Pics of the Day ~ Becca the Swimmer and Chubby Cheeks Ethan ~

I am still here … Life got way crazy the last fews days preparing for the move, more good byes, the kids, the husband … AHHHHH!

We sold out backyard play equipement & our fridge (thank you Craig’s list), all of which we had made last minute decisions on. We got good coin that we plan on putting towards the purchase a bigger play structure for Becca if we have a backyard.

J has a much greater apprecaition for how little one can get done with a newborn & a toddler in tow. It feels like you get one all settled and the other is ready and eager for attention. Yet we are making progress and ready or not the movers appear tomorrow to pack up the apartment.

We have a hotel booked for tomorrow night (the cat is not welcome but he will bask in having the entire apartment to himself), then we take off after the movers load the big rig with our gear. We did a dry run packing the car and all our junk fits with room for miscellious crap to squeeze in.

Since WiFi is everywhere I should be able to blog on the road, keeping you all in the know of our progress. J booked us a suite in Los Alamos so we can crash there till we find the next Home of Soodz. I have been reading posts on the fly and miss sharing my thoughts … I should get back to packing …

Pics of the Day ~ Rocker Ethan & Dare Devil Becca ~

Life is in crazy turmoil time. Only a few short days to go. Not sure which way is up at the moment. I am organizing, purging, barely keeping sane and trying to parent two incredibly cute and demanding children.

I could turn the tv on and walk away. I could allow Becca to do as she wishes against my own wishes and not establish boundaries. Yet I know that once we arrive at our destination I will pay dearly for such actions. So instead I quietly remind her that I do not like to be yelled at. That once she is finished screaming she can come talk to me. I am trying not to lose my patience or my cool. I succeed some of the time, yell the other times, then curse myself for allowing an almost three year old to get the better of me.

I am mourning the loss of two great friends. Damn I am a better woman now, knowing them, spending time with them, knitting with them. Marina and I went to dinner Monday night and chatted three hours away. It was heart wrenching to say good bye. Then the very next day, I hugged Holly after an anxious day (see her blog! It was wild!) wondering how the hell I am to parent without her sound advice that ALWAYS works.

When one moves around a lot it is hard not to want to become a mountain man. Isolate oneself to protect the heart from this achey, pukey empty feeling. Yet if that was my approach, I would not have met these women, and come to adore them so.

Internets you can NEVER leave me! I should return to bed now. This post has been in my head for a few days … it is 4 am and I am sad. Hopefully my true morning will bring me around to the excitement of moving, the new adventure and my super cute kids.

Pics of the Day ~ Father’s Day at the Beach ~

It was surreal to drive to the beach yesterday, knowing that it was the last time life would take us down that path. We talked about wishes to return to this area for fututre vacations and how we never would have thought it would be so hard to move on. We pondered how J’s chemistry has taken us so far from home. Exploring Facebook, has made me realize how few people ever leave home. We all talked big dreams of blowing that popcycle stand and living an exciting life in Vancouver, Toronto … anywhere but there. Yet I am one of the few that left.

Father’s Day was awesome! I was concerned that our day at the beach was going to be cancelled. We took Ethan and Becca to the pool on Saturday, being that we live in the ghetto we did not see the broken beer bottle until J resurfaced with a gash on his foot. Poor guy was out of swimming for the weekend! Being the trooper that he is, J bandaged his foot and ventured to Laguana beach! He lounged with Ethan in the shade while I trekked back and forth with Becca to the water’s edge. It was a wonderful day. Somehow I got burnt to a crisp (I even applied sunscreen darn it!) but the rest of the crew came home unscathed.

We are spending our last week here, preparing. I have been trying to organize, purge and prepare all the while entertaining the almost three year old and the newborn. Fun stuff. Tonight I am going out for dinner with Marina, then tomorrow we are celebrating Jamie’s “pretend” birthday at Holly’s. How can it be time to say good-bye so soon?

Pic of the Day ~ J with his kids ~

J seriously adores his kids. I am so lucky that he is such an active and involved Dad. He truly cares about their well-being and supports all my parenting ideas (even the more “crunchy” ones). We are headed to the beach tomorrow for a fun Father’s Day treat before the real work of moving starts. Can you believe it we move in like a week and a half?!?!

J wakes up with Ethan every night, changes his diaper with his eyes half open then passes him to me to nurse, before passing out again. EVERY NIGHT. J gets up every morning, helps Becca with breakfast. This has been their routine since she was six months old starting solids. EVERY MORNING.

Until recently, J was the one to bath Becca every night (we switched her to an pre-supper bath to avoid hyperness right before bed). Every night the four of us crawl onto Becca’s bed and read stories.

He babywears, changes cloth diapers, washes said diapers, co-sleeps when needed, uses postive discipline and pretty much takes my word on parenting decisions, supporting me 100%. He has stayed home with a sick Becca so I could meet my mystery mom, he ensured I could go knitting every Sunday by using that time to be with Becca one to one.

He danced a jig to make me laugh while having contrations with Ethan. Held my hand when I screamed, asked the nurses to get me an epidural when I could not take anymore pain, then whispered encouragement in my ear as the needle was jabbed into my back.

Above it all, he supports my dream to stay at home with the kids, valuing it as much as I do. Even though that means we eat a lot of spaghetti, do not have all the latest gadgets and share a car.

From all of us … Becca, Ethan and myself … Happy Father’s Day J! We love you! xoxo

Dad … You always came back, even when no one else did…You are my best friend, we love and miss you so much! Becca says that you are going to help her make a snowman in Los Alamos (not sure if there will be snow when you come in the fall but she will not be convinced otherwise!) Thanks for always believing in me Dad … 

Pics of the Day ~ The kids at the gardens last week ~

While driving in the car, Becca and I were discussing best friends.

Mommy asks … “Who is Pooh Bear’s best friend?” -  Piglet

“Who is Tigger’s best friend?”  - Roo

“Who is your best friend?” - YOU!

All the moments she rejected me melted away. I am still her best friend! Maybe just maybe this moving thing will not be so bad. I hate that we are leaving her first friends behind. Heck I hate that I am leaving some darn good friends behind!

Oh my! If you are looking for a great gift for a 3 year old, look no further that “Lego My First Builder” board game! Becca loves it! We have played it everyday since her party! Thanks Holly! It has greatly increased her interest in Lego too.

Marina and the boys are coming today to visit. This will be the last time Becca will see them. I cannot believe the end of the month is so quickly approaching. I have so much to do still. I do not want to say good bye.