Stay-at-home-heroes

I have no idea how people (ahem..ok, women) do it. How the bloody heck do they stay at their houses with their *darling* children day in and day out with no end in sight? I think I would literally sell my kids. I know this sounds terrible, but I also know that most of my peers agree with me. Seriously, they are a whirl wind of activity, non-stop hurricanes of clutter and glue and stink and mess. I swear they walk into a room and everything jumps off of the walls and onto the floor. I have even gone to extreme lengths to limit their toys to the far reaches of the house, in the back corner of the basement, and I still manage to step directly on a sleeping baby doll and a computer while making dinner. It is an impossible job. There is no way to keep the house clean, keep my sanity and remain a functioning social adult while doing this job. It is just about this time, mid-summer, that I begin to feel this way.  I stay home during the summer, so I have only three lousy summers of reference, but I'm pretty sure I cannot handle this. I always thought there was no way I could be an administrator and give up my summers with my (at that point hypothetical) kids. Um, yes, I can give it up. It will be sad, and I'm sure I'll cry about what could have been, but I also think I might like them more at the end of the day. I have a sneaking suspicion they might like me more out of the house, too.

*Florida Fun*

Poppy and B in the pool in Orlando

We just returned from our first family vacation. We were lucky enough to travel with both of our parents and my siblings to Florida. A couple of weeks home and back into our groove, I can say it truly was a dream vacation. We started our trip in Tampa at our parent's timeshare in Redington Beach. The weather was fantastic, and brilliantly hot. We arrived late in the day and after seeing the beach and pool, my husband turned to B and told her they needed to go up and unpack. Aghast, she remarked, "We get to stay here?" It was as if she thought that we were going to turn around and fly back home. So sweet. The best part of the week was watching Natalie, just shy of two-and-a-half become a fish in the pool. She had really only swam once before and was hesitant to get her face wet. By the end of the week she (adding a mere ten years on my life) jumped in the pool alone without a life jacket on. Luckily, she clung to the side giggling like it was the funniest thing that she could possibly do. It was great, though, a moment of true pride for me, to watch her become an independent little muffin who was fearless and brave. Bailey was sensitive, though, to the praise Natalie was receiving. They doggie-paddled around the pool independently and jumped to us mercilessly. It was fantastic, and surprisingly, sunburn free! One afternoon while Natalie napped, Bailey went shopping at a beach store with her Mimi. She came back with a bracelet and neclace set for her sister that had little dolphins on it, "because she's such a little fishy!" As it always does when they generously think of each other, it touched my heart to see her think so fondly of her sister.

After a few feverish nights, a lot of family cuddle time in our king-sized bed, and enough sand to exfoliate even Dave's feet, we left Tampa for Orlando. Dave, our siblings, and me made a brief detour to Busch Gardens on our way. It was fun adult time with a few roller coasters thrown in. They have simply fun rides at that park. In Orlando we stayed at the Palisades Resort, a small condo complex nearby Disney. It was very nice inside, modern and clean. We opted for the two twin beds this time, and threw a couch mattress between us on the floor for the girls. One of our favorite memories is coming to bed to find them asleep holding hands. So precious... A little more swimming in the pool in Orlando, but most of our time was spent in quest of Mickey!! We did a full day at Magic Kingdom, dawn to dark. Though long, it was perfect. We were able to ride nearly every ride we wanted to without a wait, and snuck in for a character lunch buffet with Piglet, Pooh and friends midday. That may have been my favorite part of the adventure. Watching the girls absolutely thrilled to see the characters in action and be able to touch them. B, of course, was happy to look on from afar, but Natalie was all about the high-five. Though they aren't necessarily huge Pooh fans, it was still fun to see them so happy. A favorite photo from the trip is the two of them sitting in front of the Eyore topiary beeming.

Every little girl goes to Disney with the princesses in mind, and Bailey was no exception. After a brief wait, we were ushered into a "private" room to meet Belle, Cinderella and Repunzel. She absolutely loved Repunzel, and who wouldn't. The girls were so super sweet to her, it was a real pleasure to see. Sadly, Natalie was taking a brief, but much needed nap on her Mimi during the princess visit, so she missed it. Her thrill was meeting Mickey. She is still waking up asking if we are going to go see Mickey and Minnie a month later! Natalie also managed to fall in love with Goofy on the trip. So much so that she traded in her pacifier for a Goofy doll when we got home (Yeah!! Mom victory!)

Bailey & Natalie as we entered Magic Kingdom

The Magic Kingdom was a dream, truly, but a day was enough, especially such a full one. After the electric parade and a monorail trip back to the parking lot, the girls were exhausted. We slept in the following morning, and decided late that we were going to go at it one more time. We chose Hollywood Studios the second day. This park definitely does not have the "magic" but the shows were great. The Little Mermaid put the fear of God in Bailey, but Beauty in the Beast was so well done and beautiful. Unfortunately, a very rainy afternoon slowed us down. After Natalie took a long rainy nap on me inside a restaurant entry way, we headed back to our hotel. It was a nice way to spend our 8th anniversary :)

Mimi and Natalie at Downtown Disney

The trip home was uneventful and long, and everyone had pretty much had it with family time by then. It took me a few days, and the girls much needed rest, to appreciate how special it all was. I've listened to the girls play the past few days, and their adventures have changed. Now they are taking the elevator (our front closet) and the airplane (the computer room) to meet their boyfriends. Hmm. So many wonderful memories and things to look forward to doing again in the future. Today an airplane flew low overhead and Bailey mused that they might be going to Disney World. It really is the happiest place on earth.
Check us out,  Sitting at Eyore Topiary





Playing around the night before we fly home!

Sit with me

The other night I was rushing around making dinner in a mad dash as usual, and my daughter was calling to me "sit with me mommy". I kept saying I"ll be right there! By the time I finally sat she was in tears and cried on and off for hours, with breaks only coming when she passed out from exhaustion. I can't help but feel guilt. Life is so short. I need to remember to take the time to cuddle.

Imagining the Future

Bailey is such a little smarty lately. She's into puzzles and says the
most amazing things. She is learning about space in school right now and was very intently explaining to Dave and I how it was gravity holding us on Earth. Amazing! Dave looks over B's shoulder to catch Natalie stuffing money down her onesie. HMM. Worst yet, she had taken it from the Lenten change collection box.
So, Bailey will be a scientist and Natalie will be a stripper. At least they will make more money than their momma!

I have no idea how people do it...

Its back to school time, we start right into the madness tomorrow. What a summer. I thought this would be idyllic-my little sweeties would play and take long naps, and dally in the sunshine and we would all be sun-kissed and sleepy from our exertions. It couldn't have been farther from reality. Well, we played, and they are sweet (most of the time), but we had quite a few struggles. Bailey is fast approaching three, and decided this was the perfect time to give up napping. This created a headache I could not seem to swallow. She was constantly exhausted, and really difficult to please. I expected three to be bad, but when we slipped through the "terrible twos" unscathed, I thought, "Gee, I've certainly done a fantastic job parenting! Look at my beautiful angel!" I'm sure I am not the first person to be tricked by an easy toddler and I won't be the last. Her behavior, good and bad, I'm finding, has little to do with me. She is a bear! Screaming so hard that she vomits, hanging on me to hold her constantly. Its been more of a challenge than I can tolerate. I find myself waiting at the door for my dear husband like a puppy. There's little he can do, though, to relieve the madness. By dinner time we are all exhausted, hungry, bored, and truly sick of each other. B starts preschool next week, full time. I'm hoping this will be exactly the stimulation and distraction she needs. Away from home, she's easy. We go to the library, shopping, parks-you name it-and she's a breeze. I keep her moving to avoid the craziness! I just don't know how people stay home with children all day long. I cannot imagine it. I look like hell, and I'm eating for three. Even though I was counting the minutes until school would end so I could hug and kiss my cuties all day long, now I find myself wishing I could get back in the classroom. As time does, its marching on, and we will be back in the frenzied pace of fall in no time. I'm sure I'll be missing them before I can even get through the front door of the school.

Time Sure Does

Its  amazing how quickly one year can go. I recently finished the Happiness Project, and one of Gretchen Rubin's favorite sayings is that the days are long the years are short. Its so amazingly true. How does time skirt by like it does? I can vividly remember a year ago. Early June, I was just back to school. Natalie was just 7 weeks old, Bailey was a terror at 18 months. It was a challenge to get dressed, to eat dinner, forget making dinner. Tonight I found myself vacuuming the stairs without holding a baby. It was carefree and lonely. The things that today seem so challenging I know I will soon miss. Driving to work with two moody babies is extremely stressful for me. But when I ride alone I'm so very lonely. Your children become part of your fabric. The thing I miss the most about being pregnant is not having them with me all the time. I can already sense that as they gradually get older and more independent that is going to be so hard for me, letting them go. Its crazy because we laugh at our own parents and then in a snap it is us that can't be without our children. It must be because they are so completely dependent on you for at least the first year and a half, that you become dependent upon them, as well. My girls are my entertainment, my purpose, my life. I'm sad as I watch them pull away from needing me completely. 

Bailey-isms

I wanted to take a moment and record my favorite Bailey-isms. These are from the mouth of a sweet two-year old who has quite the difficult time with paired consonants.

1. yummy yummy tummy tummy   
2. juicy (to just about anything she likes the taste of)
3. happy tu tu (still clinging to happy birthday)
4. nearly everything is pink or blue
5. baby hannie...baby nonie...baby bake
6. my two anns (for Tom and Ann)




 These are best paired with a teal tutu and a closed-eyed dance to 90's rap. Hmm, what's not to love?!