Welcome back! (Maybe)

Oh I laugh and laugh when I think of all the times that I was like, "Hey, I can work full time and be a mom and wife and still have a life and update my blog -like everyday!- so that I won't miss a thing and can put it all in a book!"  Such ambition I had!

Well, life has taken over.  Our family of four has turned into a family of five (Hello, Emily Elizabeth!), Robby and I both have landed our "right now dream jobs" and things are just trucking along.

Emily joined our family on August 8, 2014, at 5:27 pm, weighing 8 lbs 7 oz and 19.69 inches long.  This little butterball has brightened our lives in so many ways!  Not only do we have the joy of watching her grow and learn and getting to know her, we get to watch now 4 year-old Hailey transition into a big sister (and she is fabulous at it!) and be amazed by how responsible Abigail truly is at age 6.

I have enjoyed looking back and reading about my kids and the funny things they have said or done or what milestones they have reached at certain ages, so I want my first blog back to be about that.

Emily Elizabeth:  4 months old, loves to smile and giggle at Mommy's funny noises, is ticklish on her sides and LOVES to be held.  She has just recently discovered that sometimes she gets put down...and that if she cries she will get picked back up...and she is certainly using that knowledge to her advantage.  December 9 was the first time to hear her laugh, and it was a day that I needed to hear it.  I say that she is my light because I think that ever since my dad passed away I was living in a sort of darkness that I didn't even realize I was in, and it wasn't until she was born that I was able to start pushing the darkness away.  Don't get me wrong, I still laughed and played with my kids and enjoyed life and work, but I didn't realize how much I was holding back...that maybe I wasn't giving all I had to life because I was sad.  Kind of hard to describe, and I'm still working through it now, but that's not what I want to focus on.  I want to talk about the happiness that is Emily.

She can roll tummy to back and just got a jumperoo for Christmas.  She can touch the ground and can kind of bounce, but definitely hasn't gotten the hang of it yet.  She wears size 3-6 months or 6 months clothes (and some hand-me-downs are size 9 months), and size 2 diapers.  She went with me to Hailey's 4 year checkup appt on Dec 22 and I weighed her, too --- 14 lbs 12 oz.  Yay!  She has so many leg rolls and I just eat them up.  She is sooooo adorable.  Also!  She has just started saying the "mmmmm" sound a lot, so I am working really hard to get her to say Mama!  It was both Abigail and Hailey's first word (at barely 6 months and nearly 7 months, respectively), so I am hoping for the same around Valentine's Day!  So far, she has only had rice cereal a handful of times, and doesn't seem to enjoy it, but also doesn't hate it, so I guess that is a good thing!

Hailey Kay: At 4 years old, Hailey is still as joyful as ever.  She is funny and laughs and giggles and is so caring and intuitive that it sometimes catches me off-guard. She has a sensitive heart, but is brave on the outside.  She doesn't let new people in her little world of happiness until she decides that she wants to open up, and after that, she is fiercely loyal, even in her own little four year old world.  She likes to run and run and run, and play babies, and take care of animals and explore things.  I love that she is a problem solver and a go-getter.  At her awards ceremony last May 2014 (when she was three and a half), she got the Honest Abe award and it fits her.  She is honest and, like a reporter, keeps Mommy and Daddy updated on what everyone else in the house is doing.  She LOVES to be Mommy's helper; we cook together, and clean together, and sort laundry together, and when I give Emily a bath, she gives her baby doll Miranda a bath, and I love love love every minute of this time.  When I was on maternity leave, I would bring Hailey to school half way through the day because we had spent all morning just playing and lounging and enjoying each other.  One day, we chased a beautiful, full, double rainbow just because we could.  It's one of my favorite memories.

She can write her name and my name (Mom) by herself, and with a little help, she can even write "Dad." She draws people with heads and faces and bodies, and arms and legs, and just started drawing eye lashes ("only for girls") and hair and hands.  I love to watch her drawing develop.  I think she is a pretty good colorer (is that a word?) and she loves to write me notes and leave them for me to find.  She is a good big sister, and a curious little sister (she loves to do everything with Abby), but will only respond if you call her the Middle Sister.  She takes that job seriously!  We missed getting her ears pierced right at her birthday last month, so she got them done last week.  She picked out rainbow flowers, because that's the type of girl she is.  Colorful and beautiful.

Abigail Reese: My 6 year old has grown into a lovely young girl.  She is kind, sweet, thoughtful, and respectful, but also has a streak of independence that makes a mama proud.  She is excelling in kindergarten this year, reading and doing math above grade level, and has just started showing me that she can do mental math with simple addition and subtraction.  I am uber impressed.  She learns things like a sponge, and is a natural learner -- very curious and eager to find out new information.  What I admire most about Abigail is her ability to consider other people in almost every situation.  She is always thinking of others, and while I could tell you a million instances to illustrate this point, they're so numerous and commonplace that none stand out at the same time that all of them stand out because I have to remind myself that she is SIX and showing consideration that some adults still don't have.  She is wise beyond her years, and I enjoy learning with and teaching her.  She reminds me to look for the simple things in life and that it isn't about worldly possessions.  Life is about people and love and relationships.

She likes to read and and snuggle and touch (her Love Language is definitely touch!) and do art and loves tending to animals.  She and Robby do millions of art projects together, and I love that they have that in common.  She is a Daddy's girl right now and I am thankful that they have that relationship.  Robby has a good relationship with all of his daughters, but right now, as Emily and Hailey gravitate towards me, she is getting good Daddy-Abby time.

I make sure to take each of my girls out for one on one time (Mommy-Abby or Mommy-Hailey time we call it) because, as a working Mom, I always feel like I could be doing more with them.  I want them to know that I value each of them as individual people with individual talents, as well as what they bring to our family.  I love the way they interact with each other, but sometimes I just want them to be free to grow and explore and have time to do things without their sisters around.  I want them to be as comfortable as an independent individual as they are when we are all together.  It is important for me to raise girls who are confident in themselves and who they are.  Robby also takes them out one-on-one or just the big girls or in whatever combination because he knows that girls need their daddy.  Plus, he loves it because he can be a big kid again and go see all the fun movies or play around on the playground or ride bikes with them.

Well, this blog post is completely ridiculous because it is mostly stream of consciousness and nothing like an English major should ever publish.  But you know what?  I'm going to publish it anyway.  :)  Goodbye one of my perfectionist tendencies!  In the words of Sweet Mama Brown, "A'int nobody got time for that!"  Especially not with three kids and husband and a full time job and a joyful, busy, happy life.

Love

Some days I feel so much love for and from my family that it takes my breath away.  I am surrounded by love, and I am incredibly blessed. 

There are no words to express what I feel.  The word "love" just doesn't seem enough.  The emotion I have is all consuming, and I am thankful for every part of it.  I love my husband, who always knows exactly what I need, exactly when I reach my limit and when I need just a little extra support; my older daughter, 4 year old Abigail, whose sensitive and caring heart reminds me that all people and animals deserve compassion and consideration; and my younger daughter, 2 year old Hailey, who is always so joyous and full of energy, a little girl growing into her own person, full of delight and who reminds me that happiness comes from within. 

The past few weeks have been especially trying, and I am especially thankful for their smiling faces when I get home for work.  My husband cooked dinner tonight and had the girls already in their jammies by the time I got home so that I wouldn't have to worry about anything but spending time with them.  Thank you, my husband, for knowing me so well.  Thank you, our girls, for all that y'all are.  Thank you, God, for the blessings You continually bestow upon us.

Gone Fishin'

Today we drove all over creation trying to find a place to take Abigail fishing.  After going to two different parts of the nearby lake and discovering that, whether we wanted to camp or not, we had to pay camping prices, (and no fishing allowed at or near the local marina!), we ended up back at our local pond.  It was just as fun for Abigail, even if Robby was slightly disappointed that we wasted all that time for naught.  Next time, he said, we will make an entire day of it and go to the lake!  That will be fun!

Anyways, Robby wanted to use live bait - worms - and it was Abigail's first time to see them.  It was HILARIOUS!!  She was fascinated/engrossed in them!  After the initial excitement, she would run back and forth from fishing to come back and check on the other worms.  We set one free and she loved watching it crawl around.  "What's it doing, Mama?"  "I no touch it, Mama.  YOU touch it!"  "Fish like worms?"  "I fishin!"  "Hailey Kay like worms?"  "I see worms!"  "Oh.  Worms sleepin."  "Open it!  Hiiiii, worms!" were the various things she said when she'd come to check on them. 

Even though it didn't go exactly as planned, it was a hoot and tons of fun.  Abby had fun with the worms and reeling in her fishing line.  Robby had fun catching THREE fish with Abigail's Dora the Explorer pole (some help from Abigail, of course).  Hailey had fun snuggling on the blanket with Mommy, and I had fun with my family. 

3 Month Comparison

Today we went to the park, and while Robby and Abigail were playing on the playground, Hailey and I just chilled on a bench and looked at people, birds, and whatever else caught our attention.  Of course, I had to take self-photos.  The photos of Hailey at 3 months reminded me so much of some pictures I have of Abigail at 3 months.  In both instances, we were sitting outside watching the birds, it was in February, and both girls had their tongues out.  Check it out!  Naturally, the self photo isn't as good as the one taken by Robby, but you get what I mean - the expressions are so similar it cracked me up!  Abby's picture is first, the other two are Hailey Kay.

Penguin Days!

In the months of January and February, The Dallas Zoo holds $5 Penguin Days; their slogan is "When the weather is cold, prices are hot," meaning that admission is only $5 per adult instead of normal price of almost $15/adult (Abigail and Hailey are free either way).  Since the weather was nice, Robby and I were looking for something to do that was inexpensive, outside, and engaging for all, so naturally, the zoo was a good choice.  The last time we went to the zoo was last July, for their $1 Day - everything was a dollar!  This time, it wasn't nearly as crowded, and WOW at the difference with Abigail.  She was engaged, knew the names of animals, talked about them, "He's jumping!" (talking about the monkey) and loved telling Hailey about them, "Look, Hay Hay, giraffes!" 

Hailey liked strolling around in their new double stroller (yes, we finally broke down and got one), while Abigail loved the easy accessibility of stroller or walking.  She rode in the stroller between exhibits, but Daddy would pick her up at each one and let her see the animals.  Hailey's favorite exhibit was the monkey exhbit, I think because they were the most exciting with all their movement and screeching, while Abigail absolutely LOVED the giraffes!  At the Dallas Zoo, the giraffes can come right up to you and you can (although signs say not to) touch them - they are so close.  We didn't touch - as most people didn't. 

There was one mountain cat, a moutain lion or puma or something, that was literally three feet away (in a cage, of course), and he was playing with the zookeeper.  She ran in front of the cage, he followed her, she stopped and jumped, and he jumped back - it reminded me of how we play with Chance.  Anyways, Abigail saw all this and said, "Mama, get him out!  Get him out!"  She wanted to play with and pet him, too.  So cute! 

OH MY GOODNESS!  I almost forgot to mention the otters!!   This is the first time - in my LIFE, I think - that I have ever seen otters be so active.  They were doing flips, playing with one another, floating down their river and their waterfall, basically just putting on a show for all us, and I LOVED every minute!  I could have stayed for hours to watch them!  This was my favorite part!  Unfortunately, I was so enthralled that I did not get one single picture. 

We also strolled over to the children's zoo, where there are animals to pet (and ride, although, thank goodness, Abigail hasn't asked to ride them yet!).  She was completely uninterested in the huge pig, loved the horse and fish tank, and was on the fence about the goats.   Robby took Abigail in the goat petting area, and the very first one she approached tucked his head and ran towards her (no horns, whew!), so that scared her a little.  Robby did a great job coaxing her to try to approach another one, and she timidly pet him.  Once we said that she could feed him like the donkeys (she loves those donkeys at Papas!) she picked up some hay and was much more brave. 

Over all, it was a wonderful day!  We had a great family day and both girls were tuckered out before 8pm, so now Robby and I are enjoying a quiet house.  :)

Their first bath together.  Sorry, just had to sneak it in.

"Hop" on Over!

Nani and Papa wanted to make sure that the girls are prepared to come visit them, so they got each of them a rolling suitcase/backpack/doll holder with removable stuffed animal.  Abigail has the frog backpack, and Hailey has the bunny backpack. 

These are sooooo cute and plush and soft, and Abigail absolutely adores hers!  She keeps alternating between rolling it around the house and wearing it like a backpack.  When she wears it like a backpack, she'll turn around and pop out her hip to show off the frog - such sass!  She made a joke yesterday when she said, "Nani, where frog?" and Nani replied, "I don't know.  Where is the frog?"  Abigail proceeded to jump/turn around and exclaim, "Here it is!" while ridiculously laughing.  Such a perfect, useful gift for a two year old!  (Hailey likes hers, too!)

Abigail posed with her backpack, saying, "Camera, Mom.  Picture."

Taking out Hailey's bunny.

Modeling the multiple uses!

Snow Day 4

I'm kind of getting used to this.  Work one day, off six (if you include the weekend!).  I am SO glad Robby works in my district now, because I love having all the same/extra time off.  It's nice!

This morning when we woke up, we had about 4 inches of snow on the ground!  This is more like what I am used to seeing whenever school/work gets canceled because of inclement weather.  Naturally, we had to take Abigail out to play in the snow! 

Last year, when it snowed about a foot of snow, Abigail was just 15 months old, so she didn't really get to play in it.  This morning, Abigail had a BLAST playing in it!  We played until our faces were red, and when we came in she cried to go back out.  Of course, when we went out this morning, it was still only 20 degrees, so we couldn't stay out long.  Also, the sun was out (it's supposed to get to 32 degrees today - oh my word, it will feel like a heat wave, I am sure!), and it reflected off the snow, so it was as bright as all get out.  I could barely open my eyes!

Abigail's favorite thing was to make foot prints in the snow and to wipe off the snow from the bushes in our yard.  She found one tiny flower (weed) sticking up through the snow and yelled, "FOWER!"  She tromped over there and plucked it immediately.  That girl loves picking flowers.

We also took Hailey out in it, just for the experience. She had on three layers of clothes plus a hat and blanket, and we were only out there long enough for her to see it. She barely caught a glimpse, though, because of the brightness.