Lyla: Birthday Interview

We recorded Lyla's birthday interview today and I'm so happy that I actually remembered to do it the same month as her birthday! Unlike Max, where as I completely forgot until six months later. Whoops! Anyway, this is just a fun little tradition that I hope I can keep up with. I look forward to watching the answers evolve through all the different stages of adolescence. I am hoping we can get some soul crushing eye rolling at some point. I know it's in her genes somewhere. It will be great fun! I went back and watched the interview we did for her third birthday and I am amazed at how much older she is now. It was two years ago, so of course she has changed, but sometimes the actual realization doesn't sink in until I go back and watch old videos or look at pictures. She still has the same spunk, but I miss that little three year old sometimes! 

I try to ask the same questions in the same order each year. The answers are always so funny to me because they are usually nothing I would expect or responses I would provide if I was answering on her behalf. The on-the-spot answers is what makes it authentic and entertaining though, so we will just keep rolling with it. 

Max sat on my lap for almost the entirety of Lyla's interview this year, which is pretty impressive for his little attention span. I think his commentary and giggles in the background are my favorite part of the interview this year. He is a goof ball. Enjoy!

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. 

Summer Bliss

I feel like we are floating right on through the summer, both literally and figuratively. The leisure levels in our house have peaked between the endless morning snuggles, swimming until we're soggy, and frequent trips to the snow cone shack. I can hardly remember a more carefree summer. However, over the past few days I've been yearning for the routine we once followed earlier this year. I miss attending all of our normal weekly activities. The intention of keeping up with a summer routine is tough when fun is the main priority. I've managed to keep our nap time schedule consistent, although even that is hanging on by only a thread. The best way to describe this summer is 'simple' and I guess I'm used to being more occupied than that. We are still in the midst of summer, yet the whispers of balance and consistency echo in my mind. I am looking forward to Autumn, including all the changes that come along with it.  

This brings my awareness to thinking about how much our lives will change in the next few weeks. The kiddos will begin school in August right as I begin working part time, so I am really trying to absorb as much of this complete freedom as we have left. It's hard to imagine this chapter coming to a close for us, but I am excited. The kids are excited. It will be a positive change overall. The choice to change our circumstances came a little sooner than I anticipated, but I still think it arrived right when it was meant to. I never planned on my role as a stay at home mom [SAHM] being infinite, yet I find myself reflecting back on these few years of my life that have been completely devoted to my kids. I will forever value this time of my life. It's been a huge blessing and I am so grateful we were given the opportunity to move to Texas. As tear-jerking of a decision it was, I can't imagine the emotional [& financial] hardships we would be facing in Idaho. We wouldn't have the same options as we do now, two incomes would be completely necessary. And as eager as several grandparents were to tend babies and/or help with childcare costs, I'm just not sure it would have worked out. I mean...life always works itself out...but I'm certain all sanity would be spent. 

I discovered an appreciation being a stay at home mom that I otherwise would have never known existed. It's more than I ever imagined and nothing like I expected. I could have missed out on so much. The opportunity I've had to be a mother to my children and nothing else has been so rewarding. It's expanded my ability to not sweat the small stuff, taught me patience, along with countless life lessons, and grew my heart by ten sizes. And granted, that will never change. I will continue to be a mom. My responsibilities will remain. My babies are still my babies! I'm not going to define myself any differently, but for whatever reason my brain is doing some serious preparation for it. 

I don't particularly like the way our culture divides SAHM's and working moms anyhow. The labels get tossed around like ego covered confetti and I find it incredibly annoying. The most important similarity is we all pour the same heart into our children. It's 100% from sun up to sun down. Any time spent away from our children is still spent thinking about them. It never stops, for any mom. I have witnessed the dedication among so many incredible moms with my own eyes and I try really hard not to determine the worthiness of any mother, because I know there are so many challenges no matter where you fall on the spectrum. I'll step down from the soap box now and work on finding my new happy place right in the middle of that spectrum. 

My working situation is unique and will still allow me to be readily available for my kids. The work hours and school hours are the same, so the stress of schedule conflicts will be minimal. It will still be a transition for us, but I anticipate an easy one. And surprisingly I'm not feeling anxious about any of it, with the exception of wondering what people wear to work. I know what people wear to the grocery store, park, and pool....but how in the world do people dress for work!? I can't really remember, but luckily I'm really good at shopping. I'm eager to familiarize myself with a new work atmosphere, but I'm even more excited for Lyla & Max. They are going to love the classroom environment, love making friends, and probably love a little break from me too. Ha! They are independent little people now and they are ready. 

My heart is fuller than full this summer, but I'm looking forward to dusting off the retired parts of my brain for a few hours a day. I love being with my kids, but there are some days they make this parenting thing a little too monotonous for me. [insert glass of wine here.] Yes...they still argue, claw each others faces, test their limits, and try to suck every bit of life out of me. I'm pretty sure those things will last for many years to come. But these days I'm no longer overwhelmed by two babies in diapers. I'm not obsessed with doing everything exactly just right. I'm no longer sleep deprived. I've traded in my milk factory position for a part-time referee. It's the little things that slowly change to make me realize babyhood was victorious, I survived life with a toddler, and now this preschool phase is blossoming into something pretty special. 

Mindful Motherhood

I was in bed the other night trying to quiet my thoughts and find dreamland when I heard Lyla walk downstairs and enter the kitchen. I'm suddenly wondering how I knew it was Lyla at the time --- psychic mother abilities, I guess. Anyway, I listened as she dispensed some water out of the fridge and went back upstairs. If you know Lyla, then you can understand why I was in disbelief thinking about what just happened. I can count on one hand the number of times she has returned to her bedroom without assistance after waking up in the middle of the night. I felt proud of her, as I selfishly stared at the empty nest of pillows and blankets I arrange for her each night on the side of my bed. Only a few minutes had gone by and I found myself upstairs crawling into her bed snuggling up next to her. I giggled to myself for being completely ridiculous as I drifted off to sleep.

That's how this parenting stuff goes a lot of the time, for me at least. I am constantly conflicted by mixed emotions and being pulled in opposite directions of wanting to slow down vs. hurry up. I want them to sleep in their own beds, but feel sad when it actually happens. It's so odd. I tend to do a lot of reflecting anytime my kids make a transition into more independent beings, which seems to be a lot lately. It makes me happy and sad --- happysad. That word should probably be an actual synonym of "bittersweet."

We have reached a chapter in this childhood/parenthood dynamic that I have looked forward to for a very long time, including when becoming a parent was just a dream of the future. I've truly enjoyed most aspects of my parenting journey, some more than others. I loved loved loved my newborn babies, but those days were much more challenging for me emotionally compared to now. The place we are right now is a lot of fun for me. I have these two little people who can communicate their needs and wants, they are old enough to participate in a broad range of activities, and most days they let their imaginations lead the way. I'm so grateful for the time I'm able to spend with my kids. I'm entertained on a daily basis. And somehow, I feel this blissful stage slipping through my fingertips faster than it ever has before. Why do I dwell on the inevitable changes of the future? I have no idea.

I am constantly coming to the realization there are some things I will never experience again, in regards to my own children that is. I will never change their diaper again. I will never worry about one of them crawling around the playground eating bark, uhh or cat poop. I will never smell like boob milk again. I'm even nearing the end of helping to get them dressed each day! And eventually all these other little tidbits of parenting are going to pass by me as well --- things like buckling car seats, turning on light switches, and sharing the bed with two tiny bed hogs. And although I'm well aware this is the natural process of how this whole thing works, it still just seems shocking how fast it all happens. I'm doing my best to make myself aware of all these little things that add up to being a parent. In making myself aware and fully present, I hope to look back upon these years with no regrets. It doesn't have to be perfect either. 

The time I have right now with my children is something I value beyond anything else, but that doesn't mean I don't require being reminded of such insight on a regular basis. I occasionally end the day with a feisty attitude and think "Alright, you guys are four and two. That's probably good enough. Time to move out!" Joking ... but I do have to remind myself every single day to savor these small moments, the daily and routine moments. It can be challenging --- especially during the frequent battles of sibling rivalry where hitting is the preferred method of communication, the bad attitudes paired with back talking, and all the other limitless amounts of frustration that come along with raising children. Screaming back at them has proven to be unproductive.

Although putting together each piece of the puzzle can sometimes feel overwhelming, I have to remember that all those things and all those lessons are contributing to one big picture. And the big picture is preparing our children for a world from which their parents cannot shield them from. It's hoping we've done enough to teach them right from wrong, let them experience enough but not too much, and allowed them to make choices and learn from their own mistakes. And most importantly, it's loving them enough to know no matter what happens or how old they become, there is always a space in Momma's bed for them.

There really are so many aspects of childhood that can easily get rushed through simply because we are so eager for our kids to advance to the next checkpoint in life.  Obviously my thoughts on motherhood have only progressed for four years, so I'm interested to read back my logic in another 10+ years.  But one mindset I'm confident will never change is the reminder to myself to slow down. breathe. & enjoy. 

And now I miss my mom after writing this. siiigh. 

Sappy Seasonal Change

We spent a majority of this past weekend relaxing, doing nothing spectacular. I suppose we did celebrate Starshine’s [Barbie] birthday on Saturday, which was likely pretty spectacular in Lyla’s world. We even bought balloons and decorated. Pretty silly. It was actually Kirk’s idea initially, which makes it even sillier. I don't think he planned on it going as far as it did. [insert evil laugh here.] We had fun. 

Lyla’s had her diva pants on since our return from Florida, so she has required a daily dose of nap. She can return to that no-nap lifestyle when she starts behaving like her pleasant, normal self again. And Max! I don’t even understand how it’s possible, but he grew up a whole lot during our four day separation from each other. He doesn’t seem like the same kid, he even looks older. He has a lot to say these days, despite some words still sounding like jibberish. He is a hilarious little boy. And definitely Lyla’s biggest admirer. I hope that never changes. I’m so lucky to have such beautiful, smart, funny, amazing, cute children. Is my biased showing!?

This is the first week I’m incorporating a schedule for Fall and working back into a normal routine. I feel like parenting is a lot like dieting --- you always know what you should be doing, but sometimes you get lazy and screw up. Then that little voice starts whispering phrases such as, "you're only cheating yourself..." and "you will pay in the long run..." I am a weak individual!!! The change of season is always a good time to refresh and focus on any areas we’ve been slacking. This summer has been carefree and so much fun, yet so exhausting. Who am I kidding --- life is exhausting regardless of the season! The kids both developed a bit of separation anxiety over the summer, so I’m hoping to reverse that with some frequent social interaction with other little people. We will be returning to story time at the library and we enrolled back at The Little Gym. We are super excited about that! I’m still searching for one more weekly activity for us, preferably something free. The park is always a good filler, but once it cools off we tend to visit the park several times a week anyway. As much as I enjoy keeping them busy during the week, the whole schedule thing is mostly for my own sanity. It's easier if I start my day with a game plan. If we sit home all day I usually want to destroy my eardrums and/or stab my eyes out by the time Kirk gets home. And you know misery loves company!

I worry a lot about the little things that come along with this parenting gig. I analyze and over think basically everything that happens to my kids, including decisions I have to make for them. Along with most parents, I want to provide the most fulfilling life possible for my kids, yet give them enough space to experience the consequences of life for themselves. Finding a balance can be difficult sometimes and I imagine it won’t get any easier. I read a quote recently that said, “Raise children who won't have to recover from their childhood.” That really is the most important thing and so far, I think we will be just fine. I know we have happy kids. I know they are loved. All of the other stuff will fall into place. I think back to my own childhood and can’t recall a single moment when I thought my parents didn’t know what they were doing. My parents weren’t perfect, no parent is because there is no perfect way to parent --- but as a little kid, I assumed my parents were perfect simply because they were my parents. My point is kids don’t worry like adults do.

Anyway, Moving on. It dawned on me that this is my last year without a kid in school, assuming we start Lyla in Pre-K next year as planned. I intend on finding a program for her three days a week next year, in hopes that she won’t be blindsided when she starts Kindergarten full time the following year. Anyway, once again, I’m feeling sad and nostalgic about an event that hasn’t even happened yet. I always do that! I can cry at the thought of Lyla and Max graduating high school. Why!? How!? It’s such a privilege to stay at home with my kids during these early years. We are in a really great stage and having a lot of fun. I really try to soak in all the time I have with them, even the hard days --- those days when I lack adult interaction and daydream about having a desk job. I know eventually our lives will be different than they are now. There will be a day when the only shadow that follows me around is my own. I see that day lingering in the distance. And it makes me sad. It is so important to enjoy life as it is now. 

In other news, Elsa made a live appearance at our home. I know I know --- she looks a lot like Lyla. But you better believe this girl got feisty if you messed up and called her Lyla instead of Elsa. Thank you to Aunt Taylor for the beautiful Elsa make up.  You make the people of Arendelle very proud.

Sleep Routines

It's that time of year again when we change our clocks, allowing daylight to stick around just a little while longer. Although the adjustment can feel like we are getting an hour of our day robbed from us, I actually prefer this time change because it means it's still light when Kirk gets home from work. However, any time change means a potential disruption in our sleep schedule. Bedtime has definitely been sneaking up on me the past couple days. 

Our babies are not natural born lovers of sleep, especially Lyla. That girl has some wild sleeping patterns. I've always tried to be really consistent with our bedtime rituals and stick to a schedule. I feel like it's the least I can do to help them out. But as our kids grow, their needs and wants change and so does our bedtime routine. We've been in the same groove for a few months now and I've really enjoyed it. 

Lyla's bedtime has always been a little later than I would typically like, but Kirk doesn't arrive home from work until 7:00 --- give or take thirty minutes. So ever since our move to Texas we set her bedtime at 9:00 so she could spend some time with her dad without feeling rushed to get through dinner and get ready for bed. Max isn't a night owl like Lyla and he could never make it until 9:00. He's always been on the 8:00 bedtime schedule, until recently. 

I used to incorporate bath time into our nightly routine, especially when they were little babies. Obviously it makes more sense to bathe them after the inevitable mess created during dinner, but for the same reason of not feeling rushed when dad gets home, we now like to get baths taken care of late afternoon. or whenever --- since baths are a source of a fun time for them!

Because the needs of these kiddos are constantly changing, we've been able to merge their bedtime routines over the past several months. It's turned into our nightly family activity and I will be very upset if anything [like the time change!] screws us up. I just wanted to dedicate this blog post to giving a detailed description of our evening on a typical basis. It might be boring to read, but it's mostly for my own reference. I know the day will come when Max refuses to be rocked to sleep. The day will come when my arm no longer goes numb from rubbing Lyla's back. Those dreadful days are ahead and when they do come, at least I can look back to this blog and remember all these treasured memories. 

Here we go!

Around 8:00 the whole family climbs into Lyla's bed for story time. Lyla and Max pick out an assortment of books. The book about a freight train and the superhero books are regulars. Kirk likes to spice up the repetitiveness with some really impressive voices. His sound effects are pretty awesome too. Then after our twenty-ish minute snuggle sesh, Kirk always asks Max if he wants dad to put him to bed. That's when Max clings to me while saying "Mom!" Actually, it really sounds like "Meeeehm" when he says it. Max gives hugs and kisses to Kirk and Lyla, then we venture off to his room. Max still thinking he is the boss for choosing who puts him to bed, when really that is all part of our sneaky plan to build some enthusiasm about going to his bedroom. 

I sit with Max in his chair for approximately ten minutes. I rub his back and talk to him about his day. His body is getting so long that, I must admit, it's getting a little awkward to hold him like a baby, but I will make it work as long as possible. Then I lay him in his crib with his binky, he wraps his arm around hulk, rolls over and closes his eyes. Sometimes he gets a little feisty about the order in which his blankets get put on top of him. It's a bit of a communication issue, as I can't exactly figure out what his deal is with the blankets. But after a few tries of putting them on in a different order, he usually seems satisfied. It's a weird thing. He settles in and sleeps until morning. We snuggle in bed in the morning until Kirk gets in the shower, then Max is usually eager to join him in getting ready for work.

While I'm saying goodnight to Max, Kirk remains in Lyla's room. They started this new habit of drawing funny faces on pictures and then posting them to Snapchat. I eventually come back to Lyla's room and she promptly orders Kirk to leave. It's like she is excusing him from his shift. It's pretty funny. This is when the serious rituals start. Lyla will not close her eyes until we complete all of the following steps. And if I try to rush through or skip anything, she knows. There are some nights when I wonder what I got myself into with all these elaborate steps I've created. 

The first thing we talk about is our day. I always ask her to tell me something that made her happy. Then I ask her to tell me something that made her mad or sad. It's actually a great time to reflect on any disagreements we may have had. She is generally pretty logical, but there are times throughout our week when she gets so overwhelmed with emotion that it's difficult for her to comprehend logic. It's easier to talk about those times when we are laying in her bed. It's also a good time for me to acknowledge my own imperfections. I tend to apologize to her for being impatient or a lazy listener. Then she wants to know our plans for the following day. This is fun, except on the days that I don't have anything planned activity wise. Then I just have to make playing with barbies sound like the best day ever, which is actually what Lyla would prefer to do most days anyhow!  

You would think she would be good with a hug & kiss after all that, but no. The next thing I do is list out "all the people who love lyla..." I say all the names in this slow, methodical voice. There have been times when I try to say the names at a faster pace, especially if I'm tired or there is a TV show I am itching to watch. Lyla does not allow it. "Mom, you aren't doing it right..." Now I've learned my lesson that it's best to just do it right the first time. The list goes like this:

"Your mommy loves you. Your daddy loves you. Max loves you. Krew loves you. Kurt & Bya love you. Charli, Jeremy, & Hali love you. Grandma Julie loves you. Grandpa Monte loves you. Cameron loves you. Ashton & Jarem love you. Taylor & Jordan love you. Sydney, Rob, & Scarlett love you. Grandma Anna loves you. And Carl. Grandpa Dave loves you. Grandma Carter loves you. Grandpa Paul & Grandma Shelby love you. Uncle Jake loves you. Grandma Paula loves you. Grandpa Steve loves you. Grandpa Rick loves you. Grandma Becky. Aunt Kari and Chad love you. And Madison, Chloe, & Libby. And those are all the people who love Lyla."

*Please note* Although the names on this list are clearly of elite status, it does not include all members who undoubtedly have love for Lyla. If you feel your name should be included on this list and it isn't, please do not take it as a personal attack. It is not our intention to offend anyone or hurt feelings. There are additional names I've considered adding, but I simply do not wish to create more dialogue in our already very tedious night time routine. Oh. And the list is in no particular order either. I know my gram might start over thinking that one!  *Carry on*

The name game concludes and that's when I begin scratching Lyla's back. In a perfect world she is starting to feel sleepy. Her eyes are getting heavy and I watch her transition into her first phase of sleep. It's nice when that happens. It makes me feel pretty victorious. In reality, she usually starts pulling out the stall tactics after a few minutes of getting her back scratched. She will ask for a family picture, for the hall light to be turned on, or some water. Every once in awhile she will start her sentence with "umm...um...um..." and that's when I know she is getting desperate for an excuse. 

If this happens, I will stay in her bed until she does fall asleep. It's not unusual for me to doze off as well. If I have work to do or blogging, Lyla is agreeable to me being on my laptop outside of her bedroom. The tapping noise from my typing must be continuous though or she starts calling my name. 

In a perfect world she sleeps in her bed until morning. It's nice when that happens. In reality, she usually sneaks into our room in the middle of the night. At least now she does so silently, instead of her old ways of screaming bloody murder her entire walk to our bedroom. It really doesn't bother us when she comes to our bedroom though. The only time we question why we allow it is when she starts doing cartwheels and someone gets a kick to the face.

It's funny how typing all this out suddenly made this process seem so ridiculous. Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't. What matters is that it works for us. The days can be full of so much chaos, having a predictable evening is sometimes what I look forward to the most. It's the most peaceful part of my day. 

2014 Review

2014: a fantastic year for me & my family! 

We persevered through the emotional roller coaster of Lyla turning two. I have a feeling three is going to have a brand new bag of surprises! 

My baby boy turned one & decided to start acting like a toddler. *crying noises*

March came with the arrival of our baby niece, Scarlett. I need to squeeze her. 

I married my best friend in August. It was the perfect wedding for us & never would have been possible without my amazing support system. 

Our best friends lived with us almost the entire year. It was awesome. Then they went and broke our hearts in October. *more crying noises*

I finally wasn't pregnant. *

*I loved both of my pregnancies, creating life is a beautiful thing. However, it's been since 2010 since I went a whole year without carrying a little person inside me. My body finally feels rejuvenated. 

I think I forgot to tell my blog that Lyla got to meet Queen Elsa.
What a TREAT! 

I sorta think resolutions are a ridiculous trend, yet I tend to make them anyway. 

The new year symbolizes a fresh start. It's a time to reflect on all of one's accomplishments and acknowledge any douche-like behaviors. Soooo. Besides all the normal stuff like be kind, be present, be on time, be active, be me...here it goes:

I'm going to work on being more patient. I constantly find myself asking Lyla to take a deep breath, when sometimes I need to slow down and do the same. This simple act really helps. 

I'm going to drink less caffeine. I'm pretty much a coffee/energy drink junkie. And I ask myself, for what reason? It does nothing to energize me. It's simply a bad habit that I'm going to [try to] replace with H20.

I'm going to take better care of my skin. umm aka use anti-wrinkle cream. Is that a totally vein resolution? Yeah. Well. I already made my first purchase, so too bad. I noticed some eye wrinkles and my 25 year old self is not ready to embrace any of that nonsense. Get out of here wrinkles! Young & vibrant skin is making a come back! 

The 2014 Guest list Includes: 

Priscilla spent an entire month in Texas. I can't believe that was already almost a full year ago.

Grandma Paula & Steve visited. Grandma is the world's best pretender. We had so much fun & even convinced them to stay a couple extra days! 

My mom & grandpa Dave road tripped all the way here. Taking care of toddlers and old people is pretty great material for a reality TV show. 

Monte, Julie, Cameron, Sydney, Rob & Baby Scarlett traveled via airplane to spend some time with us, including a weekend in Galveston. Beach house = yes. Beach with Babies = pass. 

Taylor and Jordan partied it up in Texas all summer long. We miss them! 

I kidnapped Libby for ten days, for the second year in a row. I'm looking forward to continuing that tradition again this summer. 

I just love having guests & there are many more I plan on bribing/luring/tempting in 2015.

Cheers to making 2015 another great year! 

Cooler Weather Please

We have missed the park a lot lately. This Texas heat can be a real fun killer sometimes. It is September but that doesn't mean cooler temperatures for us quite yet. Max hasn't been able to experience much park time as a walking boy and I'm just so excited for him. I decided we needed to push ourselves a little harder to adapt to this hot and humid weather. I noticed it "cooled off" to 87 degrees one day this week, so we loaded up the car and drove to the park. 

Well. We it turns out that I'm not crazy. It is hot. I laughed when I discovered we were literally the only people at the park. Even the squirrels were hiding from the heat. It was so fun for me to watch them play together though. As we arrived, Lyla said to me, "Don't hold him, Mom. He can walk." or the other line that killed me was "No mom, you just stay there. I will show him." I tried to hide in the shade as much as possible, as Lyla and Max ran around for a solid half hour before I could convince them to leave. They both had sweat dripping off their faces. It's okay though. A little sweat is good for them.

For the most part, we have a fall schedule in a good rotation for the week days. We throw in grocery shopping and play dates [hopefully the park soon!] at random. I think having a schedule helps our days go smoother and I've noticed that Lyla has a happier attitude when she knows what is coming next. Most days I like to be done with breakfast, have the kids ready, and in the car for whatever activity or errand we have for the day by 9:00 am. It's best when we get home just in time for lunch and have nap time shortly after. I feel like getting out the door first thing in the morning gives us a slight sense of real world structure that is easy to miss out on by having the leisure of being a stay at home family. Plus, there is less shame in a lazy afternoon if we have a productive morning. 

We started a music class on Wednesday mornings. It is totally cheesy and over the top. The teacher reminds me of a Disney character. Max and Lyla really love it. Their dance moves are hysterical. I really enjoyed taking Lyla to the Little Gym last year, but carrying Max in the baby harness was becoming physically impossible. It seemed like a hassle this year to arrange a sitter for Max every week just to take Lyla to gymnastics for an hour. Not to mention the extra expense of finding an individual activity for Max to participate in. It has to be fair. Geez. Lol. This is a nice family activity and suits their age group just fine for now. 

After our return from Idaho I wasn't sure if Max would make the switch to a one nap rotation or not. To my surprise, he eased right back into two naps per day. It has been a delightful three weeks. Unfortunately, the only thing constant is change and this week he is resisting his morning nap. In the event the morning nap does occur, it makes his afternoon nap completely worthless. I think this is my cue that he is ready to make the one nap transition. We have tried out taking only one nap the last couple of days and he seems to prefer it. The only set back with one nap is he is ready for bed a half hour earlier and that means less play time with Dad. 

In addition to the nap changes we are making, Lyla is no longer falling asleep as easily during her regular nap times. I would say, twice per week, she lays in my bed for an hour and half before I finally let her come out and play again. We have agreed that even if her eyes don't feel tired she has to have quiet time for a while. As long as she doesn't get grumpy I suppose I can adjust to this change. However, I am really hoping this is a phase and she will get back to her awesome afternoon nap sessions.  I like having those two hours of solitude in the afternoon. It isn't easy being enthusiastic about ordinary tasks all day long and nap time gives me time to recharge my mom juice.

Back to Texas. Back to Normal.

We are back. I am so happy to be home. Idaho will always have a permanent home in my heart, but my happy place is in Texas with Kirk, Lyla, & Max. The babies had a lot of fun times in Idaho and bonded with so many relatives. However, we have only been home for a few days and both of them already seem just better. Before our flight I explained to Lyla that we were going back home. Her response was, "what kind of home?" It made me laugh. 

She had no trouble remembering "what kind of home" as soon as we arrived. We have spent most of our time so far getting reacquainted with our house. After spending a month in Idaho, there is currently zero routine. Which I hate. I don't know what time is nap time. The bed time routine seems so foreign. I am working on reintroducing Lyla to a hairbrush. At least we are cooking meals at home again. The amount of french fries we consumed in Idaho was getting to be just shameful. I know we will get back to normal very soon. It's actually nice start over with a clean slate. 

I left the boobs on the airplane, meaning Max is having to get used to a very new normal. My goal with both my babies was to breastfeed for at least twelve months and longer until one of us no longer enjoyed it. As I've mentioned before, it was really challenging when Lyla was a baby and we only worked out for a few months. Max and I have been more successful and it's been a wonderful experience for both of us. I truly love being his source of comfort. Unfortunately, he is becoming a very aggressive eater and I no longer enjoy nursing him. I feel like a mobile drinking fountain and/or  chew toy. It makes me feel mad at him and I don't want to feel angry with a one year old. That is just silly. It's time for me to reclaim my body. I'm doing my best to hide temptation by wearing  loose shirts, and so far he seems to be adjusting well. 

I am so proud of both of them for how well they adjusted in Idaho. I was worried after how overwhelmed they were during our Christmas trip. Max changed and grew substantially while we were there. I feel like I left with a baby and returned with a toddler. He communicates a lot more now and is beginning to say words. Lyla seems different after being there too. She is funnier and even more clever than before. During our visit, she practiced her Frozen performance for anyone who would watch. She spent quality time with all of her grandparents and even got to participate in a few of my old kid traditions. aka: driving on grandpa's lap. "ha-ha kids!"