Big Milestone

I realized this week that a large reason why I keep this blog is as a sort of digital scrapbook of sorts.  So I can remember the milestones and the memories and look back on my kids little lives.  So we are still decided on getting rid of cable right now, but either way, no more TV during the day for me, back to blogging, learning to sew, photography, etc.  I'm looking forward to spring.

Anyways, back on track.  Kayla has hit a pretty big milestone I think.  I'm not sure if this is early or late and frankly I don't really care because I love that she can do this so much.

She can officially write her name.  On her own.  Without any help.  On Tuesday, at school, they have a sheet where the kids can "sign in" themselves by writing their names in little boxes.  She was so excited to show me when I picked her up on Tuesday.  Now she wants to write her name in everyone's little box.  I didn't get a photo at school, but I took some photos of her writing at home.

She also loves to write Daddy, Papa, Lolo and Brody.  She sometimes writes Mommy or Meme, but I think she's still working on M's.  She always asks me to write all family members names so she can trace them and try to write them herself.  I'm so proud.  She even writes things backwards, which I'm sure might be sort of normal, but I think it's awesome and hilarious.  Wasn't there a famous person who wrote from right to left? Oh yes, Leonardo da Vinci.  She's my own little da Vinci.

Time Consuming.

T.V. is so time consuming for me. Especially right now with the Olympics. I'm like an Olympics junkie. I love every single second of the Olympics. I love all the sports in both winter and summer. I will watch whatever is on. I love the opening ceremonies, watching all the athletes walk in, imaging how that would feel, learning about the host country through beautiful artistic elements. I love learning about the athletes and their stories. I love Mary Carillo. I'm invested and I feel for the athletes.  I. Love. Every. Second. I eat it up. I would stay up all night for 2.5 weeks to watch every second of every sport.

Alas, I don't and I can't. But my point is this: I've been getting little else done with the Olympics on t.v. And next week when they are over, we are getting rid of our cable. To save money and so we can do swim lessons with the kids. Priorities. And I think it will be good for me.  We mostly watch stuff on network t.v. anyways so we will figure things out.

After t.v. is gone, and the Olympics are over, I will hopefully be blogging more since I'll have more time on my hands (lol probably not as much as I'm imagining.)

Anyways, back to the holiday post part 1 I am WAY behind on. We spent Christmas Eve as I have always remembered it, at my maternal grandparents' house with that side of my family. It wasn't anything special but was so nice. Christmas was extra fun this year with 3 little kiddos running around, especially an almost 3 year old who had to be convinced to open ALL of the presents without playing with anything first.

Enjoy some photos from Christmas Eve...Christmas day coming soon.

Also, this Christmas was a significant step up from last Christmas where Kayla got literally everybody sick.

On Being Overdue...

No not me.  :)

My little sister is due with her second baby any day now.  I'm so excited for her and everything ahead, but she was technically due on the 12th (2 days ago).  Her first, my nephew Liam, was 6 days early so I think she is just a little anxious that this little one isn't here yet.  I've been reflecting back on my days of being overdue (8 total over 2 pregnancies) and trying to think of what to say to her to make her feel better.  Then I realized, you can't say anything really to make a overdue very pregnant lady feel any better.

So instead I'm making a list of things people say to ladies who are overdue that are meant to be helpful (or maybe not) that are very much NOT helpful and don't make you feel any better.

1. "The baby will come out eventually."  Or any variation including, "No woman has been pregnant forever."  Not helpful because it actually does feel like you will be pregnant forever.
2. "You look like you are going to pop!"  Um, because I am, hopefully soon (and I secretly hope my water breaks right here all over your feet.)
3. "When are you being induced?" Not making mom feel hopeful about labor without induction...
4. "Due dates don't mean anything."  Then why the hell do they have them??? :)
5. "Are you sure you got the dates right?" Pretty sure it's been at least 40 weeks since I got pregnant...
6. "I bet you are ready to have that baby."  Um duh, have you EVER been pregnant?
7. "Can you have the baby this weekend (or any day that is convenient for person doing talking." Yes because I'm sure this wait is tough on YOU.
8. "Bounce on a yoga ball." "Have sex." "Eat spicy food." "Take a long walk." "[This] worked for me." None of these things are magic...except for maybe sex, or spicy good, or walking...lol 
9. Daily texts/messages "Have that baby yet?"  Sorry about my husband on this one Lauren.
10. "How are you feeling."  Anxious, stressed, tired, fat, shitty, ready, irritated, a million other crappy sensations.
11. "Sleep now, before the baby comes."  Anyone that says this has never been very pregnant, because Lord knows you sleep like crap when you are very pregnant anyways.  I remember thinking it was God's way of preparing you for a baby.  Then I actually felt MORE rested when the baby came.
12. "You don't know the sex? I bet you are ready for that baby to come."  Again, duh.

No words of wisdom Lauren except I'm excited to meet the newest addition to our crazy awesome family.  And I love you. :)

Here is a sneak peeks of some pictures from Christmas time, a few good ones of the little guy that's soon going to be a big brother. 

Big Plans, Small Successes

I had some really big plans to write thoughtful and well written post on one of the three deeper topics I have my gmail list "Blog Posts" (see I do INTEND to write more, once a week is a start...), but I just came in from shoveling well more than 3 inches of snow that was called for last night during both kids nap time for an hour.  Only to step inside, take off my snow gear, and hear the freakin' plow FINALLY come to plow the street and promptly blow another 2 inches of snow BACK ONTO MY DRIVEWAY.  Curse words, curse words, curse words.  I even shoveled INTO the street to try to help and avoid this.  More freakin' curse words.

Anyways, I'm tired and I don't want to write a deep post while I'm tired.  So I will leave you with some not so great photos I took of the kids before Christmas.  I tried to get some Christmas light bokeh pictures, but the kids weren't really cooperating.  But the next day I got some cute ones of the two of them.  I'm still trying to figure out clean editing...it's not really working too great but what can you do.  I'm thinking I'm going back to the Aperture setting instead of Manual...it just works better for me, especially inside during the winter.  Maybe I'll be back to manual when I'm back outside.

Anyways, here's some photos, and I DO have plans for more posts.  A list even.  And I think Sundays are going to be my phone dump/things I'm loving post days to get some photos off of my phone. :)

Brody is never too interested in sitting where I want him to.

Daddy is pretty cooperative

Both kids are pretty cooperative when it comes to sitting with Mommy.

Kayla did NOT want to sit with Daddy.

Kayla took this...she's quite the little photographer.

Little hands helping me.

Much better mood.

Fish kisses

This series of photos is called "Kayla cheesing for the camera, Brody playing peek-a-boo with the camera"

These eyelashes...