Look Who's Two

Our little girl, the last baby, has turned two this week.  Such a bittersweet feeling watching children grow up, isn't it?  I love having a daughter and I thank God for her every day, and her brother too.  It's fun watching her explore and learn new things.  She has a sweet personality but she's also a tough girl too.  She's not afraid to make demands and if she doesn't get her way she'll throw a fit.  Typical toddler for sure and we'll work on that.  Her tantrums are few and far between though and that is great.  She's a happy little girl who loves to play, dance, run, climb and just about anything a two year old can do.  She's also very smart.  Already knows most of her A B C's and can count to 13 (missing a few numbers here and there).  She loves to sing and her favorite is "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and she loves ... I mean LOVES Yo Gabba Gabba.  She's obsessed with the show.  They only show the episodes on the weekends but thanks to DVR we have a ton recorded.  So every day she asks to watch it and she would just sit and watch them all day if I'd let her.  No, I don't let her.

She also loves Disney Princesses but she also likes to play in the dirt and steal her brother's toys.  She already knows and uses her manners quite often saying, "please, thank you, no thank you," and "excuse me."  She also asks to "pway" before eating every meal.  Her big brother learned the "God is great, God is good ..." prayer in preschool and he recites it before dinner every night.  She has learned most of it and wants to say it before she eats.  Sometimes even in the middle of a meal she will say, "let's pway!"  She can't recognize her colors but she does say "yellow, geen (green), boo (blue), pinked (pink) and red."  She can say many words and speaks in sentences.  And everything is, "mine!" even if it's not.  Of course, I'm not bragging.  Jotting down her accomplishments is for my benefit.

I'll find out her height and weight at next week's doctor appointment but I know she is short for her age, just like her brother.  She can still fit into some size 18 months clothes, most 24 months and 2T clothes but still a lot of 2T sizes are too big.  She picks out her shirt every morning.  At this point she wants to try and do everything like putting on her clothes and things like that, but she's unsuccessful.  Of course, she will get there.  I'm just so happy to see her wanting to be independent. 

And she loves to smile just like this. 

My husband took off work for her birthday, as he does every year for all our birthdays.  We met with my parents and some friends at the amusement park we like to go to.  The weather was beautiful but the park was too crowded.  Brianna doesn't do well in crowds so after riding on a few rides she was starting to get cranky.  It was also lunch time and her usual nap time at the point we decided to leave.  I hated to skip out like that since we had friends there.  We ate lunch at Applebees and we considered going back to the park but as we passed we saw the parking lot was full and decided against the idea.  Too bad.  We'll definitely be there again before the season is over.  We stopped at my parents' house so she could open her gift from them there.  A Barbie Jeep and a Barbie and Ken dolls.  

Then we headed home so she could open all the gifts from us.  We spoiled her!  She loves her new play kitchen, which in my opinion, is something all little girls should have.  She also has pots and pans, plates, silverware and lots of food to go with it.  And of course, more gifts too.  

After presents we enjoyed a delicious cake.  And since our little girl loves Yo Gabba Gabba and wanted a special Yo Gabba Gabba cake my very creative husband made one for her.  

If you're familiar with the show you'll know exactly who this character is.  Rob did a fantastic job!

It was a good day for our little girl; however, while we celebrated her birth we learned that a good friend went Home to be with the Lord after battling cancer.  He was my father-in-law's best friend and someone my husband knew since he was a little boy.  He was a good man.  Very funny and always joking.  He was loved and he'll be missed. 

First Hair Cut

Yes, I did it!  With only one week to go before our little girl turns two my husband and I both decided it was time she gets her very first professional hair cut.  Her hair was growing in her face and covered her eyes and was very uneven in the back.  I tried doing it myself at home but she wouldn't sit still.  Plus I don't trust myself with a pair of scissors and someone else's hair. 

From the moment of deciding to get it done up until the time she sat down in the chair I was so nervous.  Brianna is usually very clingy to me when we're in unfamiliar places.  I was expecting her to grab onto me refusing to let go while crying and throwing a fit.  I can so happily say that didn't happen.  Whew!  She was a perfect angel.  She sat still the entire time and wasn't bothered by what was being done to her.  She even spoke to the hair dresser saying things like, "Mamoo (Matthew) going to school.  I wanna go school."  It was cute.  I was definitely proud.  I wanted to cry tears of joy but I kept it together pretty well. 

Fitness Blog No More

I made a hasty decision to shut down my fitness blog.  No, that doesn't mean I've given up on exercising.  Oh I love working out!  I just didn't see a need to have another blog which only focused on my work outs.  I wasn't updating much.  I don't even update this one often.  So I might as well combine the two on here.  Once a week ... once a month ... twice a month ... I'll talk about my fitness goals and achievements. 

The last few months I did a squat challenge.  It was good although I admit last month I grew lazy with it in the last few weeks.  I'm still doing squats.  I love squats!  In a few months (even with not being consistent with the daily challenge) there's already a difference in my butt.  This month I'm working on an ab challenge, while still doing my squats among other things.  If you're interested in joining in our curious to see what I'm doing here it is. 

Little one is napping and it's pouring outside.  Perfect time to get Day # 6 started! 

Monday Musings

Here we are!  Another week is upon us.  I'm sitting here sipping the last cup of coffee and watching an Everybody Loves Raymond rerun.  I love that show!  Parts of it remind me of my family.  I just laid Brianna down for her nap.  Matthew is laying next to me napping as well.  He doesn't nap anymore but today he isn't feeling well.  It happened suddenly.  He first complained about a stomach ache but then said his head hurt.  He's making all sorts of grunting noises and is twitching around.  I keep asking him if he's okay, if he feels like throwing up, etc. but he's not telling me.  He just wants to sleep.  I hate not knowing exactly what's going on with these kids because then I don't know how to help.  Brianna has developed these spots on her body.  At first is started with one, then another.  They look like mosquito bites and I thought that's all it was but each day she wakes up and I find more.  I washed her sheet, Lysol'd the bed.  Not sure what's going on. 

So anyway, the weekend went by too quickly.  On Saturday Matthew and I went school shopping.  He picked out a backpack and I purchased some new clothes for him.  School shopping!  School!  Yikes!  In a little over two weeks I'll be putting him on the school bus and sending him off for kindergarten.  It doesn't seem possible.  My mind keeps going back to the image of when the nurse first handed him to me in the hospital.  With the hospital cap on his head and the hospital blanket wrapped around his body like a burrito.  That moment stays in my mind.  I'll never forget it.  Now almost six years later he's starting school and will be gone all day, five days a week.  Part of me is sad and another part of me is excited for this new adventure.  Plus, I'll have one on one time with Brianna during the day so we'll get to have a special bond.  Bittersweet. 

Sunday, as previously written, we went to church.  I had a long conversation with my mother-in-law over the phone and then my father-in-law and his wife came over for a visit.  Rob cooked a delicious meal with barbecue chicken, smashed potatoes and corn on the cob.  Yummy!  Thanks for spoiling us, honey!

Now here we are.  Another week.  It's always hard seeing my husband off to work on Monday morning.  The kids and I dropped off some library books and then headed to the playground this morning for awhile.  They loved playing but it was starting to get too crowded so we left.  Once we arrived home that is when Matthew started acting funny.  He's still laying on the couch, now with the sniffles.  If he's okay this evening after dinner Rob wants to take him down the street to the baseball field to practice hitting balls.  Speaking of which ...

We signed Matthew up for baseball in the fall.  He did well in the spring and wanted to keep playing.  Fall Ball isn't as popular as it is in the spring so there is only two teams in his age group.  Rob was asked to step up as head coach and he's excited about it.  There's a huge bag of equipment sitting in the foyer and he's always busy emailing all the parents and getting things ready.  Hopefully practices can start next week.  We are playing against our neighbor's team so this should be fun. 

In other news Brianna's second birthday is next week.  I can't believe it.  Another milestone.  We decided not to have a big party this year.  It's too much work and we have a lot going on.  So we may spend the day at the amusement park and then have a little something with just immediate family.  They say time flies when you have children and that's the truth! 

I guess that's all I have for today.  I'm hoping Matthew feels better so we can enjoy the beautiful weather.  It's in the 70's today.  That's so unusual for August but I'll take it!  The rest of the week is calling for rain but the forecast hasn't been very accurate lately.  Enjoy your week ya'll!

Sunday Church

Hello!  Hope the weekend is treating you well!  I don't usually blog on Sundays because it's our family day but I have a moment to myself so I thought it would be a good time to come on here and say hello.  Brianna is napping and the boys went to the store.  These quiet moments don't happen too often so I enjoy them but then I never know what to do with myself. 

We went to church this morning.  We used to attend church every Sunday but since the kids were born we haven't been consistent.  When I prayed to God to give me a child I promised that I would raise my children to know God and to always keep church and prayer in their lives.  I hate to admit that I haven't been doing such a great job.  Matthew knows about God, we put him in a preschool at a church that taught him a lot, he says the prayer before dinner and he talks about Jesus a lot.  I have never taken the time to tell him why we pray or how to pray aside from what we do at the dinner table.  And church.  Wow!  I should be taking the kids every Sunday.  But we haven't.  It's just so hard with two little ones.  The church offers programs for children of all ages but neither kid enjoys it.  I'm not sure why.  If I put them in the nursery and Sunday School room I will get called back to get them because they were crying.  I've always told Matthew that if he sits quietly in the chapel he can stay with us and for the first five years he's done well.  Even as a baby he never gave us an issue.  The people who sat around us would always comment on how well behaved he was.  That made going to church easy.  Although with our little girl it's a different story.  She doesn't sit still, not even for 5 minutes, so how can I expect her to sit still for an entire hour?  She wants to talk, wants to fuss, wants to walk from one area to another.  It reached a point where I just didn't feel like putting in the effort so we stopped attending church.  I realize I should have kept going anyway and done whatever I needed to in order to teach these kids the importance of going to church and how to sit still ... or go back to the Sunday School room and nursery until they were used to it.  My faith had also been shaky at times so that was also a reason why I made no effort. 

I want to get back into it.  I need to. 

Instead of the 11:00 Traditional service we decided to try the 9:30 Contemporary service.  Both are so different.  The 11:00 is in the chapel and is much more conservative.  The 9:30 is in the bigger part of the church with a lot of people, loud music and not conservative at all.  It was nice.  So much easier dealing with the kids when it's loud.  The half hour sermon was the biggest challenge trying to listen to the pastor speak while Brianna kept talking, pinching her brother and begging for food.  No one seemed to mind.  At least I don't think so. 

And trying to listen to the sermon while controlling an almost two year old is an issue in itself but I did hear most of it.  The pastor spoke on rejoicing in the Lord even through the hard times.  It's amazing how the message I hear in church or even while listening to Joyce Meyer on TV has some significance to what I am going through at the time.  I'm so glad we went and can hopefully keep this going weekly. 

Deck Repairs And A Beach Trip

Good morning readers!

My husband is back to work today after having an entire week off.  It was nice having him home and it was sad to see him off this morning.  He spent most of the week rebuilding a new deck in our backyard.  It was a lot of blood, sweat and tears ... and sun burn ... but so far it looks wonderful.  I love it!  It's far from finished but I'm very happy with what he has done already.  I definitely want to show some before and after pictures once it's all complete but this project is costing more than anticipated so it's going to take a little more time.  I'm so happy that we've finally had a chance to move forward with some of the work that needs done to this house.  We had a new roof put on a few months ago and now the back deck.  I've also been slowly working on the flower beds and making the landscaping look nice.  I have so many great ideas ... only wish I could afford to do what I want.  In time.  It costs so much owning and maintaining a home, doesn't it?  We'll get there.

During his vacation we did get a chance to visit a beach.  The disadvantage with living in Pennsylvania is we don't have any beaches.  Rivers and lakes, yes.  But no real beaches.  We wanted to take the kids to a beach that was close enough to be a day trip.  Rob found one in Maryland right off of the Chesapeake Bay.  It was smaller than other beaches I've been to (hey, I was once a Long Island girl.  I'm spoiled when it comes to beaches) but it was very nice.  The kids LOVED it.  They weren't afraid of the water, collected sea shells, played in the sand and had a fun time.  Brianna still hasn't stopped saying, "I wanna go beach.  I wanna go beach."  She loved it so much and didn't want to leave.  In fact, it was a nightmare trying to get her in the car when we decided to leave.

So we'll give this beach two thumbs up.  Sandy Point State Park. 

Well, I need to spend the day catching up on housework and getting back into my exercise routine.  I started to slack off while hubby was home.  No excuse! 

Monday Musings

Well, in an effort to keep this blog consistent I decided to start making a specific entry every Monday.  For now I'll call it 'Monday Musings' but I may change that title at some point.  I've seen quite a few other bloggers do something similar to this so I apologize if it seems I'm stealing anything.  I am just trying to come up with some new ideas to keep this thing going ... and maybe a bit more interesting.

What will I add to Monday Musings?  Hmm?  Any suggestions?  Ideas?  Let me know.

Maybe I'll start by talking about the previous week/weekend -- My parents went to visit family on Long Island so my dad asked me to go to their house every few days to check on things and to water his plants.  My first trip over there was last Friday.  They live in another county and since we were in the area I took the kids to an amusement park there.  We have season passes.  We spent only a few hours there and then headed to the community pool in the development where my parents live.  Then I checked on the house and watered their plants.  Last week was a horrible 90+ almost 100 degrees.  It was the kind of weather that left you breathless as soon as you walked outside.  The heat definitely affected my brain on Friday because as I was driving home (with my kids in the back) I ran out of gas.  I have never done that before.  Ever.  I'm always so good at making sure the car is always full, or at least half full.  I didn't bother to notice that the needle on the gas gauge was pointing to the RED.  Ooops.  I was able to laugh about the situation because the car did give me a warning and I was able to pull into a gas station.  Wow.  Although I didn't realize what happened and I called my husband who left work to save me.  Sorry honey!  He figured out the problem, pumped some gas and drove it home while I took the other car.  Nothing like breaking down in the miserable heat but I was so thankful it happened at a gas station.  What luck!

It was a busy weekend, especially for the guys.  My husband and son went to a monster truck show in Maryland on Saturday and didn't arrive home until 1 am.  Yikes!  They had a lot of fun.  They both love attending these monster truck shows and it gives them a chance to do some male bonding.  My daughter and I just stayed home and spent the day doing not much of anything.  I can't wait until she's older and our mommy/daughter time can be more exciting.  On Sunday we all took a trip to my parents' house so I could, again, water plants and check on things.  We headed back to the amusement parks (thanks to those season passes).  It was a lot of fun and I was surprised that the kids, who normally fear going on most rides, went on so much.  Matthew loved the spinning turtles and insisted on going three times in a row.  Twice with Daddy and once with me.  He also joined his sister on a few of the slower rides.  Actually, everything at this park is slow rides since it's designed for kids only.  Lots of fun.  Then we had dinner at Sonic before heading home.  Another late night so the kids have slept in this morning.

Then maybe I'll write about any plans we have for the current week - Well, my husband is working today and tomorrow but then he is taking vacation time until the middle of next week.  It's not going to be fun and games, at least not in the beginning.  He wanted to take time off so he could work on redoing the back deck.  It needs done ... desperately.  It's going to be a big job but luckily the weather is going to be a lot better then it was last week.

 

Oh that forecast just looks wonderful!  I don't mind the rain.  The plants need it!  My parents are planning to come home tomorrow or Wednesday so I don't have to worry about going over there to check on things but I will bring the kids there at some point to hear about their trip.  

Then hopefully when Rob is finished with the deck we can enjoy some more time at the amusement park and possibly spend a day at a beach.  No, we don't live close to any beaches and it will take at least two or three hours to get to the closest one but I've been dying to go.  I love the beach.  

I'd love to add a meal plan for the week but I'm not very good at keeping that going.  I usually plan the meal on that exact day and sometimes it changes.  Sometimes I cook.  Sometimes my husband cooks.  If the weather is nice we'll throw something on the grill ... and I mean he throws something on the grill.  I'm afraid to touch that thing.  Fridays are our pizza night.  He makes the pizza.  So delicious!   I may write about what books I'm reading, do any reviews on products I'm using, or talk about a lesson I've learned within the week (like how not to let your gas tank get TOO low).  Maybe I'll talk about any positive news whether it be personal, local or national.  When it comes to the news it's not usually positive though - except today the world awaits for the birth of the royal baby.  I'm not a fan of the royal family but I guess that's an exciting event for most people.  I can remember hearing the news that Prince William was born.  Seems like it was yesterday. 

I may even leave this with something motivational or inspirational.  Today I'll end it with one of my favorite Bible verses:

  

^"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -- Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)