Wednesday, August 31, 2011

It's always one...

Two kids. I wasn't sure how it was going to be. I had heard some moms say, "For me, 2 was an adjustment." Others said 3 or 4 was. I am not sure which will end up being the hardest for me. For me so far, two has gone really smooth. Kaitlyn is super patient with what I need to do for Whitney and has never gotten angry at me or Whitney. She has been fantastic about it all, and now that we have made it 5 months, I have been surprised at how much easier it was to adjust from 2 than adjusting to one.
One was hard for me. I have heard moms talk about how easy their baby is and being a Mom, and I couldn't figure out how come I found it so hard. Kaitlyn was a harder baby. Now I know why those Moms said it was easy. They had Baby Whitneys. Easy babies who sleep. I think I felt like I couldn't do anything when Kaitlyn was little and awake but just sit and smile and play with her. She didn't sleep more than 30 mins during the day and was up every 2 hours in the night. Even just adjusting to the life of being a mom and not being able to go anywhere when I wanted was an adjustment.
When Whitney came, I feel like I just added one more cute child in my lifes madness. And it has been easy. She is a sweet baby who doesn't mind playing alone when I need her to, doesn't mind her older sister loving on her and trying to get her to play, and when I do love on her and give her lots of attention she is all smiles. She has been such a sweet baby and so adjusting to two wasn't quite what I thought it would be.


The only thing that I have noticed myself saying a lot lately is the line,
"It's always one."
I guess this is the biggest adjustment of having two kids for me. I don't have as much quiet time or "me" time.
Which is ok because Kaitlyn stopped taking naps about a year ago, so I am more used to it now that there are two. And the more kids I have, the more it will be so. And I am accepting that.

Lately it seems like I am always with one from almost the time I wake until I sleep. One wakes up earlier than the other almost every single day. Not by like 15 min, 30 mins or 1 hour. Usually like 1 1/2 -2 hours earlier. They both don't wake up early or sleep in. They are always taking turns. I just keep hearing myself say, "It's always one."
They hardly ever are both cranky and needy at the same time. Which, I wouldn't do well if it was both at the same time. So I am glad it is only one at a time.
Each night one goes down super easy and the other not so much.
It's always one.
Whitney will sleep through the night and Kate will be up in the night for 3-4 nights straight. Needing her blankets on or help with the Potty. And then the next night Kate will sleep and never wake, and Whitney will wake. Every now and again I get both. but mostly I feel like...
It's always one.
They seem to surprise me too. The one I think will be up early isn't.

I have been trying to get Kaitlyn to nap a few times a week since she hasn't been sleeping at night very well. Summers are hard when it is sunny from 6am-9pm. Yesterday, I really planned and got it all set up so both could nap at the same time. But as soon as Kate falls asleep, we are talking seconds later... seconds later! Whitney is up. Usually she naps for 2 hours but it seems that she only wanted to take a 30 min nap. I think she new her sister was napping and she wanted some one on one time with me. She was super giggly and happy.
My Mom and Dad came and took Kaitlyn out for a little date a few days ago, and as soon as they left Whitney woke and as soon as Whitney went down Kaitlyn came home. I guess it is hard that I don't get some me time alone, but I am a mom now. It won't happen that much.
It's always one.
I do feel grateful that I get lots of one on one time with each throughout the day because of this and so I really don't mind it so much. I think it is just so ironic that they sure know how to keep me running. It is like they plan it this way.

But I get one on one time with Kate some mornings before Whitney wakes up and then that night or during Kates nap I will get good one on one time with Whitney and visa versa.
I love those times alone with them and I love the times with us all together. But boy, do they keep me running! Just when I think I am going to catch my breath they throw me for a loop. Which I know motherhood is all about and I am JUST beginning. I know too that I will miss these crazy non-stop times. At least that is what they say.
I love these girls and they do keep me busy, and I would not have it any other way.
Yesterday Kaitlyn told Whitney that she is her Best Friend. Makes a Moms Heart melt and I hope they are the best of friends throughout life.

Monday, August 29, 2011

FaMiLy PhOtOs

We took some family photos a little over a week ago and so here are the most recent pictures of us. I know they were on our blog already at the collage at the top that I made, but I wanted to post them so I have them on my blog always.

I love how awkward Kaitlyn is in the picture below. She is such a funny girl.



Me and my sweet girls. I can't get over how much I love these girls!


Recent photo of me and Whitney.

Family shots:




Friday, August 19, 2011

Bring on 27!


Maybe I am not suppose to... but I LOVE to turn a new age each year and get older... for now at least. It does not bother me in the slightest. I know that I am still young, but we all know that getting old happens to everyone. It is no surprise that one day... I will be 30, 40 and 50.
And I really try to enjoy each stage! That is something that Alma and I have really tried to focus on. I LOVED my childhood and those high school and college days, and sadly they are gone.
But one day these precious days will be only a faded memory too, and I know I will fondly look back to where I am now, and think, Whoa, Life was good and look how YOUNG I looked!!!
Now it is time to love and live in the moment: the-baby-and-young-toddler-mom-just-starting-out-real-life stage.

I love each age or the different stages of life and all they bring. Those of you reading who are older might be thinking, just wait, one day you will be coming up on 40 and you will feel different about getting older. Probably will, but I hope I don't dwell on it too much. I hope that I feel like I live each year to the fullest and that I enjoy each age that I become.
I do still feel 20 at heart though, and I doubt that will ever change. (maybe because I still look the same as when I was 20)
but I hope I find that each year can be just as exciting as the last.

Anyway, the big 2-7. I don't feel 27, but here we are. Hope that 27 is just as great as 26 was to me.

I was spoiled for my birthday. Alma and Anna and Shannon put together a SuRpRiSe PaRtY for me. Who gets LuCkY enough to still celebrate your birthday at 27 with all your close friends and family?
I do.
They were so sweet and did such a good job keeping it quiet.
It was such a surprise to come home and see a lot of my closest friends here.
Thanks to everyone that came and partied with us. I got to celebrate it twice!
Those are the pictures above.

Once with my parents the week before (pics below) and once on my B-day. Kaitlyn was a little confused about why I got 2 birthdays. But who cares when you get to eat two cakes, Right?

My Mom and Whitney at their house.


Thursday, August 18, 2011

Un-birthday Party

Earlier this month, Anna and I were talking about how my Birthday was coming to the kids that she takes care of. Kaitlyn loves birthdays so we decided to have an UN-Birthday Party for everyone.
We decorated, made cake, everyone got a present and ate pizza. Kaitlyn even got to borrow a Princess dress.
It was super fun!

I got each of the kids a crazy cup for their unbirthday present.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Playing Basketball

One of my favorite memories growing up was playing Basketball.
I wasn't great at it, but I loved it. My parents got my a Basketball hoop when I was about 14-15 years old for Christmas. They have been hanging on to it for the last 10 years since I moved away. Now that I have my own home, I got to bring it to my house and set it up.
Here is Kaitlyn and her Daddy playing hoops.
Some of my favorite memories are playing with my Dad and my family.
(we got a letter from HOA saying we couldn't have it in the street so we put it on our driveway for now... don't really want to put it away but you gotta follow the rules)






Thursday, August 11, 2011

FREEDOM is spelled O-D-Y-S-S-E-Y

I am Free!!
For the last 4 years we have been sharing my Hyundai Accent. Little cute silver car. It has been great, and actually not too hard to share. Now that Alma goes to work full time, it is getting harder.
So we decided it was time. So we shopped around, and looked at lots of stuff, and we decided on a used 2002 Honda Odyssey.
I LOVE THIS CAR!
I know that there are lots of people out there that hate mini vans but can I just tell you how wonderful it is! Doors open themselves, lots of space for the girls with AC vents right above their chairs. I used to get them out of the car and they would be sweating so bad. We could not get cold air back to them when we were in the Accent. But now they are keeping cool in this heat.
Whitneys car seat is not squished and her head isn't toppling over bc there is no room. It is so wonderful!
I LOVE THIS CAR!!
It has been so much fun to drive. It has a DVD player too which has been fun to play with. We put in Tangled while we drove and Kaitlyn stays happy in the car, instead of whining. It is so much fun!
I LOVE THIS CAR/ or VAN
I LOVE THIS VAN!!!!
So here are some pictures of it.
I am free to go and get a gallon of milk when I want, do visiting teaching when I need to, go to the store or parks or the mall when I want, meet up with friends for play dates or take the girls swimming when I want, go visit my parents... the world has endless possibilities.
Our weekends will not consist of running errands all day Saturday. I can get them all done in the week and we can play on Saturdays! YEA!

Do you like how in the picture below... my seat is a lot farther up so I can reach the pedals. :)
Our DVD Player


and the wireless headsets.
It was in such great condition with low miles. And I can't tell you how happy and how free I feel. Hip Hip Horray!
It was worth the 4 year wait!

Friday, August 5, 2011

Fort Making Fun






I love when we get creative at home.
What things do you do to entertain at home?

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Me and my girls

I am never in the pictures because I am behind the camera. Kaitlyn is getting good at taking some pictures, which is great. Just hope she doesn't drop the camera. Anyway, here are some pictures of me and my gals.







Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Our 4 Year Mark


Today, August 3rd, is our 4 year Anniversary.
I am so grateful for Alma. He is a fantastic husband, father and friend. I love him more than anything and I am so grateful for him in my life.
The picture above was taken in April 2007 at our friends wedding. We had been dating about 1 week.
The picture below is a picture of us in the end of March 2007. This is the first picture taken of us and it was taken by my Dad. He is awesome at capturing the moment. I am so glad he took this even though Alma and I were not too serious at that moment. We had been dating about 4 days at this point... and in about 3-4 weeks we decided to get married. What an awesome guy I have. I love him so much and I am so glad I made the decision to make him my eternal companion.

And here are some wedding photos of that beautiful summer August day that we were able to be sealed in the Temple.



And here is the most recent picture I have of Alma and I. Not the best quality, but it will do. This was taken this last Sunday.
Ps. I love my family of 4!

4 years later and we have....
Lived in 3 different States
Lived in 5 different places we call home
had 2 beautiful daughters
had 6 or so different jobs (between the 2 of us)
had 1 car (still sharing it)
gone on numerous travels to see family
gone to DisneyLand
Lived, Laughed and Loved

I am looking forward to the many more years and memories and our eternity.
Love you Alma.