Monday, March 25, 2013

Friend visits, unpacking and holidays

It has been a very busy past couple days around here.  Things have been a whirlwind, and I really don't anticipate them slowing down at all over the course of the next couple weeks.  We are pretty much completely moved out of the apartment and into the house, which is absolutely fantastic.  Though, we still have a few things left to get out of the apartment, and we need to turn the keys back in, and do a general clean up.  I am so sick of going over there though, that I've put it off and put it off and we are going to HAVE to get it done before Thursday of this week. 

I can't believe that in 5 short days, my baby girl is going to be 2.  It just completely blows my mind.  I waited SO long for her to get here, and now here she is, walking, talking, getting into stuff, stressing me out, and turning 2 this coming Saturday.  It is crazy to me that she has grown so fast.  You hear people, moms especially, talk about the day a child was born, and how wonderful and blah, blah, and let me tell you....I TOTALLY get where it comes from now.  I think back over the past 2 years, and I just want to sit and bawl over how quickly time has gone.  I remember so vividly holding her for the first time, and hearing her cry, and it just amazes me.  I brought this beautiful little girl into the world, and I am nuturing her and teaching her, and I can only hope that I'm doing a half way decent job.  I want to protect her from everything, and I know that I can't, and it makes me crazy.  She has her father's nose, my spunky attitude, and she's so stinking smart it worries me.  She makes me crazy, she only listens when she wants to, and truth be told, I wouldn't want her any other way.  After waiting so long, and praying so hard for her, I probably let her get away with more than she should, but I can't help myself.  She is my life, my first born, my beautiful girl, and I can only hope that she and I will come through all the trials of her growing up as close as my mom and I have.

This past Friday, we drove 5 1/2 hours one way to go see my bestest friend, L and her family.  They live in IL, but L's hubby A's mom lives down here in TX.  They came to visit, and I decided that I wasn't going to let her get this close without going to see her.  We haven't seen each other since Hubby & I left IL when Ava was 6 weeks old.  I cried when I saw her.  I hugged her and hugged her and we sat and talked and things haven't changed a bit, other than we are a bit older, have more kids between the 2 of us, and she's pregnant with her 4th.  :) Other than that...it was like I had never left IL.  We laughed about the same things, we talked, we smiled, it was just completely awesome.  I will get to see her again in about 4 1/2 weeks, as Hubby and I are making the trip from TX to IL to see his brother, sister-in-law and step-dad.  They haven't seen Ava since we left and have never seen Collin, other than in pictures.  We got up at the butt crack of dawn and drove so that we got there at a decent hour in the morning, and it was fantastic.  I didn't want to leave, but we had to get back, because it was such a long drive, and the kids were exhausted.  I cried when we left too, and we hugged and hugged, and I didn't want to let her go.  I know that it's only 4 1/2 more weeks til I will see her again, but right this very minute, it seems like a lifetime.  I know it will go relatively quickly, and that's what I keep trying to remind myself.  It's much shorter than the time we waited to see each other before, so I know I can do it.

This coming Friday, we are heading over to San Antonio to spend the Easter weekend with my brother and his wife and son.  They are leaving May 10th for Japan, where my brother is going to be stationed with the Air Force.  I am NOT thrilled that they are leaving.  My nephew is only 5 months old, and by the time they come back stateside, he's not going to have any clue as to who I am. :(  This makes me VERY sad.  I know that it's part of the military life, but that doesn't mean that I have to like it, because I don't.  I know that it is an amazing experience for them, and they are going to see a lot of cool stuff, but I still don't like it.  It will be pretty much impossible for us to go see them, because for the 4 of us to fly over there is like $9000.  Unless we use our entire income tax refund for it, it will never happen. But, I am going to just enjoy the heck out of them while they are still here.  My sister in law is going to IL the first 2 weeks of April to spend some time with her family.  Pretty much when she gets back, we're leaving to go up a couple days later.  We'll get back on the 4th of May, and then they will be leaving on the 10th.  I have a whole lot of mixed emotions.  I'm excited for them, because like I said, it's an amazing opportunity, but I am really, really sad.  I am going to miss them a whole lot.  My brother and I have not always been close, but in the last couple years, we've worked on mending our relationship, and things are getting better.  We still aren't as close as I'd like, but we're getting there.  And now, it's going to be really difficult, because he's going to be a world away.  All I can do is hope that we'll be able to continue working on things, even if it's just through email.  I have no idea what it would cost for me to make a phone call to him over there.......I'm not sure I even want to know.....lol

I suppose that I should get myself to bed.  I know that the kids are going to be up early, and Collin seems to be having kind of a rough night.  He's already been awake twice since I put him down at 10.  He is teething, and is definitely having a harder time with it than Ava did.

I hope to be able to update a bit more here and there....I'm going to try to implement a new schedule for myself and see if it makes a difference.  Anyway, have a good night, where ever you are, and try not to eat too much. :P

Stay safe and be blessed my friends, until we meet again.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Moving and cleaning and too much crap, oh my....

Okay, so the title doesn't sound right, but whatever. :P Deal.  It's been a crazy couple weeks for us, and I swear, I don't think things are going to slow down anytime in the near future. *sigh*

We are almost all moved into the house.  There are still a few things left at the apartment, but those will be gotten out this weekend.  I cannot tell you how amazing it is to be living in a house.  We have our own yard, there's plenty of space, no neighbors right on top of us.....it's just absolutely amazing.  It has not been without some issues, but I think that's to be expected with any move.

We were supposed to have phone and internet connected on the 11th so that I could get things rolling with my job.  That didn't happen.  The phone didn't work until almost 5 pm on the 12th, and the internet didn't start working until the 15th.  Needless to say, I was fit to be tied.  I don't think I have ever been so mad in my entire life.  I called and complained and didn't get anywhere.  *sigh* So, when I get the bill, I am going to call and complain some more, and see if it does any good.  My guess is no, but we'll just have to see.

Other than that, things have been going really well.  The kids seem to have adjusted really well.  Though, Collin is still having some sleep issues, but I think that is because he is teething.  He's got one bottom tooth that popped through, and it looks like another one is working it's way in.  I need to get the teethers out and start giving him tylenol more frequently, I think.  He chews on everything he can get in his mouth, so I'm pretty sure that he would chew on the teethers.  He's in the process of trying to crawl too.....it's so adorable.  He's so chunky, and he's having a heck of a time figuring it out, but he's working on it.

I don't have a whole lot of battery life left on the laptop, so this will have to be it for now.  I will try and get on tomorrow and get more of an update to you guys......it's just tough with 2 little ones, school and work.

Stay safe and be blessed my friends.....until we meet again.