Summer List 2012

Thanks for all of you who expressed concern after my blog about the difficulty of adjusting to life with two children.  We are in a groove now and I feel like my old self again (just slightly more frazzled). 

It's time to unveil my Summer List for 2012.  I am so excited to complete each item.  For those of you who care (drumroll please)... here it is!

Visit Lake Tobias
Have a picnic and swimming at Fuller Lake
Spend an evening at the Municipal Pool
Make bubble art
Finish shutters
Make frozen bananas
Paint my nails sea foam green
Make a water pinata
Paint with ice cubes
Go to Britton Park
Feed the ducks and fish at City Park
Make homemade ice cream in a bag
Get a couples massage at Warm Springs
Go to the pet store
Catch lightning bugs
Make donuts around the campfire
Take Amirah to Voila
Watch fireworks
Sleep all night long

I hope to include pictures of each event as I check them off.  Bring on the fun!

In Honor of Father's Day

I love the relationship that Ysmaille and Amirah have.  She absolutely adores her daddy.  For Father's Day this year she drew him a beautiful card which she was so proud to give him.  I wanted to add something extra special so I interviewed her about her daddy and this is what she had to say.

Mommy: How old is Daddy?

Amirah: 2

M:  Where was Daddy born?

A:  He was born like me.

M:  What is Daddy's favorite color?

A:  Blue

M:  What does Daddy always say?

A:  "I need a snack."

M:  What is Daddy's job?

A:  Fixing that shelf and putting Xander in the swing.

M:  What does Daddy do when he wakes up in the morning?
A:  He sleeps.
M:  When does Daddy laugh?

A:  He laughs when I cry.

M:  What is Daddy's favorite food?
A:  Sandwiches
M:  Why do you love your Daddy?
A:  I need my Daddy.  I love my Daddy.

And there you have it.  Out of the mouth of a two year old...

Happiness Project

How ironic that in the very middle of my year-long happiness project I found myself very unhappy.  One evening not that long ago I asked Ysmaille if he thought I had post-partum depression.  I even found myself googling the symptoms.  When I thought about the summer ahead of me I felt hopeless.  Long days ahead of me with two kids... would I survive? 

Here's what's been happening over the past three weeks.  We left the hospital and haven't slept since.  Xander, although very content in general, likes to eat.  A lot.  In fact he was up pretty consitantly every two hours for weeks.  Amirah, my beautiful, spirited princess is breaking my heart.  She's always been a little feisty, but I worry that she feels misplaced and it makes me sad.  She is being defiant and agressive and I know that having a new baby in the family is rocking her world.  On top of it all we decided to potty train her.  We figured the newborn no-sleep phase is already a little "hellish" so why not just get it all done.  Maybe it was smart.  Maybe we are insane. 

I'll be honest.  When people told me adding another baby to the mix would be a challenge I didn't believe them.  Not really.  I knew it would be an adjustment, but I wasn't fully prepared.  I am eating humble pie.  I can't do it all.  My children are not angels and I cry a lot.  Amirah cries a lot.  Xander cries a lot.  The only one able to hold it together is Ysmaille.  Although I suspect he probably feels like crying too. 

So, how's the happiness project going?   It has skidded to a halt.  My goal for the month of June is simple.  Survive.  I wrote to goals in my happiness journal-- get Amirah potty trained and get Xander to sleep for four hour stretches.  If I accomplish those two things I will indeed be happy. 

On another note, I think I am coming out of my fog.  I am actually looking forward to summer now.  In true Melanie style I've made a schedule for us to follow because Ysmaille goes back to work tomorrow and I need to have some kind of plan.  I've also made a summer list of things we want to do.  I'll share that in an upcoming blog.  Xander slept for 3.5 hour stretches last night.  Amirah had only one accident yesterday.  I am pretty sure I made it through the entire day without shedding a tear. Things are looking up. 

And Then There Were Four

Our little boy is finally here!  I thought for sure he would be early.  I had been 3 cm. dilated for two weeks and even my doctor didn't think I'd make it to my due date, but he had his own timing and came two days late.  It was definitely worth the wait.  So far Xander seems very laid back.  I prayed for a child with a personality like his father, and I think God has answered my heart's desire :)

Here's what's happening in our life in a nutshell...

• For those of you who care about details it was another relatively easy labor.  I started feeling crampy about 2:00 am and by 4:00 we were at the hospital.  He was born at 7:57 am.
• Xander has his days and nights mixed up and we are so, so tired.  To be honest I dreaded this part of the journey, but I am trying to find the joy in the moments that I get to snuggle my little guy.
• Amirah is so excited about her little brother, but she is definitely acting out.  He currently has a scratch under his nose where she "tickled" him. 

God's Provision

Whenever I want to express just how awesome or amazing something is I always want to revert back to those phrases of my childhood-- "Holy cow!" or "Oh my goodness!" or my favorite, "Holy Moly"!  Then I am always tempted to find an expression that sounds more intelligent.  I suppose I could use words like "That's incredible" or "I'm mystified.", but seriously...   What sums up something better than HOLY COW!  Even though you may have no idea what it really means, you know whatever follows it is going to "knock your socks off." :)

I just want to give God glory for the amazing way he has provided for my family.  Some of you reading this blog have been part of his provision.  We have been going through what should have been a very challenging financial hardship, and there have been days of struggle, but really we haven't even noticed it that much.  Here are some ways he's provided:

1.  an awesome Sealy mattress for Xander's crib (just days after we decided we probably didn't have the money to spend on it right then)
2.  a $25/week tutoring job for me so we had some extra money for a few little treats
3.  soccer reffing jobs for Ysmaille 2 or 3 nights a week (something he enjoys doing that takes little time, but makes pretty good money)
4.  maternity clothes borrowed from friends so I didn't have to buy new ones
5.  two random $20 Target gift cards (sent from the company) to use toward baby items
6.  spring/summer clothes for Amirah from my sister and a friend so I could supplement her wardrobe until yardsale season started.
7.  four weeks of coupons to Weis (left in the faculty lounge at school) that gave us free orange juice, eggs, cookies, etc. plus additional coupons that took up to $16 off our bill.  For an entire month we had a grocery cart full of groceries for $50/60 a week.
8.  a "sprinkle" from the faculty and staff at my school with clothes for Xander, diapers, wipes and a hugely generous giftcard to Target.
9.  twice I went out to eat with friends and they payed for the meals unexpectedly.
10.  an awesomely planned maternity leave- when I stated that May 11 would be my last day I had no idea that there were only 19 days of school left and I just happened to have 19 sick days, so I can go an maternity leave and not have to take any days without pay!

Don't you just love how God uses His People to bless others?  Almost all of the blessings listed above were a direct result of the people in my life, many of who didn't even know we were struggling, blessing me and my family.  Holy cow!  I just love how God works!

Fun with My Baby Girl (Who's Not Really a Baby Girl Anymore!)

I was meant to be the mom of a toddler.  Is this fun or what?  Don't get me wrong, Amirah is spirited and passionate about pretty much everything in life, and being her mother can be exhausting.  There are lots of swats on the bottom, time outs, and tears, but she puts that passion into pretty much everything she does and it is so fun!  One of the things on my spring list was to play in the puddles with Amirah, so on Saturday after the rain stopped I made good on my promise and out we went.  She was a little hesitant at first, but after a minute or so she was jumping like a pro.  She ended up being so wet and dirty a bath was inevitable, but she loved it!  I think I may have created a monster.  I'm pretty sure there will be a lot more "puddle jumping" this summer.

 Both feet in!

 This picture is to prove that I am, indeed, a cool mom and joined in (a little).

I'm getting a little sentimental about Baby Boy coming our way.  I am so, so excited to meet him and hold him in my arms, but can I be honest here?  I'm a little nervous about how this transition is going to affect my relationship with his sister.  She and I are so close, and part of me mourns for how her life is going change.  Will she understand?  Probably not completely.  Do I think having a sibling will enrich her life in so many ways?  Absolutely.  I'm just nervous.  That's all. 

In an effort to make our last few weeks alone memorable I've been trying to find some creative ideas to do with her.  Last night was bath painting.  Oh. my. word.  So easy and so fun.  I took a muffin tin and filled the containers with shaving cream, then mixed in a couple drops of food coloring.  Then I gave Amirah an old basting brush and away she went.  Again.  I may have created a monster.  Bath paints are sure to resurface soon. 

My little artist 

Spring List 2012

Last year's Summer List 2011 was so rewarding and fun. In case you haven't noticed I love, love, love lists. I have lists at school, grocery lists, cleaning lists, and now I have even found a way to make lists of fun things to do. I decided to do a Spring List 2012. Here's what's on the agenda:

Get Ritas on the first day of spring. Check.

Buy flowers for the kitchen. Check. Well, sorta.

Splash in the puddles with Amirah.

Decorate Easter eggs. Check.

Pick strawberries for shortcake and jam.

Have a picnic under the oak tree.

Write a letter to Grandma Harnish. Check.

Make six freezer meals. 1/3 Check. (I've made two of six meals)

Buy a pair of brightly colored flip flops.

GIVE BIRTH! This obviously will be the highlight of my Spring List 2012!

I decided instead of buying flowers for the kitchen I would make use of all the beautiful flowering tree around me. So far I've filled three vases of flowering branches!

Please excuse the messy table. I could have cleaned it up before taking the picture, but it's real-life here, folks.