lately

We had a fun and busy weekend...but aren't they all that way!  It sure seems so at our house!  I was thinking the other day that I must either be getting older or more mature or maybe I just need a little break.  I was thinking about how I used to never like the travel part of traveling.  You know the long ride in the car.  In this stage of life, I am finding myself enjoying a few hours with everyone strapped in their seats, confined to one small space, when mommy can relax for a bit.  I assure you it is not due to the fact that our girls are super travelers either...but they do nap really well in the car...and so do I!

I feel like this stage of life is full on mommy mode.  I love it and wouldn't trade it for anything.  Kev and I had a long talk on Saturday, because it is easy in this stage of life to rush through our evenings with dinner, bath time, bedtimes, and then we both are so tired and stressed that we just crave some alone time.  When I say alone time I am not meaning alone as us together, but individually.  He likes to unwind by lifting weights and working out and I unfortunately like to unwind by watching TV or getting on the computer.  I think we both have realized that we need to work harder at this.  I remember the days when we were dating that I would sit beside him and watch hockey or football for hours, just so that we could spend time together.  I am not saying that I necessarily want to do that now, but now it really takes an effort on both of our parts to spend time together.  I think this stage in parenting can be rough on marriages for the single fact that you give and give and give until you feel spent.  I don't want to leave the leftovers of me for him (the tired, grouchy and bossy me)!   

Eliza will be 9 months old tomorrow.  Do you think anyone will notice if I slip a few rocks in her diaper for her 9 mth check-up?  Lil peanut is little and although everyone says, "She's just going to be petite," since I am the only one who feeds her, I feel like it is somehow my fault that she is tiny.  I know she is growing and learning and so I am not concerned about that...just hoping she is getting what she needs. 

Ella is...(not quite sure how to finish that sentence!)  She bouts between being so loving, sweet, and helpful to very difficult many times throughout the day.  Last week we went with a friend to the water park.  I just took her and left Eliza with my mother in law.  We had such a fun time together.  She was such a good listener and it was a really good day.  I think I even made the comment, "I think all of our consistent disciplining is finally paying off!"  (When will I learn to just never make comments like that!)  So I decided to venture out to her first real movie the following day with both girls.  Let's just say that I ate my words as I carried two girls to the car...one having a major meltdown (I mean major as in a kicking screaming tantrum) over the concession stand and games.  Thankfully, the movie was free!  If you saw that, I do indeed apologize and assure you that the situation was taken care of!

One thing I know is I really need the Lord as I try to be a Godly mother.  It is demanding and sometimes really stressful.  Some days I feel spent and needy myself.  I know without a doubt that this is the hardest, best and most important job that I will ever have!

And because no one likes a post without pics...
Mommy and Eliza at the park!

Daddy and Ella watching the World Cup...aka Ella stalling bedtime!

Eliza doesn't like flash! She does this whenever I get

the camera out!

This is called Where's Eliza! Ella was trying to help...I think!

CH-Ch-ch changes!

In case you are wondering...I decided to do a little changing to my blog.  I have changed my title to one without our last name and I will be changing my url shortly.  I have lots to catch up blogging about, but for now I'll leave with a new picture of my littlest cutie!

Ella Update

I figured it has been a while since I have written an ella update. I started my blog when ella was about 8/9 months (I think), and I am glad to have those updates to look back at now that eliza is the same age.

Ella...where to start!! She is full of life, energy and spunk! She lives her days to the fullest...I assure you! Ella loves people and tries to make friends everywhere we go (just like her daddy). She loves to be on the go. She is becoming a much better eater finally at 2 1/2... thanks to ranch dressing that she will dip almost anything in! She is a good big sis and loves her sissy, yet she still doesn't understand personal space and gentleness. My favorite moment of the day is when I hear ella saying, "Mommy, sissy wakin. Oh, sissy...you so cute!" Ella loves the pool and the beach and isn't afraid of the water at all....which makes them all the more challenging. She loves to color, slide, sing, and play with her babies and stuffed animals. She still likes organizing things into piles and lines. She has an awesome memory. She doesn't forget a thing. For example, the other day she was talking about our vacation to Disney and she said, "Mommy, I saw Pete's garage and Minnie's House. Mommy, I not listen in Minnie's House." And sure enough that was the exact spot of a little tantrum. Yesterday she told me, "Mommy, we gotta rock and roll." I said, "What?" She said, "We gotta rock and roll like aunt joy!" And then I could clearly hear my sister joy saying that as she rounds up her kids.

Ella is very interested in Jesus and the Crucifiction story! This past Easter we gave her a little book about Easter and a Jesus kiddie movie. She is trying so hard to make sense of it all in her little mind. We seriously talk about this many times throughout the day. My favorite thing that she says is, "Jesus die on the cross. I die on the cross too. I do it all myself!" That's about as two year old as you can get. She also says, "Mommy, I need to pray to the cross!" (Very seriously) Then she'll pray, "Jesus I pray your cross all better, Amen!" She is concerned over Judas and also says, "Judas not a good friend" and does not like that the solders hurt Jesus. The other day she told me, "Mommy, I love Jesus' cross!" I told her ella, "Mommy does too!" I love hearing those little wheels a turning in her mind, as this most important story begins taking root in her little life. I just hope we get all the theology kinks worked out as she grows!

Ella now knows most of the (first)sounds for the entire alphabet (just short vowel sounds). This is thanks completely to Tad's Letter Factory and not her first grade teaching...phonics loving mama. She blew me away the other day when she went letter by letter telling me the sounds. While we know the sounds we are still working on recognition of many of the letters. Kids really can learn some good things from videos and mama gets a shower and we are all happy!!

I cannot believe that ella will be 3 in a few months. I am so thankful that God gave her to us and I pray he will smooth over our rough spots and work in her heart. I pray God will give me energy and patience as I teach her, discipline, her and care for her. I pray she will grow to have a real and personal relationship with Jesus and will make Him her Saviour. I pray she will continue to love others and will learn to be a giver. I pray she will continue to live each day with zeal and fun...even when mommy is tired. I pray for safety and that she will continue to obey and respect authority. I love you Ella bella!

Back Home

We are back at home resting today after a super charged busy, stressful, fun, and overwhelming few days! It all started last Thursday with a wedding rehearsal (Kev was the officiant) dinner, babysitters aka mimi and papa, and a very late night. It progressed to a Friday night wedding, more babysitters aka grandpa and grammy, to another very late night, cleaning packing, rushing and being VERY, VERY off our schedule! Then we left early Sat. morning to drive to Atlanta for an afternoon wedding rehearsal (ella was the flower girl and Kev read a prayer), followed by a dinner cruise, which led to yet another late night! Sunday was busy because I didn't pack a dress and flew out early to the Mall of Georgia in a mad scramble to find something. Thankfully I did find a cute black dress that was on sale!! We had to arrive at the wedding 2 1/2 hours early to get ella ready and take a few pics. Then we had to keep her clean and out of mischief until the wedding started! Oh yea...and we are potty training!!

We didn't know how to feel without our girls!


So proud of Kev. He did a great job and he looked

really cute...if I do say so myself!


My wonderful parents!!

It was a great weekend and it was a lot of fun seeing old friends and sharing in these special weddings....but whew!!! One thing I have learned once again is that I am not a super woman and I cannot do it all!! The Lord continues to teach me this!

This past weekend ella was so off schedule, out of her normal environment and pushing every limit. It was hard and a bit worrisome since she had to walk down an isle and act accordingly! My nerves were shot, and I assure you Kev and I were more nervous and stressed out than the bride. The bride and her family were great and weren't a bit concerned, but when it is your child...it is concerning! She did great and at the end of the isle after dumping the remaining petals exclaimed, "I did Great!" She was whisked away by mean old mom because she wouldn't sit down, and I feared she might run back to stand with the bridal party as she wanted to do in the rehearsal! We made a swift exit which left Kev with eliza who was sitting in a stroller eating puffs. I knew he would have to get up to read the prayer of blessing, leaving little e all alone! I prayed the entire time that she would go to sleep....as ella ate her reward skittles and hopped up and down some stairs. Thankfully, eliza slept. Kev read, and we didn't crash the wedding!!

Don't be deceived!!! This only lasted about 20 sec.

Do we look at frazzled as we felt??

Possibly drinking the fountain water??

Eliza being my Eliza! She was a trooper!

So cute!!

We spent most of the reception outside doing

this!!

Mommy and eliza

Mommy and ella!

Could the princess be tired??

In other news....Kev and I celebrated 7 years of marriage yesterday, while driving 6 hours with two tired and crabby little girls. We dined on chick-fli-a and chips! To be honest there is no one else I'd rather be trapped in a car with two cranky girlies eating fast food with! That is true love to the max!! Oh how life changes!!

Oh...and eliza is full time crawling and pulling up! I hate this stage when you put them in their beds and they just sit up! She is a pro at her cup and is loving some formula! Praise you Lord! I am thinking weaning may come earlier than one year, which is my goal! That is totally fine. I am learning that you do what works to survive. I also like that I can monitor how many ounces this peanut is taking in better! We'll see!

Okay...time to get up! The princesses will be waking soon!

Potty Training

***Editted to add...I am by no means an expert, just glad to have survived!!***

Last week I bit the bullet on something I'd been putting off for a while. In my mind, I'd planned on potty training ella around 23 months just before eliza arrived. I figured she'd be ready and it would be easier to only have one in diapers. Well, just about that time I took a friend's advice and decided not to rock the boat....and I am so glad I waited!



Before potty training her, I have to admit that I was very nervous! I read from all of my child rearing books about the "how's" and the "whens!" I read how to train your child in ONE day, how to train your child in THREE days. I talked to my friends about this and to my sister and mom who are much more experienced. I even read some great blogs about this! I kept telling Kevin that I was starting on Monday, but when Monday would come...I'd push it out another week!



I knew we had our big Disney trip coming so I decided to wait until that was over, and then we got home and that Monday I was swamped with lots of laundry and stuff to put away from the trip! So, last Monday I set my mind to "getter done!"



Ella has been pottying lots on her own initiative. In fact she'd say, "Mommy, I want a surprise...I go potty all myself." And she'd walk into the bathroom and go all by herself. We determined that she was ready...it was mommy who needed to be ready!



So last Monday morning I was up early. I was showered and prepped with a princess potty crown, stickers, and lots of prizes. I was prepared for a day full of accidents and lots of running to the potty! Ella blew me away! She stayed dry in her panties the entire first day! We did do tons of running to the potty...seriously like every 5-10 minutes! It was a lot of work...esp. with eliza! I had prepared to stay at home most of the week because I think that helps, but by the end of the week we did venture out a little! We had about three/four little accidents all week and I am so glad that the first week is over.



She is doing better at holding it longer and going by herself...even when mommy was in the shower! I am thankful to get over this hurdle with her with my sanity still in tack. Now we just have to work on her fear of public restrooms!!



These things were helpful for her:

1)Waiting until she was older. I think she was physically capable earlier but she needed to be older to "want" to use the potty like a big girl. A few times we tried it earlier she'd say, "No thanks I want my diaper!" It was a battle that I didn't want to fight!



2) She wants to go to preschool at our church so bad next year. She says, "I go to school like my cousins. I take my book bag and my lunchbox!" We told her that she had to learn to use the potty so that she's be ready to go to school. Things like this work for her!



3)I got a book at Target called Princess Potty. It came with a crown to make and jewel stickers. The book is by far not the best of children's literature...but ella did like earning the stickers for her crown. We've also read several other books about learning to potty!



4) I had lots of surprises. I had candy surprises and some bigger (dollar section) from Target surprises. This was def. motivating for her!



5) We put all of the diapers in a trash bag. I did not throw them away, but she thinks we did. I wasn't giving her the option of wearing one or me the option of getting frustrated and putting one on her!



6) We have used pull-ups for nighttime, church, and long outings. So far she is doing great not using them as a diaper and keeping them dry! I know many say to not use them at all, but for me I just an not ready to venture out too far yet! (Maybe next week!)



7)We praised her and praised her praised her for even the smallest little dribbles. We might have gone overboard because she started saying,"Yes, I'm awesome!" We'll tackle humbleness another day!

8)We carried a potty in our van. This was one of those things that I claimed I'd never do when I was a parent but yes, have a potty...will travel. It works...it's easy...it's clean. Please Lord don't let that potty spill! I am just waiting for that to happen!

9)I always tried to put her in charge of telling me when she had to go. I'd say, "Make sure you tell mommy when you need to potty." Rather than, "Do you need to potty?" This worked great because she knows and is in control and I am not bugging her continually! I have been shocked at how pretty much every time she said she needed to go, she has!

Way to Go Elles! Mommy and Daddy are super proud of our big girl!

Thankful to just have one in diapers...but I must say that diapers are def. easier!!

Disney World Day 4

On Day 4 we headed to Hollywood Studios in the am.

Autographing her own book!

I believe she was excited to see Donald and Daisy!

It was so much fun to take her at this age. She

walked right up to them like they were her pals.

Ella and Eeyore

The Disney Clubhouse show. I thought she'd think

she'd died and gone to heaven...but she just watched

quietly. She was tired by day 4! It was a cute show.

I sat on the floor trying to nurse Eliza

(I was fully covered).

I don't want to ever go back to Disney

while nursing a baby!

It was a lot of work trying to keep her cool,

hydrated, and

mommy covered. I am a very modest person

and do not like to nurse in public places but,

you do what you have to do. I did use

the baby care spot on Day 4 and I should

have used them more

often. They were awesome.


On the bus back to the resort. Both girls

were melting by this point on day 4.

Too bad there isn't a video of us

exiting the park. Ella was screaming...tired,

hot, and wanting to walk by herself.

Kev was carrying her while

sweating like crazy!Eliza was in my sister's

Ergo carrier and was bucking to get out and

screaming...and we were walking as fast

as we could to catch the bus back to

our resort so we didn't have to

wait an hour for the next one. As you can

see we made it all the kiddo's

crashed moments later and the parents

had time to cool down. Have you

noticed that when your kids are crying and

misbehaving, the stress level

rises like crazy? Whew...needless to say we

all took long naps that afternoon!

Monorail to Epcot on Day 4 Pm

Me and my lil sis!

Epcot...Mickey's big ball as ella called it!

We ate Dinner in "Germany!" That is

Kev and ella dancing

to a German Polka. It was a cool dinner.

You felt like you were

really in Germany! The guys enjoyed

the Brats and sauerkraut!

I guess by this point I was tired

of taking pics. We watched the Epcot

light and fireworks show. It was by far the

best one I'd ever seen!

Ella decided she liked the fireworks

by this point of the week! Epcot

had extra hours for resort people that

night until midnight. We stayed until

about 10pm and I just felt too weird

pushing my girls around in a stroller at

an amusement park at 10 o'clock at night!

We rode a few more rides and headed

back. The kids all crashed on the monorail.

Our Disney vacation was complete!

It was an awesome trip and a vacation

I will never forget. Thanks Jess and

Ryan for sharing the week with us.

Thanks also for your help with the girls.

We hope to do it again one day!

Disney days 2 & 3

I have been much slower at finishing my vacation posts than I wanted to be. All of our Disney days are starting to mush together! I figured it was time to finish this before it is a fuzzy memory!!!

On the morning of day 2 we headed to the Animal Kingdom!
I was excited about ella seeing lots of different animals, since she has never been to a zoo!

Eliza sportin her cheetah pants!!

Meeting Goofy! We love Goofy!

Safari Minne!

The African Safari ride. It was neat. I don't think ella could see some of the animals too well but she still enjoyed it! Our stroller got a flat so we headed back to the hotel mid morning and then out in search of the right size tire tubing. Thankfully, we found a Super Target and amazingly they had just what we needed! I also enjoyed a little shopping while we were there!

Day 2 pm...back at animal kingdom. That is the Everest ride in the background! It was probably my favorite roller coaster of the trip!

Goofy and Pluto! This was actually Titus' turn to see them but as you can see ella had a hard time leaving. Thankfully, Titus didn't seem to mind!

Waiting for the bus to go back to the magic kingdom for the fireworks!!!

I love the Magic Kingdom at night! It is magical!

Day 3 am We took advantage of the extra hours for the resorts and headed to the Magic Kingdom for the early extra hour. I am proud of us for getting up and out so early!

Ella met Daisy upon entering the park!

She was so cute!

Heading to the Tea Cups for an early morning spin!

We had tons of fun riding this as a family! (We are headed to Blizzard Beach

which is why we are wearing swimwear!)

Blizzard Beach- Ella had fun on the kiddie slides! I spent most of my time trying to keep eliza in the shade and hydrated! Fun times!!! I would love to go back when my girls are older...it looked like so much fun!

Day 3 Pm Magic Kingdom Light Parade

My girls!! We had just finished our giant "Plaza" Sundae! It was

huge and oh so delish!

My favorite picture of Eliza from the week!

I love that girl!

Waiting for the parade!!

Cinderella and Prince Charming!!

It received the two handed wave from ella!