Tomorrow morning bright and early we leave for sunny California. Actually it's really not sunny there right now, the highs are in the high 70's. I am not complaining though and look forward to getting away from AZ weather for a bit, it did however make packing a bit difficult. Since my brain can only process 110 degree weather right now, I packed both kids a weeks worth of warm weather clothes and cool weather clothes. I have been tricked by California's weather before so I figured might as well be prepared.
It is amazing how much stuff you bring when you have kids. Back in the day when it was just Eric and I all we would have brought is one suitcase but in the car tomorrow we will have two suitcases (and one is a GIANT suitcase), a bag of shoes, a portable crib, the double stroller, a box of toys, the DVD player with movies, the diaper bag filled with goodies to eat, a cooler, a CD player and humidifier (my grandparent's house can get pretty loud and both help drown out the noise when the kids sleep), Emma's special blanket and Betty Bear, Josh's special bear, and all four of us. Good thing we have a really big car!
We are hoping to get to my grandparents in less than 7 hours and think by making mini stops every few hours the kids will get less cranky. We haven't decided exactly what we are doing for the week but there are plenty of options. I am excited to go and know that whatever we do will be fun!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Change
At the beginning of the summer Emma and Josh's sitter told me that she was going to be unable to continue watching the kids during the next school. I knew this day was coming as we had talked about it many times over the school year but it was still a hit straight to my heart. This lady, our neighbor was a Godsend.
We moved to our neighborhood when I was 7 months pregnant with Emma and the family across the street immediatley came over and introduced themselves. The couple had two young teenage girls and one younger elementary school aged girl. I knew from the beginning that I would like this family. After Emma was born, they came over with presents and dinners for a few nights and then a week later came over with more dinners. The day after Thanksgiving as Eric hung lights on the house while Emma and I watched the mother came over to chat. Through our conversation she learned that I was returning to work in 3 weeks and had no one to watch Emma. Right then and there she offered to take her and it was a prayer answered for us both. She needed income but still wanted to home school her junior high and elementary daughters and I wanted someone to watch my baby. In the few months I had know this family they had already shown us acceptance, love, and care and I knew that I could trust leaving Emma with them.
For the next two years our neighbor watched Emma and when Josh came along she moved watching the kids over to our house because it was just easier. Her two older daughters were both in high school now and this way every thing the kids needed was at her disposal, I loved the idea. Josh fell in love with her and we call her his BFF. Every time we drive down our street Josh points to her house, yells her name, and barks like a dog (she has 3 dogs). Her name was the second word he said, it's precious how much he adores her.
But all good things must come to an end they say. Actually I don't know if I truly believe that. I like better the saying, when God closes a door, he opens a window. I am trying to keep that in mind when thinking about who the kids will be with and where they will be watched. I would love nothing better than to have someone come to my house everyday and watch the kids but that is not looking as though it will happen. I know that children everywhere go to home daycare but I am having a rough time with it. My children have always had one on one attention, Josh has always napped in his own bed and is so attached to our neighbor. It will be fine I keep telling myself. I know God is going to put the right person in our lives and that the kids are going to fall in love with this person too. God does things for a reason, this is just a new beginning for us all.
We moved to our neighborhood when I was 7 months pregnant with Emma and the family across the street immediatley came over and introduced themselves. The couple had two young teenage girls and one younger elementary school aged girl. I knew from the beginning that I would like this family. After Emma was born, they came over with presents and dinners for a few nights and then a week later came over with more dinners. The day after Thanksgiving as Eric hung lights on the house while Emma and I watched the mother came over to chat. Through our conversation she learned that I was returning to work in 3 weeks and had no one to watch Emma. Right then and there she offered to take her and it was a prayer answered for us both. She needed income but still wanted to home school her junior high and elementary daughters and I wanted someone to watch my baby. In the few months I had know this family they had already shown us acceptance, love, and care and I knew that I could trust leaving Emma with them.
For the next two years our neighbor watched Emma and when Josh came along she moved watching the kids over to our house because it was just easier. Her two older daughters were both in high school now and this way every thing the kids needed was at her disposal, I loved the idea. Josh fell in love with her and we call her his BFF. Every time we drive down our street Josh points to her house, yells her name, and barks like a dog (she has 3 dogs). Her name was the second word he said, it's precious how much he adores her.
But all good things must come to an end they say. Actually I don't know if I truly believe that. I like better the saying, when God closes a door, he opens a window. I am trying to keep that in mind when thinking about who the kids will be with and where they will be watched. I would love nothing better than to have someone come to my house everyday and watch the kids but that is not looking as though it will happen. I know that children everywhere go to home daycare but I am having a rough time with it. My children have always had one on one attention, Josh has always napped in his own bed and is so attached to our neighbor. It will be fine I keep telling myself. I know God is going to put the right person in our lives and that the kids are going to fall in love with this person too. God does things for a reason, this is just a new beginning for us all.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Babywise
I am crazy about sleep! To this day, Emma has never missed a nap and Josh has only missed three or four (and only because he was still napping multiple times a day).
When Emma was born, my dreams of having one of those perfect sleepers from the beginning were shattered. Shortly after reading the book Babywise, Emma became a Babywise baby and I found my groove. I am definitely a scheduler, a planner, and order should be my middle name. I loved a majority of the concepts in the book and adjusted the ones I didn't quite love but understood. Shortly after implementing a schedule with Emma she began sleeping like a champ and by 6 weeks she was sleeping through the night and by 9 months, her naps were extremely consistent. The girl does not fight sleep in any way and when she is tired, she will ask to take a nap. She has never truly fought bedtime and is in bed every night by 7:30 (except those rare occasions, which we have only allowed 4 times). She is a true Babywise baby!
When Josh was born, my dreams of having another perfect Babywise baby were shattered. Josh slept so perfectly for the first month of his life that I was completely thrown off. He didn't seem to need any sort of schedule because he created a perfect one of his own. After a month this perfect schedule came to a screeching halt and again I was completely thrown off. I tried my hardest to stick to a schedule with Josh but despite my best efforts, he did what he wanted. All of a sudden he wouldn't nap and when he did it was 45 minutes at best. He began waking up multiple times a night and I was frustrated.
Josh challenged all my notions on sleep and schedules and I am glad that he did. I truly had to determine if this was the way I was going to be with all of my children, I have learned that sometimes what works for one does not work for another. I thought long and hard about dropping the Babywise routine altogether and trying the go with the flow routine but in the end, I just couldn't do it. The main principle of Babywise just made too much sense, that my baby needs sleep and it's my job to foster it.
Josh (as a newborn) never adhered to a schedule the way Emma did and I learned to be much more flexible with the entire thing. He did begin sleeping through the night at 12 weeks but change anything on him during the night (stuffy nose, lost binky, helmet on his head) and you hear him crying out. At almost 17 months and with me being home all summer, his naps have finally gotten consistent. I have accepted that Josh is just a different type of sleeper than his sister but know at heart he is a Babywise baby.
Call me crazy or neurotic, it's okay. I believe this is what's best for my children and when people tell me I am lucky because their child gave up napping at 2, I know luck has nothing to do with it. I have fostered sleep in my children through Babywise, (which I used to think was the only way but I have learned that really any way that works for you is a good way) and maybe just maybe on day I will allow them to stop napping! :o)
When Emma was born, my dreams of having one of those perfect sleepers from the beginning were shattered. Shortly after reading the book Babywise, Emma became a Babywise baby and I found my groove. I am definitely a scheduler, a planner, and order should be my middle name. I loved a majority of the concepts in the book and adjusted the ones I didn't quite love but understood. Shortly after implementing a schedule with Emma she began sleeping like a champ and by 6 weeks she was sleeping through the night and by 9 months, her naps were extremely consistent. The girl does not fight sleep in any way and when she is tired, she will ask to take a nap. She has never truly fought bedtime and is in bed every night by 7:30 (except those rare occasions, which we have only allowed 4 times). She is a true Babywise baby!
When Josh was born, my dreams of having another perfect Babywise baby were shattered. Josh slept so perfectly for the first month of his life that I was completely thrown off. He didn't seem to need any sort of schedule because he created a perfect one of his own. After a month this perfect schedule came to a screeching halt and again I was completely thrown off. I tried my hardest to stick to a schedule with Josh but despite my best efforts, he did what he wanted. All of a sudden he wouldn't nap and when he did it was 45 minutes at best. He began waking up multiple times a night and I was frustrated.
Josh challenged all my notions on sleep and schedules and I am glad that he did. I truly had to determine if this was the way I was going to be with all of my children, I have learned that sometimes what works for one does not work for another. I thought long and hard about dropping the Babywise routine altogether and trying the go with the flow routine but in the end, I just couldn't do it. The main principle of Babywise just made too much sense, that my baby needs sleep and it's my job to foster it.
Josh (as a newborn) never adhered to a schedule the way Emma did and I learned to be much more flexible with the entire thing. He did begin sleeping through the night at 12 weeks but change anything on him during the night (stuffy nose, lost binky, helmet on his head) and you hear him crying out. At almost 17 months and with me being home all summer, his naps have finally gotten consistent. I have accepted that Josh is just a different type of sleeper than his sister but know at heart he is a Babywise baby.
Call me crazy or neurotic, it's okay. I believe this is what's best for my children and when people tell me I am lucky because their child gave up napping at 2, I know luck has nothing to do with it. I have fostered sleep in my children through Babywise, (which I used to think was the only way but I have learned that really any way that works for you is a good way) and maybe just maybe on day I will allow them to stop napping! :o)
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Sleep baby sleep
Is there anything more precious than watching a child sleep? Every night before I head to bed, I go in and check on the kids. I know that they are fine and don't need to be checked on but it is something my parents always did with me. I can remember being 20 and my dad still coming in my room at night whether I was asleep or not to check on me one last time. I love going in and saying one final prayer over them and I love watching them as they sleep. Their faces are so peaceful and I wonder what they are dreaming about. I love watching them breathe, watching their chests rising and falling so evenly and I imagine what they will be when they get older. For me, it is the time that melts away the old day and reminds me of what a gift my children truly are. It reminds me of just how precious and innocent they are. I love looking at them and remembering other times I have stood over their beds when they were smaller and marveling at how much they have grown. I am sure that 20 years from now I will still check on my children before I go to bed and I am sure they will wonder why, just as I did. But I am sure when they have their own children they will understand, just as I do.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Neurotic
I came to the conclusion today that I am a bit neurotic. Before Eric left for work this morning I was busy vacuuming the tile so I could mop because mopping day is Tuesday and somehow it got to be Thursday without being done. It's sad that Emma asked me twice while mopping if it was Tuesday because she knows that is mopping day. It's even sadder that all of my chores are on a schedule. I am a constant scheduler and planner, it's how I work. I like to have routine and know what is coming (I promise that I have learned to be somewhat flexible since having the kids).
I also realized today that my neurosis goes beyond scheduling everything. The kids and I headed over to a mom's group play date this morning and by the time we'd been there an hour, the mom's house who hosted was a disaster. There were toys, stuffed animals, puzzles, games, goldfish crackers, kids, drinks, books, and anything else kid related all over. As I sat on the couch talking to my friends while the kids played it took everything in me to not get up and clean. All the other moms were so calm especially the mom who hosted. I am so crazy that I had to mentally talk myself out of cleaning another mom's house and probably would have gotten out the vacuum while the kids played if it was my house. Even as we cleaned up before we left, the mom who hosted didn't seem to mind one bit that all of our children wrecked her house. Why can't I be like that? Problems, I have problems and that's why!
I also realized today that my neurosis goes beyond scheduling everything. The kids and I headed over to a mom's group play date this morning and by the time we'd been there an hour, the mom's house who hosted was a disaster. There were toys, stuffed animals, puzzles, games, goldfish crackers, kids, drinks, books, and anything else kid related all over. As I sat on the couch talking to my friends while the kids played it took everything in me to not get up and clean. All the other moms were so calm especially the mom who hosted. I am so crazy that I had to mentally talk myself out of cleaning another mom's house and probably would have gotten out the vacuum while the kids played if it was my house. Even as we cleaned up before we left, the mom who hosted didn't seem to mind one bit that all of our children wrecked her house. Why can't I be like that? Problems, I have problems and that's why!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Desires
Here are a few things I want right now
1. I really want to learn how to make some of my great grandma and grandma's dishes. Unfortunately for me, these ladies don't write their recipes down. A few years ago my grandma showed me how to make our family's German Potato Salad and I am still trying to get it right. When we go to California in August, I am making it my goal to watch my grandma while she makes things and write down at least two recipes.
2. When I got pregnant with Emma I was 135 pounds, currently I am 140 pounds (with a ton of hard work, I am just not one of those lucky girls who lost the weight without working at it). I really want to get down to 135 again. I don't know if it's possible, my body just may never be the same again and I understand that but I just want to say I did it.
3. I have always been a Disney junkie and it's killing me that I haven't been to the park in 2 years (that might be a record for me). I really want to take Emma but keep hemming and hawing about it. With my grandparents living only a few miles from the park, I may just break down when we visit in August if I get that close and don't go again.
4. I really want to sing again and not just in my car or at church. I sang in high school and even in college for a bit. I really loved being in a choir, hearing all the voices blend together and being part of that just gave me goosebumps. When I saw Wicked last year, I sat there crying during a few of the pieces because the vocals were so beautiful.
Aside from the never ending desire for more clothes, I think that will do for now!
1. I really want to learn how to make some of my great grandma and grandma's dishes. Unfortunately for me, these ladies don't write their recipes down. A few years ago my grandma showed me how to make our family's German Potato Salad and I am still trying to get it right. When we go to California in August, I am making it my goal to watch my grandma while she makes things and write down at least two recipes.
2. When I got pregnant with Emma I was 135 pounds, currently I am 140 pounds (with a ton of hard work, I am just not one of those lucky girls who lost the weight without working at it). I really want to get down to 135 again. I don't know if it's possible, my body just may never be the same again and I understand that but I just want to say I did it.
3. I have always been a Disney junkie and it's killing me that I haven't been to the park in 2 years (that might be a record for me). I really want to take Emma but keep hemming and hawing about it. With my grandparents living only a few miles from the park, I may just break down when we visit in August if I get that close and don't go again.
4. I really want to sing again and not just in my car or at church. I sang in high school and even in college for a bit. I really loved being in a choir, hearing all the voices blend together and being part of that just gave me goosebumps. When I saw Wicked last year, I sat there crying during a few of the pieces because the vocals were so beautiful.
Aside from the never ending desire for more clothes, I think that will do for now!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
4th of July
Our 4th of July weekend was great, Eric had a half day on Friday and then Saturday through Monday off! It was nice to be able to spend so much time together with our families and have no real obligations.
Saturday we stayed around the house and after naps headed to Ya-Ya and Poppy's house for swimming. Eric's mom (Ya-Ya) bought Emma a pair of arm floaties last week and to my surprise, she does really great in the pool with them on. When the sun finally beat us down, we headed to Chipotle for dinner. Eric's work was nice enough to give him a Chipotle gift card for his birthday so we were excited to use it! For some odd reason the weather was really nice on Saturday evening around six and we actually ate outside under the shade.
Sunday afternoon we spent at Grammie and Poppa's house. We swam, barbecued, and after Josh was in bed we played with poppers. Emma thought it was coolest thing pulling a tab and watching confetti shoot out all over the ground. We woke the kids up at 9:15 to head home and luckily we were able to see the firework launched from Tumbleweed Park while driving. Now that Emma knows what a firework is, I think we might need to take her next year to see them up close.
Monday was another lazy day with errands mixed in here and there. That night we went to Grimaldi's for pizza with Ya-Ya, Poppy, Aunt Lindie, Uncle Dave and Iyla. Emma played with the uncooked pizza dough that they give to kids so much that she didn't even eat, crazy kid!
Of course the weekend went too fast but at least I have next year to look forward to!
Saturday we stayed around the house and after naps headed to Ya-Ya and Poppy's house for swimming. Eric's mom (Ya-Ya) bought Emma a pair of arm floaties last week and to my surprise, she does really great in the pool with them on. When the sun finally beat us down, we headed to Chipotle for dinner. Eric's work was nice enough to give him a Chipotle gift card for his birthday so we were excited to use it! For some odd reason the weather was really nice on Saturday evening around six and we actually ate outside under the shade.
Sunday afternoon we spent at Grammie and Poppa's house. We swam, barbecued, and after Josh was in bed we played with poppers. Emma thought it was coolest thing pulling a tab and watching confetti shoot out all over the ground. We woke the kids up at 9:15 to head home and luckily we were able to see the firework launched from Tumbleweed Park while driving. Now that Emma knows what a firework is, I think we might need to take her next year to see them up close.
Monday was another lazy day with errands mixed in here and there. That night we went to Grimaldi's for pizza with Ya-Ya, Poppy, Aunt Lindie, Uncle Dave and Iyla. Emma played with the uncooked pizza dough that they give to kids so much that she didn't even eat, crazy kid!
Of course the weekend went too fast but at least I have next year to look forward to!
My mom bought these pretty cool light sticks for the kids.
Playing with poppers
The mess!
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