of her kids, and now grandkids, in prayer since our births. She's a good friend to many and best friends with only a few, she is wise in her friendships. And to top it all off, she is so beautiful! Just look at her! I love, love, love that we've had another year with her, and hope for MANY more. I love you Mom, happy birthday!

Here she is! My life has sort of been revolving around Ben for the past two weeks, as the previous post's pictures show, so I thought I'd post some pics of the little girl who has been so sweet and patient while her brother steals center stage for a bit. Being the gentle mannered, care-free and sweet natured girl that she so beautifully is, Addison has made no fuss about taking a back seat for bit. Although she is turning out to not be quite the sleeper Ben is, and was at her age, her calm demeanor makes up for the fact that she isn't going to bed as early as I'd like. Such the cuddle-bug, I often lose track of time while rocking her, not laying her down until 8:30 or later. This would've been unheard of with Ben. But I love it, I just eat it up and love it.

Only ONE accident all day! (And it was outside, so it doesn't really count... I mean, who can break away from watching the garbage truck to go potty?) I'm really proud of Ben. He had a much better attitude today and really made this so not as hard as I thought it was going to be. So now he's in a big boy bed, wearing boy boy undies and using big boy words, (today I asked him a question and he said "I suppose") is there no stopping my growing boy? He'll be two and a half on the 26th of this month. Somebody please tell me, where does the time go?

Not the most fun I've ever had, but better than I expected. Ben is an interesting case because he doesn't conform to anybodies desires except his own and he doesn't like focused attention. What that means is this; he won't go if you tell him too (so no "set the timer and go every 10 minutes" plan) and he starts crying if you get too excited too soon (so no throwing a party or singing a special song either.) What finally seemed to work pretty well was bare buns and a bit of cookie. Oh, and he did want to call Elmo and tell him, so he did that once, thank you Jason. So here's to day 2!

I got Ben to eat all of his fish for dinner by promising him more SPINACH. That's right, spinach. All Marks doing, folks, all Mark.

I never knew how much one boy could grow in one week until we finished up this last one and thought, wow, who is this big boy? A few times I thought my heart might literally burst with pride and love and joy at everything Ben was saying and doing - he just seemed so BIG to me. At the same time my heart ached a bit. Seeing him lay in his toddler bed, watching him ride a horse, laughing to myself when he told me to "shut the door loud, mom" when he sat on the toilet for the first time and wanted some privacy. I sort of bit my lip in front of Mark the other night after we closed Ben's door, not putting him in a crib for the first time made my throat tighten with a held in cry. It really does feel like just last week we were putting him into his crib for the first time, and now we're taking him out. Mark kept reassuring me that this is good, this is what is supposed to happen. Ben was a baby, now he's not, that's sort of the point of life - to grow. I think Ben f...

Addison was introduced to some fun family members this week : Aunt Pam (yes, her skin is really that beautiful in person. She's gorgeous.) Uncle Darren (who she sort of looks like she belongs too) Auntie Karrie (a cousin on Mark's side really, but Auntie works for us.) and fun-loving cousins Will and Kate!! What a week! It's been so beautiful everyday so we've spent hours and hours outside. Ben had a BLAST with his cousins, especially William who is just a few months older than him. They played so well together. Mark made the comment, as he, Karrie and myself sat on a blanket watching the kids, that it seems like just yesterday it was their parents sitting on a blanket watching them play. Time surely speeds up as we get older, it blows me away how fast it goes by. It was a special treat having Darren and Pam here for a conference conveniently just a few miles from our house. We got to see them, sadly no kids and no Settlers, but they are always so f...

I may have mentioned this before, but I need to jot it down again for myself.... One of my favorite times of the day is just after the kids are down for the night and I go around and collect all the toys Ben missed during his clean-up/play with all the toys you've brought out during the day time. I love these few moments for three reasons: 1.)It's so quiet. Not a lonely quiet, a peaceful quiet. 2.) It reminds me of how much fun Ben's life is and how much fun my life is because of him. 3.) It's evidence that I have kids. Little bits of proof that Mark and I have been blessed in a way that many people long for. I might complain about vacuuming (nothing has changed, mom) and mopping, but picking up toys - I think - will always be done with a little smile on my face. That's all. Just want to remember this.

I feel like I have a lot to be thankful for and I don't want to forget it all, so here it is, a throw back to the "thankful list" ~Pinky Harper and her husband who graciously watch Ben for me 2 Tuesday nights a month so I can help lead a bible study at a shelter for women with unplanned pregnancies (Casa Teresa). I have been praying for this opportunity for over a year but couldn't find a sitter for Ben and now Addison. I can't afford to pay someone that frequently, and an every other week and FREE commitment is seemingly a lot to ask of anyone... but the Lord provided. The really neat thing is this: I went the the study one time last year and although I really wanted to be there I found myself feeling awkward, uncomfortable, inadequate and I had nothing to say. This time around I've felt completely at ease. I've been able to connect with the girls where I didn't think possible and our conversations felt led instead of forced. Just goes to show that Go...

Ben smiled for a picture!! And what a cute smile it is... Love my kids!

The dress that Addison is wearing was made by my mom for me when I was a baby. This is one reason I'm thankful for having a little girl... for moments like this. P.S. Doesn't my mom look beautiful!

We had a very nice Mother's Day up in Simi with Mark's mom. Ben made me a very special card, he actually gave it too me on Saturday because I walked in on him making it and he was too excited to hide it for a day. I feel so blessed to be a mom. My favorite moments are when the four of us are together and I breathe a little easier knowing -for now- we're all under the same roof. Nothing is for certain and having my kids forever isn't guaranteed (or even the plan). But man, when the four of us roll around and wrestle and laugh and play and snuggle and just be together - that fills my heart like nothing this world can ever offer me. I'm so thankful that this is where God wants me in life, in this moment, with these two kids and this husband. As selfish as this is, I pray that God keeps me in this for many years to come. I don't think it can get much better than this.

Sitting pretty in her perch. I love the curly bath hair, wish it stayed like that after it dries. This picture is so funny to me, it doesn't even look like her. I think Ben is looking at her like "who is this crazy girl making the funny face?" Love the dimples though.

There was a triple fatal car accident on the freeway just miles from my house. A woman was driving with her three kids and their grandmother. All three kids died. It wasn't her fault, she was rear-ended by a semi. She was driving a van just like mine. My mom left me a message saying how scared and sad she was because she instantly thought of me. She knew it wasn't me and the kids, but it just hit close to home for her, and probably for every mother of a mother out there. Someone forwarded one of those "thankful for moms" emails which I usually don't read, but this paragraph caught my eye; "What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time? Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time? The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from ...

So little in that big bed! My sweet friend Amanda made the adorable blanket and pillow for me, and she's in the middle of making the bumper for me too. I love my crafty friends! PS. The garden is officially planted. Wow, this is going to be interesting to say the least.

I gon'dun planted me a garden! That's right folks, Fitzpatrick Farms will soon be up and running. I'd like to note that the truck and rake in this photo were used by Farmer Ben to help Mark with the diggin'. Also notice the luscious pumpkin plants we already have blooming. The plot might not look like much now, but by the end of this weekend we'll have planted all of the following (and I'm not making this up. This is what happens when Mark goes to the nursery for me. I love it!!): Watermelon, strawberries, eggplant, corn, spinach, lettuce, two different types of onion, carrots, three different types of tomato, cucumbers, squash, pepperoncinnis, jalapenos, basil, bananamelon (yes, I said bananamelon), some other kind of melon I can't think of the name of, soybeans, peas, and a pepper Ben picked out called chocolate something or other. I think that's everything. Laugh if you will, but come harvest time you'll be lining up for a salad fresh from our ga...

New Glasses for me, woohoo! This girl has a smile that will break hearts across America someday. Oh Ben, you are so fun. Dirty, silly, messy loads of fun. Is purple her color or what? No cavities and and new glasses! Yippee for me! I was dreading going to the dentist... I thought for sure I'd have cavities. If I have less than 5 I'll be happy is what I thought walking in the door. But look at me! Cavity free! I took Addison with me, something I would've never dreamt of doing with my 0-60 boy. She showed off her adorable self to everyone, staying sweet and content the entire time. Man I love this little girl.

Addison is asleep in her very own room. I miss her already.

POLISHING MEMORIES I have no time to sweep the floor. The piano collects dust like never before. The wastebaskets are full; there are marks on the wall. The telephone’s ringing - - - can’t take any calls. I’m sitting here rocking my tiny new son. Closing my eyes to the days work not done. I know from experience the future becomes past. These moments are treasures; I want them to last. Long after he’s grown I’ll sit in this chair and feel the soft touch of his baby fine hair. I’ll rock by this window till the first star appears, polishing the memories of my childbearing years. ~Patricia W. Hiscock This poem has been framed and sitting on my parent's piano for, I dunno, 15 years at least. There was a few years there, believe it or not, that I dabbled in the fine art of piano playing. I think I realized, however, that piano playing wasn't for me when I'd play in recitals not to show off what I had learned but for the creme puffs my teacher served afterwards. It wasn't that...

Here's a throw back to the Guest Speaker bit from the days of old. My sweet friend Ali is here tonight hanging with me and the kids while Mark is away for the weekend. So far we've had a very productive day. It's very nice being friends with an OCD case. (She told me I could write that.) We've done 5 loads of laundry, cleaned out the play room, re-did Ben's room and picked up everything that's been sitting around oh, forever. We've decided that I need a little bit more of her in me and she needs a little/A LOT of me in her. (Again, she told me I could write that.) Honestly though, Ali is dear to my heart. A faithful, kind, and generous friend whom I'm so thankful I've gotten to know much better over the last year or so. She LOVES our kids and they know it. It warms my hear to see her with them. I am extremely thankful for her friendship. So, without further ado... Ali's Thankful list... ~ the Fitzpatrick family. (hee hee, that's me) ~ church ...

... she writes me notes like this one... "every time you say to me, "Mom you'd be so proud of me....." (about something you have done or are doing)..... In my mind I am thinking, "My dear, sweet daughter, I ALREADY AM SO PROUD OF YOU!!!" And I am proud of her, too.

There is a spot on the female body which only appears after child birth that I'll refer to as the ARB or Automatic Rocking Button. The ARB allows a mother to sit with a crying, fussing, sickly or simply a cuddly baby for extended periods of time and rock, back and forth, back and forth, keeping a steady pace and rhythm while both child and mother are sound asleep. Addison abuses my ARB.

I forgot D. I did it, it was my fault. I'm sure every mother at one point forgets their child's blanket, bear, pacifier etc. right? We went to a friend's house, a place Ben had never been, with the intention of putting him to bed there. Easy enough, we've done it a thousand times before in various locations and we've never had a problem, but (and this is a big 'but') we've always had D. We didn't realize D's absence until bedtime, of course, and I sort of panicked. I was ready to drive home and get it, but Mark was confident Ben would be fine, he is, after all, a grade A sleeper. Lorin offered us a makeshift D. Yeah right, I thought, she obviously doesn't know the gravity D holds in Ben's life. I took it anyway, just to be nice. We did everything as normal. Pjs on, cup of milk, sing a song, say a prayer and put him in the pack-n-play. All was calm until his head hit the pillow. This is it, I thought, his entire sense of security stems fro...

(Stop me if I've written this before...) At the risk of jinxing this phenomenon (because I'll take good parking karma when I can get it) I have to share this somewhat frustrating/somewhat fantastic fact of my life: Where is the only parking spot when I have my kids with me at Trader Joe's? The furthest spot from the store, of course. Where is the only parking spot when I DON'T have my kids? Front row, every time. Every. Time. It kills me.

Besides Christ raising from the dead, and I'm not making small of that by any means, but besides his raising I think I found the other major reason for the season... Easter DRESSES! Nana and Papa Dan made a lovely addition, and a lovely breakfast, for our Easter morning. Favorite picture to date, I think. Oh no she didn't - OH YES I DID! How could I resist? Didi and Gma made a lovely addition, and a lovely dinner, for our Easter evening! This weekend was wonderful. We went to a fantastic Good Friday service at Mariners then we had my parents, Carrie and the kids and the Caruanas over for dinner. The thought that kept running through my head as I reflected on what Christ did on the cross was 'he did this for ME. And if I were the only one, he'd still do it for ME.' A sobering thought crossed my mind during the church service; if i were the only one on earth then I would've been the one to nail Jesus to the cross. As I thought about that it's as if I felt...