...and there was one.

I had an amazing weekend. (How's that for a good start?) Seth's friend, John, got married yesterday in Dallas so Seth and Kailee went to the wedding leaving me and Sophia here to hang out. I forgot out easy it is to have only one child at a time -- no fighting and no screaming. One thing I did realize is that it is a lot more work but it can be more rewarding (in an easier sense) when you only have one child with you. I know that may seem weird so let me clarify. When both girls are here, it is easier for me to get caught up in what is going on in my day. I tend to think that the girls can just play with each other while I do the things I need (err...want) to do. For instance, I might sit down to check my email and then before I know it I have been on the computer for an hour with Kailee and Sophia coming in and me telling them to "go play". I know this sounds harsh but it happens...a lot more than I would like to admit to. :( This weekend, while Sophia was the only one here, I found myself realizing that she couldn't very well go play with herself when she's used to having Kailee here (and she is only 2 -- YAY! -- as of today). So, I would turn away from my menial task and go play with her. It was so rewarding! I

It was also really sad. Kailee has never been away from me for more than a couple hours (except once when she stayed with Grandma while Seth and I went to KC for a night). During the day while Seth was in school, I started to panic. What if something happened? Did Kailee understand how much I love her?? How could I let her know? I am sure she was so tired of me picking her up, with tear-filled eyes, and telling her how much I love her...and making her tell and re-tell me my cell phone number and her mommy's and daddy's names. :)

Later that night when Kailee called me, ecstatic that they were staying in a hotel room, I got teary-eyed again. My baby is growing up! How/when did this happen? I have always said that I look forward to this age and now that it is here I am sad about it. Will I ever get to the point that I want another child...? I don't like the sleepless nights or the effects that pregnancy has on my body but I love my girls so much that it literally hurts sometimes. I know I would love another child just as much...hmmm...we shall see.

Back to my amazing weekend: Sophia has never had me alone for more than an hour or two at a time (and usually she is napping when that happens). She laughed a lot this weekend! I LOVE hearing my children genuinely laugh. It is the highlight of my day -- when their faces light up with laughter. It takes my breath away -- literally.

On Saturday, we hung out with some friends and it was so nice. Allison & Cory are a couple in town that have a lot of the same beliefs that we have...and Allison and I get along great. Unfortunately our children do not. haha. Allison's son, Steven, terrorizes Sophia. He is constantly pulling her hair, yanking her to the ground, etc...He is only a year old (just turned last month) but he is almost 3 ft. tall. Both of his parents are over 6'. Imagine this boy, almost as tall as Sophia, that doesn't quite understand that he shouldn't do these things. It was a trying day for Sophia yesterday (at least for an hour or so). Allison and Cory did a great job correcting Steven and finally at the end of the day, he actually came up and hugged Sophia -- though she was scared out of her wits when he came up to her with his arms out. hahaha. They will get used to each other. :)

Today was a big day! Sophia turned 2!!! When Kailee turned two she got a "big girl bed" and so we carried the tradition on with Sophia. Today she transitioned out of her crib and into a toddler bed that matches Kailee's. She has been climbing out of her crib constantly. I took pictures last night of her last night in the crib. :( It is sad, in a way. She is 2 and Kailee is 3 3/4 (haha...I know). Before I know it they are going to be going to college and getting married with children of their own.

Kailee tells me almost every day that she wants to be an astronaut, an entrepreneur ("like my mommy" -- haha), and a mommy. I just tell her she can do anything she sets her mind to. Let her dream big!! It takes big dreams to accomplish big actions.

So, Kailee & Seth got back from TX today and, while the girls napped for over 2 hours (Woo Hoo!), I went out to get a couple things for Sophia's birthday while Seth relaxed a little. These hectic weekends send him to the brink of insanity. He is definitely different than I am in that way. I could go, go, go all the time but Seth needs down time. That being said, I decided not to have the girls' friends over like I had originally planned and we made it a small family affair. I have to admit that it was kinda nice just being together with my family and watching the girls have so much fun opening presents and singing "Happy Birthday". I love my family. I love my life. God has been so good to me. I feel so undeserving...

So, I got Kailee a couple small things too so she didn't feel left out (and so I don't have to hear them fighting over Sophia's new toys for weeks on end -- selfish, I know). They both got a new baby doll, Sophia got a new doll stroller (they already have one), Kailee and Sophia both got a new book. Kailee's book is a Bible Study for Toddlers -- it is really simple and I am going to start reading it to her (them) in the mornings. Sophia's book is called "Tickle Monster" and it is really cute. Sophia also got a new outfit and a pair of shoes. We like to keep it simple. Not to mention, she got her bed. I am listening to the girls in their rooms right now talking incessantly. Their beds are side-by-side so I think they are really enjoying "catching up" from this weekend. :) I will post pictures later.

After this weekend, I realize that I need to spend more "quality time" with my girls. I knew this before and I have been really cutting back on play dates and such in order to accomplish this. One would thing that since I am a SAHM, I would be spending tons of quality time with the girls...I have learned there is a large difference between quality time and the quantity of time. When we go to play dates (and we were going 5 days/week), I tell the girls to go play and I talk to the other moms there. I don't really spend any quality time with the girls. :( I'm not sure how this works out...but I am working on correcting it.

I pray daily for patience...and lots of it. I find myself, oftentimes, getting very snappy and cranking toward the girls. I have this list of things I want to get done in one day and sometimes I need to just throw the list out the window and enjoy them...they will not always be this small and, before I know it, they will be in school all day. Part of me wants to rejoice at this and the other part of me wants to cry.

On that note, I am going to go in and tell them good night one more time...and remind them of my love for them. I am so glad that God had such amazing plans for my life. :)

Whew...I'm glad that's over!

Was it ever hectic today! I almost missed both of my flights (from San Jose and my layover) but all is well and I made it. It seems that every time I travel with the girls I learn something new about how to do things. This time I decided I was going to check all of my bags (including my stroller and Kailee's car seat). Kailee is big enough now to ride on the seat in the airplane by herself (hallelujah!). The girls both have toddler-sized backpacks on wheels (Dora and Diego, of course)...they both pulled these through the airport on their own. The bags were loaded down with snacks, toys, and a portable DVD player (as a backup plan). Both girls were wearing footed pajamas, pulling their backpacks behind them...each also wearing "harnesses" (or what I refer to as glorified "leashes"). I was carrying the car seat (for Sophia to sit in), my purse, and a "diaper bag" containing all of the last minute miscellaneous stuff that didn't fit anywhere else.



Let me just say that on the return trip I will check both car seats and all luggage. I will just say a lot of prayers that Sophia will actually sit in her seat the whole time without making too much of a disturbance. That car seat got heavy!! I needed to pick Sophia up and run a couple times but couldn't because of the seat. I also don't think I will bring a purse. I am pretty sure I can fit all of my "stuff" in one of the girls' bags. :)

Anyway...we made it safely to find out that my friend, Christina, had a beautiful, healthy 9 lb 4 oz baby girl today! YAY! She just had to come AFTER I left. haha. I guess I will just have to wait a couple weeks to see her.

Now I am sitting in the dark and both girls are still up. They had a looonnnggg day. We got them up at 4 a.m. and all though they took naps, they weren't very long, and they are wired. They are both laying on the floor beside my bed on an air mattress. Kailee insisted that she wanted to lay with Sophia. They keep giggling and laughing at one another and I feel like my mother saying "girls! Stop it and go to sleep. " haha. I feel old!

It is hot here. It is supposed to be in the 90's tomorrow. Ugh. Wish me luck with the handling of the heat and humidity; Monterey has spoiled me.

I'm off to sleep in hopes that the girls will decide that they, too, would like to do the same sometime before 1 a.m.

Thanks for all of the "safe/low stress travel" prayers!

Big trip to KS

The girls and I are headed to KS for 10 days starting this coming Sunday. I'm not really worried about the traveling this time around (like I have been in the past) but more so the time change/jet lag for the girls. Do I let them stay up until 9 p.m. KS time in order to stay on track? Do I put them to bed at the regular time of 7:30? How many days will it take to adjust? I'm guessing we will do what we always do and just play it by ear. This is definitely one of those times I am glad I am not the type of person who keeps the girls on a regular "schedule".

I have almost all of the laundry done and now I just have to figure out how to get this stroller into it's travel bag. I don't understand how a company can get the design of a stroller pretty spot on but can't make the bag just a tad bit larger to fit the stroller easier. I have been putting this off for several days -- I find that as soon as I start to try to get the stroller in the silly bag the girls decide it is time to crawl all over me and cry...really? I have zero patience some days.

It is kinda sad that I am blogging/complaining about my stroller not fitting in a bag. This world has so many bad things going on and this is what I have to complain about. God is so good. He has blessed me beyond measure. I'm just gonna shut up and go to bed now...thankful for the amazing life I have been blessed with.