Morning Gray Mood

I don't know if it's pregnancy or 28 months of parenting; maybe a little of both. I have been fighting those grayish feelings that just make you want to stay in bed. I came downstairs at 6 this am to grab a breakfast all by myself. It was heavenly. Then, I fell back asleep on the couch for a couple of hours. It was nice to not have the sweet demanding chicas giving me orders or wanting some of my breakfast. It was worth pulling myself out from under the warm covers and my bed to tiptoe down to spend some QT alone.

I told Grady something needs to change. My schedule is so monotonous and I don't always thrive when that's the case. I've always like sponetanaity and change! I've tried to embrace and just enjoy this stage. And I do at times. Im just struggling with what most stay-at-home moms probably struggle with which are things like no time to myself, loneliness, frumpy mom syndrome:-) and the like. On the other hand, I love spending everyday with the girls. Watching them grow and change has been so much fun! Getting to see them learn new things each day is my favorite par of this job. And I really wouldn't trade these for anything. My hormones have just won as of late and I'm trying to take back heart and mind.

I sense God is challenging me to embrace him and life in ways I have never done. I want that. Ideally do! I fall short each to do this. My motivation and energy level fail me most days. I just long for those sweet moments of light lifting in the Word and feeling His gentle presence refresh and fill me like none other.

My plan is to put the girls in a summer Mother's Day Out program. I started the re-enrollment process to finish my Master's in counseling, and I may do a few swim lessons this summer. these are my plans to be refreshed. Now to take those and lay them before the King and see what He say... Desiring His approval and plans to supersede mine.
I have hit my limit.

She's Like a Pitbull

Lately, Evie will grab Eden by her hands and play "Ring Around the Rosies". Eden usually does okay with her big sister dragging her around in circles. It is so funny to watch until Evie gets too rough and Eden attacks!

Eden is our little tomboy. She is strong, knows no fear, does not know her own strength, and throws caution to the wind; hence her chipped front teeth from throwing herself in her crib and hitting the wood.

Last week Grady was tickling and playing on the floor with Eden and all of the sudden she rolled into his chest and took a bite! He had teeth marks and a whelp! This week she bit me and it hurt! She has been prone to bite my legs before she began walking to get my attention. But it has been months since she did that!

So, last night as Evie was dragging EE around the living room, Grady said, "Evie, be careful! Eden may bite you! She is like a Pitbull!" And she will! She will do it. We have to be careful or she will get rough and I don't even think she realizes her "roughness". Usually she is laughing and smiling when she bites.

Whew! She is my fun little mess! So loving,sweet, aggressive and unpredictable when playing!

I Can't Like It

"Oh Evsie! You do too like it!"

"No Mommy! I can't like it!"

Lately, Evie says this to me about anything she doesn't want to try. For example our dinner time hour is being ruled by this phrase. And Grady took her upstairs yesterday in offset to show how serious we are about her eating the food served. She has always been a great eater. As of late, she is easily distracted and would rather play than eat. This leaves her tummy empty and growling at about midnight in which she wakes up and informs us "I hungry! Eat some?!"

The phrase is really cute coming out in her two year old voice. But it loses it's cuteness when we are awakened for her midnight snack. We are working on this one.

Little Eden tries to communicate so bad. She has a hilarious jib wrist that she does. She'll look at me and start nodding her head like she wants to sell me something while talking like crazy in her baby language. It is so dang cute. I could eat her up when she does it. I usually start laughing and then she laughs too! We both start laughing and it's, well, contagious! Evie will join in and we have fun.

The Camera Hunt

After Christmas festivities were over I realized that I had misplaced my charger for my camera's battery. I have no idea where it could be. I have looked in all appropriate and inappropriate places that a camera charger might be hiding. I have come up empty handed. So, that leaves me dependent upon my iPhone 4 to capture this incredibly wonderful and challenging stage of life! For the most part I'm able to do great videos and back of the head shots, but I am missing those cute little messy faces in all their glory because the hd camera on this phone is just to slow. I've complained to Grady in hopes that he'll give in and let me get a good camera! But he hasn't folded yet:-)

All that to say, I'm missing putting photos up on this blog! I have a hard time downloading them from my phone. It is an easy fix, I know. Finding the time to let Grady give me a quick tutorial isn't one of my priorities as of now, but it needs to be! I want to chronicle their growth through the photos and videos I try to take.

So, we will see. Maybe I'll get a new camera for my birthday or for mothers day! That'd be great! I'm secretly hoping that's what Grady has in mind and why he isn't making a big deal about it when I mention it to him.

Dang you, bench!

Last night, Channing and Gavie Ann spent the night with us. We rented Tangled, played with the dollhouse and kitchen, ate dinner, and then played some more! Evie loved having her cousins over. For the first time, she slept with them in the guest bedroom. She was such a big girl and did really well. I should say that I heard her saying, "I pooted! Channing.... Gavie Ann, I pooted! Bahhahhaahha!" Grady and I were listening through the monitor. It was hilarious listening to her try to make her cousins laugh!

This morning Evie, Chan, and Gavs woke up and went into the playroom and played for an hour before I got out of bed. It was heavenly.  A little glimpse into what it will be like when Evie and Eden are 6 and 7 years old! I thought about using that time to take a shower and get ready for church before everyone else, but chose to catch some extra down time. I should have got ready.

I brought all the girls downstairs for breakfast. While Evie was eating her waffle, she fell in between the table and bench. We were all smiling at her because she looked funny sliding further underneath the table. Well, I went over to rescue her and in the midst of pulling her out, somehow her body weight leaned onto the bench, flipped it over on its side landing on my left set of toes! Oh my goodness! I don't think I have ever had such pain.

Grady was upstairs and ran down to help. I called my mom because I was starting to pass out from the pain. It's a very heavy wooden bench and my toes were no match for its weight! Grady took me to the ER, where they did x-rays. They see did not see a break, but possibly a hairline fracture on my big toe. A post-op boot was put on it and here I am on Sunday afternoon, watching the Masters, and waiting for the girls to wake up.

I don't look forward to putting weight on my toes. I think it'll be easier than I think it will be. I just don't want to do it yet!

Cuddle Bug

After applying Vick's vapor rub to Eden's feet, chest, and upper lip, the coughing subsided. It wasn't until 4 am did she get this relief. I wish I would have done this at 1 am, but I'm just so very slow in the middle of the night.

She didn't wake til 8 am. Grady went to get evie and put her in bed with us. He peeked in a EE and she was patiently waiting as usual with her thumb in. Grady brought her to me and she just snuggled up under my arm sucking her thumb and holding blankie. She and Evs greeted each other by Evie saying, "EE! tickle tickle! Sleep good E?" My heart melted at those sweet words. Eden now says, "hiiiiii Eie!" it's her way to say Evie. Most the time she throws her hands up and says, Eie, ere are a?" (Evie, where are u?)

At this moment we are under a tornado warning. It's been a 2 video kinda morning. First Veggie tales and now Hermie. The house has become eerily dark. I need to get up and make some lunch before the power is lost, but I have both Evs and EE cuddled up on me. And I don't want to move. Somedays I feel like I'm lifting 1000 pounds in parenting, thankfully today (with little sleep) I am enjoying the quiet laid back day of just laying on my couch with my little chiquititas! There's nothing like it! Love!

Coughing EE and Hungry Me

Little EE has been sick this weekend. I think she may have a sinus infection because I am coming down with the same funk. She's been coughing for 2 hours. It hasn't become croup and I pray that it doesn't. However, the humidifier is going, I put her in the shower to open her up and made her a zippy full of warm lemon water. My poor baby! I hate hearing her cough up a lung.

Of course I can't sleep when she is suffering so. I began to go to my usual websites looking for yummy recipes! I found one I might try tomorrow night. It's chicken balsamic wraps. Wow! My mouth is watering writing this. I'm so pregnant! I can't help but fixate on food.

Also, when I'm not asleep at 2 am, I check the weather. I'm dying for it to stay as beautiful as it has been. Unfortunately, the forecast looks grim for tomorrow. Tonado warnings and high winds fir most of the afternoon. I'm already praying for those to pass on over. There is hardly anything worse than tornados warnings during a 2 and 1 year old's naptime. I want them to sleep and at this point, I'm gonna need a major nap tomorrow!