Friday, February 27, 2009
Thank you Craig and Bob!
Yesterday I purchased a Bob stroller (sport utility duallie in blue for anyone interested) from Craigslists. It normally costs $429 but I got it for $125. Thank you Bob! Thank you Craig!
To celebrate, I went out for a run with the girls this morning. It was great - 30 minutes of time for me, Sarah, and when I arrived back at home Kate was sleeping and Hannah was asking for more - I think they enjoyed it as well.
So, do you ever wonder what people think about while running? I do. I pass by people running that are in the zone and wonder what is one their mind. When I run I usually process things that have been going on. Other times I challenge myself - run as fast as you can to that tree. Still other times I narrate my life - weird, I know - possibly even mild case of personality disorder - who knows. Well, today was a narrating day - this literally happened:
Background music Cake: Going the Distance
Setting: Three women from three different houses climbed into their cars heading out to work. They were dressed professionally with hair and make-up done. It was nearly 8:30.
Narration begins: Met Sarah. When most women are climbing into their cars heading for work Sarah has already been at work for at least two hours - that is if her bosses gave her the night off, which rarely happens. She is tough as nails - carrying two kids around without complaints, ready to say no to a two year old regardless of the setting and fully prepared to deal with the aftermath, getting up multiple times at night to hold her sick child and still reserving enough energy to keep up with the constantly changing demands that her bosses throw at her. She can go to a playdate with eight other moms and their toddlers and still come out feeling like she is going home with the cream of the crop. She doesn't care what others think about her because she knows that she doesn't know what the hell she is doing - and even more, she knows that anyone who claims to know what they are doing is just lying to themselves and everyone else. Met Sarah - full-time mom. Paid only with hugs, cries, kisses, demands, laughter and lack of sleep - and loving every minute of it.
Sheesh! Do I have a chip on my shoulder or what?!? I'm not sure I want meet Sarah! (again, mild case of personality disorder may be at hand) Maybe next time I'll try running to some classical music or something - I'll definitely avoid Dixie Chicks.
To celebrate, I went out for a run with the girls this morning. It was great - 30 minutes of time for me, Sarah, and when I arrived back at home Kate was sleeping and Hannah was asking for more - I think they enjoyed it as well.
So, do you ever wonder what people think about while running? I do. I pass by people running that are in the zone and wonder what is one their mind. When I run I usually process things that have been going on. Other times I challenge myself - run as fast as you can to that tree. Still other times I narrate my life - weird, I know - possibly even mild case of personality disorder - who knows. Well, today was a narrating day - this literally happened:
Background music Cake: Going the Distance
Setting: Three women from three different houses climbed into their cars heading out to work. They were dressed professionally with hair and make-up done. It was nearly 8:30.
Narration begins: Met Sarah. When most women are climbing into their cars heading for work Sarah has already been at work for at least two hours - that is if her bosses gave her the night off, which rarely happens. She is tough as nails - carrying two kids around without complaints, ready to say no to a two year old regardless of the setting and fully prepared to deal with the aftermath, getting up multiple times at night to hold her sick child and still reserving enough energy to keep up with the constantly changing demands that her bosses throw at her. She can go to a playdate with eight other moms and their toddlers and still come out feeling like she is going home with the cream of the crop. She doesn't care what others think about her because she knows that she doesn't know what the hell she is doing - and even more, she knows that anyone who claims to know what they are doing is just lying to themselves and everyone else. Met Sarah - full-time mom. Paid only with hugs, cries, kisses, demands, laughter and lack of sleep - and loving every minute of it.
Sheesh! Do I have a chip on my shoulder or what?!? I'm not sure I want meet Sarah! (again, mild case of personality disorder may be at hand) Maybe next time I'll try running to some classical music or something - I'll definitely avoid Dixie Chicks.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Valentine's Weekend
Jeff and I had a wonderful Valentine's Weekend. My Mom's birthday is on Valentine's Day, so we had a wonderful lunch on Valentine's Day to celebrate, and it was the first time my immediate family was in the same place at the same time!
My Mom and Dad then took care of Hannah and Kate in the evening so Jeff and I could go out on a date - whoo-hoo!! We ate at a yummy Argentinian place and then watched The International in the theaters.
Before we headed back to San Diego we stopped off in Pedro to see Cindy and Roger. There we went to the Long Beach Aquarium (a place both Jeff and I went when we were kids) and then Hannah and Kate helped Cindy garden in the front year. It was overall a really fun weekend!
My Mom and Dad then took care of Hannah and Kate in the evening so Jeff and I could go out on a date - whoo-hoo!! We ate at a yummy Argentinian place and then watched The International in the theaters.
Before we headed back to San Diego we stopped off in Pedro to see Cindy and Roger. There we went to the Long Beach Aquarium (a place both Jeff and I went when we were kids) and then Hannah and Kate helped Cindy garden in the front year. It was overall a really fun weekend!
The Most Annoying Song
The only thing that keeps Hannah happy in the car is the most annoying song in the world on repeat!!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Valentine's Day
Jeff and I had a wonderful Valentine's Weekend. My Mom's birthday is on Valentine's Day, so we had a wonderful lunch on Valentine's Day to celebrate. My Mom and Dad then took care of Hannah and Kate in the evening so Jeff and I could go out on a date - whoo-hoo!! We ate at a yummy Argentinian place and then watched The International in the theaters. Before we headed back to San Diego we stopped off in Pedro to see Cindy and Roger. There we went to the Long Beach Aquarium (a place both Jeff and I went when we were kids) and then Hannah and Kate helped Cindy garden in the front year. It was overall a really fun weekend!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
UPDATED!! Catherine Grace, 6 Months Old
I can hardly believe that my sweet Kate is six months old. Where has the time gone? As I am typing this now I am awaiting our afternoon time together while Hannah sleeps. I hardly get one on one time with Kate, and I think she enjoys the extra attention as much as I enjoy giving it to her.
So, what is my 6 monther like? Kate loves to sit up and look around. She wants to be apart of the action and hates being left alone in a room, and yes she will let you know how much she hates being alone. She will roll from her stomach to her back within seconds of being put on her stomach and will roll to her side. She never rolls over to her stomach - and it makes her really mad if you continue to roll her onto her stomach after she has rolled onto her back.
She eats two solid meals a day and loves to eat bananas and peas; she will only tolerate green beans, pears, peaches, carrots and squash if there is some banana mixed in. She will not eat any type of baby cereal at all, even if it is made with breast milk and/or bananas. She nurses 6 times during the day, one time at night and takes a bottle from Jeff in the late evening.
Her favorite toy is Hannah, which is good because Hannah's favorite toy is Kate. She will watch Hannah bounce around from activity to activity and gets so excited when Hannah takes time to talk to her, pat her or give her a toy. Today I entered the room and Hannah said, "Ta-da" pointing to Kate who was laying on her back and had a brush in her mouth compliments of her proud sister. I had to remind myself that Kate will live through childhood despite her sister's loving mistakes. Kate was very happy just to have the extra attention from Hannah.
Kate has never been a good sleeper (much to my dismay!). She has formed a new bad habit of waking at night, snacking and then going back to sleep. Our response: cry it out - AGAIN!! She cried for an hour last night and after much prodding Jeff fed her, The kicker is that she only ate 2 ounces - what a snacker (for those who don't know she drinks 6ish ounces for a meal)! Tonight I will support Jeff is letting her cry longer so that she eats better in one feeding. She takes two good naps a day - a morning nap from 9-11ish and an afternoon nap from 1-3ish (for those who don't know, daytime sleep is totally different from nighttime sleep so even if I cut out a nap or made them shorter it would not improve the nighttime sleep dilemma). Her afternoon nap overlaps with Hannah's (by design) so that I can get a break during my day (which I usually use to clean, prepare dinner, and catch up on my blog/emails/calls).
Kate is a very content baby. She is mellow and hardly cries (except in the middle of the night). She smiles all the time. She is flexible and easy going. She loves to do raspberries all the time. She will turn red in the face from doing raspberries over and over, and Jeff assures me that she will not pass out from her intense raspberry sessions, although I think she must get at least light headed from all the huffing and puffing she does.
We have nicknamed Kate "the Claw" because she loves to reach out for anything that is within arms reach (including drinks, papers, a plate full of food, hair, earrings...). She is also called Catherine, Kate, Kaitlyn, Katie, Cake, Patty Cakes, Sweet Cakes, Baby Girl, Sweet Pea, Sweetie and Gracie. Someone once told me that nicknames are a sign of endearment, and we endear our sweet Catherine Grace!!
So, what is my 6 monther like? Kate loves to sit up and look around. She wants to be apart of the action and hates being left alone in a room, and yes she will let you know how much she hates being alone. She will roll from her stomach to her back within seconds of being put on her stomach and will roll to her side. She never rolls over to her stomach - and it makes her really mad if you continue to roll her onto her stomach after she has rolled onto her back.She eats two solid meals a day and loves to eat bananas and peas; she will only tolerate green beans, pears, peaches, carrots and squash if there is some banana mixed in. She will not eat any type of baby cereal at all, even if it is made with breast milk and/or bananas. She nurses 6 times during the day, one time at night and takes a bottle from Jeff in the late evening.
Her favorite toy is Hannah, which is good because Hannah's favorite toy is Kate. She will watch Hannah bounce around from activity to activity and gets so excited when Hannah takes time to talk to her, pat her or give her a toy. Today I entered the room and Hannah said, "Ta-da" pointing to Kate who was laying on her back and had a brush in her mouth compliments of her proud sister. I had to remind myself that Kate will live through childhood despite her sister's loving mistakes. Kate was very happy just to have the extra attention from Hannah.
Kate has never been a good sleeper (much to my dismay!). She has formed a new bad habit of waking at night, snacking and then going back to sleep. Our response: cry it out - AGAIN!! She cried for an hour last night and after much prodding Jeff fed her, The kicker is that she only ate 2 ounces - what a snacker (for those who don't know she drinks 6ish ounces for a meal)! Tonight I will support Jeff is letting her cry longer so that she eats better in one feeding. She takes two good naps a day - a morning nap from 9-11ish and an afternoon nap from 1-3ish (for those who don't know, daytime sleep is totally different from nighttime sleep so even if I cut out a nap or made them shorter it would not improve the nighttime sleep dilemma). Her afternoon nap overlaps with Hannah's (by design) so that I can get a break during my day (which I usually use to clean, prepare dinner, and catch up on my blog/emails/calls).
Kate is a very content baby. She is mellow and hardly cries (except in the middle of the night). She smiles all the time. She is flexible and easy going. She loves to do raspberries all the time. She will turn red in the face from doing raspberries over and over, and Jeff assures me that she will not pass out from her intense raspberry sessions, although I think she must get at least light headed from all the huffing and puffing she does.
We have nicknamed Kate "the Claw" because she loves to reach out for anything that is within arms reach (including drinks, papers, a plate full of food, hair, earrings...). She is also called Catherine, Kate, Kaitlyn, Katie, Cake, Patty Cakes, Sweet Cakes, Baby Girl, Sweet Pea, Sweetie and Gracie. Someone once told me that nicknames are a sign of endearment, and we endear our sweet Catherine Grace!!
Children: God's Treasure
Just when things get tough, I am reminded how blessed I am to have two wonderful daughter. I have found myself singing "Whatever My God Ordains is Right" lately (thanks Luke for the CD), and just thinking that God knew that Hannah and Kate were supposed to be in my family - He ordained it and it is right. I remember my heart yearning for a child, and now I have two beautiful girls who excel at everything they seem to put their minds to. What treasures they are, even though I sometimes lose sight of their uniqueness in the midst of the chaotic moments. Sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking that we have control over when we will have kids, and how many kids we will have. How wrong we are! God ordains all things, and however wrong it seems he may be, he is right. I praise God for my two daughters and my heart breaks for those who really would love to have kids and cannot. Literally. I can't imagine how God looks at us, his children, and allows such pain, but again I know that what he ordains is right - but it just feels so wrong.
Sorry for the vent - usually my blog is all about my girls, and I will blog later about sweet Kate who is six months old today, but right now my heart is heavy. I just needed to get my head on straight, and submit to God knowing that what he does is right, even though I have an idea of what is best for my friends and family.
Sorry for the vent - usually my blog is all about my girls, and I will blog later about sweet Kate who is six months old today, but right now my heart is heavy. I just needed to get my head on straight, and submit to God knowing that what he does is right, even though I have an idea of what is best for my friends and family.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Happy Valentine's Day!!
Look what Jeff brought home for me last night...
Hannah keeps saying, "Mine," and I feel completely validated in telling her, "No, they are all MINE!"
Hannah keeps saying, "Mine," and I feel completely validated in telling her, "No, they are all MINE!"
Thursday, February 12, 2009
The Library
Hannah and I have had a tough day with potty training. It was the first day I went anywhere with the girls since beginning the potty training process and it proved to be a mistake.
This morning's breakfast: "No, Nah-nah do." Which was quickly followed by, "Help, please!"
H went #1 before we left home and 15 minutes later she wet herself in the library - no biggie - I had a change of clothes and a pull-ups (thankfully there was no little puddle or anything). I took off the soiled clothes, bagged them up, let H go potty on the toilet, and then redressed her all while taking care of Kate. Whew- I was exhausted, and should have gone home but no - we had no books to take home so we went back to the toddler area to get some books. Within 10 minutes H went #2 - agh!! I had another pull-ups, but I had to go through the whole process again (minus the soiled clothes thanks to pull-ups), and in the process, I lost one of Hannah's terds. I looked everywhere but when Kate started crying and Hannah started yelling "Done, DONE, DONE!" I decided that yes, we were done even though the terd remained somewhere on the floor in the Mira Mesa Library. I'm sure there is some fee for this!
The culprit
The angel
My girls
This morning's breakfast: "No, Nah-nah do." Which was quickly followed by, "Help, please!"H went #1 before we left home and 15 minutes later she wet herself in the library - no biggie - I had a change of clothes and a pull-ups (thankfully there was no little puddle or anything). I took off the soiled clothes, bagged them up, let H go potty on the toilet, and then redressed her all while taking care of Kate. Whew- I was exhausted, and should have gone home but no - we had no books to take home so we went back to the toddler area to get some books. Within 10 minutes H went #2 - agh!! I had another pull-ups, but I had to go through the whole process again (minus the soiled clothes thanks to pull-ups), and in the process, I lost one of Hannah's terds. I looked everywhere but when Kate started crying and Hannah started yelling "Done, DONE, DONE!" I decided that yes, we were done even though the terd remained somewhere on the floor in the Mira Mesa Library. I'm sure there is some fee for this!
The culprit
The angel
My girls
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Sisters - Cousins
Sisters are known for their love/hate relationship, but I really believe that as adults there is a little more tolerance and space which produces a deeper love between sisters and less hate. I have been truly blessed with two sisters, and Hannah and Kate have each other, but also the blessing of three cousins. I love being able to see my sisters more often and to see Hannah and Kate developing a relationship with their cousins.
Both cousins are so sweet - wanting to hold Kate and both wanting to push H on the bike.
Lunch at McDonald's was a hit!
My girls, playing together. If only it could always be this easy to get them to cooperate...
Hannah was so excited to have Kate in a chair at the table with her.
Both cousins are so sweet - wanting to hold Kate and both wanting to push H on the bike.
Lunch at McDonald's was a hit!My girls, playing together. If only it could always be this easy to get them to cooperate...
Hannah was so excited to have Kate in a chair at the table with her.
30 Minutes for Success
I have found that Hannah is very capable of going potty and #2 on the toilet as long as I take her every 30 minutes. When I try to let her go a hour, or wait for her to ask to go we have an accident. So, until the little girl gets better control, every 30 minutes Kate and I will be in the bathroom.
We did have a new success yesterday when Hannah followed the example of her older cousin and pottied in a public bathroom. I took he the the bathroom in Starbucks on Sunday and was met with hand waving and, "NO NO NO NO NO!!" I got the message. To avoid an accident we just came home.
Check it out - no more diapers!
In other news, last night was the first night that I did not get up to feed Kate. This is huge folks!! Kate has regressed to waking every two hours at night, which is just brutal! We were prepared to let her cry it out last night and low and behold she decided to cooperate and let her mama get some rest without any protest. Jeff gave her a bottle at 1 am and I didn't hear from her until 5ish. I fed her and she went back to sleep until 6:15. What a good baby! Let's just hope this is a new trend and not just a fluke.
We did have a new success yesterday when Hannah followed the example of her older cousin and pottied in a public bathroom. I took he the the bathroom in Starbucks on Sunday and was met with hand waving and, "NO NO NO NO NO!!" I got the message. To avoid an accident we just came home.
Check it out - no more diapers!In other news, last night was the first night that I did not get up to feed Kate. This is huge folks!! Kate has regressed to waking every two hours at night, which is just brutal! We were prepared to let her cry it out last night and low and behold she decided to cooperate and let her mama get some rest without any protest. Jeff gave her a bottle at 1 am and I didn't hear from her until 5ish. I fed her and she went back to sleep until 6:15. What a good baby! Let's just hope this is a new trend and not just a fluke.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Lazy Sunday with Family
Cindy and Roger drove down for a fun visit this afternoon. We ate, played with the girls, helped take Jeff's surfboard to work (thanks again Luke!) and just enjoyed being together. Kate and Hannah love the extra attention, and it is always wonderful to hang out with family!!
A quick potty training update: Hannah is still doing well. We have had three accidents, one during her nap yesterday (I thought that might be a little ambitious!), one at church today, and one this morning when Jeff believed her statement that she did not need to go (sucker!). She has not requested to use the bathroom, but every time I take her to the bathroom she is successful and she gets an M&M. I think this is a great beginning!
A quick potty training update: Hannah is still doing well. We have had three accidents, one during her nap yesterday (I thought that might be a little ambitious!), one at church today, and one this morning when Jeff believed her statement that she did not need to go (sucker!). She has not requested to use the bathroom, but every time I take her to the bathroom she is successful and she gets an M&M. I think this is a great beginning!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Potty Training Update
H is still doing great. No accidents at all today. We just put her down for a nap without a diaper and told her to call us if she needed to potty - we'll see what happens!!
Potty Training - REALLY!!
Hannah woke up from her afternoon nap dry yesterday, so I took off her diaper and sat her on the potty. We read and book and it happened - my little girl pottied on the toilet! I rewarded her with hugs, high fives and a chocolate chip. I then brought out her real undies, which she was so excited about. I started taking Hannah to the potty every 30 minutes, but quickly realized that she needed to go every 10 minutes to avoid accidents. So, we had three accidents and too many successful potty trips to count. After the third accident I did not have any clean undies and had to put a diaper on her which she protested. I took her to the potty after 10 minutes and realized that I could use her bathing suit bottoms as undies - she was so happy to have real undies again and kept them dry the rest of the night!!
My excited little girl running around in her new undies.
This morning I sat her on the potty and began reading her a book and she went #2!! She has pottied 2 other times and the bath suit bottoms that I used as spare undies are still dry this morning. I am so proud of my little girl!!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Mommy Time
Hannah and I spend most of our morning playing at this little table in our house while Kate takes a nap. I really enjoy this time and I know she thrives on the individual mommy attention. She is starting to say no to me as a display of utter defiance, which gets her a quick spanking and a time out - it's like a one two punch.
Kate and I get some one on one time in the afternoon since Hannah takes a longer afternoon nap. It is great to hear her coo and laugh. She is sitting up now for short periods of time, and loves to watch her big sister destroy the house.
Kate has started waking up more at night, as in four or five times a night. Sometimes she is fine being repacied, but most of the time she wants a snack - not cool at all! I see a little more crying it out in her future when the snack shack closes!
Kate and I get some one on one time in the afternoon since Hannah takes a longer afternoon nap. It is great to hear her coo and laugh. She is sitting up now for short periods of time, and loves to watch her big sister destroy the house.
Kate has started waking up more at night, as in four or five times a night. Sometimes she is fine being repacied, but most of the time she wants a snack - not cool at all! I see a little more crying it out in her future when the snack shack closes!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
A Day in Brea
My dad had a business trip to Arizona, so I went to Brea and I stayed overnight with my mom. Hannah loved playing with cousin Joe and Kara, and I enjoyed an extra set of hands with the girls.
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