Lyla: Five Year Old Check-Up

Lyla had her annual check up this week! I have been posting her growth stats to the blog her entire life, but I decided this will most likely be the last time I share them on the internet. I think at some point this information becomes irrelevant and I can only imagine the way Lyla would feel about me if I kept the blog updated through all the glorious phases of puberty. Haha! Not that we are even close to any of that, but five years old just seems like a good stopping point. 

I will have to think of something new to post on a frequent basis throughout the adolescent years. Perhaps her grades, assuming they are good. Hahaha! 

Weight: 41 lbs, 55th percentile

Height: 45 inches, 98th percentile

Lyla has always been taller than average, but every doctor has always told me that can fluctuate when they are babies and it doesn't necessarily determine their height long term. However, now that is she is a five year old and growth has steadied, I am now told she will most likely remain on the road to being a tall person. Again, irrelevant to anything that matters in life, but I have always related more to the short person end of the spectrum, so now I'm just imagining all the potential in having a TALL daughter. The possibilities are endless!!!! 

First Day Recap

Lyla & Max successfully completed their first day of school and I'm feeling like we made it through some sort of right of passage. They have adjusted surprisingly well to all of the newness that's been happening. I'm proud of my little humans. 

The kiddos were early to rise Wednesday morning and eager to get themselves ready. They picked out their own outfits and Lyla decided on the hairstyle she wanted for her first day. I assembled lunches and prepared book bags. We even decided to celebrate our wedding anniversary a day early, to ensure our Tuesday night focus was all about school. The Kaili brain was in full effect. The front porch sibling pictures were absolutely mandatory, and it sort of felt like we completed a marathon by the time we finally loaded up the car. I do a lot of preparing and tend to make a big production out of events like this, but despite me feeling anxious, everything fell into place and ran smoothly. We are creating a new morning groove and I'm grateful of Kirk for allowing us to disrupt his regular morning routine. 

We arrived to school a little early and each of the kid's teachers greeted them in the foyer. Max gave me a hug goodbye and entered his classroom. He was cool as a cucumber. Lyla followed her teacher to her classroom as well, however, she refused to hug me or even acknowledge me for that matter. I think she was mostly excited, but still slightly nervous, and didn't want her nerves to overcome her excitement. It was easier for her to ignore me, rather than make a big production over it being her first day... at least that's what I'm telling myself. Regardless, there was no crying. I was fully expecting someone to cry, especially me. Ha!

The day concluded after four short hours and we loaded up the car to head back home. They were seemingly giddy on the way home, sharing details of their day and new classmates. The most significant part of Lyla's day was learning a boy in her class is allergic to dogs. She finds this very fascinating, considering she continues to mention it several times a day. She later mentioned this classmate also has dark skin, dark hair, and is very handsome. Is it a friendly infatuation or preschool crush --- time will tell. She made one other noteworthy friend in class stating, "I can't really understand what she is saying, but she is very nice." Ha! She cracks me up.

Max left school with a happy attitude as well. My little buddy needs a lot of positive reinforcement throughout the day and I can already tell his teacher is going to be wonderful. Max was less responsive about the details of his day, but I know he had a lot of fun because my desk is located right outside his classroom. I'm able to peek on him throughout the day and it's one of the many reasons I'm grateful for this job opportunity. 

The second day was equally as successful. Max and Kirk matched outfits. We found a shirt similar to Kirk's work uniform several months ago and we all agreed it was a must have. Max insisted on saving this shirt for work, but we finally convinced him school is his version of work. As you can see in the photo, they are the most adorable matching duo. To my surprise, Max was a bit attached to me on the second day and even shed some tears. I typically lean towards the "rip off the band-aid" technique --- which consisted of a hug and passing him off to his teacher. He recovered quickly and enjoyed the rest of his day.

The only task left to conquer is getting these little people to stop creeping into our bedroom in the middle of the night. I love snuggling my babies, but they are seriously getting too big for all four of us to share one bed. It's inevitable for someone to wake up with a foot in the face and that's just not a pleasant experience. I have resorted to good old fashioned bribery to stop this madness and it is still not working. Any input is welcome... 

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This is how they felt about my photo session after roughly five minutes. 

Buuuut the rock pose was their idea!

Day Two!

Happy Anniversary to my love! I wouldn't choose this life with anyone else!

Beginning of Something New

I started work on Monday and it's been a busy week for our family. I put on makeup five days in a row, which I can almost guarantee hasn't happened in at least three years. Although the kiddos won't start school until next Wednesday, we are still working on adjusting to our new schedule and routine. I'm so grateful for all my helpers this week who were available to tend Lyla & Max. [Thanks!] I was also able to bring them with me to work for two of the days. They were able to meet their teachers and explore the school, which I think will ultimately help them feel more comfortable and less overwhelmed on their first day. 

We have spent a lot of energy preparing for this upcoming change in our lives. There was one task on my list that kept falling to last priority and that was getting Lyla's hair cut --- for the first time ever. This idea originated when I asked Lyla several months ago if she wanted to get her hair cut and her answer was a definite no. She was very apprehensive about it. I decided it didn't matter and just let it go. Well, several weeks later she randomly brought it up again and stated she was ready to get her hair cut. I, admittedly, brushed off her request because by that point, I reverted back to not wanting to get it done...ever. There was absolutely no logic in this decision, it was simply the fact that cutting her hair meant any traces of baby hair would be completely eliminated. And obviously the world would end if that happened.

Yes, I realize it's just a hair cut. This refusal is basically the same as keeping your child in diapers simply because you don't want them to use the toilet for the first time ever, buuuut my heart was still rejecting the idea. I'm clearly in denial about her growing up. Max gets his hair cut on a regular basis, so believe me I am also asking my brain how any of this makes sense. 

Anyway, we had a game plan on Friday including a hair cut for Max when Lyla, once again, requested a hair cut for herself as well. I stared wistfully at her stringy locks, thinking about how my once bald baby transformed into a little girl with chlorine dyed ends, and finally agreed to her persistent desire. She was quite pleased with this decision and could not stop staring in the mirror during the hair cut. Her admiration for herself was entertaining for myself as well as the stylist, and it turns out the world kept spinning once the hair cut concluded. We decided to cut minimal amount as possible, while still evening up the ends and, I must say, the change definitely improved the overall quality of her hair. Lyla proudly stated afterward that she most definitely looks the same age as her cousin, Hali. Hali is twelve. My four year old thinks she is twelve.

The hair cut experience is not the only back to school first we've experienced lately. The preparations have also included school clothes shopping, which I never knew could be such a tedious task. I've entered new territory here. I have always been 100% on board with giving my kids the freedom to express themselves, but the problem with school clothes is my children do not have one single practical train of thought in their precious little minds. The negotiations get tough when Lyla holds up something resembling an 80's prom dress and I have to express to her something along the lines of, "Seriously? You won't even be able to sit down in that thing." Then there is Max, on the opposite end of the spectrum, who can't make a decision to save his life. I'm usually exhausted by the time we finally come to an agreement on something as simple as a t-shirt. So. I learned the hard way that it's much easier to go shopping without children. They are much more appreciative this way, as they are always happy when anyone arrives back home with anything at all for them. I will still encourage them to dress themselves as they choose, just within the range of their own closets. Controlled freedom. Ha! I'm hopeful the understanding of appropriate school attire will make more sense next year. Then again, I remember having arguments with my mom about clothing well into high school --- from style preference to demands over brand names, yikes --- so maybe that's just something that will never change. The lyrics from Tangled just started playing in my brain."...mother knows best, listen to your mumsy."

We've been focusing on making other changes prior to school starting, including the struggle with Max confusing pretend superhero games with a real life boxing match. I think I am slightly resentful of Kirk for the day he ever introduced the "BOOM" game to Max, but I'm also guilty for promoting such play. My favorite line from Max is just as we're getting ready to "fight" and I ask "Do you want a piece of me?" and as he scowls, he says "No! I want the whole thing!" He's hilarious. However, I really don't want Max being the kid who body slams his peers for no reason, soooo we've been diligently reminding him that playing "BOOM" is a family game and should only be played with willing participants. Kirk has been trying to convince Max that anytime he gets the urge to "BOOM" someone, he should just tickle them instead. And while it's too soon to tell if this technique is working, it's been funny to watch. Time will tell and I pray Max isn't the school bully. I'm hopeful his sweet side will outweigh the Hulk that lives within. 

They are going to learn so much this next year and I want to do everything we can to ensure it is smooth of a journey as possible. It's hard to believe such a monumental chapter is coming to a close for us. In a lot of ways life will remain the same, but it will also be so very different. It's bittersweet for me. Life is good. 

Annual Check-Ups: Lyla 4 & Maxwell 3

We visited the doctor this week to get a couple of annual check-ups marked off our list. It was the first time each of them were given an eye exam and for some reason I found that part entertaining. They aren't required to name letters yet, just shapes. I enjoyed how they called the same shape different names --- Lyla said it a circle, and to Max it was a wheel. Regardless, their answers earned them a pass, which is a good sign considering I was three when my eyesight took a nose dive.  

Lyla received four booster vaccinations during this visit. She was super brave and bragged the rest of the day about how she didn't cry at all. I will be sure to remind her of these tough girl inconsistencies next time she is on the verge of winning an academy award as I'm brushing her hair. It's similar to her reaction in the bathtub when she gets water in her eyes, as opposed to how easily she brushes it off in the swimming pool. She is quite silly, but I imagine her dramatics will come in useful throughout her lifetime. 

Max won't be due for another round of shots until we schedule a check-up again next year. We had to see the doctor on such a frequent basis when they were babies, it feels strange to finally be on an annual schedule. It's rare for us to visit the doctor for anything else and I feel pretty fortunate to have healthy kiddos. 

I suppose at some point I should probably stop posting their measurements to the blog, but for now I think it's still fine. I promise the exposure will stop as soon as I hear one of them pleading to keep their weight off the internet. I can already see myself hovered over my keyboard, calling each of them after they have moved out of the house, "Yes, hello sweetie, can you go weigh yourself for the blog?" Hahaha! Kidding. They would hang up on me for sure. 

Maxwell Monte: 

Height: 37.5 inches, 65th percentile

Weight: 33.6. lbs, 52nd percentile

Lyla Estelle:

Height: 43 inches, 88th percentile

Weight: 37.6 lbs, 54th percentile

Hello to New Chapters: Part 2

We started touring preschools several weeks ago and I quickly learned I was entering a whole new territory I knew nothing about. The idea of Lyla going to Pre-K this fall has been exciting and somewhat sad, because time has passed by oh so quickly. I should clarify, she is not sad about it one bit, her mom and dad are the ones wondering where the time went. We toured several schools and eventually determined what type of atmosphere would be best for Miss Lyla. We were in the midst of finalizing our decision when Olivia mentioned an opportunity at the school where she works. Abercrombie Academy is hiring for an administrative position in their preschool office and the timing of receiving this information seemed oddly convenient. I wasn’t looking for a job, nor was I looking to put Max in school a year earlier than planned, but I decided to explore the opportunity anyway. I put a lot of trust in the natural timing that occurs in life.

The first thing we did was tour the preschool to determine if it would be a good fit. It turns out it is exactly what we had been looking for and it put all of the other tours to shame. We loved it. Then it came time to decide if enrolling Max in school would be a good decision, especially since it goes completely against my mindset when it comes to schooling. I am a stay at home mom, which is a huge blessing in itself and a big reason why we moved to Texas in the first place. I had zero intentions of putting a three year old in school. And I still stand firmly on the opinion that preschool is not necessary to raise a happy, healthy, smart child.

I never attended preschool and I'm normalish. I don't know if it's a difference of social norms in this area or just a generational thing, but there is a lot of pressure to put children in school at three or even two years old. I've been on the receiving end of the look of death when I start chatting with a mom at the park and she learns neither of my kids are in school. I always respond in my best duh tone, "No, my kids are not in school because they are two and four years old." There is no crime in not sending kids to school until Kindergarten, but a lot of parents feel differently on this subject. I did not allow this pressure to contribute to any decision because I think it’s stupid. I just wanted to make blog readers aware of the pressure that exists in case you have been out of the parenting business for a while.

After much research, counsel from family and friends, and pure instinct I decided this would be a good decision for our family. It was a bit of an emotional struggle for me to come to the realization that Maxwell going to school will have more of a positive impact than any negative one I had imagined. As much as Maxwell will be learning at his new school, he will perceive it as nothing more than having fun. It is completely play based and I think that’s important. It is only four hours per day. And definitely not a rigorous schedule of academics, which I had originally envisioned.

I know Maxwell is going to love it. He will thrive in an environment where he can make new friends, have independent experiences, and probably have more fun than he would with me all day. It was a tough pill to swallow when I asked him directly if he would prefer special “Mommy and Max time” or go to school like Lyla. He, of course, replied that he wants to go to school just like Lyla. And even though he is only two years old, we try to consider his desires as much as possible.

I applied for the position and as of August, I will be working part time and both kiddos will start school. It will be such a blessing to be on location while my kids are attending school. I will work the same hours as school is in session, so we will never be burdened with the conflict of coordinating schedules for transportation or holidays. And I get to attend all the fun activities they have going on throughout the year. The world is a scary place and in some ways this is giving me a sense of safety that I feared I would lack in sending my kids to public school. It seems almost too good to be true. We are so grateful for this unexpected opportunity and excited to see what the future brings. If all goes well, Lyla and Max could potentially attend through 5^th grade. Time will tell. 

Hello to New Chapters: Part 1

We are looking forward to some fun this week with Kirk's parents and Cameron visiting. Lyla has not been able to contain her excitement about their arrival. I actually feel bad that she can recognize her Grandma Julie's name in my phone because her daily countdown phone call quickly transformed into an hourly update. She is super patient, like me. Ha. I think both of these kiddos enjoy showing off their skills and talents to a fresh audience. They will do anything to get that spotlight turned up as bright as possible. Lucky for them, the Idaho crowd is easy to impress. I will post more about their visit later this week.

Other than that, Life has slowed way down for us lately. I wouldn't dare to call it boring, but still nothing blog worthy, unless you want to hear me whine about Max being two some more. However, the lack of action is typically a good indicator that change is on its way. It's the calm before the storm. I'm becoming quite familiar with this cycle, as it seems to happen so often. Life experience is funny like that. 

And just as change would have it, we were given the option this month to renew our lease, but after weighing our options we decided it was in our best interest to move. It turns out there is an abundance of availability on the housing market, so that made the decision even easier. We found the most charming home in a lovely neighborhood, located only a short drive from Kirk's second home --- aka 1488 Collision. He is most definitely looking forward to the shorter commute as well as avoiding the freeway traffic. 

We have made some wonderful memories over the past three years in our current home. It was the beginning of feeling settled in Texas and it's the place Max came home to from the hospital. We have all grown and changed a lot here. And it makes me feel a little sad when I think about how I always had this vision of my kids growing up in the same house their entire childhood and returning to the same house with their own families as adults. But it's just not the life we have created for our family and I'm continually learning that is okay. We can pack up our memories with us and make any place feel like home. The roots will keep growing as long as we are together. That got cheesy real quick, but hey, it's how I feel. 

This will be our first move together as an entire family and I'm really enjoying sharing my anticipation with the kids. They were a bit apprehensive about the idea of moving at first, but once they understood we would bring all most of their toys and treasured belongings to the new house, they were totally on board. I've been driving by the new house almost every single day and Kirk is very displeased that I've exposed our exceedingly receptive children to my creepy behavior. I told him it's only creepy if I slow down as we pass the house, but I maintain my speed like a normal person. Apparently that's still creepy.

We still have a full month before the move, so I haven't gone total packing mode just yet. I have been scanning the house in attempt to devise a packing game plan and I'm beginning to wonder if moving is a smart choice for my sanity. And then I wonder how we ever acquired so much crap? This thought has inspired what I consider phase one of moving, which consists of getting rid of all the junk we don't need to bring to the new house. The cleansing process is seriously satisfying. Bye junk!

It's all very exciting, April will be a busy month for us. 

Max: Menace Diaries

Max. Max. Max. This little dude has been giving me a run for my money lately. I think we are finally nearing the end of a potty training regression, so that's a plus. I'm happy to be back on a once a week rotation for washing our bedding, three times a week was getting to be a little ridiculous. I have to laugh because we have both adapted to each others behaviors -- while I've learned certain fidgety movements are a sure sign Max's bladder is about to explode, he has learned that's also about the time I'm going to call him out. It seems right as we make eye contact, he says "no pee Mom, me just jumping." And then he continues to hop around awkwardly, like that is a normal thing to do. 

That's easy stuff compared to the fierce attitude he has unleashed lately. There are several times throughout the day when he simply cannot handle his emotions and explodes with such anger. This happens when he wants to do something all by himself, but is unable. This happens if I refuse to let him eat candy for breakfast. This happens if someone has something he wants. This happens if his cereal gets soggy. This happens if I forget to hold his hand down the stairs. This happens if I arrange the pillows wrong on his bed. This happens if I choose the wrong underwear, for him or myself. This happens if I put too many ice cubes in his drink. This happens if I walk too fast. This happens if I walk too slow. This happens when he deliberately disobeys. I could go on...but I think you get the idea. Clearly this has been happening a lot. The poor dude is like a light switch.

If it gets real ugly and I've exhausted all other options, I just sit next to him and start repeating the words "peace and calmness" out loud like a hopeless idiot --- it either works and he actually calms down or it just makes him more infuriated. I like to ask him if he feels misunderstood because as he replies with "yes" through the somewhat forced sobbing, it creates a slightly adorable moment within the chaos. We tend to hug it out a lot. 

I've found myself watching him in his sleep more frequently to enjoy him in a peaceful state. Definitely not to remind myself that giving him away is not an option. Lyla has also learned the art of compromise when it comes to her little brother. I've noticed within their own interactions she will sometimes give in just to avoid a fight, especially if she can sense his temperature rising. I think she can agree that remaining consistent [all.day.long] can be so exhausting. We pick our battles these days.

This will pass, just as it always does. I think I'm just a little taken back this round because 1. Max is typically easy going and maybe I foolishly thought he could never possibly be a victim of twoberty/threenager syndrome and 2. Lyla had already defeated her super dramatic stint by this age. But again, I must remind myself, their development timeline will vary because they are two different people. I don't know why I even bother comparing parenting round one to round two, it's rarely helpful. Max is two years old, experiencing and learning just as he's meant to... but if he could go ahead and wrap up this unpleasant phase, that would be swell. 

In reality, there could be worse things to groan about. These complaints are minimal. I am immensely grateful for two healthy children who keep me busy and keep my heart full. I'm a very blessed Momma. Life is good.

Growing Up

As we were driving around recently, I found myself contemplating all the reasons why being an adult is so stressful at times. I started to wonder why I ever wished to grow up in the first place. I honestly can't even remember what was so appealing about it at the time, but I assume it was just the perception as a child that grown ups get to do whatever they want. I was too naive back then to even realize stress existed. That's the beauty when it comes to childhood, sometimes ignorance truly is bliss. With this in mind, I decided to ask my four year old for some insight as to why children want to grow up so badly. In her own words, her three definite reasons for wanting to grow up are as follows: 

1. I want to take care of my own kids. 

2. I want to sit in the car without a car seat. 

3. I want to cook stuff, like chicken.

I suppose in the mind of a four year old those are some major milestones to look forward to. As simple as it may seem, I do appreciate life from her perspective. It's a reminder for me to stress less and adjust the focus of my energy to the things I easily take for granted...like cooking chicken. Hehe!

I think her desire to cook chicken probably comes from when she helps me cook. I always tell her she isn't allowed to touch raw chicken. She cannot be trusted with that type of responsibility, yet. Regardless, still a hilarious reason for wishing to be a grown up.

Max joined in on this conversation as well, but I'm still waiting for him to form his own thoughts rather than mimicking anything and everything Lyla. He will get there, someday.

Birthday Girl

Maxwell: Room Transformation

While attempting to put away and organize all of our Christmas treasures, we were inspired to officially upgrade Maxwell to a big-kid bed. You may remember several months ago when he insisted on sleeping in the guest bedroom, but with the crazy amount of visitors we've had lately he was content with returning to his toddler bed. We wanted to give Max the same amount of space Lyla has in her room, so we decided to transfer all his stuff into one of the larger rooms upstairs. I know I'm probably the only one who cares about fairness right now, but guaranteed ten years from now they will be the ones with a tape measure out comparing room size. Oy! First world problems.

Kirk disassembled the changing table and what was left of the crib in Max's room. He moved them into the attic and I felt overcome with a bit of sadness. I have so many mixed feelings about my kids growing up. This parenting gig has suddenly taken a victorious turn down 'Easy Street' being a no diaper and no crib household. I know I've been here every step of the way, but somehow it's a strange feeling of unfamiliarity knowing my babies have turned into little people. In no time at all, they have acquired essential human abilities, like communicating their own thoughts. Crazy how that works, lol. 

Meanwhile, we got Max's new bedroom arranged, leaving behind some of the old "baby" decor. He seemed very pleased with his new space. He was quiet upstairs for quite sometime later on when I went to check on him. I found him laying on his new bed looking at a book and I felt a little bit of my heart crumble even more. It's such a privilege watching him transform into such an independent little dude. He also likes to sleep shirtless these days. Kirk typically sleeps with a shirt on, so I'm curious where he picked up that habit from. Regardless, still very funny.

The room is still a work in progress, but you can get the idea from the picture below. I predict it will remain incomplete until Kirk & I can agree on the bedding, apparently we have conflicting opinions on interior design. Hehe! I suppose we could resolve our issue by letting Max decide on his own bedding...what a wild concept that would be! 

Real Talk: Feeling Vulnerable

I am grateful tomorrow is Monday. I am grateful that last week is behind me --- and after this blog post, that's exactly where I'll leave it. We survived last week and nothing more.

Obviously I'm not referring to the beginning of the week, having my mom in town until Wednesday was fantastic! Then the last half of the week spiraled downward quickly and left me feeling raw and defeated against my children. The fighting, back-talking, entitled attitudes, and constant whining day after day fueled a storm inside me. They are incredibly persistent too and, frankly, were being total assholes. I don't even understand how it got that bad. Was it that bad? Was it just me and my inability to handle it? It was three days of chaos from the kids, including unproductive demands from me. It gets to a point where the constant "NO" from me becomes nothing more than a noise to them. They neglected to listen --- I don't blame them, really. I felt bad because I was nothing more than a robot barking orders, but I didn't have energy for anything else. 

I felt like a failure, wondering where my sweet children went. I started feeling even more guilty upon the fear that their negative behavior was a result of not enough positive attention they should be receiving. I worry so often that I get too consumed with selfish matters that I forget to love them enough --- I know I always do, it's just in these moments when I worry I'm not doing enough. Those insecurities sure can be annoying to deal with. I finally tapped out on Saturday and abandoned Kirk with the wild people. It was for the best, considering he seemed to have a better grip on life than me at the moment. If the acts of a two year old can make me want to cry, like for reals, then I know it's time to walk away. The normal me wouldn't let that happen, but my hot mess status was at a ten. My only options were to runaway to Mexico or surrender to my bed. Although Mexico sounded tempting, I chose the latter...

I do need to give Lyla and Max credit --- they really are awesome kids, they are polite and mostly well-behaved, and they usually get along great. I enjoy being their mom and usually they make it easy on me. We just had a few rough days. It happens. I think bad days probably have the potential to occur more often than I realize, I'm just faced with the "I can't handle it" level of mentality when I'm struggling to balance all the other crazy aspects of life. In hindsight, the daily conflicts were the same as always --- it was simply my own reaction that created such disastrous moments. My brain overthinks itself into an explosion every once in awhile, not often, but still unwelcomed when it does occur. I temporarily lost my ability to laugh and see the happy moments in the midst of the bad. This is a must have parenting life skill and it was nowhere to be found last week.

I'm questioning if we experienced a post-Grandma Anna hangover, perhaps we couldn't handle reality after five straight days of being spoiled by her. Or maybe our household dynamic is in disarray because the absence of Taylor & Jordan gone to Idaho. Or maybe I'm just insane. Oh, I know! I'll blame the time change. Hehe! The possibilities are endless. Regardless, I need our happy energy to return ASAP. I'm hopeful it's on its way.

There is no denying motherhood is filled with so many fulfilling moments of love & joy, along with so many other emotions I never expected --- including feeling powerless and being inadequate at times. My patience was tested last week and if I've learned anything, I know it will happen many times again. At the very least, my endurance is growing.

I am grateful for a new week to do better. I am grateful for knowing that a few rough days does not equate to any long-term damage; my children tend to be continuously resilient and forgiving. I am grateful to Kirk for putting us back together after unknowingly walking into a hailstorm of a weekend. I love them all so much.

My focus for this week is being calm and patient with my kids. I'm going to slow down and listen intently. I'm going to remember the importance of balance and to breathe deeply. We are all in this together. 

Crafting is Hard

There are some days I can see the developmental gap between Lyla & Max shrinking before my very eyes. I am grateful for those days & it makes my heart feel full when they get along so well. Then there are days like today. We were working on a craft project involving glue, already a foolish idea on my part. Foolish because toddlers like to be in charge and when they aren't allowed to be in charge of something like glue it can get ugly real quick. Alright, so I was pleased as Lyla followed instructions carefully and went into full concentration mode. She was in the zone. Meanwhile, Max got all emotional and had a meltdown because I wouldn't give him "five glue!" He tried his hardest to communicate the issue, but apparently mommy failed to understand and/or comply with his "five glue" request. Oy! Today I am reminded that Maxwell is still very much a two year old and the 17 month age gap between them is still worlds apart. Good thing he's cute!

This is how I take out my aggression on Max during his spurts of twoberty.

Bittersweet Moments

It was a little over a year ago when that moving truck turned down our street, signaling Kurt & Olivia arrived for their permanent visit. I can remember in the beginning how the sound of the train kept them awake at night. Then they learned we have children who do not sleep and they adapted to the non-silence of the night. I admire their tolerance and patience. They settled in and their title quickly evolved from roommate to family. Last weekend it came time for us to close this wonderful chapter in our lives, as the home they have been building is now complete. We are excited for them to spread their Texas wings! 

BUT...

Lyla & Max have such a strong connection with each of them, so it was hard to say goodbye. Fourteen months is a long time for a little kid, especially for Max. He surely doesn't remember life without Kurt & Olivia in it.  I imagine this transition will have the similar effects of divorce on toddlers. They will adapt easily, but life will never be the same. I get emotional over the smallest change in any aspect of my life, so I knew I would struggle a little with this one. Change is hard. But change means growth and growth is good for everyone. 

They witnessed so many milestones with us----Max crawling, walking, progression & regression with sleep habits. They survived the "terrible two" year with Lyla. They experienced potty training in all its glory and disgust. They saw us at our best and at our worst. We appreciate them. And although they are a short ten minute drive away, we are going to miss having them under the same roof. 

These are a few [mostly kitchen] life hacks we learned from the Cox Family.

1. Heat tortillas on an open flame. There is no better way. I only struggle with this because it requires my full attention. No multi-tasking. 

2. Wrap above mentioned tortilla around a hot dog. It's the best. The original method of using a hot dog bun causes an overwhelming amount of breading. And I'm proud to announce we are now a bun-free home.

3. Softened butter is as good as gold. Prior to my enlightenment I viewed it as another item to clutter my kitchen. But now its deliciousness holds a special place in my heart, and my cupboard. 

4. Apple sauce is not a good substitute for oil. Let's be honest, healthy brownies that taste good do not exist. 

5. We are now dependent on a toaster...another kitchen gadget I've always avoided. The one we grew attached to left with Kurt & Olivia. I might finally break down and buy one though. Those frozen waffles are a quick and easy Lyla breakfast. 

6. A sharp potato peeler isn't a bad investment either. I had no idea my life was even lacking in that department. Olivia probably added a year to my life with that purchase. 

7. Max loves scrambled eggs. I think eggs are disgusting so it never even occurred to me that my own children might think otherwise. However, they are a nutritious treat and I'm grateful he was introduced to them. 

OH yeah, and last but not least, the thing we will miss the most is Olivia gazing lovingly into Kurt's eyes. She may hate me for this.