Has it really been 2 months?!

I am amazed that it has been two months since I've blogged.  I mean, I never considered that I'd be a crazy blogger that blogged every day, but I at least wanted to blog once a week and yeah, I've never been able to do that.  Maybe I need to set a calendar reminder to do it!  Maybe then I'll get to it - and...maybe not!  I came across this blog today and I had to quote her so that not only could I find this great piece of inspiration in the future but also so that I could share it with my friends and other Mom's like me.  I was on the Lazy Saturdays blog (http://www.lazy-saturdays.com/page/2/) and saw this snippet of a post and my reaction was "WOW - she has it exactly on the nose"! 

"Damn the rules. Do you know what makes a good mother? Loving our children, teaching our children, hoping for our children, praying for our children. We know what our babies need. We know it whether they sleep in our beds, whether we work outside the home, whether they have memorized every episode of DORA! or have never seen a TV in their ever lovin’ lives. We are Mommas, for heaven’s sake. We bring life into this world and then raise it up to the light the best way we can. And it doesn’t have to be lonely. We do not have to divided by labels, methods and philosophies.  We are not defined by the way we diaper or discipline.  What if for just a moment, we all acknowledged the grandness of this thing we are a part of, this blessed, God given role? What if we held each others hands and said, “Isn’t it heartbreaking, bright, boring, beautiful, tear-out-your-hair frustrating, and just so magical it hurts?” What if we loved each others children, tantrums and all, because they are just learning and aren’t we all and isn’t it just so hard sometimes? What if we decided that we were all doing just fine, every last one of us? What if, at the end of each day, we realized we had done our best and that was enough?"

That is all for today...hopefully I'll be back sooner than two months from now!

I really don't like the beach…

…it's just not my favorite place. I don't like the taste of salt water on my lips or getting it my eyes when getting splashed by a wave or going under water…I'm much more of a pool person. Then there's the issue of sand in every nook, cranny, crevice, etc. I just don't like it. Well, yesterday made me like it a little more than I ever have…may a lot more…because of the girls. There was just something great about holding them in the water and having the waves splash up on us and then go plunk down on the beach and play with the sand toys and build castles and knock them down. There was a lot of joy in yesterday and my opinion of the beach is a little better than it used to be. I still don't like salt water on my lips and in my eyes though. I'm not sure Hannah did either since every time a wave hit she screamed as if she didn't like it (meanwhile Leyla was gleefully shrieking so obviously she loved it!). Funny that things you really don't like turn out to be things you don't mind when your kids are there :-)

June...and other thoughts...

My goodness, where did the month of June go?!  It feels like just last weekend we were in New Hampshire at Storyland on the rainiest day of the year (of course, because that's how Mahir and I like to do vacations!!!!).  I'm not sure if I posted about that but we had a great time despite the rain and I can't wait to go back next year!  Mahir's mother arrived to meet Hannah and spend 9 weeks with us last Wednesday. 

I've been thinking a lot lately about my favorite times of the day.  I'm not sure why but that's just where my thoughts have been.  With Hannah, my favorite parts are around 5 AM when I feed her before going to work.  For those of you who are going to make Time magazine comments, please refrain!  It's a beautiful bonding time together and I'm going to miss it when she does stop getting up.  Then again after work, which is less relaxing, and then before bed, which is wonderful as she ends up falling asleep and Daddy then carries her off to bed.  Hannah's a pistol and keeps us on our toes and definitely keeps me laughing and smiling at her antics.  Last night at dinner she wiped her ketchup hands all over the wall.  Mahir cringed and I laughed and enjoyed it because I know I will miss it when she's older and not doing that.  Leyla is the complete opposite of her sister, hates messy hands, hates food in her lap, etc.  My favorite moments with Leyla are when she calls me at work in the morning and gives me a rundown of what's happened so far that day, when I see her at the train station getting a ticket from Joe and then waving to all the conductors, and when we get to sing songs before bed and the rare times we get to watch and sing with Pajanimals.  I'm not really sure where I'm going with this blog today except to let the girls know how much I love them and how much I love their differences and their similarities and how much they love each other.  I'm blessed beyond measure.

Soapbox...

So, I have to say I came across a blog that annoys me. The site has a Facebook page that also bothers me. I am not one to name names so I'm not going to tell you what blog it is, but I did notice at least one of my friends "likes" the page. In any case, I saw a status that said "Filling out a million camp forms is annoying, but not half as annoying as having a kid up your ass all summer...pass me that pen." Now, I'm going to go back to a status that I posted about a week or so ago that didn't draw wonderful responses because it appeared that I was thinking being a teacher was all roses, which I know for a fact isn't (please remember I am the daughter of a retired teacher) and that it was coming to the time of year that I really disliked all the facebook posts about my teacher friends having the summer off and being able to spend time with the kids and such, because I don't. Yes, I made the choice to work in a field other than a teacher that would give me an unbelievable amount of time off a year compared to what I have now and no, there's no possible way of being a stay at home Mom like I would like to (even a part time SAHM would be nice). In any case, that's not what I'm blogging about. I don't think my status was offending - it was just a statement that it was coming to a time of year that makes me sad because I don't get the opportunities to be with my girls as much as I'd like. But this particular status that I just pasted above was very offending to me. And the other blogs on that page that use profanities and yell at their kids and say that life isn't fair. Sure, life isn't fair, but you know what, life is so much better BECAUSE I am a parent and because of my girls. The individual on this blog that complains about her kids should live one day like all the people in the world who want children and wouldn't bitch and moan about all the annoying or bad moments of being a parent. I love my children…I want to spend time with my children…and it makes me absolutely crazy when I see parents writing nastiness about their children, how spending time with their children is such a chore, and how much of a pain they are. I am definitely not a perfect parent and yes, I have moments when I want to sit in the bathroom in peace, but in 10 years, in 15 years, I'm going to miss this. So, bring on the whining, crying, laughter, smiles, and every other thing that brings me joy and aggravation every day that being a mother to my girls does. I'm going to go home tonight, hug them, and thank God for the gift that their lives brings to my life.

First family vacation

Well we survived our first family vacation. No, we have never been anywhere with the girls. Yes, we went to Turkey with Leyla but she was so little (6 months old) and it was visiting family that I don't really consider that a family vacation. This past weekend, to celebrate my 32nd birthday, we went to Storyland! As with many of the trips I have taken with Mahir over the years, it was scheduled to rain (flashback to 2004 when we honeymooned on Nantucket in the remnants of a hurricane!), so we packed our raincoats, umbrellas, extra towels, and headed out! Amazingly we made it out of the house with a full car by 10:15 when I planned for 10:00 - not bad! We stopped at Fuddruckers on the way north in Reading and had a great time there watching the trapeze school and the water light show that happens in that Jordan's Furniture (never been there before). Then we headed north and made it to Storyland just before 3 PM. We then had an amazing 2 hours visiting Cinderella's Castle where Leyla hugged and hugged and hugged Cinderella and didn't want to let go. It was the most precious thing I've ever seen! Hannah, of course at her age, didn't want anything to do with Cinderella or sitting on her throne! Then we went on a bunch of rides (when I say "we" I mean Mahir and Leyla and a couple of them Hannah joined them). Apparently Mahir has his roller coaster/ride buddy in Leyla and I am guessing Hannah will be the same way since she couldn't get enough of the "shoe" ride where they go around and around and up and down! We fell victim to the tourist trap of buying the picture at the Bamboo Chutes of Mahir and Leyla's faces as they were headed down the flume. Priceless picture I have to tell you. Both that and the picture of Leyla with Cinderella will be posted to Facebook hopefully this week but you know me and posting pictures, so it could be next year! I'm glad we had Friday afternoon at the park because it truly made the fact that we got soaked during our 5 hours in the park the next day worth it. And the smiles on the girls faces despite being wet and cold was also worth it! I definitely learned a lot from this vacation and will do things different next time and do other things the same. The time wasn't perfect as I had planned but it definitely was more than I imagined! I can't wait to go back!

The things they get into...

First of all, I have to say that "baby proofing" has been done along the way for sure in our house.  Leyla was into next to NOTHING that Hannah has been into so covering the plugs wasn't needed in all rooms until Hannah came along and we have elastics around each set of cabinets in the kitchen that as of now Hannah can't take off...YET!  The two of them together can cause more than double the trouble!  Last week they hung out in the bathroom.  I thought they were "just" washing their hands, but then it was quiet for a little too long.  Next thing I know they are brushing their teeth with just water (obviously, not a big deal) and then using the toothbrushes to wash the decorative shells on the counter, and getting into the other items in the drawers (thermometer, pieces from the infant toothbrush that the main piece was thrown out months ago, etc.).  So, now that drawer is cleaned out and the items have been moved to other locations!  I'm done with people saying that I need to play hard ball and not let them get away with these things (so if you were going to say it, please refrain).  They were both put in a time out and the bathroom door was closed so I didn't ignore it but honestly, after the three minutes, I was done with that (or so I thought...you will see why in a minute).  As a working mother I don't want to waste my precious time at home with them by yelling at them or putting them in timeout for everything, so I am TRYING to pick my battles and also realize what are mountains and what are molehills and that was a molehill in my opinion.  Fast forward to last night...Daddy is in the bathroom and finds something sticking out of the overflow section of the sink.  It is a leaf.  He pulls out that and more leaves come with it.  Turns out Leyla decided to strip the bamboo plant in the bathroom of the leaves that were on top of it and stuff the pieces into the overflow section of the sink.  When asked why she did it, she said "because I did"...great...and again, I said to myself as I put her to bed after we gave her the not stripping plants and not putting things in those holes lecture, "it's a good thing you're cute and that some day I'm going to miss all of this chaos".  Also, during this time Hannah was selecting her clothes for today which included a pajama top, two pairs of pants, and a couple shirts...she's definitely one not to let out of my sight!  Next thing on my list WAS the zoo tomorrow, but just my luck it is supposed to POUR all day and unfortunately with the need to schedule events like this so that I'm off work and have the library pass (I refuse to pay top dollar when I can get a library pass) there is always the chance for rain.  So, tomorrow may be just a whatever day but I know that will be really nice too.  I love you Leyla!  I love you Hannah! 

I went shoe shopping at lunch!

Overnight it seems, Miss Hannah Banana has grown out of her size 3 sneakers.  Why don't I remember this occuring with Leyla?  What's even more strange in my mind is that there is not a size 4 shoe to be found in our house!  Did Leyla skip that size completely?!  I mean, I have a huge bag of size 5s, but no 4s.  So, I went shopping for shoes today at lunch.  I had a nice time but had to be good because there were so many cute shoes and I wanted to buy them all.  Instead I left with a pair of Abby Cadaby sneakers and a pair of cute gray and pink sandals I know she will look adorable in!  I can't wait for her to see them because on a daily basis she is so cute saying "shoes" when we tell her to go get her shoes and running to get whatever shoes she can find in the house, even if they are not hers!  And I got a really adorable pair of pink flip flops that I know Leyla will love to wear going for her swim lessons.  I'm not into buying something for Leyla every time I get something for Hannah, but I couldn't pass these up. 


On the topic of shoes, the other day Hannah was looking for Grampy.  Now, she has not been able (or willing most likely) to say "Grammy" or "Grampy" whereas those were two of Leyla's first words - although they were "Ree" (Grammy) and "Ricky" (Grampy).  In any case, Sunday I was doing laundry while Leyla was out at church with Grammy and Hannah goes over to Grampy's shoe drawer, picks out two shoes (different shoes - two right feet) and says "Bampy!" - so off we go to find "Bampy" and give him his "pair" of shoes!  Apparently she's quit not saying Grammy and Grampy's names and they are no "Bammy" and "Bampy"! 


When it comes to Hannah and shoes or clothes, she wouldn't care if she wore something too big, too small, or whatever I put on her.  Leyla on the other hand will flip out in less than .5 seconds if it's the SLIGHTEST bit too small, too big, too tight, too brown, too purple, too whatever!  Good luck to me when she gets older!  It's amazing how different two girls can be and yet how amazing they both are in their own special ways.  I love you Leyla!  I love you Hannah!