Onward and Upward! :-)

So it has been a trying couple of months to say the least but I have to say, I am feeling a bit more at piece about our family situation. Things may not always go as we have planned, as I am finding out the hard way but it doesn't necessarily mean it's always a bad thing. I believe that everything happens for reasons and there is something much greater out there for my children and I!

This past week, I traveled to MI with all three kids and my wonderful babysitter Katie! Katie has become part of our family, and I truly thank god for her coming into our lives! She is a true blessing! The 11 hour drive was great. The kids are born travelers and with each having their very own goody bags we were good to go! :-) We left early Saturday morning, about 4:30 a.m. and arrived at my moms about 3:30 in the afternoon! The kids were so excited to see Grandma Billie and Papa Wayne! Not to mention Gee Gee as well! I think between her and my mom, both were overwhelmed with joy to see all of us together! A little later my sister Sally and Audrey made it over along with Uncle Mike, Aunt Sara, Uncle Dave and Great Aunt Joyce and Uncle Ron. It was a great way to end a long day of travel! Plus this was the first time my mom had all of her grandchildren together for her to see! :-) From there we headed over to my Aunt Kim's for a couple days so the kids could play with her and see their cousins Wyeth and Mckenna! It really was a great week, filled with lots of family and friends! I was able to get out a couple nights to spend some much needed girl time with great friends and my sisters! I missed out on a few of you, but plan on returning in August to catch up with those I missed! :-)

We are now getting into the heat of Summer here in VA. The kids and I have been spending allot of time at the pool and Katie helps me out a couple days a week. I have also launched a Fan Page on Facebook for my photography under Heather Shea Photography and I have a new blog as well for my photography business. The address is http://heather-sheaphotography.blogspot.com/

I am really getting excited about doing more photo shoots for people! I love taking photos and capturing real, raw moments! I am also hard at work, getting my stuff together to go back to school in the fall. I need to get some general studies out of the way, but once that is done I am applying to the Dental Hygienist Program. I'm hoping to be able to apply by next spring, so wish me luck! :-)

Thank you to all my wonderful family and friends who have been so supportive of me and my kids through this very difficult time. I feel I have been given a second chance at a new me, and I am taking full advantage of it! I am truly lucky to have the beautiful children I do and for the marriage I once had. Now it's time for a new beginning, and I am so looking forward to the possibilities!

Here are a few photos of our vacation! Enjoy!

A little cake, allot of fun, a little host who turned one!

I can hardly believe that Lola is turning one this Wednesday! This year has been filled with lots of joy and lots of sorrow! What a difference a year can make, right?! This past weekend we celebrated Lola's 1st Birthday with family and friends! It was a beautiful day filled with swimming and laughing! :-) Lola is very independent and has a smile that melts your heart! She still isn't walking on her own but I don't think it will be too much longer now before she gets up and takes off! :-)

I'll post more soon on the family, but for now here are some photos from the party! Enjoy! :-)

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

This is probably one of the hardest posts I have had to write. When they say, "Life is a journey" they mean it! Life is full of beautiful moments and sad moments, and this has been a very sad time in our lives. For those of you who don't know what's going on with us, I am finally able to share with you that Zach has asked me for a divorce. I wish I had an explanation for this sudden move on his part, but I do not. He can't even explain it to me. He feels that he can no longer try to be the husband I need or want. He feels that in 20 years we will not have anything in common and it's best if we go our separate ways now. Now, this being said I am far from perfect. I admit my faults and it takes two people to make a marriage work. But the two people who made that commitment to one another have to be willing to do the work. I have asked to seek counseling together and this has been rejected over and over again. I myself am in counseling and I am working on myself so I can be the best mother to my three beautiful children, they are what matter most to me! I do not want this to reflect poorly on Zach. He is entitled to his feelings and his beliefs. I have loved him since the day I met him and I love him now. We share 3 beautiful kids together and for that I am forever grateful to him. Please continue to pray for our family, as we are faced with some very real and difficult times ahead.

Lovin the Sunshine!!

Hello Everyone! I realize it has been quite a while since my last post! Seems like the month of February was pretty brutal here in VA with all the crazy weather we had! Nothing like having 3 major snow falls within weeks of each other! I'm so glad to see it all behind us and the temps back in the 50's, 60's and 70's!! :-) The kids are enjoying being outdoors, riding their tractors and bikes and I'm just glad to "AIR OUT"!!!! :-)

Things have been a little crazy around here lately, but I think we are getting back on track. (We are working on it!) Jackson has been having some issues with being a little disrespectful and lets just say '5' lately! We are pushing boundaries, but Mom and Dad are pushing back! Sometimes I feel I need Supernanny to come and stay for a while! Anyone know how I can get ahold of her??? LOL :-) He really is a very imaginative kid. Always role playing and his mind is always going, kinda like someone else I know!! Like for St. Patty's Day, he was dressed up like a Leprechaun for days before St. Patty's Day even arrived! Now we are onto the Easter Bunny....Lord Help me! :-)

Max is talking a little more and more. He still doesn't say very much, because his brother does enough talking for them both! He is really attached to mom these days and very cuddly!! He loves to snuggle with me in the mornings when Jack's at school and Lola's napping! I love it! He has such a great disposition and a smile to melt your heart!

Little Miss Lola is going on 10 months, I can hardly believe it! She crawls everywhere and is trying to walk. She weighs 17lbs and is 29 inches long. She loves food, and wants whatever your having! I'm weaning her off the breast and she is now taking formula in a sippy cup. She is a very happy baby and loves music, clapping her hands and watching her brothers! She has them wrapped around her little finger! :-)

I'm excited to see what the next few months bring here for all of us! We are looking forward to Spring and Summer! We kick it off with Zach's cousin Kelly's wedding in April, then I'm heading to Chicago with my sisters and my mom for a long weekend! Zach and I are hoping to head to NY with some friends of ours for our first get away without kids sometime this summer as well! Lots of things to look forward too!! Here are few pictures for now! Happy Spring!! :-)

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

So I am here to tell you that we DO get snow in the South, and this year ALLOT of it!!!! This has been some of the craziest winter weather VA has seen in YEARS!!! Jackson has been out of school for what seems like forever and the snow, it just keeps falling! I don't mind a pretty snow fall once in a while, but I'm a little over it now! Bring on the warmer temps and the green grass please! I thought we moved away from the cold weather, but apparently the cold didn't get that memo!!! :-)

Here are a few pictures of our winter wonderland! Sending lots of Love to all our friends and family! :-)

Lola Grace: 8 Months Already....

Lola is 8 months already and it feels like just yesterday Zach was placing her in my arms! She has changed so much over this past month, it's incredible! She is growing from baby to toddler

so quick, that I feel at times I want to hit a pause button. But seriously, that only last's about a minute then I'm wishing they would all hurry up and grow up! LOL! :-) Here are her stats:

* She weighs 18 lbs-50th percentile

* 28.5 inches long-95th percentile

* Loves to eat and wants everything you have. She has her 2 bottom teeth, working on the 2 upper right now!

* Can feed herself puffs and other snacks.

* Can sip out of a sippy cup and drink through a straw! I'm amazed at that one!

* Still Breastfeeding 4-5 times a day, but we starting to ween.

* Says Mama, Dada, Hi and Bye and waves while doing so :-)

* She is crawling all over the place and tries to pull up on everything

* LOVES her brothers! She gets so excited when they are around, but cries if they get to loud!

* She is now officially in her Big Girl Car Seat!

* LOVES bath time, especially if she shares it with her brothers!

* Sleeps 12 hours a night, with the occasional wake up in between due to teething!

* Down from 3 naps to 2 naps a day.

She is a truly content and happy baby! If you would have told me this at 6 weeks old, I never would have believed you! I can honestly answer now that boys are MUCH easier than girls for the most part, but I'm so glad I got to experience both! Lola is our Little Ray Of Sunshine! She truly completes our family! :-) Here are some pictures of Little Miss along with her brothers! Enjoy! :-)

Happy 2010!

Happy New Year Everyone! I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday! What a great couple of weeks we have had! Christmas was wonderful having my mom and Wayne here to celebrate! The kids got way too spoiled as usual and we really just enjoyed our time together! On Sunday the 27th we headed down to the beach house to spend a couple weeks with Mom O! The weather was pretty chilly the whole time we were there but the kids had fun and I got to see my sisters as well! As I said in my last post, both my sisters happened to be in FL at the same time so we all met up on New Years Eve! That was really the only day we had a beautiful Sunny beach day! On New Years Day, Katie our wonderful babysitter joined us for the remainder of the trip! It was so nice having her there and can't wait for her to join us next year if she's up too it!! :-)

We are getting back in the swing of things here in VA. Jackson is doing great in school and we are getting ready for Kindergarten Registration as well as getting Max registered for Pre-School next year! I'll only have Miss Lola at home with me 3 days out of the week...What am I going to do with my free time???!!! :-) Speaking of Lola, she really has been changing daily! She has her 2 bottom teeth now, THANK GOD and loves to eat anything and everything! She still is breastfeeding 5-6 times a day and 3 meals a day. She is trying desperately to crawl and is sitting up more on her own now. She has the best giggle ever, it makes us laugh everytime she giggles! So Cute!!! We have so much to look forward to this year, I just can't wait to see all the changes to come! Well here are some pictures, Enjoy! :-)