Learning process.

I'm learning when to interject. For a while, during this whole sharing nightmare, I would referee with a firm hand every "round" but I'm learning when to step in and when to let the girls work it out on their own. I think it's easing my every day stress a little. I wish I didn't have to talk my way through it so much ie; the many blog entries that have been taken hostage by my sibling learning process. You'd think I would have it down being a sibling myself, but I guess you don't take in much knowledge of that stuff when you are in the process of growing up! It's a very interesting life and I have to say it teaches me good and bad things about myself. Being a stay at home mom is not like any other job out there. You can't be fake; you must be truly interested in your "boss's" life; you have to genuinely care about your "co-workers;" you have to be yourself. That is raw and that is REAL. For me personally, that is very important. The good, the bad and the ugly of Mommy. Girls, I hope that you appreciate and love me for all things that make me who I am. All I want for you both is the very best, so all I can do is MY very best. On a side note, I used to have a good brain. Good, not great...but definitely a good memory. Since having two kids, sometimes I can't even remember how to drink water or hold something in my hand! Crazy how on bad days that is actually true and not an exaggeration. :( Just this morning the girls were eating breakfast and Hayden had her toast in her hand that was hanging over the back of the chair. I said, "Hayden, put your toast here." Then my brain "farted" as I panicked that the dogs would get her breakfast, "TOAST!" I yelled and then Natalie and I started laughing hysterically when we both discovered that what I really meant to say was "Hayden!" haha....oh man. I wonder if vacation would help me? Sadly, I don't think I will be normal again until college. :\ Natalie, the other day you said "Wow! Brilliant!" when something cool happened. I have said it before and I will say it again, I so dig that you are learning proper English from Peppa Pig. :) It's hilarious and so "posh" all at the same time. ;) Loves you both!!! XO Mom

So....ok....

....crazy week. We are still trying to get used to the time change...STILL. Last night a huge storm moved through the area and thundered and rained for a good 5 hours! Between 1am and 6am I was continuously awoken..>BOOM!< AWESOME. :( My girls, I know had to have been effected by it, even though neither one called out. Natalie said she definitely heard it, and by the way Hayden is acting today, I'd say she heard it too. SHE...IS..GRUMPY. Yikes. :( Clingy and wants to be carried constantly. It's such a hard day when that is the mood dujour. (insert deeeeeep sigh here). Anyway, I have a lot to get done this week for our trip to see my nieces' birthday party! Super excited to see my family. :) I love joking around with my bro and sis-in-law and watching all of the cousins interacting with each other. :) I could stare for hours at happy children playing. I'm hoping that Natalie takes some lessons she's learned lately with her and use her "nice girl" on her cousins...HOPING. Speaking of lessons, yesterday was rough for us. Natalie learned she could "hoard" and hide her favorite toys/friends from her sister. We are talking hiding under couch pillows and then jumping on them like a cat hiding her mouse! Finally I had had enough and told her those "favorites" of hers were all going back into her room and if she didn't want to share, she couldn't bring them downstairs for the day anymore. I left one down, but she screamed and cried as I carried the rest of her little "group" up the stairs. I think she FINALLY got the message that I meant business. Her whole attitude changed. We played games and went outside for bubbles and sand time. She was as sweet as pie and very helpful the rest of the day. I know it's all an adjustment period now that Hayden can walk, grab and speak. Life is super crazy. Natalie was always and has always been my quiet child, easily entertained, could play by herself and read books...very visual. Hayden needs rough housing! Constant playing and even though she does love books as well, she's a feeler, a toucher. That's how she learns stuff. She's an extremely fast learner. Saying book, ball, quack and shhhhhhhhh for shoes. :) We watch Peppa pig and when she sees her, "peppa!" and points. Did I say fast learner? That may have been an understatement! ha! Here is a cute picture of her newly sprouted hair. It's like a mohawk! Cuteness + hilarity= Hayden. ;)

Yesterday

I just had to write down yesterdays "miracles." Natalie SHARED...on her own! I didn't have to say anything to her all day. It was really, well, kind of amazing. I had talked to her the night before about how she needed to learn to share and something actually clicked. I'm hoping the trend continues at least a little bit every day. She also cleaned up all their toys in the playroom while I was on the treadmill. I turned around and was like "HUH?" It was a really nice surprise for a mom who feels like a maid most of the time. :) Then last night I told her we would have to clean up the living room because their toys were everywhere, and she said "ok, I love cleaning up!" I had another "HUH?" moment. She then proceeded to play but what she was doing was actually cleaning up. It was mind blowing! Usually she is my "neat" child, but this was just extra special. I know that rewarding for good behavior is looked down upon by some "super moms" but there is one in store for my big girl. Natalie LOVES watching the weather and looking at the maps so I thought a weather book would be an excellent reward for being SUCH a good big sister. I can't wait to see her face! She also loves Peppa Pig and the fact that they "jump in muddy puddles" and has been asking for rain boots for a long time. I think this weekend I'm going on a hunt to find the perfect pair. :) On a side note Hayden just clocked Natalie with her sippy full of milk which feels like a rock (I've been the recipient of that beating before). Natalie just said, "oww" and rubbed her leg. I told Hayden to give her sister a kiss and she wanted NO part of it. Natalie followed her and gave HER a kiss on the head! Learning, learning. :) I love you, my munchkins!! XO, Mom

Busy Busy

Obviously I have no time to blog, since it's been over a week since my last post, but I'm squeezing in some time before the girls eat breakfast. Dora is on so I have a few minutes! ;) Things have been busy busy. The teething monster refuses to leave this house! I can see Hayden trying hard to banish it but it's still lingering. :( I hate that it hurts/bugs her so much. I think I saw a white cap so I'm hoping that her pain will soon be over. This time change is throwing my girls (and ME) for a loop! They sleep late and go to bed early, which is great, but naps are messed up. I wish there was a way to keep the times the same and just not mess with it anymore cause I'm exhausted. I live by schedules and organization and although this throws a wrench it, it's only temporary. (sigh) On a different note, the girls tried a few new things last night, one of them being Talapia, and they REALLY liked it! I'm so happy. I feel SUPER healthy when I eat fish, so it makes me ecstatic that they have that good stuff in their bellies too. :) Hayden you are starting to be very interested in books...and it makes me SO happy! You love it when I read stories to you at night time, just like your sister. I can't wait for the day when you can both be read to at the same time. :) Sometimes during the day Hayden, you bring mommy or daddy books and keep giving them to us until we open them and read to you. You can already pick out things that we ask you about. "where's the pig?" and you point to the pig! "where's the cookies?" and you point to the cookies! Etc, etc....it's AWESOME! :) SO proud of you. Miss Natalie you are finally understanding the sharing thing!! YAY! Last night we had a long talk about sharing and that when you go to school you will need to have sharing understood at least a little bit. This morning you said (when I went in to get you up and dressed) "Mom...I'm ready to share my ball with Hayden"...:O HURRAY!! You did it too. "Hayden, you can borrow this for 4 days" WOW...so proud and even though it's baby steps, you are doing awesome and going in the right direction! I love you, my girls. You make me crazy and happy and proud every day of my life. I can't love you more than I do at this moment. :) XO, Mom

Finally starting to unwind.

Party is over. Birthday is over. Colds are gone from my babies' noses. Insert unwind here. Luckily both girls have been cold-free for a few days now. Just when I thought I couldn't take wiping another runny nose, it was over. Aaaaaaah....healthy children is bliss. I am however dealing with 'tudes. Lemme just say, Natalie is brave. I think she gets so angry at her sister for wanting to do everything like her and be all up in the mix. Natalie, as I've said before, is VERY particular about everything. Her hands cannot be sticky, or messy for more than a minute. The toys dujour must be within her grasp at every single second. It's just the way she is and I completely accept her and never try to change it...just attempt to modify so that more sharing is involved with less stress. It's a definite challenge. Guess I'm kinda sad to not be planning a family vacation this year. It's been hectic but fun taking those long drives to Florida the last three years, but we really need to save that money for other thing/plans we have coming up. I think it's super positive and grown-up of the hubs and I to do this. I'm sure we'll go to Padre or somewhere closer for a weekend or something. Hopefully next year we can head to Cali or back to our favorite spot in Florida. I am going to spend a lot of time at the neighborhood pool teaching Natalie how to swim this summer. We've always had her in the water during the summertime, but she's got to learn how to swim and stay afloat withOUT her float! Crossing fingers that all works out well. We are in for some rainy, dreary days this week/weekend so Mama is going to have to get creative with indoor projects! I see princess hats and construction paper jewelry in our future! Love you, my monsters!! XO Mom

Happy Birthday, Hayden!!!

So yesterday was your birthday, Miss Hayden. We celebrated on Saturday with close friends and family. I was worried you would be a little bit shy with people all over your house, but you adapted well and walked around and observed the kids and played with the "BAH...BAH...BAH!" That's what you say when you see a ball, or a balloon. It's so cute!! When we opened presents you were so excited! Making your "WOW" face and even saying, "uh-wow" :O Yea, adorable. ;) It lit me up to see YOU so lit up with all the surprises. I lit the 1 candle on your cupcake and I teared up. (you took care of that cupcake like you have had them before!) This year has been fast flying but one of the most special times in our lives. My girls, you complete my life. I couldn't ask for better daughters if I tried. You are both so spirited and lovely and I feel extremely lucky.

Happy Birthday to you, my little Haydee Belle....you are the most amazing gift, Mommy, Daddy and Natalie have ever received. We are better people for knowing you. We've been through a whirlwind together, and I know that you were meant to teach me patience, hope and a one of a kind love. I love you and thanks for being exactly who you are!! XO, Mom

Fashion?

I put a question mark on that cause I'm not sure that a stay-at-home mom knows what her fashion sense is, well this mom is unclear. I love all things fashion. I love the crazy hair and make up and the artistic garbs on the runway. I love "in the now" trends, and I like the idea of being different. Things don't always work out that way for me considering I'm on an Old Navy/Target kinda budget. I'm not complaining though, it's not exactly haute couture but it's affordable, comfortable, washable all the "able" words that stay-at-home moms really need in their lives. I do however, wish I could go downtown Austin and check out the boutiques and pick up some adorable, funky pieces I could add to my collection. I definitely could do that but I would need a sitter. :) Not that they would ruin my shopping trip, but you know, it's hard to concentrate with a 3 year old's abundance of questions and a loud-ish chatter box baby. :) That's why online shopping is so practical for me. Since I know certain stores' sizing I can get it done quick and easy...and in one week I get a lovely package of new things. I love leaving the tags on until I am ready to wear them. I do the same for the girls. It makes me feel fantastic to see new items in the closet. This weekend I was supposed to put a "cube storage unit" in our master closet (cause it is WAY small) for older clothes we want to keep and swimsuits and shoes...stuff like that. I was supposed to share it with the hubs but he didn't seem to care what I do with the organization, so I put it on my "side" of the closet and did some fun things with it. I sat it up vertically and filled all 8 cubes with shoes on display and purse storage. I feel like I'm in a mini boutique when I walk in there, even though it's not finished, it still is a vast improvement. The girls love fashion too. Natalie ADORES shoes. Every time she gets a new pair she is giddy. :) I wish I could buy her a pair every week, but you know...the "budget." Plus that's kind of glutenous and how I used to be when I was single. I love shoes so much but my love evolved into the love of the girls' clothes. I get so excited when it's time to change their wardrobes for the new season or new size. I think I created monsters cause Hayden loves holding her clothes in the morning and sticks her hands up for me to get her out and get dressed. :) Natalie likes to dress up to go places. She is now telling me, "no, mommy...the other one." ;) I got her these little roll down yoga pants and lemme just tell you, she looks so cute and so stylish and soooo cozy in them! DIG. :) Anyway, my little fashionistas, it's time to wrap it up. You are both a little needy today. Hayden is still a bit snotty and I'm totally OVER IT, but I think it's cause she's been crying and whining because she gets mad when something doesn't work right, she's also sooooo OVER IT. :( Maybe shopping would help? ;) j/k Ok...LOVE YOU!!! XO Mom