Things are crazy around here

And I am pretty much worked. I guess the stress has just all accumulated to a point where no more input may be put in, yet so many things still have to get done, and the stress of moving things and packing things and whatnot has the kids and the dogs teetering on a certain edge that keeps things very loud and wild and whiny around here.

I like to remind myself to breathe.

The long slow breaths that calm you blood, your mind, your soul.

Here we are in a less frantic moment.

Eating Froot Loop necklaces...Madee thinks I am an accessory genius!

I am excited for simpler times, a simpler life.

Not that life is so complicated here, but the planning, the waiting, and the transitory stage has been less than simple.

We are about to be on the beach, on the road, on our way for our grand adventure. With little to do but enjoy the ride. (And get Dad to work of course!)

Before and Afters Are Up!

Oh hey! Come on in!
This is our new house...it's pretty cozy!

But it is the perfect size for us!
We would love to show you around!

We can't wait to get going!
A serious load of before and after pics here!
Daddy did such a good job! Prepare to be impressed!

This Morning's Precious Treasure

An old powder compact. Madee is rubbing the powder puff all over her face and mine, and a few minutes ago she lost the puff inside her full body footsie zipper pajamas.

It is her precious treasure for the morning, and I won't recover it until she goes down for her nap.

She has a new habit of stashing random items - toys, toothbrushes, golfballs - in her pjs.

She tries to stash rocks in her shirt, but they fall out the bottom, so a quick walk can turn into a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG one with lots of bending and picking up and stashing and falling through and "uh oh".

It is funny how I used to dread being left alone with the babies for days, and granted, having Bela changes everything, but I actually enjoy our time alone together now. The days are longer, and we miss Daddy, but Charlie has always left me for work travel, even when we first dated and I would dogsit for Zeus and Zoie (months at a time!) at his place.

So I am used to spending time in the house without him - although he has been home so much in the past year that I got spoiled!

I tend to get spooked in a house by myself (I have a ridiculously VIVID imagination!) But everything is different with a house full of kids. It has been overcast and chilly, and we have been doing a lot of snuggling and cozying and reading in front of the fire.

Eden is fully awake and alert now, and she knows stuff is going on in the house and gets mad if it is going on without her. She will just yell if we leave her anywhere like, "DUDES! You KNOW I can't walk! Come get me!"

She will be crawling in less than a month...she already has scooch leg from trying to get from the living room to the kitchen yesterday.

Madee lavishes attention and love and kisses and hugs on her sister ALL DAY LONG.

It is amazing to me, because I have seen Madee grow up, and watched her love grow for family members and friends, and she is such a sweet girl, but she loves Eden best. Better than any of us. I try to tell Eden how special that is, and how everybody in the world is jealous of her, but she doesn't care, she doesn't know anything different.

She just says, " Goo."

Daddy's Girl

This face. So sweet.

That is a face that looks like me. And my Dad.
I can just totally see it.


Her little Elvis lippy.
Always on the side closest to a nipple. Any nipple.

Kisses.
What a cute baby! Sugar and spice indeed!

Pretty colors, new blogs, and meat hucking

Tahoe colors are changing!


So I started writing stuff on my new blog, Family Sized Fun, because a girl has to start somewhere, and this journey has begun, even if we haven't left the neighbor's driveway yet. I am not sure how to distinguish what goes here or there or whatever, but so far the new blog has been RV and travel related.

Hmm...

Anyway, check out the new blog and follow us around.

Anyhoo...

Yesterday I took Madee to the park and, well, Eden too, but she was asleep in the truck for the most part enjoying the breezy autumn Tahoe weather, anyway, Madee and I climb this little hill that ends in a retaining wall that surrounds the playground, and Madee isn't in the best mood in the first place. As she big girl steps off of the retaining wall, she tumbles to the ground, and when she looks up at me, I can tell she wants to cry, and she starts looking around to see if anybody saw her fall.

I assure her that no one was looking, and she is probably okay, I saw the whole thing and she looked like she made it a good fall.

She is not so convinced that I know her pain, and she shows me her dirty hands and clothes from falling.

"Dust it off" I say.
And I show her how.

But she still just looks at me, teetering on the edge of crying.

And I'm thinking, "Oh, Dora Band-Aids where are you now? How could I go anywhere without those magic little things?"

I may be 2 in, but I'm still new at this mom thing. It sucks to see her injured, physically, emotionally - whatever - I just want to relate and protect and comfort and encourage, and I guess at the moment I was struggling to verbally connect with her and let her know that things were going to be cool.

So I hucked my meat right off that retaining wall and landed on my butt and shoulder just like she did.

And when she locked eyes with me, I tell you, I gave her this little terrified look and then I looked around, got up and dusted myself off, shrugging my shoulders and saying "Wow! That was a doozy!" and seriously, I could deserve an Academy Award, which is a good thing, because Madee wouldn't appreciate a set up.

And she helped me dust myself off. And I helped pat her down, too. And we hugged and she gave me a kiss and then she stuck her hand out for me to hold it as we went to the playground.

That kid.

Unh.

You have no idea what it is like to walk around with no knees. But I start melting at about 7 in the morning. Melting from her cuteness. And I still have to get around like that. With no knees.

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Madee with Bela.

Lake Tahoe lately...

Eden in the girls' RV Room.
Before and Afters coming soon!

Hmmm...

I try hard not to compare the girls, because everybody is unique, but I had to go back and check out when Madee got her first tooth.

Here is a picture from that post.

So apparently, Madee was 1 week shy of her 6 month birthday when we saw that first tooth.

And although there is a good 6-7 weeks difference in their age in the pics, the size and ability is about the same.
So we are thinking maybe Ida was born 2 months old.


Sweet Lips.
Happy HAPPY Baby!
Another one from the Madee files...

Oh goodness I still have to eat her up like 7 times a day!

First Tooth!

It's Official!
She's going to college!

Okay well maybe I am exaggerating, but seriously, doesn't 4 months seem a little young for choppers?
I figured we still had a month or so of cutting, and last night she grabbed Charlie's finger, chomped down, and he was all, "It's THROUGH!

Just like that.
My baby has teeth.

With the two of them, the incongruent naps, the needing, the tantrums and ill-communication, my days can seem so looooooooooooooooooonnnnnng.

And at the same time I wish it would all slow down...

Stats and such

It's a cold, windy, rainy morning here in the mountains, and I can tell it is almost Daylight Savings Time because we have been up for 2 hours, and the sun still really isn't up. Eden is asleep in front of the fire and Madee is snuggled with her blanket on the couch watching Mickey Mouse and answering the questions he asks.

My coffee tastes really good this morning.


Eden went to the pediatrician for her 4 month check up yesterday. Charlie took her because I am a basketcase when it comes to shots and she is an especially shrill screamer.

She is 27 3/4 inches long, and 18 lbs 9 oz.

About the size of a 9 month old. And she is such a beautiful baby. Her curves are astonishing.

In case you are wondering, we were out of town when Madee was 4 months old, so her appointment came at 5 months. On that appointment, she was 18 lbs. and 27 1/2 inches.

We make some big beautiful babies.

Also, I totally forgot Madee's 21 month post, but we went to the pumpkin patch on that day, so I have lots of pictures...
The other day was Little Lila's 2nd birthday - and we met in the park for cupcakes and fun.




Here is Lila in her birthday present from us. We got her the crown, not the fuzzy hat, but I like how they go together.


Little Ida can party, too!The kids had lots of fun. I just love to watch Madee playing with other kids. She showed off her sister a lot and was so patient while presents and attention were lavished upon somebody else.

She did try to take off with a Dora toy. Oh, by the way, Dora teaches her stuff. She says "Abre" for "Open". I don't even know if I spelled that right.

And we played Merry-go-round. We spun and spun and then I let her off to try and walk. Bad Mommy. I am lucky she didn't crack her little head!
.Little fairies in the woods...

We Brought Our Own Pumpkins!

We went to the pumpkin patch in Apple Hill! Madee couldn't believe all the pumpkins~

Is this the one?

Or this one?
Hmmmmm. That looks like a good pick.
There are just so many! I don't know how I'll choose!Ooh! I see one over here!
Mommy and a little punkin.

Oh hey guys!
Gimme kiss!
I was just hanging in this pumpkin patch with Mom and Mad and Uncle Cousin Brody.
Unh.
This one's good!

Or maybe this one.
Yay! Pumpkin Patch!
I think this is the one we came for...
Thanks for all the picture taking, UCB!

Madee l-o-v-e-s you!
A little autumn sweetness.
And a little goofiness, too.
You have never seen me happier. Trust me.

Unless you were here.