The Adventure Continues

Vacationing with young children is very different than vacationing sans children. It is not nearly as relaxing. I've actually had to get INTO the pool, lazy river, and ocean instead of just sitting beside them with a book. I'm barely halfway through the first book (and likely the only book) of the trip.

On the other hand, Punky gets to spend lots of time with Mom and Dad together! She ate her first sand. Felt the salty ocean tickle her toes outside my womb- the same ocean, the same beach where she first felt the ocean from inside my womb. And she tried her hand at golf. Not bad for it only being Wednesday!

We had some rain. We had some late meals and missed naps. But all in all, the adventure has been pleasant. And it's not over yet!

The Adventure Begins

Aside from almost falling out the window, the voyage to the beach was relatively uneventful. We set out approximately bedtime and the kiddos drifted off pretty quickly in their carseats way in the back of our rocking rental minivan. The moms attempted to get comfortable in the middle seats, surrounded by diaper bags and snacks for the road, the menfolk taking on the driver and navigator roles.

We tried all sorts of ways of getting comfortable: reclining as much as the carseats behind us would allow; stretched out with my feet on her seat and her feet on my seat; leaning against the windows (which worked the best for me- until someone wanting a breath of fresh air opened the wrong window...); curling up between the carseats and stretching out over the diaper bags. We just couldn't get comfortable enough to really be able to catch much sleep. But we arrived, safe and sound- if a little tired. And managed to get an early early check-in, hours before the scheduled early check-in.

Eventually we managed to find the correct grocery store to pick up our already ordered groceries and have a late (really late) lunch. After which Punky and the daddies took naps. Little Man was not a fan of naptime so he and his mommy hit the pool while I did some for-fun reading!

By this time it was dinner time and bedtime was soon to follow. Punky didn't get the "you sleep in on vacation" memo, but I'm used to being the first one up when traveling...

Pictures:
Beach yogis
Sunrise
Harper looks at the morning ocean

Picture of Innocence

I was awake at 5:00 am today with Punky. Poor girl just can't stay comfortable all night right now, those darn teeth! It struck me this morning as she snuggled against me, head on my shoulder, thumb in mouth, drifting back to dreamland, that she is the picture of innocence. Right now. Nothing has tainted her, corrupted her, robbed her of her innocence. No one has hurt her, broken her heart or her spirit. She doesn't have bad self-esteem or body image issues. She doesn't hate her mother (at least not yet!). She couldn't possibly disappoint a soul. She is pure and innocent.

I lingered with her in my arms this morning. Knowing I needed to catch a few more zzzz before my workday began. But I lingered, longing to absorb her peaceful presence, her calm innocence a little longer. The moments when she snuggles against me are already becoming few and far between. My little go-getter is an independent one for sure! Already is is 9 months old. It happened in a blink. Tomorrow I will turn around and she'll be 13, next week- 30. It saddened me a little, to realize how quickly it is going. And it saddened me to know she will one day lose this innocence. I hope I can instill in her a good sense of self, a confidence that no one and no thing can take from her. I hope that I can be an example to her of how to dream and achieve whatever she wishes. I hope I can show her what unconditional love feels like. I hope she can find a way to retain some of her innocence throughout her life.

Squeezes, spring, sports, and cents

Each week, Hilary at Feeling Beachie lists  four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs. If you want to join the fun and come up with four fill in’s of your own, please email them to her at feelingbeachie@gmail.com. If used you will be added as co-host to the hop! This week’s co-host is Janice from Janice’s Footsteps (she came up with the last two statements)

I would LOVE it if you could please help me spread the word about this hop…. So, please tweet, FaceBook share, and add the linky to your post…

This week’s statements:

1. I ___ so much __ in a day
2. I don’t like ____ but I love ___
3. When I watch_______ I ­­­­____
4. I have ________in my wallet.

My Answers:

1. I love my daughter so much I must squeeze her a million times in a day.

2. I don't like winter but I love spring.

3. When I watch sports I enjoy it more if I am at the event in person.

4. I have $1.37 (in change) in my wallet.

Distractions

I fell a little behind in my daily devotional. And had been having quite the afternoon at work- one of those days where I didn't have to arrive until mid-afternoon, but from the moment I got in I felt as though I would have been much better off staying home. I needed to get my head on straight before my one measly client for the day. I pulled out the devotional book and read yesterday's devotion...

I am the God of all time and all that is. Seek Me not only in the morning quietness but consistently throughout the day. Do not let unexpected problems distract you from My Presence. Instead, talk with Me about everything, and watch confidently to see what I will do.
Adversity need not interrupt your communion with Me. When things go "wrong," you tend to react as if you're being punished. Instead of this negative response, try to view difficulties as blessings in disguise. Make Me your Refuge by pouring out your heart to Me, trusting in Me at all times. (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young)

Pokemon, Presents, and Packing

I like alliteration. And being able to throw the word alliteration into a conversation. Yes, I am aware of the increasing level of my dorkiness, which is only going to further increase when I admit that I searched for, ordered, and "read" the "Amazing Pokemon Guidebook." Not really much reading involved, mostly pictures and Pokemon puzzles. Why on earth would I purchase a book on Pokemon [I swear I only paid $0.01 for the book (plus $3.99 for shipping and handling)], especially when I give the huz such a hard time about his Magic habit? Research of course! I have a couple of young clients who are really into Pokemon (I had NO idea Pokemon was still popular!) and seeing as how I knew absolutely NOTHING about Pokemon, I decided to educate myself. And I thought one cent was an excellent price for my education!
Pokemon fact #1: Mudkip becomes Marshtomp becomes Swampert (if I am understanding correctly).
Pokemon fact #2: Seedot like to look good and polishes its body everyday, using leaves.
Pokemon fact #3: For the Kadabra, a spoon is apparently a power-boosting utensil.

Pokemon fact #4: I think Horsea is kinda cute (okay, that's not really a fact!).

I am not counting this as one of my 10 books...

On a completely unrelated note, this Friday will be my 5th wedding anniversary. The huz and I have been largely unromantic on past anniversaries. We agreed that we would do our best to always spend it together, but we weren't going to get into giving gifts- except for the "bigger" ones. The 5th marks the first "big one." I was so proud when I thought of a gift for the huz without too much difficulty. He tends to be somewhat troublesome to purchase presents for. And I am even more proud to announce that, although it was close a couple times, he has not managed to weasel his way into getting this gift early! Barring nothing happening in the next three days I will have successfully made him wait until the actual celebration day to open his gift. This is the man who got his Father's Day present in April. Got his 2010 Christmas present in September! He almost got me a couple of times, unknowingly talking about something related to what I had picked out for him and I thought I was going to have to give it to him to keep him from purchasing something himself. But so far, I have lucked out!

I even remember where I packed it away. And will be sure the huz packs it when we go on our upcoming trip that we have not yet begun to pack for (remember, I am the one who packs weeks in advance...). I'm getting itchy just thinking about the fact that I haven't even made a packing list yet...

Fill in the Blank Friday

This is my first time with the fill in the blank Friday, but I read my Auntie's each week and decided to join in the fun this time around.

Each week, Hilary at Feeling Beachie lists four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs. If you want to join the fun and come up with four fill in’s of your own, email them to her at feelingbeachie@gmail.com. If she uses them,  you  will be a co-host to the hop! This week’s co-host is Susi from Boca Frau (she came up with the last two statements)

This week’s statements: 

1. when I was little my mom  _____
2. ___ is my favorite condiment
3. I don’t like to celebrate ______because____
4. My ­­­­­­­______ take up more space  _______and I can never ___________.

My answers:

1. When I was little my mom used to put my hair up "in a knot on top of my head." I would always request she do this- but to "not pull the little hairs on the back of my neck."

2. Cheese! Cheese is the only condiment!

3. I don't like to celebrate Valentine's Day because I find it more romantic and special to be surprised with flowers and chocolate on a completely random day "just because" than to be given lavish gifts (or unlavish gifts) because one is supposed to do so on Valentine's Day.

4. My books take up more space than I have shelves for and I can never part with a book even when I didn't really like it (hmm, maybe this is why I'm not allowed in bookstores unsupervised...).

8 of 10

Wow! I'm already through book 8 of the 10 book challenge! And it's only August! Honestly, I cannot believe I'm going to (likely) hit my goal ahead of schedule. Amazing!

Last night I decided it was a reading night. So I put on my jammies and crawled into bed. I didn't intend to finish the book last night, but I only had 8 pages to go when the huz crawled into bed- so I went for it! Turned those last few pages before turning out the light.

Okay, on to the book review. "How to Eat a Cupcake: A Novel" by Meg Donohue was a cute little story. I mean, it had cupcakes in it, how could I not like it?! It was slightly predictable, yet I still found myself rooting for the characters and getting misty-eyed at just the right part- even though I knew, I KNEW! what was going to happen.

The fun thing about this book is that the two main characters take turns telling the story. Chapter alternate if it is Annie or Julia telling the story. And the author did this well- no confusion about which character was telling the story. And I think it really enhanced the story itself. Inside perspective into the character's minds. Yadda yadda yadda.

One and a half stars for predictability and two thumbs up for enjoyment on the Random Ramblings Random Rating Scale.

Teething Bites

I spoke too soon. I should know better. Like the time I bragged on Jynx about how he NEVER got on the counters- and since that day I can't keep him OFF the counters. But, apparently, I did not learn my lesson. What did I do? I said Punky's teething hadn't been too bad. Lots of drool and gnawing. Two days of yucky diapers- though maybe that was the green beans and not the teething... Then two little teeth popped through. No problem. Right? Wrong. Since those two little teeth popped through, we've had more restless night and false SIDS alarms than ever before. (We have one of those "fancy" monitors that detects baby's movements and sets off an obnoxious alarm when no movement is detected. Great idea and I am glad we chose it, but on those restless nights when Punky ends up squished in the corner of her crib the sensor can't tell she's still breathing.)

Last night she set off the alarm three times. We took turns getting up to move her back to the middle of the bed. Then she decided she was cold, lonely, had a bad dream, who knows. So I went and rocked her for a while and she fell asleep snuggled against me. I put her back in her crib and she starts whimpering. There is no other way to describe it, it was whimpering. I head back to bed convinced she'll roll over, stick her thumb in her mouth and be back in dreamland in no time. But of course that is wishful thinking. This time the huz gets up with her. A rare thing in the middle of the night. Most nocturnal happenings tend to fall on me, just the way it is. I just checked on them with the intent to take over and they were stretched out on the floor of Punky's room snoozing away. I decided to leave them be. Daddy may be a bit stiff and sore at work, but it was going to be less disruptive than moving either of them.

The huz asked me "what's her deal?" I wish I knew! But my guess is that we spoke too soon about the teething we thought was going so smoothly. All I do know is that it has been a rough couple weeks and I think we are both feeling a little zombie-like. But unlike those first few weeks of endlessness nighttime feedings, we feel a little more established and prepared as parents. We know our limits and when we really need the other to take over for a bit. We know, this too will end. And someday we will sleep again. In the meantime, we try to cut each other a little slack. It's all too easy to say harsh words when exhaustion has set it. So cut us some slack, we are cutting teeth here!

Flustered, frazzled, fearful

"When you feel flustered and frazzled on the outside, do not get upset with yourself. You are only human, and the swirl of events going on all around you will sometimes feel overwhelming" (from Jesus Calling- July 31st).

"Whenever you start to feel fearful or anxious, repeat this unconditional promise: 'Nothing can separate me from Your Love, Jesus'" (Jesus Calling- August 1st).

I don't know about the fearful part, but I've definitely been flustered and frazzled of late. The never ending pile of laundry, the growing grocery list, the friends that need a call or visit, etc. etc. There is always something that needs attention (I'm not even including the baby or the huz- they get their attention...I think...). It's the other stuff the I can't seem to stay on top of. So what gives? I'm not sure yet, but maybe tonight after Punk's in bed, I can mull it over while soaking in the bathtub...