Spring Break 2014

The kids and I spent a we week in Florida visiting Grandma Deb and Grandpa Chip. Charlie and her kids came too! It was our last "reunion" before Deb and Chip move to Atlanta. They will be living in Atlanta two weeks from now! Crazy. We all agreed that Florida doesn't feel like "home" anymore. I don't know when I will visit the Sunshine State next.

It was the first time I flew alone with the kids. I was not too nervous. I made sure I prepared, prepared, prepared, and had plenty of time. We arrived at the airport 2 hours before our flight. He had time to eat a leisurely lunch. Katy's stroller tray made a great "table". Evie was a very good helper the entire time. Katy slept for about 20 minutes on the plane, but she was good. She didn't cry until we were on the ground waiting to disembark. We were in row 31 of 32, so we had to wait a while. Grandma Deb picked us up at the airport and made pepper crusted steak for dinner. Hmmm. good.

They next day we visited a college friend of mine. Her baby boy is two months younger than Katy.  We spent time playing the hot tub. It is small enough to heat up to a comfortable temperature. Evie had a blast. it was perfect, because she could reach the bottom.

Charlie and her kids flew in on Wednesday. The next day we went to Sarasota to visit Meaw, Uncle Dick, Aunt Jan, Ally, and Abbey. Evie and Luca played with the balloons and hunted for lizards in the backyard. The balloons and lizards entertained them for a long time. Luca kept asking to go back to Meaw's house to play with the balloons.

We went to Busch Gardens too! It has so many fun things for kids to do in the Sesame Street section. Lots of kiddie rides and the coolest "Going Bonkers" type playground. It was really cool. Evie even rode a roller coaster called Air Grover. It was pretty intense for a kid ride! There are also African safari animals like elephants, giraffes, etc. but we didn't get to that section of the park. For grown ups there are crazy roller coasters. This place has changed a lot since I was last here in college!

We met our cousin, Eli. He's cute at Uncle Mark and Aunt Donna's.

Our last full day of the vacation, we went to the beach! it is about 1 hr 15 minutes away. Thirty minutes into the trip Evie had to go potty. We were in the middle of nowhere, with no exits. Then we finally came to an exit. The first building we saw was a fire station, so that's where we stopped! Evie got a quick tour of the truck!!! How cool. 

 

Fort Desoto

We had a picnic in the camping grounds, then we headed to the beach! It was a perfect weather day, but the water was a chilly 60 something! The kids didn't care, though. Katy absolutely loved the water. She kept crawling after the waves.

The Skyway Bridge

The long trek to the beach. We loaded up the strollers like luggage carriers.

We were so sad to say good bye to a really fun week!

The Fairy Tale Ball

Evie's school held a Fairy Tale Ball for the 4 and 5 year olds. It was so precious. The kids were rehearsed in how to bow and curtsey, as well as how to pull a seat out for a lady, and even dance with a partner! The girls were dressed in their finest princess dresses. I would say the girls probably enjoyed this event more than the boys, but it appeared that all were having fun. I was able to leave work during our recess/ lunch hour to see the event! Daddy and Grammy came too!

After the dance, both kids took a nap! Katy took one on the floor!!!

The Pendulum

I knew it was going to be hard working with two kids, but I didn't realize it would be this challenging! I knew the whole newborn thing is hard, but I had no idea what it is like to split my attention between two little people, with one solely dependent on me for food and shelter. It took a while to adjust to this when I was on maternity leave. Now that I am working, it's a whole new adjustment that we haven't quite adjusted to, yet, 4 months later. 

At work I have the pleasure of leading 60 nine/ ten year olds. This is HUGE. I give them my whole being when they are with me. Then I go home and try to give my all to my own children. This is hard when I am already drained. I am hard on myself and carry a heavy guilt that I could do better with my own children. 

Then I hear my part time/ stay at home mom friends talk. This is when I really sink deeper into guilt. It's very difficult listening to them talk about just not being able to work any longer. They just can't do it for this reason or that. I want to scream, "Do you think I want to kill myself working full time"? I feel like they are silently judging me because I don't have enough "faith" or "sacrifice" in me to just quit my day job. I feel so far and distant from them sometimes. I just can't relate. It is totally me planting these ideas in my head of being judged for being a working mom. I'm working on that.

Then I battle with the idea of being proud of teaching 60 kids. It is my service that I give to others. When I see the positive effects I have on families, I know I am doing the right thing. Yet, I still beat myself up for not doing enough at home. 

What I need right now is encouragement from moms who lived through working with two young children. I need to hear it gets easier, not EASY, but not so grueling at least! I need to hear wisdom of keeping a servant's heart and a mindset of thanksgiving. I don't need to hear people saying, "Just quit. I don't know how you work anyway." Or "Sell your house and give up your materialism". I really need people to pray for us. That we can determine what is best for our family. Every person has a different walk and calling. I pray that I am on the path I should tred. I remind myself that working doesn't make me any less of a good person or any less of a Christian. In fact, it makes me realize I can't so this alone. When my heart is anxious and uncertain, I call on Him.

Adventures of Katy

I have to write down last night's events because they are a great example of how active our little Katy really is. We ate dinner at some friends house, and the older kids were all playing together so well. Katy had to hang out with the adults. I had her toys spread out all over the floor. She found everything in the house that wasn't a toy. Our friends have a lot of decorative items throughout their house that are easy for a baby to reach. Maybe I should have watched her more closely, or maybe she has never gotten into things like THAT before. For starters, Katy didn't want her sippy cup. She wanted everyone's plastic Solo cup. I darted for cups all night long. She was Just out of arms reach and knocked over a candelabra thingy and managed to spit up avocados simultaneously all over the floor. She was covered in green chunks, so my friend, Rachel, helped me bathe Katy. Later that night my friend, Greg, swooped across the room to catch a falling floor lamp! Down on the floor Katy was hugging the base with a huge grin, insinuating "Again, again"! This child has no fear! She is an adventurer! She is teaching me to chill out and go with the flow. And laugh. Because last night really was funny. 

Nine Months

Our beautiful baby is nine months old!!! She is moving up in the word! She got her two front teeth, and can crawl and cruise all over the place. She has started to babble with sounds like, "mama, dada, a-da a-da". Evie simply amazes her. Katy waves at us and starts babbling in her own little language when she is really happy. She has brought such joy to our life! We love our little baby.

Stats

28.5 inches (75th percentile)

19 pounds 15 ounces (50th percentile)

8 Months

I am very behind on blogging! It's about time I post about Katy's 8 months before she hits 9 months. The best way to describe Katy is DRIVEN. She wants to explore, touch, feel, and taste anything in her path! If she sees something that interests her, she will beeline straight to it to inspect it.
She loves taking baths with Evie! Eating bubbles is her favorite. She tries to crawl and stand in the tub. As far as mobility goes, she has been pulling up to standing and that is her preferred position. She can cruise holding onto furniture. EATING is another favorite. It doesn't matter what I give her, she will try it and gobble it up! Baby food didn't last long, as she prefers feeding herself pieces of food. She naps once a day for up to two hours. If she doesn't take a long nap, she'll take 30 minute cat naps throughout the day. At night she goes down around 7 or 8pm. She wakes up again around 12am and might eat again between then and 5am. That is the cost of nursing. I don't mind since it is extra cuddle time. She will be weaned before I know it, so I keep reminding myself of that when I am extra tired! On that note, I am so thankful I have been able to nurse (and pump). It is so healthy for both of us. When I think about it, I am amazed how God has provided the perfect "formula" to nourish a child!

Other updates include that Katy is doing much much better at the church nursery. She used to cry and fuss so bad. Now that she eats table food, they feed her, and she even has fallen asleep there! I am impressed, because she is difficult to get to sleep. On New Years Eve Judd came down with the flu, and a couple days later, Katy had it too. Then a week later Evie had the flu! I am the only one who didn't get it. That is my excuse for not blogging. I have been taking care of sick people! 

Here are some super cute pictures of the girls.