It’s been awhile since I’ve posted and I need an update so my future self can glance back and see what the heck my kids and I were up to.
Lu is over half way done with Pre-K, 4.5yo, 33lbs, 45inches, and just as clever and happy as ever. She’s still walking to the beat of her own drum, loves Batman and X-men and recently discovered Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles {she’s the coolest}. Favorite pastime: drawing pictures and gluing stuff to other stuff.
Crazy-lady chic
CC is really coming into her own. She turned 2 last weekend {how the hell did that happen so fast???}, 25bls, I have no idea how tall (75th percentile, I think – poor second kid). Her favorite word is “no” and favorite phrase is “poopy butt” except she sing-songs it so it comes out like “pooooopeeee buuuu-uuuuut”. {Thanks Lu for teaching that to your little sister!}. Favorite pastime: puzzles and doing whatever “sissy” is doing.
CC’s 2nd birthday
We have recently turned a corner and both girls have been so well behaved for the most part, I don’t feel like hiding with a bottle of wine in the bathtub at the end of the day, and we are all enjoying each others’ company more. This, folks, is a 180 from the insane tantrums and fighting we were dealing with a few months ago. Carving out some weekly one-on-one time with Lu has made a huge difference in her attitude in general (read: less whining). And I’m eating it up and enjoying it while it lasts!
I set some pretty lofty personal goals back in January {I prefer “goals” to “resolutions”}. As you know, this past Oct. I ran a half marathon in an effort to get myself healthy and fit again. Then in Jan, a CrossFit at a box in a town about 40 min away – holler rural living! E and I also cleaned up our already pretty healthy diet and the results have been pretty fantastic. I’m not just talking about the 10+ pounds, 4.5 inches, or 12% body fat I’ve lost; I’m talking about being more even keeled, less moody, NO MORE MIGRAINES, and overall so much more relaxed and less stressed. And taking care of myself in this way has really made me a better parent. I no longer slink in from work, flop on the couch with wine, and count down seconds until bedtime {OK, that still happens now and then, but it’s pretty rare these days}. Now our afternoons are filled with playing outside, running around our huge yard, or in the floor building towers or coloring while E makes dinner. I can tell they enjoy that time and have fewer outbursts trying to get my attention.
my running buddy
Something else I’ve been trying to focus on is being present. Not stressing over all the things I have to do in a week, not really worrying about a 5yr plan or all the little insignificant crap that seems to generate more stress than it’s worth. Just really paying attention to and enjoying moments throughout the day – the girls giggling in their playroom, a delicious meal E prepared, the feeling of victory after a brutal workout. This is probably the most difficult thing for me, who by nature is always itching for and worrying about the next step – so much so that I nearly miss what’s happening right in front of me.
Overall I’m feeling really good about my place in the world these days and that’s a really great feeling to have.
morning dance party
This is Lulu, our sweet, chatty, social butterfly. She's cautious and sensitive, and always looking to get a good laugh out of people.
This is CeCe, our crazy toddler. She's quite spirited, shall we say. Headstrong, daring, and eternally skeptical. She will give me grey hairs, that's for sure.
This is E, my fabulous husband who basically puts up with all my hair-brained ideas, crazy adventures, and obsessions. He humors me. A lot.
