It's been a long time since I last blogged. Mainly because life happened, and the kids kept growing and the time to capture their moments in words was lost in homework or other activities. So much has taken place since the last blog. Today, I start anew. I am reminded each day should be treasured. My goal will be to get back to cherishing these moments. It won't be too long before the next thing happens. So here it goes. Life with Hue. In color. Today.

All's Well

In an instant, our kids have moved on to a new school and have thoroughly enjoyed the transition. Granted, they are having to start their day with breakfast a little bit earlier and daddy is handling the drop offs in the morning, but honestly, it's been OK. Our little boy still has his tearful moments, and I don't envy the hubs having to go through that each morning. I was constantly fighting that battle in the last weeks of the previous school and it just about ruined my day each time.

I really think that toward the end, the previous school wasn't offering much curriculum or instruction to keep them engaged. In fact, our little girl has come home quite pooped out each day and has not come over in the middle of the night for five days straight. (Keeping fingers crossed, but probably just jinxed it)...

I know that change is often hard, but probably more so on us as parents. We get stuck in our routines and hesitate to veer from it at all costs. We are creatures of habit and our habits are very hard to break.

The beauty of this change is that I know my kids can handle change, as they have adjusted nicely. I am thankful that they can roll with it much better than I ever would have done. Now it's time to get the baby potty-trained...

Transition

In another week, we'll be forced to move our children to another daycare. Not out of our wishes, mind you, but yet another facility closing its doors. Each time you move your kids to another place, you can't help but feel the anguish and anxiety that a new place brings. Not to mention how much we will miss the teachers and the overall school they had been going to. I am hopeful this go round will go as smoothly as before - with the kids quickly adjusting to their new surroundings and caregivers with no issue. I am pretty confident our little girl will adjust fine, but I am fearful our little boy will not adjust quite so well. He's so attached to a regular routine, that on most days when he doesn't see his regular teacher, he is a cling-on of wailing proportions. That makes the start of my day so very hard. To see his crying eyes and his tears for mama as he latches on for dear life. I know he has had to realize that his daily teacher has already left because his morning tears seem to get worse and worse without a fun distraction. This morning, I secretly left before he realized I was gone. But within seconds, I heard him crying for me as I was racing out the door. Does that make me a bad mom?

My Lil Mama

Our little girl is so like me it's not even funny. But maybe all little girls are like their moms in some way right? They watch you and mimic your every move. She likes to put on my high heels and wear pretty dresses...but the funniest thing is how she dotes on and disciplines her little brother. She will scold him just like I do and has such the attitude to go along with it. Her sassiness is so cute at times, but makes me really think about what I say to her and her brother. It is very true that they will do exactly as you do or repeat your every word. It really shouldn't surprise me when she wants to be just like her mama - attitude and all. I just hope she doesn't pick up my bad temper :)

Night of Bliss

Last night both kids slept through the entire night without a peep, and boy did I enjoy it. I can't remember the last time we had an uninterrupted night of purely great sleep. For those who enjoy their sleep - like I do - I woke up refreshed and ready to go. It took them both a little nudging to get going, but once they did, they were all smiles. It's funny how we can continue the same routine, day-in and day-out, but for whatever reason, some nights are better for sleeping than others. I often wonder if their minds are so busy processing the day's activities that they get a bit restless. I can only imagine the vivid dreams they are having as I did when I was a child. I honestly can't remember what they were, but I do remember having those dreams.

I pray for continued restful sleep each and every night. I'm lucky I get some zzzzz's before they start their little episodes of "milk," or "potty." I have no idea how my hubby manages to be their savior each night they are up. I'd be an uber-zombie if I had to handle it. Thank goodness for my saintly mate.

Chunky Monkey

So much as happened since I last blogged, that I have no idea where to begin.

Easter Sunday we had a great time with family during the day - until the night ended with a trip to the emergency room. Poor little Y was having loads of fun climbing up and down his uncle's chair and messing around with his cousin that evening. When his uncle returned to reclaim his chair, Y's cousin pulled at his arm the same time his uncle was trying to pick him up. A few seconds later, we had a screaming toddler and a very limp left arm. It didn't take us long before we decided to rush down to the E.R. to see a doctor. Thankfully my sister-in-law was finishing up her shift at the hospital and told us that the E.R. was quite empty! Within an hour, we had x-rays that showed no fractures or breaks, but a very kind physician who plainly told us how our little boy had suffered from "nursemaid elbow." After a quick tug and snap back into place, our little guy was as good as new.

Not even yet two years old and our little boy has made two trips to the E.R. I'm not sure if that means he has a rough road ahead of him. If he's anything like his daddy and daddy's brother - we are in for many nights in the hospital!

Our little baby boy has surely grown up faster than I even imagined. So much so that the hubs would love to have another baby. Unfortunately for him, this baby-factory decided after Y was born that her days of baby-carrying are officially over (unless by divine intervention something happens)....his chunky face now smiles back at us with such personality and attitude.

His constant "no's" and demands show just how much testosterone he already has. I suppose his terrible "twos" have officially kicked in....but then he'll come right up to you and give a great big hug or a sloppy kiss and all is forgiven.

My little chunky monkey loves to run around the house in his birthday suit after a bath and giggles when you tickle his funky smelling feet. He watches intently as you pronounce every single syllable because he so wants to mimic you at every breath. I love that little tater-head and I hate that he has grown up so quickly.

Curveballs

I should have known today would be a hectic day from the moment I backed up out of the driveway to a street filled with debris, branches and everything in-between from the storm that dumped a gob of rain just about everywhere. It looked like God went around and shook every single tree, limb and bush and dumped it all on the streets for car tires to bumpily drive on in the wee morning hours. About three minutes into my morning commute, sprinkles started to come down on the windshield, and I thought to myself, "If I have to get the kids out of the car, and then haul the stuff to the Capitol, I should have grabbed my darn rain jacket." So I turned the car around, and the kids didn't even blink an eye. Five minutes from when I left the house originally at 6:47 a.m., I was in the garage again, rushing out of the car to get in the house to grab the jacket. By the time I was back on the road, I thought to myself, "I can do this, and the kids won't even be late." As I pulled into the daycare's parking lot, I noticed the usual early birds there, ready to drop off their kids and start their day...I thought it was a bit odd that only one of the classrooms was lit, and the rest of the building looked quite dim. By the time the clock read 7:15 a.m., I started to get out of the car to haul the kids in. At the corner of my eye, and within ear range, I hear the daycare's director peek out and say that the school had no power and she wasn't sure if she could keep the kids at all today. POOP! My head starts to panic and I hurriedly put Roo back in her carseat. Of course, she's asking "what's going on mommy?" I picked up the phone to call the hubby and explained the situation. He quickly got off the phone and got ready to come get the kids. I dropped them off, and rushed on to work. This of all days was not a day to miss work. The weather for the Capitol event was frigid and hauling the stuff to our tables seemed like it took forever. And by the time I got back to the car to head into the office, my hubby had called to tell me that he was on his way to pick up our kids. He would miss a day of work to take care of them, and I would be working all day. Today was certainly a curveball. I certainly appreciated the fact that at any moment, my hubby was ready to step in and do what was necessary. Having the kids all day, unplanned, can be quite challenging. I am a planner and I am awful at curveballs. I can readily admit that as a vice. It's not very often that I have the bat in hand ready to swing at whatever life has waiting for me. That's why I'm absolutely grateful for all of my team members who are out there looking for my best interests and lifting me up when I need an extra hand. I guess it's true what they say, "There's no 'I' in team."