December

So I was talking to a friend today about my lack on blotting & well 2 months, I'm rather over due. We've been our home for over two months. We love it. It feels more like home than our other house did. It's an older home & needs plenty of love but we have time to do it. I think first on our agenda for the new year is Lil's room & the play room. Then our bathrooms & master bedroom. The kitchen will be the biggest to tackle, aka most expensive so we haven't quite decided when we should start that.

We like the location, our new neighbors and what to look forward to as we live life in our new home.

As far as Lil goes she's creative, silly, playful and new imaginative stories are fun to listen to. She continues to have a hearty appetite, but has some definite dislikes, such as swiss cheese, onions, peppers. She loves olives, broccoli, mushrooms and yes sweets. It's hard to avoid around Christmas time, all in moderation~ right? :). Plus she loves egg milk, also known as egg nog.
Thinking Christmas will be extra special this year. Reading more stories surrounding Advent this year as we talk about the true meaning of Christmas as a family. Plus I'm off of work, yay!

October brings changes

So sadly I realize I have completly missed the month of September. Let's just say my blogging has been lackluster cause I enjoy photos when I blog & well I haven't figured out how to get pics uploaded from my phone to the blog & we are without a computer right now, boo. So my enthusiasm hasn't been there. :(

I worked a lot, too much in September. At the end of the month though, amongst packing & prepping the new house we took a trip to Emerald Isle. I couldn't have asked for better company, food or time away.

In this first week of October we were back to a consuming reality of move time. And so tomorrow we'll be joined by the helping hands of friends & we'll start the next chapter of our life in our new place. Look forward to what's ahead.

August, where did you go

27th...what? So life has been full of hot summer weather, water (in many forms), friends, family, changes and waiting.
We've been waiting for the progression on our 'home to be'....between inspections, appraisal, counter-offersssssss.

We are suppose to close on the house on Monday, but thinking thats not going to happen. We have a few things that need to be settled and they are out of our hands, so again we'll see what is in store for us.

We are in the midst of inclement weather, an earthquake earlier in the week & a hurricane on its way. Interesting....

Lil has been full of energy, waking most days before us and wanting brekist (breakfast) immediately. Then we venture out after some food and get some bottled up energy out. Overall its been nice the weather has changed quite a bit, warm days but not overly disgusting.
We try to keep it simple in the afternoon, naps and some yard play. If we're going, going, going during the day we really try to keep it slow during the afternoon or if we know we're going to be out we aim for quiet as well.

Lil's appetite is bountiful as always and working on more teeth....she continues to be chatty, w/new words everyday. She will repeat most words, so watch out...

Hopefully the next time we blog the house thing will be all settled.

Sleep is Back

So, since we have 4 good nights in, we're kind of feeling like its back to status quo. Not sure what to attribute it to.
-turning two
-new teeth
-the abscess that sent us to the doctors last week
-or just some default parenting.....:)

Either way we live, learn & I'm sure at some point, repeat....hopefully not the entire list

I Know in a Few Years I'll Forget

Or who am I kidding, probably in a few weeks. Right know we are working through sleep; how to get to sleep, stay asleep, like sleep. Lil states, as she puts, "I don't liiike it," we, eli & I, on the other hand desperately, ok thats kind of strong word, uuuuhhh well we desire more sleep.
We encourage our regular night routine to get Lil to bed, but when push comes to shove & we've washed, brushed, read, pj'd, diapered...she insists us,'to sleep there'. Meaning lay on the floor next to her bed, and so we do. Most nights its about an hour for her to fall asleep, shes kind of stubborn, and other nights well other nights its much, much longer than that.

What happens is that she falls asleep, pops up as if she hears something, calls our names, and waits for a response. I know this routine won't last forever, so I'm kind of wanting to document it, remember it...cause at times now I don't remember what she was like at 7 mos, 10 mos, 15 mos.....I don't think this routine is perfect, it can be rather tiring after a long day of lackluster naps (aka no naps some days). But its what it is right now, and if she needs to know we are there, then thats what we'll do.

More excitingly....tomorrow is Lil's b-day, our baby is 2, yes dos, deux. I feel like its Christmas Eve. I am too excited to celebrate her birth, how blessed we were 9 months prior when we found out we were pregnant, and then the day we got to meet our first born, truly a gift I will never forget.
Lilibear, we love you more & more each day.....

Sleep

So we are 10 days short of Lil's 2nd birthday and I continue to be surprised by changes that happen. I know its not all about me, but when I'm having such a challenging time putting her down to bed, I'm wondering what did I do wrong, how can I make it better, what don't I know.

Shes pretty much always been an easy baby/child to put down for bed. With some exceptions of teething or growth spurts or other phases, we would follow our routine & no problem, but as of late its been challenging to say the least....

Tonight, without a nap all day we expected it'd be an easy n-night, love you....some books & see you in the morning, instead its still going on over an hour later, and Eli took his shift. That sounds, feels awful but sometimes I have to collect my thoughts....I read stories, walked with her, rocked her, laid with her....she gets to a point where she's just about asleep you walk out of the room & she screams, then bangs on the door & cries like, I need to catch my breath, kind of cry....and so we go back in & start the routine again....

I ,of course, want/need to figure it out so I google, '2yr. old sleep' and don't find the answers I desire, if anyone has a book/suggestions
we're all ears....

P P on the Potty

So we've had Lil's pink potty around for a while now. It's been an accessory in the bathroom & family room for some time. Initially she would take it apart & wear some if it on her head, this was just after she turned one. Then she began liking the idea of sitting on it, but business never happened on it, more often than not once she got up pee would splash on the floor. No biggie, we can clean that up. For quite some time now its been used as step stool, until recently...she's been asking to use it....saying...pee or pop-poo.

Also lately, when we sit on the potty, she insists on taking off all her clothes 1st, also kind of cute. We had a potty-party @ the G's last night, also pretty sweet. Well tonight @ the end of Community Group, she said,"poo-poo"....my cue to take her to the potty, & so we went....& she DID it, she for the first time peed on the potty intentionally.
Pretty cool....

23, what..... Months that is & by-bye 117

So our little scooby do is heading towards TWO.
We think life has been humbling, surprising and loving in the last few months.
The very end of March we placed our home back on the market & by the end of the week it was well, SOLD. I honestly couldn't & didn't want to blog about it till now. I remained faithful through the process, but at the same time, with already having done this 'For Sale' thing last year from April-October 2010 resulting in no sale, well I just couldn't blog till it was done.
But as of May 31st we signed the paperwork & it was a done deal as of last week.
The process of finding out we had interested buyers to actually selling the house, 2 months, went by quickly & at times not fast enough.
Doing all this with a toddler is a feat I would not recommend to many, plus working f/t. Thankfully I have the most supportive husband who packed, organized as much as one person could.
I'll admit I wasn't the most helpful, if I wasn't working, I was catching up on sleep or time w/Lil. Packing, moving & more packing are not my most favorite things to do.

Actually leaving the house wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Mostly cause we were were in crunch mode at the end. Our last Friday there, the 27th we had your typical pizza/beer-moving party, with lots of friends emptying the house out. Our last night at the house was Weds. the 25th for me, I worked overnight Thursday. Our new, temporary home is at E & J's in Cary, its a treat, a very comfortable new home that's not even 2yrs old yet. You guys are amazing, thanks for opening your home to us.
Leading up to May 31st there were some afternoons that Eli & I went back to do more unloading of stuff, and those were some emotional times cause, then I realized this wasn't my home anymore. I would not have any more children here, Lil would not grow up here, I would not labor w/another child here, my heart would not ache, love, grow here anymore. It was beautiful, some sweet beautiful memories.

*Pics to follow....

Plus Lil has transitioned well, a few rough nights in the beginning, but now she looks & ask for E or J all the time. And points to things stating if they are Es or Js, pretty cute. We've been in full swing toddler hood, with not so much tantrums at this point, but just not obeying. If we say, "Stop or No," she keeps going.
Repeats most words, putting 2 words together. Is still enjoying food, a lot & often. Will sometimes put herself up for a nap or at least recognize if she's tired or wants her diaper changed. Haven't made many strides in potty training, just taking it as it comes. Has 4 molars & 7 other teeth, and what I remember the pediatrician said she'd have 20 by two years, so ouch we have a lot to work on in the next month, jk....obviously we'll be working on the rest into her 3rd year...

Endings & New Beginnings

So it appears as though this blog has been on a little hiatus for the last 7+ weeks. I haven't blogged, haven't read blogs....I've moved on to tweeting. Its quicker I find, more efficient perhaps, a little less personal perhaps, but time is of the essence & lately well that means a lot to me right now. I'd prefer to be hanging with Lil or playing outside, or playing Wordfeud, ha.

So Lil is quickly approaching 23 months & with that is an explosion in language & mimicking (so fun) and learning. Shes our little sponge just soaking up all that life has to offer. Shes absorbing so much, at such a quick pace. Eli & I are just trying to keep up with her, our work schedules and packing our house up.

I've been mostly working weekends with a shift or two during the week, and Eli's schedule offsets mine. He's working when I'm not. Then theres the house....we placed it on the market at the very end of March & had an offer in less than 7 days, amazing.
We are now quickly approaching the 'move day' and the closing, crazy......and so exciting.
This time next week I won't be sitting at the kitchen table, listening to cars pass at night or the school buses Lil points out or being seranaded by birds in the am.
Its beginning to feel quite bittersweet.

A Fish Out of Water

So long story short, our Lil managed to find a way out of her crib this am. I wasn't at home but per Eli's text he heard pitter, patter of feet after a big bang. She's fine. We're not, well we are just a little surprised. And recognize our baby is growing up.

Full Month

So as I was on my way to check out some friends' blogs I noticed the last time I posted on our blog was a month ago, oops.
Life has been full; full of learning, forgiveness, love, playing, work, family, friends...and some sleep in between.
Spring has arrived & I truly think its my favorite season here. We've made a couple trips to Duke Gardens, family was in town & Eli started a new job. We're learning how to juggle schedules & make the most of our limited time together.
Lil is over 20 months now & all I can say is she's full of it too. She's full of smiles, words (water, up pease, duck, wet, me, you, bus, -some new favs.), full of laughter, singing, stubbornness and adventure. She doesn't hesitate climbing things & exploring at the park. She's active & its fun keeping up with her spunk!

Here's our life in pics over the last month....






Duke Gardens:





Who says you can't play in the rain....



Helping dadda, be careful



Helping one of our favorite vendors @ the Durham Farmers Mkt.

Short but Sweet

Enjoying Duke's East Campus w/70 degree weather in February









A hike on the American Tobacco Trail on Valentine's Day




So February is the shortest month but so far we've taken advantage of the change in weather here. Don't get me wrong I'm pretty sure we started the month w/the heat on & temps of 30, but now we are able to open the windows and let the air breeze through & get ready for spring.
We've enjoyed lots of play time in the backyard, picnics, our first stroll through Duke Gardens this year, lots of time on the American Tobacco Trail & ice cream (ok too early for that but I think its coming soon).

We've been fortunate to be able to enjoy some great dinners at friends, from friends & beginning to get ready to put the house back on the market.


Another lovely Sunday, dig my new shades?

Alas, oatmeal, sweet potato muffins

Before & After....

Before:




Almost:





After: (pre decorating)



And so we say good'bye to our colors to get ready to re-list our home.....the front room was first & next is Lil's room.....

Sweet Potato Patties

Sweet Potato Patties

Hope this is fill my sweet potato fix.....

18 months, a little hard to believe

So here we were 18 months ago with a 5 day old babe. I was unsure how to be the best mom, rather exhausted but overwhelmed & consumed with love. I for sure can say its gotten easier, I'm not saying easy, but learning who you were, who I was as a mom & how all that meshed together was, well a lot to take in at first.
It was hard at first, I doubt many moms would admit or agree but I'm being honest here. It was new, and well new things to me take time & learning & a whole lot of grace. 18 months later, I can say I've learned a lot from you; I've gained patience & joy & laughter & hugs. I am so blessed to be your mom.

At 18 months you are:


*Copying actions constantly
*Ticklish as always
*Follows directions....please, place shoes under bench, take off your coat...the follow through is of course sometimes distracted by other things
*Hums & sings to tunes (can we understand, not so much, but just hearing her voice is so sweet)
*One nap a day now & still 12 hrs of sleep at night
*Eats anything & everything...still loves hummus, avocados, oranges, cheese
*Loves dogs and will follow them from window to window, when she sees them outside
*Enjoys making monkey & duck sounds
*Enjoys exploring outside, not afraid to get dirty, wet or well eat said dirt or water
*Entertained by friends & especially likes to play w/their play kitchens
*Still enjoys a good book.... :)
*6 teeth still, working on a few with some swollen gums....
*24 lbs & 8oz
*33 1/2 inches long




Lil, what are you up to?




Oh, on dog watch




Messy, even better








exploring in the snow


A year ago we were pulling you, now look whos boss




Just enjoying the snow

Snow, how we love you

Is this going to be another December 26th or December 5th? As we anxiously await for some more snow... I wonder if its gonna look this this:






Snow here is a little different from growing up (ok a lot), our excitement was based on predicted feet and school possibly being cancelled. I remember awaiting for the 'phone call' my dad would receive, he was on the school board, & would be one of the first to be in the know. It was great, I would knock on my brother's wall to his bedroom, cause that meant we could play in the snow & come in when mom called & not by choice, even when fingers were barely felt. It was great, seriously I always thought I'd want my child to grow up in New England, but here we are in the South & we still have seasons & still can await snow. Its pretty cool to be sharing these experiences with her.