Mothership Confessional

It's been such a long week. It started out pretty well, and I remember thinking that by the end of the week I would be feeling much different. And boy...was I right. You would think that 4 weeks is enough time to get settled in after a move. Not the case. We moved at a snail's pace some days, because, oh yeah - tiny humans rule the house. We had minor home repairs to do, unpacking, the organizing and then reorganizing that comes with getting settled in a new home, trying hit up all of our favorite spots before Chris left, squeezing in some family time, and of course, catching up with all of our friends and family. There was always something going on, so we never really settled into a feeling of "normal" before it all got uprooted again with Chris's departure. The conversations turned into "oh well - I'll figure that out after you're gone" when it came to crossing things off the to-do list. We were literally still working on things the hours b...

6 months...half birthday...Liam is growing up fast!! This has been the craziest  month in awhile. We moved halfway across the country...back home to Kansas! It was quite the adventure, but overall it went really smoothly, all things considered! We only lost 1 box and 1 floor lamp. Thankfully there wasn't anything irreplacable in that box, but frustrating nonetheless. Liam baby is growing leaps and bounds!! In these last few weeks he has become a much stronger sitter, even though he still can't do it independently yet. He likes you to sit on the floor so he can sit between your legs and play! He's getting around really well! He scoots backwards and rolls and can turn himself on his belly. He is always somewhere different everytime I see him in his crib over the monitor. He prefers to cram himself into the same corner of his crib to sleep! I'm loving all these baby milestones and new things he can do! He can entertain himself a little better and can stay awake...

OHHHHHH MYYYYYYYYY GOSHHHHHHHH In summary, those are my thoughts on the last 2 weeks. COMPLETE CHAOS. Ok so not really - we were actually really organized and kept routines to make the kids feel secure during this CRAZY moving experience!! My poor brain is just worn out from trying to keep up with it all! Our plans changed like a million times. One thing I've learned with the Army, more specifically PCSing, is that there will always be last-minute changes  and you just have to suck it up and figure out a way to proceed that will yield the lowest amount of stress. But stress is inevitable so you know it will still be hard! Where oh where to begin... The Georgia side of the move was really organized and we were prepared for the typical PCS experience. The last time we moved, I was 28 weeks pregnant and Ava was about 17 months old so that  was super challenging. I was excited to have full range of motion this time but worried about juggling 2 babies during it all! O...

I'm writing this up a little early because you know, moving. MOVING HALFWAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY! My brain needs to keep moving forward and tackling things on the to-do list, and this post was one I could type up in a flash and cross off the ever-growing list!! I don't know why 5 months seems so much older to me than 4 months. It's just another 30 days! I think it's because I know we are so close to some major milestones and I also know how fast the back end of the first year goes...before I know it, Liam will be a tiny toddler chasing Ava around! What a crazy thought!! Liam has changed leaps and bounds this month. He's got a really strong core now and wants to sit up when I try to recline him in my lap. He can roll to his belly and has been sleeping on his tummy! He likes to swing his arms around and is getting pretty grabby! He's become a big chatterbox and he just loves to giggle and smile! There is so much drool everywhere and he usua...

My Ava girl isn't a baby anymore. But I know I will still call her my baby! It's hard for me to believe that she is two ! I still feel like it was just yesterday that she was swaddled in my arms, looking up at me with her big brown eyes. I feel incredibly lucky  to have my goofy, passionate, emotional toddler. We struggled with years of infertility before I got the positive pregnancy test with her. My unique, heart-shaped uterus grew her. During labor, her heart rate kept plummeting, so they broke my water to speed up delivery. There was meconium in the waters and her cord prolapsed, sending us immediately to the OR for an emergency c-section. My epidural broke so I was not able to have a spinal and was put under general anesthetic for her delivery. I didn't get to hear her first cries. I didn't get to hold her or nurse her until she was 2 hours old because I was waking up in recovery. Despite all the odds,...

Liam is starting to show his little personality! He loves to sit and look at you and chat and smile and giggle! He giggles when you tickle his sides or kiss on his cheeks and neck! I've seen him smile and coo at his toys, and sometimes he just giggles for no reason! He is liking to chew on his fingers and he's starting to hold onto toys and bring them to his mouth. He spends a little time in the jumperoo and he likes his bumbo seat and always enjoys time in the swing. Ava was not a swing baby so this is a nice change! Liam is drooling  everywhere  and thankfully spitting up doesn't happen nearly as much anymore! The amount of laundry I'm doing has greatly decreased now that there are less blow outs and spit-up rivers! He likes baths and hates tummy time! He is still in 6 month clothes and size 2 diapers, but I'm sure 9 month clothes will be needed soon! He is already 15+ pounds! Strangers who ask how old he is are always shocked whe...

The color yellow. Citrus. Honeysuckle. Picking out rocks from the front yard. Planting a vegetable garden. Playing volleyball, croquet, and tetherball in the backyard. Sun tea on a hot day. Riding in the back of the car with the windows down on the way to a tree nursery. Saturday nights of popcorn, oranges, apple slices, and cheese. Playing outside from sun up to sun down all summer long. Family walks on the Mill Creek trails. Watching Star Trek on a Saturday night. Reading books. Listening to 90's country and Oldies in the car. And later, Blues and Classical. Being told not to sing at the table. Shopping at the old downtown Olathe Walmart and Food 4 Less and Schnuck's. Minsky's Pizza. Backyard Burgers. Fried chicken, burgers, or tuna salad sandwiches on Sundays after church. Track meets. Orchestra. Saturday Night Live. More Cowbell. Sometimes I just need to remember my childhood. Sometimes I just need to remem...