o5. when a heart breaks no it don't break even...

So I've become the worst mother in the entire world. We adopted a dog last week (yes, only a few weeks after we moved into our new house). I do NOT like dogs. Mostly big dogs. Little dogs are okay... if they're not mine. Riley has wanted a dog forever, and my husband promised her a dog a long time ago. I was never happy about the idea, but to make a long story short... we got Jake. He's a good dog, he really is. But I really really do not like dogs. He follows me around everywhere, whines if I put him outside or go upstairs. Our cats hate him, Peyton is...eh, not really thrilled. And he sprays because he was never fixed. Honestly, our bathroom is half torn apart because we're remodeling it, we still have boxes to unpack, nothing has been painted yet, and money is tight. I seriously cannot deal with a dog right now. Soooo now I need to call the lady we got him from, and I feel like an idiot. And Riley is devestated. :( Lovely.

o4. i can't be tamed...

SURPRISE! I'm a slacker. We all knew I was.

I miss updating a blog, and I've noticed a lot of my friends (online and not) have been trying the blog thing, so what the heck, right?

So here I am, almost a year after my last post.

Everything and nothing has changed :). Soon, my friends, this will be like a real blog. But for tonight, I'm going to bed.

o3. fire burning on the dance floor...

Sometimes I wonder how two people with 50% of the same DNA could be so 99% different. My brother and I are very simalir: we're both stubborn, we both like a a wide range of music, we're both family oriented, we're both persuasive and outgoing...and we're 4 years apart and different genders. My girls, sisters, are 2 years and 2 months apart and there differences sometimes startle me. Not only do they look very different; Riley has light brown curly/wavy hair, green eyes that you have to look really close to even tell what their real color is, and skin that is not really tan looking, but far from pale. Peyton has jet black, straight hair, she has incredible blue eyes that are so big that if they were any bigger they would look like bug eyes (thank goodness they don't, they're perfect :D), and skin so pale she resembles Snow White.

But their apperance isn't the only thing that's different. Riley is very girly. She really has no interest in team sports (although a mild interest in soccer). She loves dance class, dresses, make up (or three year old make up anyway: chapstick and sparkly nail polish), princesses, and has recently declared that her life long dream is to be a cheerleader. Peyton likes to watch football, play basketball on her baby basketball hoop, she likes matchbox cars, and dancing like a gangster (no, I'm not kidding, that child is going be a breakdancer lol).

What's amazing about all of it is how well they get along in spite of their differences. Better then any other siblings I've ever met. It makes me scared to add a third to the mix in a few years. But I can't wait to see what the next personality will add to our family.

o2. it's her body language...

It's been a while, and I know I should probably post more often. I swear I'll try. It should come much easier next month, because I'll be off from school for the summer so I'll have a bit more free time. Free time = beautiful.

There's not really too much new going on with me. Mostly just hanging out with Amanda as usual, and spending a lot of time with Dan and Rachel. I'm so glad I'm close with Dan again, and I absolutely love Rachel, and their son Caleb, too.

Peyton is learning to walk. She's taken a few steps here and there, but mostly she just likes crawling. When I complained that Riley walked too early at 9 months and wanted Peyton to wait longer...well yeah, I got it. I love the fact that she's still such a baby in so many ways, where at this age, Riley definitely wasn't. But at the same time...come on kid, just walk already!! :)

I really should be folding my laundry right now, but I suppose I just don't feel like it. I'm going to go check my twitter and find some way to entertain myself.

P.S. I saw 17 Again today and let me tell you, I FREAKIN' LOVE THIS MOVIE. It's awesome and I can't wait to see it again. ithelpsthatzacefronisreallyhot. Night!!

o1. Round and round, no new ground...

It's nice to finally have a new blog. I was on greatestjournal for the longest time, and I loved it. I met so many of my online friends there, one of which I've actually met in person twice. I switch to livejournal for a while and was miserable there. People there were very judgemental and I definitely didn't like it. Anyway, I suppose I should introduce myself. I have no idea if I'll make friends here, or connect with people or anything, but I suppose if I do it would be nice for them to have something to refer back to.

My name is Amanda, and I'm 23 years old. I've lived in Connecticut my whole life. I was raised mostly by my mom and my Aunt Carol, who bought a duplex together many years before I was born and even though there were separate "apartments", it was like living in one big house with everyone. My parents separated and eventually divorced when I was, I think, 9, and my aunt pretty much helped my mom take care of my younger brother Randy and me, and my mom helped her raise my older cousin, Matt. I'm really close with my immediate family, I talk to my mom and/or aunt almost every day, and see them a few times a week even though I live in the next town over. I grew up on a street called Brightwood and I swear one day I'm going to write a book about it (with the obvious title of Brightwood, it just fits) because my childhood and especially my teenage years honestly feel like they were something straight out of a movie.

I'm married. Young, I know, but I wouldn't have it any other way. My husband, Sean, is honestly my best friend, and it helps that I've known him since I was 4 (he grew up on Brightwood too, told ya, straight out of a movie). Growing up, I was friends with his brother, Kenny, who was the same age as me, but I saw him plenty and knew him a little. When I was 18 and he was 22 we started hanging out a lot and after a few months started dating. August 24, 2004 to be exact. The following March I was 19, and pregnant (here's a bit of advice: clearly the pull-out method does NOT work, if you're not interested in a squirming bundle of baby joy, find another method :D). I was shocked and scared and still living with my mom. Both my and his parents took it well and in no time with thrilled with the prospect of becoming grandparents. Our little Riley Abigail was born December 19, 2005. She changed my life, and my entire world. And (I'm sure other mothers can relate) she gave me a purpose. We moved into our own home a week before she was born, and from then on in, we were a family. Sean and I were married March 31, 2007, Riley who was only 15 months old was our beautiful little flower girl. Soon after decided to start trying for baby number two, and by the middle of June I was pregnant with our second child. On February 29, 2008 our beautiful Peyton Samantha was born (yes, on Leap Day... the ONE day I didn't want her to be born).

Life is interesting and boring all rolled into one. Riley is now three and in preschool and dance class. She is incredibly smart, she does almost everything a 5 year old should be able to do. She's very loving, she TRULY cares about people, and doesn't like when others are hurt or upset. She's beautiful, and funny, and silly, and spontaneous. She's active and loves to run and play...ALL the time. Peyton is coming up on her first birthday. She's a little bit of a slacker already :D. She JUST learned to crawl this week, not because she couldn't before, but she never really cared enough to bother. She's amazingly good natured and loves people in general. She loves animals and her especially her big sister. She's got a laugh and smile that could stop anyone in their tracks and smile along with her. She just fits with our family, like she was always supposed to be there.

I currently go to school. I'm a college student and when I'm done with school, I really want to be a social worker. My goal is to work for the children in foster care who desperately need someone to take care of them and love them, and some who need forever families. Sean and I plan to either foster or foster-to-adopt when our children (the two we have now, and the one we want when I'm done with school) are teenagers or older.

Anyhow, it's getting late and tomorrow is probably going to be another busy day. Goodnight.