One of those weeks

You ever have one of those weeks. Where life is just insanly busy you barely have time to breath, let alone have any time for yourself of with your husband? That was my week last week. Pure insanity. Finally, FINALLY got to sit down and relax, just hubby and me, on Saturday night. But I was so exhausted from my whirlwind of a week that I just passed out on a couch.

Yeah, you know I was tired if I was in bed asleep on a weekend night before I get to bed on a week day. Yuck.

But

Its over. Have to have those weeks every once in awhile to make sure I'm staying on my toes ;)

And to appreciate when I do have the time to relax, to hang with hubby, to have me time.

Anywho, life is going to get a bit crazier, since Steve is back at work- but at a NEW school (I'll have to post that story another time) so he leaves before the girls even get up, and sometimes doesnt' get home until after Izzy goes to bed :( Granted, she does go to bed at 5, but still. Its a long day for him and me.

Plus, I'm back at school

Taking a class online.

We'll see how it goes

So yeah, just updating y'all on my insanity right now

Here's a picture I took for my blogging buddy Niki for her bday last week

She wanted everyone to wear pink for her bday

And I did

It wasn't too hard, there is kinda a lot of pink around here

The girls joined me

Happy Birthday Niki!!!

Being Your Mom means

I wrote most of these the end of July. Crazy how much has changed already!

i am always covered in spit up my favorite time is watching you wake up and stretch your chubby little arms
your smile melts my heart
watching your sister giggle and squeal over you and give you kisses melts my heart x2
i can see glimpses of myself in your face
my back always hurts
i get to listen to your sweet baby talking and coos and imagine what your voice will sound like when you begin to say words
i'm the one who has to make sure you are washed and clean between your rolls (including your cankle rolls!)
keeping up with your clothing size! its hard to be organized!
i'm imagining the woman that you will one day grow up to be, but wishing you would stay this precious baby girl forever.
could stare into your eyes all day
know that this is already going by too fast



love you, baby girl

She FINALLY napped!

granted she had to be in a car, but still- a nap is a nap!

First one in a month! Girlfriend just does not sleep.

At least she usually sleeps 12 hours at night........

There goes the neighborhood.......

Apparently the neighbors couldn't handle the blue roof anymore:

Being a Mom is hard work

Not that I ever thought it would be easy. And I knew that there would be challenges I coudn't even imagine I'd face. But really, no matter what I have to go through, its all worth it and I love my little girls more than anything.
All that aside, man- it can be hard!
Izzy was really hard the first few months, but I handled it pretty well (if I do say so myself). She could have been a lot worse, and since I knew how fast it was going to fly by - and has it!- I wasn't stressing it. Jessica did pretty well with getting used to our new addition and was actually pretty easy (which was a first) so that helped a lot.
Then everything changed
Izzy is finally so much easier its ridiculous. RIDICULOUS. She's like a whole new baby. Lets almost anyone hold her, only gets up once at night, barely spits up anymore, and never really cries for no reason. Total 180.
But now Jessica has realized that her sister is here to stay and she now has to share the spotlight. She is still the center of our worlds, she's just not the only one. That, coupled with no longer taking naps (I've tried it all people! Honestly, this nap thing has really been going on since Christmas. So I guess I"m not that surprised), and her Dad going back to work. Its just hit the wall.
Last night was the tantrum of all tantrums. Over nothing. NOTHING. But I guess thats what tantrums really are, isn't it? She flipped out on me in the bathtub and went all Excorcist on me. She did the scream/yell she's only done one other time (when we put the gate up on her bedroom door so that she could no longer get out of bed 50 million times a night. She did it, drama for 15 minutes, then went to bed. And now stays in her bed everynight. Totally worth it). I swear her eyes roll back into her head and its like she's possessed. I was trying to not laugh at how ridiculous it was and trying to not cry at the same time. Finally got her calmed down, it was probably less than an hour, but I don't want that to happen. Ever. Again.
Sooooo I called up a behavioralist that I've worked with before. She's awesome. Amazing. I love her :) She works for the YMCA for this program thats free to anyone with children in any sort of child care situation ages 0 - 5. Yeah, I ain't to proud to ask for help!
She gave me some good tips, and pointed out some things that I didn't really think of. One of them is the time outs. Those really just don't work for her, and give her more attention, so basically reinforcing the bad behavior. So we're stopping that and just ignoring her behavior.
I'm also setting aside 10 minutes during the working day, when all the other kids are around, for "Mommy Jessica time." I did it today right after I put Izzy down for a nap and it was free play outside. We read a book and cuddled and sang some songs. It was nice :)

So anywho, I'm kinda rambling about all this. My point is that its hard being a parent. Little kids are just little people, and who really understands people? And I've said it a bazillion times, even though I take care of kids for a living, study and learn about in school, and have been doing it for a really long time- its so much harder when its your own!

I managed to make it to my yoga class after the tantrum. I was a few minutes late. But I'm so glad I went. A great de-stressor. And in the class the teacher told us to repeat this "mantra" in our heads

"I'm just doing the best that I can"

So true

I'm doing the best that I can.

Pictures of Jessica at school over the past year

(for some reason I could only upload one collage. So thats 1/2 the year;) )

Jessica

It has ben such an amazing experience being able to stay home with you- as your mom & as your preschool teacher. We are so lucky that I am able to still bring home an income and never have to put you into any childcare, or even preschool! I chose to open before we even got pregnant because I would be able to do what I love and stay home wiht my kids. What I didn't realize was how truly amazing it would be to watch you learn & grow with the other preschoolers. I am amazed everyday at the new things you say, the songs you sing, the dnaces you do, how you play with your friends, and everything that you learn. There have been a lot of ups and downs, but I would never trade any of it for the world. I love you princess, and I'm so proud of the smart girl that you are!

xoxo

love

Mama :)

Help me figure these out......

I get daily emails from Baby Steals. Its a website that has a "steal" a day on baby items. Some necessities, like the moby wrap or slings or diaper bags, but mostly just cute, frivilous things. Shoes, socks, blankets. And some things sell out right away. So, you kinda want to check the site as early as possible for the "steals."
Today the steal is for BabyLegs NotSox:


Basically, they're like leg warmers. And I just don't get it. They were SOLD OUT. With in an hour of being posted. Seriously, I just don't get the big thing with these. I guess they look cute on:

But really, how are the different than tights? Or leggings? I know they're super trendy and will be gone soon, but can someone please explain to me why they are so trendy now?

Thanks :)