In The Midst...

In the midst of a frustrating afternoon came a beautiful moment. One that made me stop focusing on the mundane and redundant tasks, stop focusing on a challenging parental issue where you're natural tendency is to be high strung about it (and to do high strung well)....
It made me stop.

It made me sit and watch the beauty, the magic, the silliness, the fun...

It made me laugh and enjoy my two beautiful girls.

I'm pretty certain I've asked them not to jump on the bed before.
I'm pretty certain I've told them not to jump on the bed before.

(Because sometimes they hit their head on the wall. And once Amelia hit her mouth and made it bleed).

But most of the time they don't.


And, really, what is the purpose of Daddy and Mommy's bed if not for jumping on?

We've Been Busy

We have been up to a lot this last week. Oh my, yes. It has really helped the time fly. All of a sudden, Hubby will be home with us again in just 8 days! I can hardly believe the 6 weeks is almost up. We are so thankful!

What have we been up to, you ask? Let's list the good stuff, shall we...


Big Sister learned how to take a picture of herself with the pocket digital. And, as you can probably tell, we've been spending time at the water park on post. The water park is awesome. It has two large water slides, a 'fun zone' with rope ladders and 'logs' to walk across, fountains in the pool area, etc. The pool itself is inclined, with a maximum water height of 4 feet; this is fabulous for young children. Both Big and Little Sister can splash together with me supervising closely, or we can hold hands, etc., and swim around deeper areas. Pool rules require a ten minute break every 60 minutes, enforced by lifeguards with whistles. While this sounds annoying at first, it's the perfect opportunity to catch some shade, have a snack, reapply sunscreen, or use the restroom. Or all of the above. We all have a lot of fun there, and we can't wait to bring Daddy with us!!

'
Mommy finally finished painting and decoupaging fun scrapbook paper onto our little ol' IKEA table. It gave it a lovely and girly face-lift. We girls like the pink and purple table very much.


The 3 kiddos utilizing furniture the way God intended. Much to Mommy's dismay. *Sigh*


The 3 kiddos playing sweet and precious for Mommy and the camera.
Did you notice what's in Little Sister's hand??


We finished Hannah's swim lessons. She did fantastic! She really made a lot of progress in the water, but best of all, her confidence level with 'new big-girl tasks' has visibly soared. Like... wanting to pour her own glasses of milk... or buckling her own seat belt... etc. It's hard to pinpoint, but she just has more confidence in herself and her abilities.


Exiting the pool using proper exiting techniques on the ladder, as taught and approved by the Red Cross Life Guards of America. Or... something...


With swimming specifically, she now walks away from the wall, and around the pool, all by herself! And at the water park she's been putting her entire face into the water while blowing bubbles, has attempted floating on her back, and has 'swimmed' (mostly me shoving her forward) a 18in. distance between my arms and the side of the pool, and back again to me. Much more confidence in the water! What a darling, happy lady!!


Little Sister at the Army Band's family night. There were snacks, a bounce house, music and dancing, and a magician! Big Sister and a friend rocked the bounce house almost the entire time. Little Sister stuck by me, and we chatted and helped sell snacks at our FRG table. Here she is with some of the goods all over her face. Too precious!


Little Sister required some more toddler-friendly toothpaste on our last visit to the super market. (Toothpaste is toddler-friendly when it's free of fluoride, and thus safer to swallow for little ones still learning to spit). She picked out Thomas the Train. This girl has never before cared who Thomas the Train is. But she is now obsessed with Thomas, and therefore, obsessed with her toothpaste. As is evident by the fact that she took both toothpaste and box to sleep with her. For the fourth consecutive night.

That's the good stuff, isn't it?!

Our New Bedtime Routine

Our new bedtime routine, now that Eric is gone for a few weeks and I shoulder this 'home stretch' myself, lasts from about 6:30pm to roughly 8:30pm. That is quite a home stretch.
I begin by trying to have the girls entertain themselves while I finish up the day's dishes, sweep under the table, and make sure they have done their chores (i.e. fed the dog dinner and put their supper dishes on the counter). Depending on how well they entertain themselves, or each other, without hurting themselves, or each other, this can take a lil' bit.

They we commence the climb up the stairs, while I look to grab the much loved pink blankies and a really, really well loved bunny. If Amelia decides she wants to climb the stairs 'aw by self!' then, this too, can take a few minutes. She has to keep looking behind to remind me she's doing it 'aw by self!' and to see that I have both her blankies.

Bath time. And one more chore for the girls: put your own dirty clothes in the hamper for me. I try to get the washing of hair and bodies out of the way first, so there's time to play while I'm just outside the doorway folding a load of laundry. Can't fold it inside the doorway, because there is generally splashing. Even though I ask them not to splash. Repeatedly.

Next, it's time to push the basket to the wall, and get the girls out of the tub. They like to lay on the towel on the floor for a minute or two, giggling with their heads together, while I rub the other towel on their backs and heads and little, pruned feet.

Then, it's a race to the bedroom, with me always in third, as I stop to fold towels and rehang them on the way. Time for pajamas, combing of hair, and one more trip to the toilet for Hannah.
This can take a little coaxing. Or, if coaxing fails, one could always threaten the loss of tonight's story books. Hypothetically speaking, of course.

When pajamas are on, and hair is combed, we reconvene on Hannah's bed with (hopefully) between 3-5 books. Depending on what time it is. And how many times Hannah was told to go use the restroom. Amelia picks at least one book, Hannah at least 3 (she is the bigger sister, and she utilizes all the rights this privilege entails).

Books read, hopefully without any arguing about who gets to turn the page. Take turns, girls.

Now, it's time to race back to the bathroom for a round of teeth brushing. Again, me always in third, as I stop to replace books on the shelf.

Teeth brushing ensues. God willing, for a gentle but vigorous two minutes. Spit, brush your top teeth, too, please don't spit on the floor, Amelia, no, I said 'brush your top teeth,' let Mommy do this for you, now,' etc.
We spit our final spit, rinse, tap, replace into the holder, wipe our mouths, and one more race back to Hannah's bed.

Now, the girls will lay side by side and we sing a few lullabies. This is where I'm cultivating their love of Sound of Music with a little Edelweiss and My Favorite Things, a.k.a. "Sing Raindrops on Roses, Mommy." If this goes well, then there's Five Little Monkeys or Twinkle, Twinkle, too. Depends on how much yawning the vocalist interrupts herself with.

Finally, or almost, a hug and kiss goodnight between sisters. A hug and kiss goodnight between mother and big sister. Double check that the really, really well loved rabbit and pink water bottle are in their proper places beside Hannah, then the gentle closing of the door.

Amelia and I move down the hall to her room, where she gently demands some Lullaby Ro-a-bye, Baby (at least 3 times), as she lays her head on my shoulder. And maybe the Alphabet Song just for good measure.

Finally, finally, I lay Amelia down in her big girl bed. Did you know she made the switch? Just last week... a big girl toddler bed... no more crib... With a kiss goodnight, and a final check that both pink blankies and purple water bottle are in place next to Amelia. As well as her meerkat named Meow. And her Elmo lovey.

Tip-toe out the door, and close it gently. *Sigh* of relief, and a check of the watch. Is it really this late already? Finally, finally...

Now, there was a point to all this rambling...

My point was, I do not always act out this routine with the grace, sanity, and calm volume of voice that God gave me. No, no. Sometimes not. Like, really not. There are no perfect mothers anywhere, least of all in this house. And I am not looking for a pat on the back here. This is what every mother/father/care provider does each and every night.

I simply write this down to acknowledge that... well, whether I always like it or not, I am privileged to be able to actively participate in this routine. This monotonous, redundant, frustrating, tiring, precious, much loved, looked forward to, almost sacred, routine. It is important to my children. Therefore, it is important to me.

My point is that last night, for the first time,

I realized that my nights like this are numbered.

Pretty soon they will be asking to take showers separately, not baths together. And they'll want privacy. And they won't need me to clock them to see how fast they can get their pajamas on. They'll have a chapter book they want to be left alone with, and not want me to read so many books, or any at all, to them. They will know how to brush their own teeth, and God willing, do so for a gentle but vigorous two minutes. They especially won't want me to sing to them, definitely no more Sound of Music. The list goes on and on... doesn't it...

Please, please let me appreciate this wonderful, precious, much loved, looked forward to, almost sacred, routine. Please let me coax more, threaten less. Please let me use my 'inside, happy voice' more, and my 'Mommy's getting pissed voice' less. Let me appreciate it more, and more often. Let them remember this routine with warmth and fondness. Please. I know I will.

How Time Flies...

It's hard to believe that only 2 years ago today we welcomed this little bundle of joy into our world...

Amelia Grace Ferreira

What a joy it has been loving you,

discovering your personality

(most of the time),

learning all about our precious Little Sis.

You don't like to eat meat,
your thumbs bend all the way back--just like Daddy's!
you have never met a stranger,
you prefer when Mommy sings "Ro-a-bye, Baby" at least three times before bed,
you are the most opinionated short person we have ever encountered,
you idolize your Big Sister, and like to copy her ballet "plies!!"
you love Goldfish crackers, a LOT,
you are snuggly and giggly,
and you currently do NOT like to wear clothing, or diapers, for that matter...
especially in public...

But you are the best Amelia Grace we know.

And we love you just the way you are.

Amelia, you are a joy. It is a privilege to be your Mommy. You make everyday an adventure, you remind me, in your own way, to slow down and enjoy all the precious moments we have together, to find awe in the little things, to take time to be silly or snuggle. You have made me a better mother. You are a wonderful little girl, and our family would never have been complete without you.
We love you. Happy 2nd Birthday, Gracie Girl!!

Lost::Reward Offered!

Lost::Reward Offered!
We are missing our little girl's right sandal! It is nowhere to be found. It is exactly like the shoe in the above picture. Except, you know, it's the opposite.
Date last seen: May 17, 2009
Location last seen: On Amelia's right foot.
Circumstances surrounding disappearance: It appears to have mysteriously made it's way to the outside of our van door. Perhaps it was thrown out?! As Mommy was closing the door and walking away. At a gas station. Somewhere in the great state of Illinois.
If you have any information about the whereabouts of our missing right sandal, please contact us or your local authorities immediately!

My Stinkerbell

This is the face of an angel....




This is the face of a trouble maker!




At least, she had the decency to take her white shirt halfway off before rubbing pureed squash all over her stomach. And where was Mommy, you might ask? Eating lunch over the sink while trying to finish emptying the dishwasher so I could reload the dishwasher in record time.
NEVER TURN YOUR BACK, I TELL YOU!!!

I Needed This

Not seven minutes prior I turned around from afternoon laundry and caught Big Sister administering a choke hold on Little Sister over sharing a Winnie the Pooh puzzle. Big Sister refused to go into time out, and I had to carry her kicking and screaming all the way up the stairs to her room. She tried to kick against the wall, almost resulting in a fall. I had to close the door on her and walk away. She was not happy.

I went to the sink to and started crying, because it has just been one of those days. And I kept on crying while riffling through the pantry trying to put together something suitable for supper. Could I combine creamy tomato soup with cooked basmati rice in it? A can of beans? *Sigh* I really wish I'd been able to go grocery shopping today.
And then I realized it had become a little too quiet. Where did Little Sister go? She was just here...

And then she wasn't... Then she was trying on a little Maybelline Natural Mauve....
I think it's more her color anyway.
I had to laugh!! And grab the camera, obviously.
Time to give two gorgeous and wonderful little girls a super-duper bubble bath, to be followed by a pancake dinner, I think.

She said, she said...

This week, our crazy little lady learned even more new phrases! This includes:

• I'm coming, Hannah!
• I love you, too, Hannah!
• Hannah, where are you?
• No, go away puppy!
• I love you, puppy!
• See you, Daddy!
• Daddy's home!
• Yes, Mommy!
  

She is also still jumping up and down in her crib each and every single night for a lil' bit before finally settling down to sleep. Lovely. And since Amelia woke me up this morning by screaming her head off because she'd managed to get both legs stuck in the railings (as she attempted to climb out?), we feel it's time to make the change from the crib. We don't feel that Amelia is quite ready for a twin, regardless of a bed rail, and we had been hoping to avoid the transition until after we moved. Thus... we decided to keep an eye out for a toddler bed on Freecycle and Craigslist. In the meantime, we may end up putting her mattress on the floor and create a little "night-night nest." This great idea is from a good friend of ours, whose youngest child recently began partaking in similar bedtime shenenigans as our Amelia. Two is a great age!
Amelia, my dear, you keep life real, interesting, and really interesting. Love you, girl!