Limbo land

When you first get pregnant everyone talks about a whole host of things that will certainly change in your life. Probably one of the biggest "hot topics" is sleep. No matter how you handled sleep before, you are forced to adapt. I have always been a night owl. Never once have I cared about getting up early. Come to think of it, I can't think of a single time where I actually wanted to get up early (aside from Christmas of course).

Anyway, baby arrives and you go through the typical first few months of no sleep. If it's your first you sleep when baby sleeps. This is key to survival. Baby may sleep all day and stay up all night. Or, you may be blessed with a good sleeper. Even with a good sleeper, you are never getting the long stretches of quality sleep. Then, one day baby figures it out and you get more and more sleep. Things slowly creep back to some sense of normalcy until one day you realize you feel pretty good! Baby is taking regular naps and you are actually getting things done. It's glorious.

As with everything involving having children, you tackle one hurdle only to take on the next. No one said it would be easy right? The sheer joy of just having this perfect little angel keeps the momentum going through growth spurts, dropping naps, and toddlerhood. With every age and stage you feel more and more like you could move mountains. That's how smart you feel.

Then, you have baby number two. You think, I've got this. You know in the depths of your mind that baby number two will not be a repeat of baby number one. But you also know that you are much more prepared this time. Chances are good baby number two is so unlike baby number one you begin to question EVERYTHING. A new crop of questions start reveal themselves. Did I do it wrong the first time and now I'm doing it right? Or vice versa? If I change this to suit this baby will it backfire or work even better?

Unfortunately, I think maybe you never figure it out. You just adapt yourself to death and breathe a sigh of relief when the stars align and things go well consistently for a little while.

There are spaces of time that I unaffectionately call "limbo land". Typically, this is in reference to sleep.  Let me paint a picture...

As I've mentioned in the past, bedtime for a long time was a nightmare. Evie's sleeping in general was just awful and Lila decided that going to bed just wasn't for her. More and more Lila was going to sleep around 10:30 or 11 pm. So, these days Lila is no longer taking naps. Evie finally got into a three naps a day schedule right around the time she probably only needed two. That leaves her now at sometimes two, sometimes three.

Anyway, we are in limbo land as we speak. And when I say we I mean everyone. I'm trying to figure out how to go to bed earlier and start training for a sprint triathlon. Seth is trying to figure out how to get up earlier and get home earlier from work. Lila is trying to figure out how to hold herself together all day with no nap. Evie is trying to figure out that naps need to be longer if you're going to get anything out of them. Today I actually felt well rested. Lila and Evie, however, were like puddles on the floor I kept trying to clean up all day.

This was my really long winded way of showing you this video. Parenting lesson #1,245: When times get tough and the drama is high, make 'em go in circles, give it a fancy name like obstacle course, and cross your fingers!



But even at the end of a wreck of a day, sleepy heads can equal an adorable kind of delirious...

Ch-ch-ch-changes

This POA business has gotten off to a fantastic start. I'm actually pretty excited about it. Honestly, the way it came together just fell into my lap via Pinterest. I read this post and my jaw hit the floor...initially that is...

If you actually clicked and read the post it should be noted that that every last item on her list has been or is on my ever growing list. I read that post and slowly started to sweat. How could it be possible? I needed the secret. I needed answers. Again, if you read the post you know that I did not get what I needed...or did I?

As it turns out, I got more than I ever thought I needed. I got to start on a journey to actually accomplish everything my little heart desired when I first posted about needing a POA. AND, Modern Parents, Messy Kids is pretty much doing all of the research for me. It's brilliant.

If you are at all interested in any of this you will need to go to the link first mentioned and read on from there. Basically, this blog is going to tackle organizing life step by step. They are keeping different personalities in mind. They are giving SO many choices (maybe too many!). Only one step has been conquered, but it was a big one. I didn't expect an overnight overhaul. Baby steps are the key to success. But I also didn't expect the process to be so clear cut. I honestly read the posts about creating a cleaning schedule and my mind started swimming. I came back and read them again. I saw all of the printables, checklists, and the cute home made charts that looked so time consuming. I tried to figure out what would work best for me and how my mind works. It wasn't until the end of one of the more recent posts that it hit me. I need easy access to something very low maintenance. Enter APPS.

The Ipad is an amazing thing. I am just breaking the surface of all it has to offer. Using Springpad on it has streamlined dinner beyond belief. And now, after much consideration, I have found the perfect cleaning schedule thanks to an app created by Motivated Moms. I paid a whopping $7.95 for it though. Of course, it was the most expensive. It seems silly. I am aware of this. But it does everything I want it to do. It tells me what to clean every day. I set up three sections of the day (before 9am, during nap, and after bedtime). Today was the first day and it worked like a charm. Plus, it factors in that random crap you never remember to do like changing batteries in smoke detectors and cleaning behind/under the fridge. Brilliant I tell you. In one day I feel like it was worth every cent.

My hopes are high and I feel very refreshed about my POA. I'm going to continue down the "organize your life" path that Modern Parents, Messy Kids is taking me down. Brilliant.

Do you know what else is brilliant? Drive through convenience stores. Do they exist anywhere other than Tucker, GA? I had never seen one in my entire life until the day I met the Milk Jug down the street. Aside from the obvious convenience store items, the Milk Jug carries the most random stuff. Today, I drove through to buy soy sauce if that tells you anything. The thing is, it is very convenience store esque. You pull up and all you see are trashy mags (and I'm not talking about People or US Weekly). The guys that own/run it pretty much don't understand a word you say. I was sure they had soy sauce but it took me almost 5 minutes to get across what it was that I wanted. This mom who doesn't love hauling two littles into a store for just a few things thinks that someone needs to take this idea to the next level. Someone needs to make this their million dollar idea and franchise it to death.

Just sayin'. Happy Monday!

Don't tease me with this weather

Just when you commit to getting your crap together...just when you start being productive (even if it's just that you completed one task)....just when your POA takes baby steps...God decides to make it 75 degrees in February. How on Earth was I supposed to sit in my house and be all productive?

Being a SAHM  is best summed up in this lyric from one of my new faves called Brown Bird (see song of the week tab)...."work is what you are when you're breathing in and out". Stay at home mothers spend more time with their children than they probably ever thought they would. There is no, "hey sweetie pie, I'm going to go finish the last of the Hunger Games trilogy" or "little one, can you put your sister to bed because I really need my housewives of the whatever fix". Unless the other parent comes home before 5 pm every single day, you are it my friend.

Being born and raised in Georgia, I have never really cared what season it was. I liked them all because we get a nice dose of each. It's really perfect actually. But since becoming a SAHM, the seasons that involve hours of time outside without risk of frostbite or sun poisoning have become the front runners for me. The thought "maybe we should move to Florida" actually crossed my mind today. The opportunities for outside time have to be at least doubled there right? Then I remembered that aside from the beaches, I don't much care for Florida.

Anyway, the point I think I've made is that when you can take kids outside the day is about a zillion times more fun, more relaxing, and just plain more enjoyable for everyone. So I tossed my dreams of productivity to the side and out we went!

Could it look like a more perfect day? Plus, Lila has finally decided to pose for pictures sometimes!

Just going for a spin...

When Evie went down for a nap at 4pm Lila and I went to the front yard to attack the mountain of weeds that has taken over where my vegetable garden lives. It was heavenly outside. She ran around in the front yard with no shoes on, lots of sand in her hair from the sand/water table, and chalk all over her. These moments, just me and her, seem too few and far between these days. 

I bought her gardening gloves, a small shovel and rake set, and a watering can a few weeks ago. You would have thought I had gotten her a pony. She spent over an hour pulling weeds with me and moving dirt from one square in our square foot garden to another. She was so patient with her gloves that were entirely too big. She was in love with her watering can. When she got bored she started grabbing toys from the neighbors yard and lining them up around the garden. 

I didn't even snap one picture of any of this because I was so wrapped up in my little, big girl. As I'm sure you've noticed she and I butt heads on occasion. She is stubborn, headstrong, and a little obsessive. All things I hope never go away. But it can be exhausting. I so relish in the moments when it's just me and her and it's like no one else exists. While we have given her the gift of a sister that she can forever be close to, I can't help but sometimes feel like she misses out on so many times like this. Today reminded me that no matter what the weather is like plans can wait. Cleaning can wait. Getting things in order will wait because we all know they're not going anywhere anyway. I just want to bottle up her wispy blonde hair in the wind, her little brown skirt she insisted on wearing, and her diligence in the garden because she wanted to "work" with mommy. Bless her sweet little heart.

Now that I've taken a turn down super sappy lane, I need to state that I would appreciate it if the weather could just continue on this way until summer :-) 

Ugh, AH!

As it turns out I did not buy enough of the ruffly business for the lamp shade. Going to Joann's is kind of a nightmare and I can't find it online. SO, in the Pinterest battle Pinterest is winning.

I'm not going to let it get me down! I am determined to make use of this genius website beyond just clicking the repin button 1800+ times.

Now it's time to regroup. The lamp will get done whenever I have to go back to Joann's for more than just trim. I think I've decided that I will post the pins as I actually do them and not as I think about doing them. Maybe as my plan of action comes together my 7 P's will come together as well (proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance).

More to come. Sorry to disappoint!

While this next section should be it's own post altogether, I feel that I need to redeem myself. How do I do that to the best of my ability? I brag heavily about one or both of my children. Because, let's be honest. They are quite an accomplishment for me.

Remember how in that rambling post I mentioned taking 6 or so very boring videos of Evie just playing and staring at me? It seems that she is a miracle child and sensed somehow that I wasn't giving her the credit she so rightly deserves. Boy did she show me. Not only did she begin crawling today, but she wrote a song about it. Rock on with your bad self little girl...





I would like to take this time to mention a few of the things that put me in awe of this little rockstar every single day.

1) Her reaction/interaction with stuffed animals, dolls, and really any inanimate object with a face is beyond priceless. I wish I could describe it well enough. This is one of those things where every time it happens I am just too late to capture it on video. Someday I will get it and you will know the true magnitude of how hysterical this is. She gets this surprised look on her face almost as if to say, "well hello I didn't see you there!". She then "talks" to it with the sort of intensity that only a baby can have. You know, no pretense or fake attention to the conversation. She is truly intrigued and yet she is the only one talking. This is promptly followed by either a full on make out session or some sort of assertion of power...I haven't quite decided. She grabs the face/head and shoves it in her mouth. Conversation is over. Has me laughing out loud every time.

2) Evie's signature dance move is just that. One move. It's more of a sway if you will. It doesn't really change with the type of music either. Please note that this video involves about two seconds of the actual "dancing" and many more moments of yet another glimpse into my life. So, if you watch carefully you will catch the dance sway. The singing isn't half bad either if you want to call it that. If you also watch carefully, after you collect yourself at the sight of Lila, you will see that Evie is less than impressed with  Lila's entrance into the video. Priceless.



3) I'm slowly learning about things that I think Evie maybe got from me. Seth has quite the jolly laugh and so does Evie. But, I'm the one that laughs at everything. I would hazard to guess that some of my friends are friends with me solely because I laugh at everything they say. Since the day she began to smile it has been so easy to make her giggle and belly laugh. I ADORE this about her. Things to ignore in this video...1) Lila is in her underwear 2) I say under my breath that Lila's screaming like that is irritating 3) Evie falling over at the end.



4) Lastly, Evie's cuddly nature is what sometimes gets me through the day. She can take hold of your neck and hug you like she's afraid it may never happen again. She squeezes so tight and really holds the hug for a minute. I love hugs. But, I really appreciate a good, heartfelt hug. My baby has perfected it.

Alright, I hope that this little video filled post has warmed your heart as much as it warmed mine to write it!

Productivity? Cross your fingers

I'm still working on my POA. I've actually found a blog that is helping me do it. I'm not sure if I want to join in the bloggy fun and project by project spell it out here or do one big post later on. Details coming soon.

In the mean time, I am going to tackle Pinterest. For you seasoned pinners you know exactly what I mean. For the newbies, let me break it down.

I have 25 boards with a total of 1800 pins. That's right folks. EIGHTEEN HUNDRED. If you are new to Pinterest or haven't done it at all you are probably scratching your head. Or you're thinking, didn't Jana just babble on and on about not getting things done? Why is she on Pinterest instead of getting things done?

I won't say I disagree with your interrogating looks. I get it. That's why the POA and the Pinterest battle must begin.

The POA is going to include some life changing, home changing, mind altering WORK. The Pinterest battle will be like a break from the work while actually accomplishing something.

If I lost you after 1800 pins I don't blame you. It won't hurt my feelings if you must ignore me now. If you're still following, here's my Pinterest battle idea.

Pinterest is basically a house filled with boxes of junk that you would love to do, will never do, think it would be cool if someone would do for you, etc. etc. Pinterest is the house, the boards are the boxes, and the pins would be the junk. I have been using Springpad to sort of clean house and empty boxes. But, I don't want to get into Springpad right now (unless you are curious...in which case ask). Springpad will be a part of the POA post later.

Right now I just want the easy, fun, and accomplishable pins to come to the forefront. So what do you do when you have too many pins?  You create a board that shows the pins that fit the above criteria. I was doing Pin it Friday or something wasn't I? That didn't stick. Maybe this will. I titled this new board "To ACTUALLY DO in the next month (by 3/22)". Without entering the abyss of the gardening, cooking, or clothing boards I went through the other boards and started repinning the easy ones that I can do in the next month. As I do them I will post them here. Again, sorry for the massive amount of "holding myself accountable to get things done" kind of posts. This is more for me than for you. If you get a good idea out of it let me know.

First on the list will be this little gem for Evie's room that will be finished by the end of the day tomorrow. IT WILL HAPPEN. Stay tuned for an actual picture of my actual finished product.

POA

Sorry for the lateness on the header. It doesn't really even make sense anymore. Initially I did it on the 13th of every month because Lila's birthday is the 13th. Now it seems I just do it whenever. Technically, the ages are close enough. Not to mention, everything about this header is just awkward. Kind of makes me giggle too though.

This should be an indication of the scattered nature of my brain. Thoughts like that race in and out. It's a seemingly pointless thing to care or worry about right? But the pointless often gets mixed in with the absolutely necessary and I get all bent out of a shape about this or that not getting done. Sometimes what isn't getting done is pointless...sometimes, it's pretty necessary.

This is unfortunate. I used to be maddeningly on top of things. Before I married Seth and had kids I overdid everything. The difference is, back then I overdid five things. The married mother of two I have become is now trying to overdo five hundred things. It's isn't working.

I want my house to be clean, my kids to be clean, my clothes to be clean, and myself to be clean (sadly, in that order). And I want all of that every single day. I mean, I really would be even happier if the dog could be clean. On top of that I want the meals to be planned, the money to be in savings instead of in Target's bank account, the bills to be filed, the pictures to be in photo albums, the clothes to be sewn (by me), and the list goes on, and on, and ON. And the truth of the matter is, I don't feel like this is too much to ask. I mean, I don't work for goodness sake (please sense my eyes rolling). I should be johnny on the spot about every last detail of my house right?

Here's why I'm not. One day long, long ago in the land before children I married the man of my dreams. We lived in a neat, organized, spotless house. I did everything a homemaker would do. And I worked. Ok, so maybe I didn't cut the grass. But had I had a clue how to use a lawn mower that you stand on while it ferociously cuts your grass in 2.2 seconds I would have done that too. This worked for a little while. Said man of my dreams would tell you what I'm describing was actually a dream and not real life. Please understand I am basing my memories of those days on my current situation. Anyway, one day I started relinquishing things to Mr. Dreamy. One of those things was paying bills and handling the money. That was a big one. Something monumental changed in me that day. I turned over that job and never looked back. In fact, some would say this kind of reckless abandon was like a gateway drug. I wanted more. Instead of handing over more responsibilities I just took that as permission to let go of some of my obsessive ways.

Here we are five years later and on a daily basis I miss the old me terribly. Where's the girl that always had the checkbook balanced to the penny? Where's the girl that moved things around to find their perfect spot yet still knew where they were? I NEED HER TO SHOW UP.

Instead I'm dealing with what's left of that girl. I've lost my Ipod. I live on coffee and peanut butter because somehow in the grocery shopping for the week I always forget that I have to feed myself lunch every day too. It's not that I forget to eat. I HATE when people say that. Who forgets to eat? That's like saying I forgot to pee or I forgot to put clothes on. No one believes you if you say that BTW. I digress...

I need a plan of action. There are too many things I want to do and too many things I need to do. The overwhelming feelings that tend to push away the motivation are settling in and I have to act fast.

I made a cleaning schedule that I don't stick to. My house gets clean when I know people are coming over. If I invite you over randomly that could be my way of making sure my house gets cleaned. Just sayin'. No seriously, I just need someone to grab me by the shoulders, shake me, and whip me into shape. I need a homemaker's personal trainer. Yes! That's what I need.

To be perfectly honest, the other reason I don't get squat done is because I sit and stare at my kids all day. Really and truly. That's such a weird thing to say, but it's the truth. In thinking about posting tonight I thought about doing a videos post of Evie because I have six videos on my phone that I've taken since yesterday morning. Do you know why I didn't? Because they are boring. I wouldn't normally say that, but they really are. I just find her to be so beyond cute that every video is like I'm seeing her for the first time. Then when I go back and watch them again I realize they are just her, sitting, playing, and essentially doing nothing over and over again just in a different spot in my house.

SO, now that I have rambled to my heart's content here is my plan of action. Don't laugh. I plan to come up with a plan. I am giving myself until this time next week. Monday, February 27th at midnight to be exact. By this time next week I will post my plan to get my life in order. Slowly I will chip away at that plan until it's all done. I need order. I am craving is something fierce. Now's the time.

If you have any suggestions shout 'em out.

Crazy Pants

I am an excellent driver. You may never again hear me say that I am excellent at something. This, however, is more a statement of fact than it is tooting my own horn (ha ha!). As someone who is part of a gender that is criticized frequently for not being so capable in this area, it's only fair I serve as the exception to the stereotype.

Due to my driving skills I am no stranger to road rage. I mean, when you are aware that you are an excellent driver you find yourself surrounded by horrible ones. Especially in this town.

My road rage is fairly private though. I stay within the confines of my car. I yell some profanities that no one but me can hear. I bang on the steering wheel but almost never the horn. It's a pretty impressive thing when you can full on have a fight with someone without them really knowing your fury. Sure they may see you flailing around as you exit the scene, but they probably don't care.

Since having kids I pretty much can't have road rage. It's similar to no longer blaring Eminem or Kanye in the car with a two year old. You just don't do it. Lila teaches me every day how to ignore the rage. It's a work in progress (as in, I am working some of it out right now due to her bedtime hysterics). But, I can feel the road rage coming on and just as quickly I toss it to the side. Done and done.

Today I experienced something new. This was something so foreign to me I was completely at a loss. Someone was enraged AT ME. The nerve! I'm driving down the road and someone (we'll call her Crazy Pants) comes flying up behind me. I am going slow because I am not too far from entering a right turn lane. Crazy Pants is not happy about this. I turn my blinker on, enter the lane, and turn. In my rear view mirror I see Crazy Pants in her beat up, POS Accord almost plow into the person that was previously in front of me as I entered the turn lane. I then see Crazy Pants passionately yank her car into the turn lane and follow me. As I notice all of this her hands (yes both) are taking turns shooting birds before she is even anywhere near me. She speeds up, flicks off my two year old without missing a beat, pulls in front of me, and slams on breaks about thirty feet from the next light that is red. Being the excellent driver I am I have anticipated this and stopped well before being anywhere near her. As I'm explaining to Lila that the lady was just pointing at a pretty bird (ha ha!) I'm also holding my hands up as if to say, "I have no idea what you're doing here!". That was my only response. Crazy Pants starts mocking me, throws some more birds, and speeds off when the light changes.

I then drive very slow. There are lots of lights close together on this road and I am now sure Crazy Pants and I need to not be anywhere near each other. She slows and speeds up in a taunting way. What she doesn't know is that she has nothing on my two year old. Lila has taught me well. Taunting mommy is her thang. I am trying to believe that she's getting it all out of her system so that when she's a teenager we will have a blissful coexistence. Regardless, I am prepared for Crazy Pants. Not to mention, I'm not crazy. At least I feel fairly sane today. Really, I wish I had taken a picture of her hot mess of an appearance. But that would take away from my excellent driving skills if I were to use my phone in such a way while driving. She kind of had that Cruella Deville thing going on in much the same laughable way.

So, thank you Lila. You test me in ways I never could have imagined. You wear me out, but I love you anyway ;-) Besides, at the end of the day what good is being tested if you don't get to use what you've learned?

Happy Valentine's day readers! I hope your day was filled with slobbery, open mouthed baby kisses, hugs that make you fall over, and time spent with an adorable somebody special like mine was. Well, aside from the interference of Crazy Pants of course.

Predictions...

Is it too presumptuous to make predictions about what your children will be like 10, 15, even 20 years from now? I would never want to pigeon hole my girls into being this way or that way, but I can't help but speculate just a little. All mothers do it right?

Well, even if they don't I am. I can't help it.  Obviously there's more that I see for Lila than for Evie simply based on age. I wonder if I'm anything like what my mom saw when she looked at her two year old. Does she remember? Mom, feel free to chime in. I think it will be absolutely hysterical to look back with Lila and Evie one day and show them my predictions. And what better place to jot them down than this blog where all three of you that read this know and love them?

Here goes...

Lila will be the girl that always has her nose in a book and her head in the clouds. I don't mean this in an insulting way. She is brilliant you know. She will be that tall blonde walking down the street intently reading something like Gone With the Wind while boys stare at her. She will trip on the sidewalk, stumble, and then never miss a beat. She will have perfected managing her clumsiness unlike her mother. Managing her slight OCD may come later in life, if at all. It's a tough thing to grab hold of. If she isn't a doctor or lawyer or something else that requires an immense amount of brain power, she will be a fashion designer. Every dress will have some shimmer, every skirt will twirl, and she will call them all "so beautiful". If those things don't work out, she will manage others much like her Poppy does. I hope I can teach her to manage the bossiness in a way that gives her the power to teach those who work for her. Again, much like her Poppy does. But then there's the guitar. And the piano. And the dancing. I thank God every day that she has a song in her heart and beat in her head at any given moment.

Evie reminds me more and more of my sister every day. I was 5, almost 6, when Sara was born. I have a horrible memory when it comes to my childhood, but I do remember distinct things about Sara as a baby and toddler. That crooked grin that seemed almost permanent still makes me laugh when I look at pictures. Evie and her two bottom teeth smile reminds me so much of Sara. I plan to create some sort of artwork for Evie's room out of this song lyric:

"She grew up good, she grew up slow. Like American honey. Steady as a preacher, free as a weed. Couldn't wait to get goin' but wasn't quite ready to leave. So innocent, pure, and sweet. American honey."

That's Evie. She's going to be the girl that wants to do it all but can't quite break away from home. At least not quickly. She needs me more than Lila ever did as a baby. Or maybe she just needs me in different ways. Regardless, her need is intense and all consuming sometimes. And yet once the crawling lightbulb goes off she will be all over this house in five minutes. She might look back to throw me that fantastic grin once or twice. She's determined and oh so timid. I see her as a bit of a free spirit. Again, I have visions of Sara.

They're so little so it's really silly to speculate. But kind of fun at the same time. When Evie is Lila's age we will revisit. You know, maybe we will revisit every two years. Hmmm....

Happy hump day ya'll even though it will be over in ten minutes. Someday I will bring back Holla Hump Day. Promise.

Glad to be a blogger

I bet the first mom blogger, whoever she was, never thought her idea to document her life in this way would spiral into what mommy blogging has become today. The internet is blowing up with mothers (and fathers) who blog about many things. But, at the core of those things it all comes back to the world of being a parent.

I also wonder if some part of her knew that the ball she was beginning to roll was going to do all of the things it has done. I mean, you could have a laundry list of parenting issues and chances are good someone out there in the blogosphere would have written a post that you are SURE was written for you. You may even feel it was written about you, and your family, and everything you have endured. Isn't it amazing that complete strangers can open your eyes to something, show you when to maybe give yourself a break, or simply give you the freedom of knowing that you are not alone?

Maybe I read too many blogs. All I can say is that recently there are some bloggers who are speaking directly to me. I'm sure of it. And thank God for them. Therefore, I feel it's my duty to pass along what has gotten me through some tough days...

1) Momastery. By now, if you don't feel like you are best friends with Glennon you live under a rock. Ok, maybe that's an exaggeration. But seriously, this chick has it figured out while also being a complete mess (by her own admission). Regardless, I'm hooked. Because of Facebook (I'm assuming) Momastery has kind of blown up recently. Due to this, Glennon has been blogging in a "best of" sort of manner to welcome new readers. Here are my top three faves so far:
- For Adam
- On Gifts and Talents
- Don't Carpe Diem


2) Once Upon a Dream Come True. I have to be flat out honest here. I read this post due to a link in a comment thread on Facebook. I have never read the blog before or since reading this post. But, this post really hit home for me. Every single day I think about how full my hands are. Instead of being overwhelmed when I think it now I smile and the moment gets so much easier.

There are many, many more. But those are the two recently that often make me feel normal instead of like a crazy person. If I can share the relief you know I'm going to. After all, that first mommy blogger started it.

On that note, here are a random smattering of videos I've been holding onto. They have nothing to do with this post, but they are also a little overdue. Plus, they are just so stinking cute. Enjoy!

God love that little Carson. Listen closely to what she says...


Random Evie video.


Watch closely. They scatter if they catch me taping. I guess Evie felt left out because she is "talking" loudly in the background.


This is a horrible video. But something about it warms my heart. If you know nothing about Evie this is a good glimpse. It may be just a mother's eyes watching, but that girl is so ready to go somewhere.


The jump up and down song is a staple around here. I would not survive without it. When the world is coming to an end, as it often does with toddler girls, I just start singing it. Suddenly things aren't so bad. Wouldn't it be nice if life was just a big jumping up and down party?


Mobility is right around the corner...are we ready?


LOVE. THIS. SO. MUCH.