time

Back in the days when I worked full time in an office, I didn't really know what full time meant. I can recall specific moments when I would glance at the clock and sincerely believe that it hadn't moved since I had arrived earlier that morning. Gone are those days. My clock seems to move faster now than it ever has, and I'm often left wondering what I can possibly do to slow it down. Every time that a weekend arrives, I'm awakened with surprise that we have completed yet another week, again. I remember working in jobs that at times I hated so much that I would absolutely dread Mondays and count down the time until I could enjoy another weekend. Gone are those days, too. Now that I have a new definition of full time, and perhaps an ongoing new perspective on life, I look forward to every day. I was talking to a good friend the other day about how children change your world. These two girls sure have changed mine. It's lately felt a lot like non-stop work, which is much more than full time has ever been in my book. Work to discipline correctly, to hold back my own temper, to find time to play, to be okay with not accomplishing nearly as much as I'd like to, and to spend time demonstrating love. We all know what they say about payback, and Lord knows I was not always a joy to discipline growing up either. Guess it's my turn now to learn some much needed patience and balance. It's felt good to let go at times and relax, too. And it's okay to take a break and give myself some time for me. My natural instinct is that I tend to seek out productivity, and I've always done this...thinking if I accomplish more, I am more. However, I know deep down, and I'm continuing to learn each day, that doing more is not really best. If I am true to myself, and I love people the best way I know how (not even glancing at the clock)...just LOVE, I am and I'm becoming much more.

Spring Fun!

Last weekend we were able to spend some fun time with Gigi and Papa at their cabin in Helen! Although I don't have a lot of time, I thought it'd be fun to post some of the pics while I had a moment to myself. (moment to myself = doesn't happen often.) :) Enjoy!

Blog...what blog?!

So here I am jumping from Thanksgiving, over Christmas, over New Years, and landing somewhere at the end of January. Wow, I'm really doing a great job of keeping up with this thing. (Remember, I never promised I'd be able to stay with it!) Priorities, people!! :) So in the middle of a crazy day with a sick baby and policies to write, bills to pay, and a house to clean, my dear mom has taken Katelyn for a sleep-over, and here I am blogging. (I know she'll be proud of the way I'm spending my free time.) :)

Some highlights from the past couple of months would include a visit to and from Santa, some fun rides on the Pink Pig, a little girl with a precious, lit-up face on Christmas morning, cookie making, lots of spotting Christmas lights (exclaiming "Fistmas Lights!" every time we see some!) Addison has learned to roll over and is eating cereal like a champ. She's the most smiley baby I've ever seen; I love her giggles and how she spits bubbles out at me and sucks on her big toe. She's fun and is learning new things each day it seems. Katelyn watched ice skating on TV for a moment and immediately she ran to put on a swimsuit and begin her own version of "skating" - running through the house, twisting and turning and falling down, putting on quite a show for us to watch and laugh at. She's getting so big and she conquered potty training this month, too. What a big girl now...who I swear the other day was just my little baby. We rearranged our family room so we cuddle on the couch more, make more fires, and sit under an electric throw and stay very cozy and warm! One of my favorite things she says is "You wanna lay down ME?" Love that snuggly time.

Here are some pics from the past couple of months. Will try to keep up with this more, you know, in all my spare time. :)

Ikin' Pictures

My sweet girl who "doesn't ike it pictures" has turned a new leaf and is comin' around! The day before we left for our trip, she dressed herself up and said "Mama, take MY picture?" These are her dress up clothes from her Aunt Tina (aka TJ)...what a little diva!

This face below is her "smile at the camera" face...although it doesn't really look like a smile.

Then by dinner time, she had put on the tierra & necklace and was ready for more pictures. I am still amazed that she is suddenly lovin' the camera. All this time...who knew?! :)

Over the River and Through the Woods...

It is with great pride that I announce the survival of our first 9 day road trip as a family of four. People, this is not just any roadtrip...but a 2-day-each-way-13-hours-there-and-back-road-trip. And not just any family of four...but a 2-month-old-nursing-baby-sister-to-a-2-year-old-testing-2-overly-exhausted-parents-family-of-four! Can you imagine the fun? Really, for the long hours in the car, the girls impressed us with their patience and minimal meltdowns. I am a true believer that splitting the drive into two days is not only necessary for the children but for the parents as well.

Some of my greatest memories through the years are at my Grandma's house. It is one of my favorite places in the world. This is probably the reason I was so excited to take my girls there. Just maybe during their childhood years they will get to have a bit of the fun that I did there. Some things I love about Grandma's house: I love the smell when you walk in the garage door. If my eyes were closed, and I smelled that smell, I would know without a doubt where I was. It's a crisp clean smell and it's my Grandma's house smell. You can also tell that the air smells different even as you are driving into her little town. Not sure how to explain this, especially when the windows are rolled up and you are driving in the dark cold...but I swear at some point close to Grandma's house, you can smell the difference in the air. Another favorite thing is that when you sleep in her house, no matter which bed, the sheets are so cold yet somehow you are warm. Yet another tough one to explain, but once you've warmed up the part of the bed you are lying on, you can move your feet to the corners, and feel the cold on the sheets where you have not been. That's about the best way I can describe it. (I cannot recreate this at home, no matter how hard I try.) The sandwiches also tastes different at Grandma's. I always try to figure out what makes them different, but in all these years I am still not sure. It might be the cheese that is made locally, or the kind of bread she buys, or the miracle whip...I just don't know. (Yet another thing that despite all of my efforts, I cannot recreate at home!) The chips and dip taste different there, too. Even if you buy the same brand, I guarantee it won't taste as good as it does at Grandma's. Another thing I love is that Grandma always has tupperware containers stacked up on her counters of everyone's favorite cookies. And there has never been a time that I have been there that she does not have Golden Grahams for me. It doesn't matter if I'm 6, 16, or 26, she knows how much a treat that was for me as a child, and so the tradition lives on.

If my sweet girls at 2 yrs and 2 months of age could remember this trip, I know they'd have some good memories too. Katelyn would remember the hotel and going to get ice and "just lookin' at the pool" the first night with Gigi, she'd remember the door that connected our room to theirs, and how she loved to play "Hello...goodbye" and go from room to room. She'd rememer the fun at the "Fimmin' pool" with her "Boey" (floatie) and that everyone went fimmin' with her. She'd remember the snow at Grandma's and how sweet Daddy was to take her out to play several times a day...not to mention the snowman we made and how she ate the carrot right off his face, one bite at a time! She'd also remember the great food and all of her fun cousins she met and buddy'd up with. Addison's memories at 2 months old might not be near as exciting as Katelyn's, but she'll be there soon I know. She was such a good baby and everyone loved meeting her and holding her. She smiles and makes adorable faces and sweet baby noises. She loves to sit up so she can look at everything and take it all in. What 2 precious girls I have.

I know this trip has good memories for all of us. My favorite thing this time happens to be acting like a 10 year old with my cousin Hollie. No one makes me act as silly as she does. I swear, we revert right back to childhood when we are at Grandma's together. There's just nothing like it and no words to describe it. I also love that a road trip is an adventure in the eyes of a child, as it should be for all of us. I love to look at things with the enthusiasm of a toddler and see and hear Katelyn's expression when we spot Christmas lights, or McDonalds, or snow, or a pool. To have no other cares in the world and to enjoy such simple things like Golden Grahams and a snowman's nose...what a fun way to live each day...

"I don't ike it pictures!"

Perhaps it's because her first year was documented in a scrapbook, or because I so desperately want a photo of my two girls together, or because Gigi does too...but whatever the reason, our sweet Katelyn has decided "I don't ike it pictures!" She screams this phrase every time a camera is pulled out. (This is usually followed by either 1- running away or 2- a full-blown-throw-yourself-on-the floor tantrum) Don't believe me? Here is my proof.

Fall Fun

So, where has the time gone? Was I really here for September and October!? I am starting to believe that with each child you add to the family, time must fly by with at least double the speed that it did before. (This is my reason/excuse for not blogging more.) I have honestly attempted to put up some pictures up on several occasions, and as soon as I sit down, log on, and begin to type...the strangest thing happens. Either someone cries, or someone hangs on the office door, or someone crawls up in my lap and asks to watch "Round and Round" (Wheels on the bus = favorite song around here.) My time in the office as I once knew it has come to a screeching halt. This week, my wonderful mom has taken Katelyn for a couple of days so I have been given a much needed and appreciated break. So, in the midst of my chores, errands, and long list of "to do" items...I've decided to take another break and blog. (Figured after tomorrow my chances of doing this are once again slim to none.) :)

Last weekend we had a fun fall day at Washington Farms over in Watkinsville. There were lots of things for the kids to do, and they had a blast. Katelyn is quite obsessed with her cousin, Joshua, so really I think spending time with him was the true highlight of her day. If she could not see him at any given time, the question immediately would be asked "Where's Oshua?" Since then, each time she sees Gigi, she asks again "Goin' to Oshua's house?" Too cute. Here are some pictures from the "corn box" - their favorite part of the day by far.

Addison is such a good baby and she was content sleeping most of the day away. (We are counting on her to be as good of a sleeper as her sister and her Mama!) She finally woke up towards the end of our time there, so I was able to get a picture of her cuddled up in her cute blanket. At one point my brother said to me, "Are you serious - is she always like this?!" And it was then that I had to admit just how spoiled I am with such a sweet, sweet baby.

As I look over all of the other pictures we took, I could post another 50 good ones and make this blog way longer than it should be. I'll sign off w/ this one of the whole gang...can't believe we actually got all 11 of us in a picture and no one is throwing a tantrum. (That, my friends, is amazing!)